The Brewers had not one but two catchers go down with injuries before lunchtime on March 5. First, prospect Angel Salome was sidelined with a back strain that had him listed as day-to-day.

Shortly after that news broke, backup catcher Mike Rivera strained his right hamstring during baserunning drills in the morning workout and received a cortisone injection. Rivera was projected to be sidelined for five to seven days.

With Vinny Rottino off to play for Italy in the World Baseball Classic, the Brewers were down to three healthy catchers -- Jason Kendall, Jonathan Lucroy and Carlos Corporan.

Salome, considered the organization's top catching prospect, is slated to open the season as the starter for Class AAA Nashville. However, Brewers manager Ken Macha was hoping to get a decent look at him before the end of camp.

"We want to see what we've got here, what stage he is at in case something happens at the major league level with a catcher, where we are depth-wise," Macha said.

The news was better regarding right-hander Braden Looper and outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr.

Looper, sidelined with tightness in his left oblique, played catch off flat ground without problem. He threw a bullpen session March 11, and Macha told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he still expects Looper to be ready for the start of the season.

Gwynn met with team physician William Raasch to discuss the results of an MRI performed on his ailing throwing shoulder earlier in the week. Raasch gave Gwynn a cortisone injection and prescribed total rest for three to five days.