Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
If the Milwaukee Brewers didn’t need any reason to believe that 2013 probably won’t end with the team in the World Series, the fact that Corey Hart now needs surgery should drive that point home further. Hart will miss at least three months after knee surgery, which puts him out until late May in all likelihood. It is a huge blow to a Milwaukee lineup that doesn’t have a ton of firepower in it right now. The Brewers do have Ryan Braun and Aramis Ramirez but not much else around them without Hart in the lineup. Hart found himself playing a lot at first base last season and was going to the team’s primary first baseman in 2013. While this will allow Mat Gamel the chance to get back his job at first base, the team appears to be in big trouble right now. The National League Central isn’t one that will see any team run away with the lead, but the Brewers must start hot to have any chance. Hart can easily be a 25-30 home run player and was in 2012. It probably won’t happen this coming season but if Hart can return by early May, he could find himself with the chance to hit .280 with 16-19 home runs and 70-75 RBIs. Milwaukee has the pitching to stay afloat for the first six weeks but there will need Hart to return as soon as possible. This may force Milwaukee to make another move in free agency before spring training to get a replacement for Hart if he can’t return by the end of May. Andy Schmidt is a columnist/writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter @ASchmidtSports or like his Facebook page.
