MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jean Segura has rejoined the Milwaukee Brewers for the start of a series against the Nationals after returning home following the death of his infant son.

“He will be in Washington,” Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. “We’ll sit down with him tomorrow and just make sure everything is good before we activate him.”

Segura had gone back to the Dominican Republic after his 9-month-old son, Janniel, died. Roenicke said he had not expected the shortstop to return so soon.

“He told me he felt like he needed to do it to take his mind off of it,” Roenicke said. “He’ll be doing something he enjoys.”

The Brewers placed infield Jeff Bianchi on the 15-day disabled list with a right elbow strain, which clears a roster space for Segura. With Bianchi injured, Elian Herrera would serve as Segura’s backup at short.

Roenicke said it’s likely to be a day-to-day decision with Segura for a while.

“I don’t know if this will be an on-again, off-again thing with him. Some days he may not be there to play. We’ll see how that goes,” he said.

Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said the organization is “rooting for Jean to get back out there.”

“I think we take young players for granted. They are away from their families. To have what happened to Jean is very tough on the team, too,” Melvin said.

Segura is being accompanied on the trip by his mother, wife, uncle and a friend.

The performance of the four Brewers who made the National League All-Star team pleased Roenicke. Jonathan Lucroy, who had a pair of doubles, Aramis Ramirez, Carlos Gomez and Francisco Rodriguez all made positive contributions, he said.

“They played a big role,” Roenicke said. “It was a pretty good showing by our guys.”

With the July 31 trade deadline approaching, Melvin said he’s been making calls to other general managers.

“You’re always motivated if there’s the availability of players,” Melvin said. “We played a very good first half, but it’s going to be a tough division. I think it’s the toughest division in baseball.”

The Brewers lost 11 of their last 13 games heading into the All-Star break. Melvin indicated that he’s willing to stick with the first-base platoon of Lyle Overbay and Mark Reynolds. They have provided improved defense at the position, he said. Melvin also pointed out that Overbay leads the team in hitting with runners in scoring position and has had success as a pinch-hitter.

Overall, Overbay is hitting .242, while Reynolds is at .205. However, Reynolds is among the team leaders with 14 home runs.

Note: Shane Kruchten and Brian Schultz, two Wisconsinites who are members of the Wounded Warrior Project, are accompanying the team on the trip to Washington. “I remember as kid wanting to be a major league baseball player. It’s kind of like living that fantasy,” Schultz said.

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