Roster moves: Joey Ortiz, Enoli Paredes to IL

Janson Junk and Vinny Capra have been recalled

The Milwaukee Brewers have placed third baseman Joey Ortiz and reliever Enoli Paredes on the injured list. They have recalled infielder Vinny Capra and right-hander Janson Junk to take their spots on the active roster. These moves come in the wake of this morning’s trade for Aaron Civale; pitcher Taylor Clarke was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Civale, but he has not yet been activated, so another move will need to be made to get Civale on the active roster.

Ortiz has been one of the Brewers’ best players this season, but he has scuffled of late, as he’s hitting just .200/.317/.286 since June 17 with just one extra-base hit in 12 games. He reportedly first experienced soreness in his neck during the San Diego series (June 20-23), and has even changed his batting stance to help with that issue. Questions may be asked as to why Ortiz was not placed on the IL sooner if it affected his play to this degree.

Vinny Capra will get his first shot with the Brewers as a major leaguer as Ortiz’s replacement. Capra has played in a handful of major-league games over the past two seasons with Toronto and Pittsburgh, but this will be the 27-year-old’s first stint with the Brewers. He started the season poorly at Triple-A Nashville but has been better since the beginning of June: he’s hitting .265/.365/.349 in his last 20 games.

Paredes has been placed on the 15-day IL with what is being called forearm tendinitis, the same issue that sidelined Jared Koenig recently. Paredes’s control has diminished of late, and this could be a reason why. Janson Junk was recalled in Paredes’s place: he has appeared in three games for the Brewers this season and allowed five runs in five innings, but he’s been effective with Nashville, pitching to a 2.81 ERA in 32 innings.