Mitchell (shoulder) will probably need surgery. Here’s who could complete

MILWAUKEE — The way the Brewers center fielder garrett mitchell has been feeling for the past few days, he was hoping an MRI of his injured left shoulder would reveal good news. But Mitchell and the ball club got the opposite.

Mitchell, injured in a plunge at third base during Tuesday’s extra-inning victory in Seattle, has significant labral damage in his non-throwing shoulder and is facing likely season-ending surgery. First, he’ll get a second opinion Monday in Los Angeles from Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who could perform the repair Tuesday.

“With what I felt and what I found out, (they are) two different things,” Mitchell said. “I don’t feel so bad, but from what I heard it’s obviously not good. Right now, I really don’t know exactly what I’m feeling yet, but I’m just trying to stay positive.”

While the surgery would “definitely jeopardize the rest of the season,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said, Mitchell wasn’t ready to close the door on playing during a postseason push, or in the postseason itself if the team it goes so far. The 24-year-old started the season as Milwaukee No. 4 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, before graduating from prospect status the same day he hit two home runs in a win over the Mets. Mitchell was slashing .259/.307/.466 in 62 plate appearances.

It was a casual play that knocked him out. Mitchell started the 10th inning of Tuesday’s Brewers-Mariners game as a runner at second base and went to third on a rebound to first. Seattle’s Ty France made a quick throw to third, and Mitchell avoided the tag as he dove past the bag with his left arm outstretched, then dove back safely with his right.

In the process, he felt his left shoulder slip briefly out of place. Mitchell underwent range of motion and strength tests late in the half and returned to center field, but felt the sensation again when he caught a fly ball and threw to the plate in the bottom of the tenth. At that point, he left the game.

“Obviously, it’s a freak accident,” Mitchell said. “There is nothing I could have done to change what happened. If he had to redo that play 100 times, he would do it exactly the same way. The number of times I’ve had to dive into a bag is more than I can count in my career, so I wouldn’t change what I did. It’s unfortunate that it happened that way, but it wouldn’t have changed what I did.”

Asked about what lies ahead, Counsell said: “You just have to do the rehab, get better, get through a tough summer when these things happen, and then you’ll be back on track and ready to go.”

The Brewers’ No. 3 Prospect and newbie joey wiemer he made a second straight start in center field Friday and is ready to carry most of the load there anytime soon. blake perkinsCalled up Wednesday when Mitchell landed on the 10-day disabled list, he’s also considered a plus outfielder who’s more than capable at center.

Future options include Tyrone Taylor, who has been sidelined since early spring training with a sprained right elbow, but is in his first week of games in extended spring training. If all goes well, he would advance to Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday.

“This is the start of spring training for him, and there’s an injury, so we’ve got to let him play and let him get in shape so he can come here and play and he’s got the number of at-bats under his belt.” . Counsell said. “There’s no set number, but he’s not going to play two games in Nashville.”

Another option in the Minor Leagues is No. 2 ranked Brewers prospect Salt Frelick, but got his left thumb stuck while sliding the same night Mitchell went down. Triple-A Nashville placed Frelick on the seven-day disabled list and he was in Milwaukee Thursday for examinations and an MRI of his own. Mitchell and Frelick actually crossed paths on their dates.

Frelick’s results were still pending as of Friday afternoon.

“Joey has been playing all three positions; he has a lot of time in center field,” Mitchell said. “He will be well. The organization, all the fans, everyone should be happy, excited for him. He’s going to do a good job.”