After staving off one front-office defection, the Milwaukee Brewers have lost a different key member of the Ivory Tower.
Cam Castro, the Brewers' senior vice president for player development and performance, has been hired by the A's as general manager, according to a report Wednesday by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Castro is second in command to Taylor Smith, recently hired away from the Boston Red Sox to be the A's president of baseball operations. Castro has been integral in the Brewers developing pitchers in recent years.
Castro had been with the Brewers since 2019 as pitching coach of the then-High-A Carolina Mudcats. He started his climb through the organization as the minor-league pitching coordinator in 2020 and 2021, then getting a promotion to director of pitching development following the 2021 season. He would get another bump in July 2022 to vice president of player development, then rising to his current position in October 2024.
The Brewers had a starting rotation this season that was filled with rookies and one second-year player, probable NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob Misiorowski, while also having one of the better-known pitching labs in MLB to aid in bringing along young pitchers.
Late last week, assistant general manager Matt Kleine was the favorite for the Houston Astros' general manager position, but that job went to Randy Flores, who was with the St. Louis Cardinals at the time. An apparent sticking point in negotiations was Kleine wanting the title of president of baseball operations, while owner Jim Crane wanted it to be GM.
Still looking to shore up their infield depth due to recent injuries, the Milwaukee Brewers have acquired infielder-outfielder Jonathan Ornelas from the A's for cash considerations. Infielder-outfielder Jihwan Bae, who just signed Sunday with the Brewers, was designated for assignment to make room for Ornelas.
Ornelas, primarily a shortstop, just re-signed Friday with the A's after being DFA'd himself by the A's a few days earlier. He appeared in six games for the A's, going 2-for-12 with a walk and seven strikeouts. Ornelas has been in 38 MLB over the last four seasons, including 30 with the Texas Rangers, and put together a .200/.257/.231 slash line with no homers and three RBIs, four walks and 27 strikeouts in 71 plate appearances.
Bae got into four games and went 1-for-2 with a sacrifice bunt and a run scored.
The Brewers' infield depth has been tested with rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt going on the 10-day injured list, then shortstop-third baseman Joey Ortiz battling a neck ailment and now second baseman Brice Turang, who has missed the first two games of the series against the Los Angeles Dodgers due to pain in his left knee. The Brewers are hoping to avoid putting Turang on the IL following an MRI. Prospect Jett Williams is on the minor-league injured list.
The 2026 MLB season is right around the corner, and we're looking to expand our video coverage. Have you ever considered being on-camera and talking about the Brewers? If yes, we'd love to talk to you about it.
Our videos are typically in a wide variety of styles: breaking news, analysis, and historical study. We're open to any and all ideas as long as they're centered around the Milwaukee Brewers. We're looking for serious baseball talk, so leave the hot takes at home.
If you'd like to learn more about this cool little side gig, please email Brock Beauchamp at brock.beauchamp@brewerfanatic.com.
Here is an example of a recent Brewers video from us:
It's hard to predict how this offseason will unfold, as there is an increasing chance of (yet another) MLB lockout following the 2026 season. Will teams spend big this offseason, hoping to create surety in the face of an unknown collective bargaining agreement? Or will they be hesitant in hopes of a favorable outcome for ownership groups?
No matter how it shakes out, teams will need to compete in the 2026 season, and they'll need to sign free agents this winter. DiamondCentric has compiled a complete list of free agents, sortable and searchable by pretty much any metric you need. Looking for a first baseman? A catcher? We have you covered. We offer two pages for your reference: one for position players, the other for pitchers.
With only a few days left in the regular season, the Milwaukee Brewers are still juggling their roster with players coming back from injury.
But the biggest move is one not involving an injury. That would be first baseman Andrew Vaughn going on the 10-day injured list due to an illness retroactive to Tuesday. That date is important as it allows Vaughn to be eligible for the NL Division Series, which begins a week from Saturday.
Right-handed reliever Bryse Wilson was activated from the 15-day IL and outfielder Brandon Lockridge was called up from Triple-A Nashville. Right-hander Lyon Richardson was designated for assignment. Also, right-hander Grant Anderson was recalled from his rehab assignment (right biceps inflammation), but remains on the 15-day IL. The minor-league seasons are over, but the Brewers have a stay-ready camp at Triple-A Nashville where Anderson might go.
Vaughn has been one of the Brewers' best hitters this season while splitting time at first base with Jake Bauers. Vaughn has a slash line of .306/.390/.444 in 104 games with six homers and 43 RBIs.
Lockridge missed a good chunk of the season with a nasty gash on his left knee and has a .273/.345/.313 slash line in 38 games with no homers and 12 RBIs. Wilson has returned from a low back strain and has 2.55 ERA in 12 games with the Brewers over 24⅔ innings. Richardson didn't pitch after coming up Wednesday.
There is a familiar face and a new face representing the Milwaukee Brewers for this year's NL Gold Glove awards.
Second baseman Brice Turang and left fielder Jackson Chourio were named as finishing in the top three in voting for the 2026 Gold Glove awards. Turang won the NL Gold Glove in 2024 as well as the NL Platinum Glove, which goes to the top overall defender in each league. Chourio is up for his first Gold Glove. Winners will be announced Nov. 1.
Managers and up to six coaches from each of the 30 teams vote on the best defenders at each position, although they can't vote for players on their club. That accounts for 75% of the vote, with SABR's defensive index making up the remaining 25%.
In 151 games (148 starts) at second base, Turang had a .992 fielding percentage, with five errors in 593 chances. He led the NL with 219 putouts and MLB with 91 double plays. He also led MLB with 15 total zone field runs above average, per Baseball Reference. The other two in the top three at second are Brandon Lowe of the Pittsbugh Pirates and JJ Wetherholt of the St. Louis Cardinals. Turang also was among the top three last year, when the award was won by Nico Hoerner of the Chicago Cubs.
Chourio has made tremendous progress in his third MLB season. He looked lost at times as a rookie, but has shown significant improvement the last two years. Just considering when he played left field (123 games, 112 starts), Chourio made zero errors in 207 chances, with eight assists. Ian Happ of the Cubs and Daylen Lile of the Washington Nationals also finished in the top three for left field. Including his 13 games in center and one in right, Chourio did not commit an error in 226 chances.
The Brewers had the seventh-best fielding percentage in MLB at .987.
There is only one round of balloting, which was already done, so these players are not technically finalists.
Brewers President of Baseball Operations Matt Arnold provided an update, stating Contreras had "minor" surgery to repair his broken left middle finger. He's going to be sidelined for five to six weeks, but should otherwise be healthy by the time pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training.
Despite the dip, Contreras was still productive at the plate, sporting a 113 wRC+ over 659 plate appearances. He has 17 home runs and has stolen six bases as well. While those numbers are impressive considering the importance of your left hand for a right-handed batter, his most impressive feat may be that he played in 150 games, only second to J.T. Realmuto.
Yesterday, the Brewers declined his $12 million option (earning Contreras a $100K buyout), meaning the two sides will go through arbitration again this season. The move is expected to save the Brewers less than $1 million, as MLBTR projects Contreras to make $11.1 million via arbitration.
You have to wonder how that sits with Contreras, given the sacrifices he made for the team—is saving a few hundred thousand worth it with your superstar catcher? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
For the third year in a row, the Milwaukee Brewers will open the 2027 season with an interleague series. That is, if the season starts as scheduled.
The Crew will begin 2027 at American Family Field with a six-game homestand, starting with the season-opening series against the Los Angeles Angels. MLB announced the schedules for all 30 teams Thursday. The last time the Brewers and Angels squared off on Opening Day was 1996 at Anaheim Stadium.
After those three games, the Brewers will host Atlanta for three games, then embark on a six-game interleague road trip against the Chicago White Sox (April 1-4, with a day off built in) and the Toronto Blue Jays (April 5-7).
On March 24, there will be a single game to begin the season as there was this year between the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees, with all of the other season-opening series happening on March 25, the earliest traditional Opening Day in MLB history. The first Brewers series against the NL Central rival Chicago Cubs will be at Wrigley Field on April 26-28, with Chicago making its first trip to Milwaukee on May 17-20.
Next year's All-Star Game is at Wrigley Field on July 13.
That game will be sandwiched around the Crew's longest road trip and longest homestand. Before the break, the Brewers will be on the road for 10 games against the Cincinnati Reds, Washington Nationals and Cleveland Guardians. After the break, the Brewers will be at home for 10 in a row against the Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers and Miami Marlins.
The Brewers will wrap up the regular season with a six-game road trip against the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers. Four of the Brewers' final five series are against AL teams, with their final set against the Cubs coming Sept. 4-6 at American Family Field.
The start of the season is in doubt due to a probable lockout by owners as the collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 1.
Logan Henderson is back. And this time, it will be more than just a spot start.
The Milwaukee Brewers called up Henderson, a right-hander, from Triple-A Nashville in order to start Sunday's series finale vs. the Washington Nationals. Right-handed reliever Easton McGee was sent back to Triple-A.
Henderson figures to be the replacement for right-hander Brandon Woodruff, who was injured in his start Thursday against the Arizona Diamondbacks and went on the 15-day injured list Friday with right shoulder inflammation. Henderson slotting in Sunday pushes everyone in the rotation back a day.
This is the second call-up this year for Henderson. He started the second game of the April 4 doubleheader against the Kansas City Royals, going just two innings, giving up two runs on three hits and a walk with three strikeouts in an 8-2 loss. He was called up specifically as the extra player for the doubleheader and went back to Nashville the next day.
But with Woodruff down, Henderson joins the rotation for a more extended stay. Henderson made five starts for the Crew in 2025 before a strained right flexor ended his season in August. He was very good in three call-ups, putting together a 3.02 FIP (1.78 ERA) in 25⅓ innings with an 11.1% walk rate and 33.3% strikeout rate. Henderson had an elbow issue in spring training that knocked him out of the rotation battle.
This year at Nashville, he made five appearances (three starts), walking nine and striking out 26 in 17⅔ innings.
McGee, in his second brief call-up this season, pitched one scoreless inning Friday against the Nationals, allowing a walk.
One of the Milwaukee Brewers' spark plugs from the beginning of the season is back.
Outfielder Brandon Lockridge was activated Saturday from the 60-day injured list by the Brewers, who also called up right-handed reliever Garrett Stallings from Triple-A Nashville. Lockridge has been out since a slide into the corner of a cement wall on May 8 created a deep gash on his right knee.
The moves also fill out the Brewers' 26-man roster following the trade with the Cleveland Guardians that sent right-handed reliever Craig Yoho and outfielder Blake Perkins to the Cleveland Guardians for right-handed reliever Codi Heuer and catcher Bo Naylor. Those two players have yet to report to the Brewers, which is likely to happen Sunday. They were already added to the 40-man roster, which had an opening to accommodate the activation of Lockridge.
Lockridge, acquired at last year's trade deadline from the San Diego Padres for left-hander Nestor Cortes and prospect shortstop Jorge Quintana, was slashing .294/.368/.341 with no homers and 12 RBIs in 28 games before he was injured.
Stallings is with the Crew for the third time this season and has yet to allow a run in five innings, giving up one hit with two walks and five strikeouts.
In a move made about 30 minutes before the first pitch of Tuesday's doubleheader, the Milwaukee Brewers placed infielder David Hamilton on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring. Infielder-outfielder Greg Jones had his contract selected from Triple-A Nashville and outfielder Brandon Lockridge (right knee laceration) was transferred to the 60-day injured list.
The Brewers also sent right-handed pitcher Carlos Rodriguez (right shoulder impingement) on a rehab assignment to Nashville.
Hamilton was injured in Monday's series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals as he rounded second base and stopped suddenly to go back to the bag instead of advancing to third base. Hamilton and his speed have been an integral part of the Brewers' offense despite a subpar .240/.317/.333 slash line. He has hit three homers and driven in 15 in 74 games, while stealing a team-high 18 bases.
Jones is up for the second time this season. He appeared in 11 games and went 2-for-21. Jones has the ability to play infield, which would cover for Hamilton's absence, as well as the outfield.
The Milwaukee Brewers' stolen base leader is back in the fold. Just what role he plays now is a question.
Infielder David Hamilton was activated off the 10-day injured list Friday by the Brewers, with infielder Braden Shewmake designated for assignment.
Hamilton went on the IL July 7 with a strained left hamstring after having to quickly stop and scurry back to second base in the game the day before. He played in two rehab games before being activated for the Brewers' series against the Colorado Rockies.
Hamilton has been an offensive spark plug, putting up a slash line of .240/.317/.333 with three home runs, 15 RBIs and a team-high 18 stolen bases, while also being a good defender while seeing most of his time at third base. But that situation has changed with Joey Ortiz being more productive offensively at third base and rookie Cooper Pratt the full-time shortstop. Hamilton, in addition to backing up both of those positions, could give Brice Turang an occasional break at second base.
Shewmake was acquired by the Brewers on July 12 after being DFA'd by the Houston Astros as he was seen as an upgrade over Greg Jones, who was DFA'd to make room for Shewmake. Shewmake appeared in just four games, going 2-for-7, with both hits coming in Saturday's 8-6 win over the Miami Marlins. His big moment was a double that started a four-run sixth-inning rally in which he also scored, then also singled and scored in a two-run seventh. He also had a sacrifice fly in the game.
Fans always hope that key prospects will play their way onto the major-league roster, even if in reality they might not be ready for that move.
That is one way to summarize the moves the Milwaukee Brewers executed Monday. The Crew reassigned top prospect Jesus Made, an 18-year-old shortstop who is a consensus top-four prospect in all of baseball, to minor-league camp and optioned catcher Jeferson Quero, their catcher of the future, to Triple-A Nashville.
Made, who has rocketed through the Brewers' system since being part of the international signing class in January 2024, has posted a .320/.370/.400 slash line (8-for-25) this spring in 10 Cactus League games. After making his pro debut in 2024 in the Dominican Summer League with a .331/.458/.554 slash line with six homers, 28 RBIs, and 28 steals in 51 games. He then began 2025 at Low A Carolina and moved up to High A Wisconsin before finishing with five games at Double-A Biloxi, putting together a .285/.379/.413 with six homers, 61 RBIs, and 47 steals in 115 games. That should line him up to start 2026 at Biloxi.
Quero, meanwhile, has battled injuries the last two seasons, which have sapped his status in prospect rankings. Once a top-100 prospect, the 23-year-old sustained a right labrum injury in the first game of 2024 and missed the rest of the season. In 2025, he had a hamstring and a mild left shoulder sprain. Those two injuries limited him to 69 games, but he still produced a .285/.379/.413 slash line with 11 homers and 57 RBIs. Many analysts cited that his arm strength hadn't totally recovered from his 2024 labrum injury, but the rest of his defensive skills are still elite. This is Quero's last option year, unless there is an appeal due to him missing virtually all of 2024 to get him a fourth option.
The Milwaukee Brewers already landed the postseason hardware they were seeking. Now, some players are starting to haul in some trophies of their own.
Just days after winning the World Series, second baseman Brice Turang and left fielder Jackson Chourio each won NL Gold Gloves on Sunday. For Turang, it was his second Gold Glove, having also won in 2024 when he snagged the Platinum Glove as the NL's top overall defender regardless of position. Chourio's Gold Glove was the first of his three-year career.
Turang, in his fourth MLB season, made just five errors in 593 chances at second base, seeing time at the position in 151 games, including 148 starts. He also led the NL with 219 putouts and was tops in MLB at the position with 91 double plays. His 15 total zone rating led MLB, according to Baseball Reference
In 151 games (148 starts) at second base, Turang had a .992 fielding percentage, with a career-low five errors in 593 chances. He led the NL with 219 putouts and MLB with 91 double plays. He also led MLB with 15 total zone field runs above average, per Baseball Reference, and 19 outs above average, per Statcast.
Chourio has made a remarkable improvement in his defense since breaking into the majors. While he has made just two errors, both in center field in 2025, during his three seasons, his paths to balls and reluctance to make certain plays marked the early portion of his young career. Not this year. Chourio looked like a defensive star in left field this year and even his 13 appearances in center. But in 123 games (112 starts) in left, he caught all 199 fly balls and liners, while notching eight assists for a .989 fielding percentage. He had eight total zone field runs above average and seven OAA.
Chourio halted the four-year run of Ian Happ of the Chicago Cubs as the NL Gold Glove left fielder.
Both players are now eligible to win the NL Platinum Glove, which will be announced Friday.
After receiving NL MVP votes a year ago, a star player for the World Series champion Milwaukee Brewers has a much better finish on tap in 2026.
Brewers second baseman Brice Turang was named Monday as one of the top three finishers in NL MVP voting. The other two are Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani has won the last two NL MVPs and three straight including his final year with the AL's Los Angeles Angels. He has won an MVP in four of the last five years.
Crow-Armstrong is the expected NL MVP after putting up a 40-40 season for the Cubs, who finished second to the Brewers in the NL Central. The Brewers have won the last four division titles.
Turang made a big jump offensively last year, hitting 18 homers and driving in 81, then finishing 14th in NL MVP voting. This year, he added more consistent power and was a run producer. He had career highs of 21 homers and 100 RBIs, which led the Brewers, while having a slash line of .268/.366/.450.
Turang, who won his second NL Gold Glove on Sunday, is the first Brewers player to be among the top three for NL MVP since Christian Yelich won in 2018 and finished second in 2019.
It only took one minor-league rehab assignment for the Milwaukee Brewers to determine that Cooper Pratt was ready to return.
The Brewers activated the rookie shortstop from the 10-day injured list Wednesday and he was expected back in the lineup for tonight's game against the Seattle Mariners. Pratt has been out since Aug. 9 with a strained right hamstring. Outfielder Brandon Lockridge was optioned to Triple-A Nashville to make room on the 26-man roster. Also, infielder-outfielder Jihwan Bae cleared waivers and was outrighted to Nashville. Bae has the choice to accept the assignment or become a free agent.
The 22-year-old Pratt made his only rehab appearance Tuesday for the High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, going 1-for-2 with an RBI on a sacrifice fly and a run scored. He played seven innings on defense, batting second. He has been a nice contributor offensively in his first 44 MLB games since his debut in June, putting together a .272/.352/.368 slash line with two homers, 17 RBIs and 10 steals. His return allows Joey Ortiz and David Hamilton to resume their platoon at third base and not having to shift second baseman Brice Turang over to his natural position of shortstop, a spot he has played sparingly in the majors.
Lockridge returned Aug. 1 from a gruesome knee laceration he sustained while sliding into a concrete wall attempting to catch a foul ball May 8. He has played in 10 games since, going 2-for-14. He will get regular playing time at Triple-A and a top candidate to be called up when rosters expand Sept. 1. For the season, Lockridge is slashing .273/.345/.313 with no homers, 12 RBIs and six stolen bases.
The first health obstacle has jumped into Cooper Pratt's MLB career.
The rookie shortstop was placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained right hamstring Sunday by the Milwaukee Brewers, who signed infielder-outfielder Ji Hwan Bae to a minor-league contract and called him up to the majors. Left-handed reliever Drew Rom was designated for assignment.
It was not immediately clear when Pratt was injured as he played all nine innings of Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Minnesota Twins, although manager Pat Murphy said Pratt did have an MRI on the hammy. Pratt is slashing .272/.352/.368 with two homers, 17 RBIs and 10 steals in his first 44 MLB games since making his debut in June. Hamstring injuries can often be slow to heal, depending on their severity.
Bae was recently released from Triple-A by the New York Mets, having put up a .257/.360/.368 slash line with five homers, 32 RBIs and 36 steals in 91 games. He last appeared in the majors in 2025 with the Pittsburgh Pirates and has a career slash line of .223/.294/.293 in 163 games over four MLB seasons, all with the Pirates. He has split his time this year between second base and the outfield and has just three games of MLB experience at shortstop.
That means that David Hamilton, who started at shortstop Sunday, and Joey Ortiz, who was the Opening Day shortstop and the starter until Pratt was called up, will replace Pratt. However, Ortiz is battling neck tightness that forced him out of Saturday's game and kept him out of Sunday's lineup. Top infielder prospect Jett Williams, who is at Triple-A Nashville, is battling wrist soreness and was just sent to Arizona.
Coleman Crow's much-anticipated MLB debut is happening.
The right-hander was called up from Triple-A Nashville by the Milwaukee Brewers and will start Friday's series opener on the road against the Miami Marlins. Right-handed reliever Easton McGee was sent back to Nashville.
Coleman Crow will make his debut and start tonight's game! #ThisIsMyCrew x @TMobile
The 25-year-old Crow, the No. 23 prospect by Brewer Fanatic, was acquired by the Crew from the New York Mets for right-hander Adrian Houser and center fielder Tyrone Taylor in December 2023. At the time, he was recovering from Tommy John surgery. It was the second time the Crow had been traded that year. Originally a 28th-round draft choice of the Los Angeles Angels, the Mets acquired him and another minor-leaguer for third baseman Eduardo Escobar. He underwent Tommy John surgery shortly thereafter.
Crow did not pitch again until representing the Brewers in the 2024 Arizona Fall League, then made his organizational debut in 2025, appearing in 10 games for Double-A Biloxi and two for Nashville. In those 10 starts at Biloxi, he had a 2.51 ERA and a 0.907 WHIP with eight walks and 52 strikeouts in 43 innings.
In three appearances (two starts) at Nashville this year, Crow had a 4.02 ERA with 18 strikeouts and five walks in 15⅔ innings.
It remains to be seen if this is a spot start for Crow or if he will be up longer. Left-handed starter Kyle Harrison has been dealing with a wrist issue since his falling during his last start.
McGee appeared in just one game with the Brewers, pitching a perfect ninth inning a week ago Friday in a 7-3 loss to the Washington Nationals.
Sunday's move to daylight saving time not only sprang the clock ahead an hour, but also took the Milwaukee Brewers a step closer to Opening Day.
And with that, another round of players being removed from major-league camp. The most notable move announced Sunday was optioning right-hander Coleman Crow to Triple-A Nashville. Two left-handers in camp as non-roster invitees, Tate Kuehner and Drew Rom, were reassigned to minor-league camp. There are 52 players left in camp.
Crow, in his first big-league camp since 2023, when he was with the Los Angeles Angels, pitched six innings in three appearances, including one start this spring. He posted a 4.50 ERA with no walks and three strikeouts. The 25-year-old, acquired in December 2023 in a trade for right-hander Adrian Houser and center fielder Tyrone Taylor after having Tommy John surgery, was a long shot to make the Brewers' starting rotation this spring, but is likely to make his MLB debut at some point in 2026.
Crow made 10 of his 12 starts in 2025 at Double-A Biloxi, with the other two at Triple-A Nashville. At Biloxi, he had a 2.51 ERA in 43 innings, walking eight and striking out 52. He had a 7.71 ERA in his two starts with the Sounds.
Kuehner turned a few heads in his two spring appearances, striking out four over three scoreless innings. He had a 2.51 ERA in 21 starts at Biloxi in 2025, and a 5.59 ERA in two Nashville starts. Rom struck out six and walked four in 3⅓ innings over three appearances for a 2,70 ERA.
The expected bad news is now official: Quinn Priester's season is over.
The Milwaukee Brewers' right-handed starter will have surgery to repair his thoracic outlet syndrome. Priester told reporters Thursday that he will have surgery Monday. Priester is expected to miss eight to 10 months, meaning the early portion of that timeline would have him completely healthy in spring training.
Priester was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome in spring training and had tried a number of things in an attempt to return to the mound. Priester pitched in eight minor-league games on rehab assignments, including the last two in the Arizona Complex League.
"I'm excited because this is a plan forward," Priester said.
Priester was a revelation after being acquired by the Brewers in April 2025. Picked up in a trade with the Boston Red Sox when the Brewers were desperate for starting pitching, Priester, who had been at Triple-A with Boston, jumped right into the major-league rotation and went 13-3 with a 4.01 FIP (3.32 ERA), walking 7.7% of batters and striking out 20.2%
Right-hander Brandon Woodruff, already a two-time Opening Day starter for the Milwaukee Brewers, was the logical choice to do the same for the 2026 season as the most accomplished pitcher on the staff.
But he and the Crew's medical staff are taking it cautiously with Big Woo following a strained right lat that sidelined him for most of the final two weeks of the regular season and all of the postseason. Woodruff threw a 33-pitch simulated game Monday, his first time facing live hitters since his final start of 2025 on Sept. 17.
That puts the 33-year-old, who accepted the $22.025 million qualifying offer to return to the Brewers, behind the other rotation candidates in camp and also makes his starting Opening Day on March 26 vs. the Chicago White Sox at American Family Field questionable.
“It’s up in the air right now,” Woodruff told Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. “I know that term’s used a lot. There’s one goal I have this year, and that’s to be healthy. I want to be available at the end of the year when it matters most. What that looks like early on, it could look a little bit different. Nothing’s set in concrete, though."
Woodruff returned from October 2023 shoulder surgery and a couple of minor setbacks while rehabbing to make his 2025 debut on July 6. All he did in 12 starts was rekindle the thoughts of Woodruff pre-shoulder surgery as he turned in a 3.17 FIP and 130 ERA+. His control, previously terrific, was the best of his career, walking just 5.4% of hitters. He also struck out 32.3% of batters, also the best of his eight-year career.
If Woodruff is unable to go, that would leave right-hander Quinn Priester and Jacob Misiorowski as the leading contenders to start Opening Day. Neither was in the majors last season on Opening Day.
The cruel reality of life at the end of a bullpen has bitten Bryse Wilson.
The right-hander was designated for assignment Saturday by the Milwaukee Brewers, who selected the contract of right-hander Lyon Richardson from Triple-A Nashville. Also, right fielder Sal Frelick was sent on a rehab assignment to Nashville as he comes back from a strained right shoulder.
Wilson was a bullpen-saver in Friday's 8-6 loss to open a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins. He went three shutout innings, allowing a hit and no walks, striking out two. It was his sixth appearance for the Crew, who signed Wilson after he had been DFA'd by the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs. In those six games, Wilson went 13⅔ innings with a 2.63 ERA, no walks and 10 strikeouts.
The Brewers' bullpen has been used heavily in recent days and the need was for a fresh arm. That brings in Richardson, who was signed to a minor-league deal in June after being DFA'd and released by the Cincinnati Reds. Richardson has appeared in 41 games for the Reds in the last four seasons, including two this year, with a 6.29 FIP (6.67 ERA) with a 14.6% walk rate and 17.2% strikeout rate.
Richardson is likely just a safety net as he can go multiple innings. The Brewers are awaiting the returns of right-hander Joel Kuhnel (right rotator cuff tendinopathy), left-hander JoJo Romero (appendectomy) and left-hander Rob Zastryzny (left upper trap strain) from the injured list. Kuhnel is on a rehab assignment, while Romero was acquired Monday from the St. Louis Cardinals. Also, right-hander Grant Anderson was sent down to Triple-A on Wednesday and can't return to the Brewers until 10 days pass unless he is an injury replacement.
The 2026 Bryse Wilson tour is making a stop in Milwaukee.
The right-handed reliever signed a major-league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday. Left-handed reliever Drew Rom was optioned to Triple-A Nashville and right-handed reliever Easton McGee was designated for assignment.
Not only is Wilson back with the Brewers for a second time in his career, but Milwaukee marks his third team in the past three weeks. Wilson was designated for assignment by the Philadelphia Phillies on June 22, then claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs two days later. The Cubs then DFA'd Wilson on Saturday and he went unclaimed and chose to become a free agent. Now he is with the Brewers, the team he pitched for in the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
As a former starter, Wilson provides length out of the bullpen. He has made just three relief appearances in the majors since being called up by the Phillies on June 18 after he triggered an upward-mobility clause in his contract. Wilson has pitched 9⅔ innings, allowing seven runs on 13 hits with two walks and eight strikeouts. No doubt he is looking to rediscover the magic he found with the Brewers, when he made 87 appearances (nine starts) over 181⅓ innings, posting a 4.68 FIP (3.42 ERA) with a 7% walk rate and 18.9% strikeout rate.
Rom made five appearances with the Crew, going 5⅔ innings, walking four (14.8%) and striking out 11 (40.7%).
McGee was on the verge of making the Brewers' Opening Day roster when they acquired Jake Woodford in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays. Instead, McGee was optioned to Triple-A, where he has spent most of the season. He was called up twice and made two appearances, allowing no runs on one hit with one walk and one strikeout.
The Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday sent the right-handed starter back to Triple-A Nashville following a spot start Friday. Right-handed reliever Peter Strzlecki was called up from Nashville. Also, the Brewers sent right-handed starter Quinn Priester on a rehab assignment to High-A Wisconsin.
This is the second time this season Crow has been called up to make one start and be sent back to the minors the next day. Both of his starts have shown that he has the staying power to remain in the Crew's rotation. But the Brewers are expected to have a bullpen game Sunday in the series finale vs. the Twins to give the starters an extra day of rest going into the big series against the Chicago Cubs.
Crow, Brewer Fanatic's No. 16 prospect, on Friday allowed one run on three hits and no walks with three strikeouts over five innings in a 3-2 win over the Minnesota Twins. His line was very similar in his MLB debut April 17 vs. the Miami Marlins.
Strzlecki will be making his season debut with the Brewers and pitching for the first time in the majors since 2024 with the Cleveland Guardians. He has made 16 appearances at Nashville this year with a 4.12 ERA in 19⅔ innings. He has walked four and struck out 20. Strzlecki made his MLB debut with the Brewers in 2022, appearing in 30 games and posting a 2.83 ERA.
Priester has been on the IL since March 25 with thoracic outlet syndrome in his right arm.
The Milwaukee Brewers on Monday activated the right-hander to start the series opener against the Cincinnati Reds. Left-handed reliever Drew Rom was optioned to Triple-A Nashville. Woodruff has been on the 15-day injured list since May 1 due to right shoulder inflammation.
The 33-year-old veteran, the oldest player on a very young starting rotation, will be making his seventh start of the season. In the prior six, he has logged 30 innings with seven walks and 25 strikeouts. Woodruff is four strikeouts away from 900 for his career.
Rom was called up June 6 and made four appearances, going 5⅓ innings with a 3.38 ERA with four walks and 10 strikeouts.