Guardians' Will Brennan: Undergoes sports hernia surgery
Rotowire
Brennan (elbow) recently underwent sports hernia surgery, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Brennan is still rehabbing from Tommy John surgery but felt some nagging discomfort in his groin while doing sprinting and agility drills. He remains on track to be ready for the start of spring training next year.
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Guardians' Will Brennan: Shifts to 60-day IL
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The Guardians transferred Brennan (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Friday.
The outfielder has already been ruled out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery to repair the UCL in his left elbow, so the move to the 60-day IL was an inevitability. The recovery period from Tommy John surgery is shorter for position players, so Brennan won't necessarily be sidelined for the start of 2026.
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Guardians' Will Brennan: Second straight start in RF
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Brennan will start in right field and bat eighth in Tuesday's game versus the Brewers.
Brennan has now started two straight contests in right field after being recalled from Triple-A Columbus on Monday. Angel Martinez sat at Brennan's expense Monday, and on Tuesday, Nolan Jones will hit the bench.
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Guardians' Will Brennan: Roster spot not confirmed
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Brennan may not make the Guardians' Opening Day roster after the team acquired Nolan Jones from Colorado via a trade Saturday, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Brennan appeared headed for a platoon role in right field with Jhonkensy Noel -- and was informed he'd made the team earlier last week by manager Stephen Vogt -- but Saturday's acquisition of the left-handed hitting Jones throws Brennan's roster status up in the air. "No final decisions have been made," Vogt said. "We just have to work through some things over the next few days. This was unforeseen." That Jones is out of options and can't be sent to the minors while Brennan has options indicates the latter may open the regular season at Triple-A Columbus.
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Guardians' Will Brennan: Still in line to make roster
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Brennan is still in line to make the Guardians' Opening Day roster despite a slow spring training, Mandy Bell and Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Brennan has struggled each of the last two seasons with OPS marks of .655 and .697, respectively. Even after logging only six hits across 24 at-bats in the spring this season -- only one of which has gone for extra bases -- he is still projected to make the roster and split reps with Jhonkensy Noel in right field. Brennan would provide a contact-heavy profile at the plate from the left side, while Noel should provide more pop with more strikeouts.
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Guardians' Will Brennan: Sitting for Game 5
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Brennan isn't in the Guardians' lineup Saturday for Game 5 of the ALCS versus the Yankees, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
The lefty-hitting Brennan will take a seat Saturday as the Yankees prepare to send the lefty-throwing Carlos Rodon to the mound to start Game 5. Jhonkensy Noel will start in right field while batting sixth.
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Guardians' Will Brennan: Absent from Game 3 lineup
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Brennan isn't in the Guardians' lineup Thursday for Game 3 of the ALCS against the Yankees, Chris Assenheimer of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Brennan will get a chance to regroup Thursday after starting the postseason just 1-for-10 at the plate. While he sits, Daniel Schneemann will take over in right field and bat sixth versus New York righty Clarke Schmidt.
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Guardians' Will Brennan: Sitting for Game 5
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Brennan isn't in the Guardians' starting lineup Saturday for Game 5 of the ALDS against the Tigers, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
The lefty-hitting Brennan will begin Saturday's contest on the bench while southpaw Tarik Skubal starts on the mound for Detroit. Jhonkensy Noel will get the starting nod in right field instead and bat sixth.
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Guardians' Will Brennan: Out of lineup again in Game 2
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Brennan is not in the lineup Monday for Game 2 of the ALDS against the Tigers, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
With southpaw Tarik Skubal on the bump for the Tigers, the left-handed hitting Brennan will begin the contest on the bench. He didn't start against lefty opener Tyler Holton in Game 1, either, nor did he enter versus any of the three righties the Tigers used after Holton. Jhonkensy Noel is getting the call again in right field for the Guardians.
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Guardians' Will Brennan: Delivers three hits in loss
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Brennan went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Astros.
Brennan has gone 12-for-26 (.462) over his last 10 games, filling a part-time role in the outfield for the Guardians. He got a leadoff look Saturday with Steven Kwan resting now that Cleveland has clinched a spot in the ALDS. Brennan is at a .264/.309/.388 slash line, eight home runs, 30 RBI, 37 runs scored, 13 doubles and four stolen bases over 114 contests. He's likely to be a strong-side platoon option for the postseason.
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Guardians' Will Brennan: Out of lineup again Thursday
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Brennan is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Twins.
For the second straight day, the Guardians have gone with Jhonkensy Noel in right field over Brennan against a right-handed pitcher. Brennan came off the bench to deliver a game-tying RBI single in the 10th inning of Wednesday's win over the Twins, so it's possible he'll make another mid-game appearance Thursday.
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Guardians' Will Brennan: Taking seat Wednesday
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Brennan is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins.
Jhonkensy Noel will step in as the Guardians' starting right fielder Wednesday, but Brennan appears to be the favored option at the moment. Brennan started in each of the Guardians' last three matchups with right-handers and produced four hits in 11 at-bats during that stretch.
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Guardians' Will Brennan: Regaining playing time against RHPs
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Brennan will start in right field and bat seventh in Monday's game against the Twins.
Brennan will make a second straight start in right field against a right-handed pitcher (Pablo Lopez) and might have re-emerged as the Guardians' preferred option at the position over Jhonkensy Noel, who has produced a .426 OPS with a 32.4 percent strikeout rate since the start of September. Noel should still be a priority over Brennan when the Guardians face left-handed pitching.
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Guardians' Will Brennan: Batting leadoff Sunday
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Brennan will start in left field and bat leadoff in Sunday's game against the Dodgers.
Though he'll fill in atop the batting order for a resting Steven Kwan on Sunday, Brennan's time as a strong-side platoon player for the Guardians could be over. He had been on the bench for four of the Guardians' previous six matchups with right-handed pitching, with rookie Kyle Manzardo and Lane Thomas seemingly have overtaken Brennan as the team's preferred options at designated hitter and in right field, respectively.
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Guardians' Will Brennan: Sitting in favor of Manzardo
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Brennan is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Royals.
Kyle Manzardo will replace Brennan in the lineup for a second straight game, with manager Stephen Vogt opting to reward the rookie with another start after he slugged two solo home runs and drew a walk in his return from Triple-A Columbus in Sunday's 6-1 win over the Pirates. Though Brennan has a longer track record at the big-league level, Manzardo is regarded as one of the organization's top prospects and unquestionably brings more upside to the table. If Manzardo can turn in another productive day at the plate Monday, he would build a stronger case for supplanting Brennan as the Guardians' primary designated hitter versus right-handed pitching.
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Guardians' Will Brennan: Taking seat Sunday
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Brennan is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates.
The lefty-hitting Brennan typically sits against left-handed pitching, but he'll head to the bench Sunday against righty Mitch Keller. He'll cede his spot in the lineup to September call-up Kyle Manzardo from Triple-A Columbus, who will serve as the Guardians' designated hitter.
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Guardians' Will Brennan: Knocks three hits in loss
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Brennan went 3-for-4 with a run scored in Friday's 5-3 loss to the Brewers.
Brennan remains hot at the plate, going 11-for-25 (.440) over seven games since he was recalled from Triple-A Columbus. The outfielder has just two extra-base hits in that span, but that plays just fine for slap-happy Cleveland. The outfielder is up to a .254/.305/.397 slash line with eight home runs, 26 RBI, 31 runs scored and three stolen bases over 272 plate appearances this season.
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Guardians' Will Brennan: Out of lineup vs. lefty
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Brennan is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cubs.
Since returning from Triple-A Columbus on Friday, Brennan seems to have taken back a regular spot in the lineup versus right-handed pitching, but the Guardians will continue to shield the lefty-hitting outfielder from southpaws. Jhonkensy Noel will get the nod in right field in place of Brennan on Monday while the Cubs send lefty Shota Imanaga to the bump.
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Guardians' Will Brennan: Optioned to make room for Thomas
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The Guardians optioned Brennan to Triple-A Columbus on Tuesday, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
Brennan was sent to the minors as the corresponding transaction for the addition of trade-deadline pickup Lane Thomas to the roster. He easily leads the Guardians with 50 starts in right field this season, but Brennan's playing time is now slated to go to Thomas. The 26-year-old Brennan is slashing just .233/.291/.379 over 247 plate appearances this season.
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Guardians' Will Brennan: Sitting Monday
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Brennan is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Tigers.
With lefty Bryan Sammons projected to work in bulk relief behind the Tigers' opening pitcher, Beau Brieske, the lefty-hitting Brennan will hit the bench in the series opener. Jhonkensy Noel will draw a start in right field at Brennan's expense.
