The Milwaukee Brewers star races against the clock to recover from illness as the postseason looms.
On Friday, Sept. 25, the Milwaukee Brewers placed Andrew Vaughn on the 10-day Injured List due to illness.
Illness is the last thing a team needs spreading through the clubhouse leading up to the playoffs, so this move makes complete sense.
Vaughn has been stuck in a platoon role at first base with Jake Bauers, but odd situations have even called for him to play third base this season.
He's been a true utility player and is one of the most underrated gems on this entire team.
Remember, Vaughn came over from the Chicago White Sox last year and immediately had a career year. Vaughn has kept up that pace here in 2026, and thankfully, he's eligible to return from the IL just in time for the playoffs.
Vaughn will miss rest of regular season
To no surprise, this designation means Vaughn will indeed be out for the rest of the regular season. Upon placing him on the IL, that sealed Vaughn's fate, but since the Brewers not only have a first-round bye, but also home-field advantage, it makes the travel schedule much easier on his body as he nears a return.
Vaughn's designation was retroactive to Tuesday, Sept. 22, and that's a huge boost for them in the National League Division Series.
Looking at that date, that means Vaughn would be eligible to return on Saturday, Oct. 3, the exact date the Brewers will begin the NLDS.
Keep in mind, Vaughn hasn't appeared in a game since Saturday, Sept. 19. He likely won't be in the starting lineup in the NLDS, at least not for a while, but when the situation presents itself, it'll be interesting to see if he needs some at-bats to get back into things or if he picks up with a huge power surge.
Vaughn is hitting .306 this season
The emergence of Bauers has put Vaughn in the back seat, but that doesn't mean the 28-year-old doesn't have a spot on this team.
Milwaukee needs Vaughn more than ever in the postseason as he had a pair of homers in nine games last year.
Vaughn hit just .154 in the 2025 playoffs, but his batting average in the regular season with the Brewers has now been above .300 in back-to-back seasons.
Vaughn's move to the IL was a precautionary measure, but a calculated one at that. It allowed Brandon Lockridge to get a few extra at-bats down the stretch, and gives Vaughn exactly the right number of days to rest before returning just in time for the playoffs.
