Cubs reliever Colten Brewer punched a dugout wall after getting pulled in the third inning of Saturday’s loss to the Los Angeles Angels. His weekend only got worse from there.
The right-hander later learned he fractured his left hand. The club placed him on the 60-day injured list before Sunday’s series finale.
“My frustration got the best of me,” Brewer said, adding he had no intention of injuring himself.
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He entered Saturday’s game in relief of Kyle Hendricks, who left with back tightness and the Cubs trailing 2-0, becoming the first of five Cubs relievers. Brewer gave up three runs — one earned — hit a batter and committed a throwing error in two-thirds of an inning in what eventually became a 7-0 loss.
“When those things happen, you know you screwed up,” Chicago manager Craig Counsell said Sunday. “It’s not who he is, but it’s a mistake that he made.”
Brewer isn’t the only pitcher to punch his way onto the injured list this season. Texas Rangers reliever Brock Burke landed there after breaking his non-throwing hand while punching a wall earlier this season following a poor outing.
In 2022, Astros reliever Phil Maton broke his right pinkie when he punched a locker in frustration after Houston’s regular-season finale, causing him to miss the postseason.
Brewer has appeared in 16 games this season for the Cubs, posting a 5.66 ERA with no decisions. Chicago recalled righty Hunter Bigge from Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move. Bigge is 1-0 with a 1.32 ERA and six saves in 11 games with Iowa.
Reporting by The Associated Press.
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