Cubs reliever Colten Brewer endured a turbulent weekend after an explosive display of frustration led to a serious injury. During Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Angels, Brewer punched a dugout wall after being pulled in the third inning.
His outburst came amid a challenging appearance where he gave up multiple runs and made critical errors, contributing to a 7-0 loss for the Cubs. Manager Craig Counsell acknowledged Brewer’s mistake, emphasizing it as an uncharacteristic lapse in judgment.
Unfortunately for Brewer, the aftermath of his emotional outburst became more severe. He later discovered that he had fractured his left hand during the dugout incident.
This injury swiftly led to the Cubs placing him on the 60-day injured list, sidelining him for an extended period. Brewer admitted that his frustration had overwhelmed him but clarified that injuring himself was never his intention.
This incident highlights a broader trend in baseball where emotional reactions have led to players injuring themselves. Earlier in the season, Texas Rangers reliever Brock Burke suffered a similar fate after punching a wall in frustration, which resulted in a broken hand. The consequences of such actions extend beyond immediate game impact, affecting player availability and team dynamics.
Despite this setback, Brewer had been an active contributor to the Cubs’ bullpen this season, appearing in 16 games with a 5.66 ERA.
His absence due to injury prompted the Cubs to recall Hunter Bigge from Triple-A Iowa, recognizing his strong performance there with a 1.32 ERA and six saves. As Brewer faces recovery and reflection, his incident serves as a reminder of the physical risks that can accompany emotional reactions in competitive sports.
