The Milwaukee Brewers removed All-Star closer Josh Hader from the COVID-19 list prior to Thursday afternoon’s road game against the Chicago Cubs.
The left-hander Hader went on the IL on Aug. 2. He said his symptoms were minor.
“The only symptom I had was losing my smell and taste, which was super weird,” Hader told reporters on Thursday. “But I was fortunate enough to still stay active and not miss too much time activity-wise. The taste part was probably the weirdest part.”
The removal of Hader leaves four Brewers still sidelined due to COVID-19 — left-hander Eric Lauer, right-handers Jandel Gustave and Adrian Houser and infielder Keston Hiura. Lauer may be cleared to return on Friday.
Overall, nine Brewers went on the list in a time period of less than two weeks. The others were star outfielder Christian Yelich, infielder Jace Peterson and right-handers Jake Cousins and Hunter Strickland. Those four have returned to active duty.
Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell sees light at the end of the tunnel.
“As much as anything, we’re just getting a really good pitcher back (in Hader), and we’re getting really close to full strength in the bullpen there,” Counsell said. “So for now, we’re past this part of it to get our guys kind of back in order to use them in the ideal circumstances.”
Hader, 27, is 3-2 with 22 saves and a 1.83 ERA in 40 appearances. He has struck out 67 and given up just 18 hits in 39 1/3 innings this season.
Hader’s All-Star berth this season is the third of his career.
In corresponding moves, the Brewers optioned left-hander Hoby Milner to Triple-A Nashville and transferred right-hander John Axford (elbow) to the 60-day IL.
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–Field Level Media