Brewers' Almonte surprised by lengthy rehab from concussion

MILWAUKEE, Wis. -- At first evaluation, Erick Almonte's concussion seemed pretty standard; a Grade I concussion likely to clear up in a few days and have the Brewers outfielder back in a week or so. But when the symptoms -- dizziness and nausea -- lingered for a week, Almonte was left with an unknown timetable for a return to the field as the Brewers training staff took extra precautions. Though things got a little clearer over the weekend at Miller Park as Almonte returned to full baseball activity, a timeframe for his return is still unknown. "He took batting practice yesterday and was good," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said Sunday. "He doesn't have the dizziness anymore. So I think in a couple days we'll be more ready to figure out if we're going to send him out on a rehab assignment or not." After Almonte was hit by a thrown ball above his right eye April 26, he was put on the new 7-day disabled list, implemented specifically for concussions. Almonte said Friday the unusually long rehab process that followed has surprised him. "At first I thought it was going to be two or three days and then for some reason I wasn't getting any better," Almonte said. Saturday was Almonte's first batting practice session since the injury and was the final step in getting back to full baseball activity. Despite his anxiousness to get back on the field, Almonte understands why the training staff has taken his rehab slow. "They're just going to make sure everything's OK," Almonte said. "I guess they have a lot of experience with guys getting hit in the head before. They're trying to avoid me getting back on the field too soon and feeling worse." Spring training, part II The Brewers announced Sunday that Nyjer Morgan will play two games this week in extended spring training in Arizona after missing more than two weeks with a broken finger. The team originally planned to have Morgan do a rehab assignment with Single-A Wisconsin, but a rainy weather forecast for the Timber Rattlers' road trip to Peoria, Ill., forced a change in plans. "With the rain it just didn't make sense" Roenicke said. "And going to Arizona, he can get more at-bats. He doesn't have to just play his position." Morgan had expressed a desire to stay close to the team on his rehab assignment, but was okay with the change in plans. Roenicke actually likes the Arizona option a little more. "I like it better going out there because if he can get six at-bats, seven at-bats in those two games, that's like playing four games somewhere," Roenicke said. Another rehab start for Braddock While Morgan heads to Arizona, reliever Zach Braddock will continue his stint with Wisconsin on Monday. On the DL with a sleep disorder, Braddock will make his third start with the team in Peoria. Braddock will have a 35-pitch limit in the outing, one Roenicke said may not be his last with the Timber Rattlers as he tries to get the sleep disorder under control. In two starts with the team in Appleton, Wis., Braddock has pitched 4 23 scoreless innings while not allowing a hit and striking out seven batters. Back in blue Geoff Jenkins spent 10 seasons with the Brewers, the last in 2007, before finishing his career with the Philadelphia Phillies. In two weeks, though, the outfielder is back in Brewer blue... sort of. Jenkins will represent the team at Major League Baseball's first year player draft in Secaucus, N.J. The draft takes place Monday, June 6 at 6 p.m. CT and will be carried on the MLB Network. When Jenkins retired, as a Brewer on a one-day contract, he said he wanted to eventually be a part of the organization in some role. This could be his start. Brewers' early All-Star The Brewers got word last week of an unlikely first All-Star of 2011, one not named Ryan or Prince. While he will not be playing and was not voted in by fans, assistant athletic trainer Dan Wright will represent the Brewers at the 2011 All-Star Game in Phoenix on July 12 as part of the National League staff. Wright, who has been with the Brewers since 2001, will be part of San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy's staff, assisting Arizona Diamondbacks head athletic trainer Ken Crenshaw.