A top Brewers prospect will likely need surgery after being hit in the face by a pitch

Curt Hogg, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

BALTIMORE – The hits just keep coming for top Milwaukee Brewers prospects on the injury front.

Days after it was announced catcher Jeferson Quero would miss the season with a torn labrum, third baseman Brock Wilken was hit with a pitch in the face Thursday and will miss significant time.

Wilken, the Brewers first round draft pick last summer out of Wake Forest, suffered multiple facial fractures when a pitch hit him in the jaw-protecting helmet flap while playing with Class AA Biloxi against the Mississippi Braves on Thursday. He avoided a concussion, according to Brewers general manager Matt Arnold, but will likely need surgery.

Biloxi Shuckers' Brock Wilken attempts to tag out Mississippi Braves' Justin Dean during the Class AA opening day game April 9.
Biloxi Shuckers' Brock Wilken attempts to tag out Mississippi Braves' Justin Dean during the Class AA opening day game April 9.

The Brewers did not offer a timeline for return, but the swelling is likely to take at least a few days to subside and recovery from surgery would likely be at least one month.

Wilken is ranked as the Journal Sentinel's No. 7 prospect in the Brewers system.

The 22-year-old had a .887 OPS in 47 games across three levels in the minor leagues last year after being drafted in July. Wilken hit 71 home runs across 173 games in three years for Wake Forest and is best known for his prodigious power.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers prospect Brock Wilken hit in face, likely needs surgery

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