Pat Murphy Announces Reason for Sal Frelick's Removal From Brewers Lineup

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Aug 27, 2025 8:01 PM ET

The Milwaukee Brewers received disappointing injury news on Wednesday after All-Star closing pitcher Trevor Megill was transferred to the injured list. As the Brewers fight to remain the league’s best team, the health of their most important players will be crucial.

One of the key reasons behind Milwaukee’s success this year has been the continued emergence of Sal Frelick. His defensive abilities were never in question, but his bat raised concern early in his career.

Now in his third major league season, Frelick has silenced any doubt about his offensive reliability. He’s in the midst of the best season of his career, posting a .297 batting average, .360 on-base percentage, .769 OPS, nine home runs, and 18 stolen bases across 117 games.

The 25-year-old Gold Glove outfielder was unexpectedly removed from Wednesday’s lineup card against the Arizona Diamondbacks, despite the team facing right-hander Ryne Nelson and Frelick holding the platoon advantage as a left-handed hitter—raising concern among Brewers fans.

Manager Pat Murphy clarified that Frelick’s absence was due to his previous knee issues in 2025 and assured that he will be fine as the playoffs approach.

"Yes, Frelick is OK. Pat Murphy said he wanted to give Sal a break because of the knee issues he’s dealt with," wrote MLB.com's Adam McCalvy.

Yes, Frelick is OK. Pat Murphy said he wanted to give Sal a break because of the knee issues he’s dealt with. https://t.co/Gj2276jRoG
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) August 27, 2025

Sal Frelick Thriving Through Lingering Knee Trouble

Frelick has already spent time on the injured list this season due to a Grade 1 hamstring strain in July and the aforementioned left knee soreness that caused him to miss games in August. He also has a lengthy history of knee issues, including meniscus surgery during college.

Despite that, Frelick’s availability does not appear to be a major concern, and he remains a key piece of Milwaukee’s lineup moving forward. His knee pain has clearly not affected his performance at the plate, as he’s having the best month of his career in August—batting .320 with an .834 OPS and 32 total bases over 20 games.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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