Brewers SS Willy Adames leaves game with right ankle sprain

Brewers shortstop Willy Adames had to leave Saturday’s game due to what the team described as a right ankle sprain, per Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.  The injury was suffered in the first inning, as Adames’ right foot was caught while he was sliding home to score on a Luis Urias sacrifice fly.  Adames was in obvious discomfort but still took the field to play shortstop in the bottom of the first, before being substituted out before the bottom of the second frame.

The fact that Adames was at least able to briefly keep playing is a positive sign that the injury might not be too severe, but the Brewers said he will be re-evaluated once the club returns home on Monday from its current road trip.

Adames has been pretty streaky over the first weeks of the season, but the shortstop has shown plenty of pop in hitting .208/.304/.462 with nine home runs over his first 148 plate appearances.  Adames entered Sunday’s action tied for the NL lead in homers, and he has basically not stopped hitting ever since the Brewers acquired him from the Rays almost exactly a year ago to the day.

Losing Adames to the injured list would take a bite out of Milwaukee’s lineup, but the Brewers have hit well as a whole this year, powered by Rowdy Tellez, Hunter Renfroe (one of the other players tied for the NL homer lead), Omar Narvaez and the resurgent Christian Yelich.  Urias has also hit well since returning from the IL and would likely move from third base to shortstop if Adames did have to miss time.  Mike Brosseau and Jace Peterson could platoon at third base, with Brosseau also representing another backup option at the shortstop position.