The Milwaukee Brewers placed former Twins reliever Trevor Megill on the 15-day injured list with a right flexor strain on Wednesday, the team announced. The Brewers replaced Megill's spot on the roster with new signee, right-handed pitcher Eric Fedde, who was released by the Atlanta Braves earlier this week.
It's unknown how long Megill will be sidelined, but he informed reporters that he hopes to return to in-game action soon. Megill is having his best season this year as a 31-year-old, converting 30 of 36 save opportunities while posting a 2.54 ERA with 58 strikeouts and 17 walks in 46 innings. Righty Abner Uribe, who has a 1.71 ERA with 78 strikeouts and 24 walks in 63 1/3 innings this season, will likely get the bulk of save opportunities in Megill's absence.
Former Twin Trevor Megill's brutal injury could hurt Brewers' World Series chances
Although Megill's injury is a brutal blow, Milwaukee should be just fine without its All-Star closer. The Brewers hold a 6 1/2 game lead over the Chicago Cubs for first place in the National League Central, and have the best record in the National League by six games over the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, while Megill and the Brewers hope for a return in mid-September, it's still unclear exactly how long Milwaukee's closer will be sidelined. If he returns from the injured list before the end of the season and looks sharp on the mound, the Brewers should be just fine. But if Megill's injury ends up keeping him out of in-game action through the beginning of the playoffs, the Brewers might be in trouble.
Megill began his Major League career with the Chicago Cubs as a 27-year-old in 2021. He only threw 23 1/3 innings for Chicago, posting an awful 8.37 ERA with 30 strikeouts and one walk in 23 2/3 innings. Megill was then claimed off waivers by the Twins in the 2021-22 offseason.
As a Twin, Megill posted a 4.80 ERA (3.29 FIP) with 49 strikeouts and 17 walks in 45 innings before being designated for assignment at the beginning of the 2023 season. The Brewers then traded for Megill in exchange for a player to be named later, who turned out to be minor league pitcher Taylor Floyd, now with the Seattle Mariners organization.
While Floyd, a righty, never made it to the major leagues with the Twins, Megill ended up reviving his career with the Brewers. In three seasons with Milwaukee, Megill has a 2.91 ERA, 160 strikeouts and 43 walks in 127 innings. It's safe to say that the Twins didn't win the Megill trade.