Left-hander Angel Zerpa won't be pitching again for the Milwaukee Brewers until 2027.
The reliever will undergo Tommy John surgery on his left elbow Monday. Tommy John surgery is typically a 12- to 15-month recovery, making an early target for Zerpa's return the All-Star break of next season.
Angel Zerpa is having left UCL reconstruction surgery with Dr. Keith Meister next week. He will be out until spring/summer 2027, the Brewers anticipate.
Zerpa was a big offseason acquisition, coming over in a trade from the Kansas City Royals for outfielder Isaac Collins and right-handed reliever Nick Mears. Zerpa showed out in the World Baseball Classic for Venezuela, pitching 5⅓ scoreless innings over six appearances, allowing three hits with two walks and eight strikeouts.
That performance raised expectations going into his first season with the Brewers as another potential late-inning weapon. Zerpa didn't allow a run in his first four appearances covering 4⅔ innings, walking two and striking out three. He then allowed runs in three straight and six of his next eight before hitting the 15-day injured list last week.
Zerpa has a 5.35 FIP (6.39 ERA) in those 12 games with 10.9% walk and 14.5% strikeout rates, both worse than his career numbers (7.2% and 19.4%).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
With the success the Milwaukee Brewers have had in recent seasons, it is only natural for other teams to come calling when they have vacancies, whether it is in the front office or the coaching staff.
Matt Kleine, the Brewers' assistant general manager, has been a popular name the last two years. Kleine is "a serious candidate" to take over the Houston Astros' baseball operations, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale.
The Astros terminated the contract of general manager Dana Brown on Aug. 24. Brown's deal was scheduled to expire following the season.
Kleine has been the top assistant to president of baseball operations Matt Arnold. He joined the Brewers as a scout in 2007, following a brief internship with the Astros. Kleine climbed his way up the ladder and has been a member of the baseball ops staff since 2014. He became the assistant GM after the 2023 season.
Kleine will have to figure out whether he wants the top job while working for an owner, Jim Crane, who has been heavy-handed in personnel moves.
With the full squad having reported to Phoenix for spring training, it was time for manager Pat Murphy to set the tone for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2026. He did so in a speech to his players, some of which was provided via the team's social media channels.
It was Murph at his finest. Leaning into what made the Crew so good in a 2025 that saw the team post the best record in MLB at 97-65, win their third straight NL Central title and advance to the NL Championship Series, where they were swept by the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
Among Murphy's nuggets:
"We found out what matters is who's in this room."
"We're about people, we're about team."
"We don't worry about what anybody thinks. (If) we stick to our standard, then you'll have another incredible season. ... And don't be shocked."
But enough writing, listen to how Murphy delivered his words:
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%
While the decision isn't much of a surprise, we now know more about the injury sidelining Milwaukee Brewers right-handed starter Quinn Priester.
The 25-year-old will begin the season on the injured list due to right wrist discomfort, manager Pat Murphy said Thursday. Murphy gave more detail on the ailment, saying it is "in that (thoracic outlet syndrome) family."
Priester has not pitched in a game this spring, and beginning the season on the IL had been assumed before Murphy confirmed that move Thursday. Priester first reported discomfort in his right wrist in August.
The Brewers are hoping Priester can avoid surgery, with the symptoms being addressed by treatment.
Priester threw lightly off a mound Thursday, with a more rigorous session slated for March 21, which is just before the March 26 season opener.
"Often, thoracic outlet requires surgery," Murphy said. "But in this case, we’re not there. We’re feeling like there’s a chance that he’s going to come through this.”
Priester went 13-3 with a 4.01 FIP (3.32 ERA) in 2025 after being acquired from the Boston Red Sox in April. That included a stretch in which the Brewers won 19 straight appearances by Priester, 16 of those starts. He set a club record with a 12-game winning streak.
That came as a result of Los Angeles Dodgers superstar first baseman Freddie Freeman withdrawing from a third appearance with Canada in the WBC due to personal reasons.
Black, a first and third baseman who has also played a little left field, ranks 24th among Brewers prospects. While having a solid .270/.399/.442 slash line with 42 homers and 222 RBIs across five minor-league seasons, Black has only seen 23 games of action at the MLB level with the Brewers, with a .211/.357/.263 slash line.
Canada has never advanced out of pool play in its five WBC appearances.
MLBTR is reporting that this offseason's cutoff for Super Two arbitration eligibility will be around two years and 139-140 days.
Super Two status in Major League Baseball is a special designation that allows a select group of players to become eligible for salary arbitration one year earlier than the typical eligibility requirement. To qualify, a player must rank in the top 22% (rounded to the nearest whole number) of total Major League service time among all players who have between two and three years of service.
In short, Brice Turang will be eligible for arbitration this offseason instead of being on a rookie minimum salary.
The team's most valuable player in 2025, Turang carried a .749 OPS with 18 home runs, 81 RBIs, and 24 stolen bases. He led the team in bWAR (5.5), runs (97), home runs, and runs batted in. He was also recognized as a National League Silver Slugger finalist at the Keystone.
How do you think this impacts the Brewers' offseason plans?
Perhaps superstar is a bit much, but it's undeniable that Brice Turang has been one of the best second basemen in baseball over the past two years. In 2025, he posted a 124 wRC+ and accumulated 4.4 fWAR, both marks placing him fourth amongst all second basemen. Although his defensive prowess took a step back last season, it has only been a year since he was the National League's Platinum Glove award winner.
Turang joins a growing list of exceptional baseball talent and was part of the latest batch of players to officially join the team, along with Kyle Schwarber, Gunnar Henderson, and Will Smith. The roster and depth chart are far from complete, but there's a solid chance that Turang ends up as the starting second baseman for all, if not most, of the tournament. He could split time with Nico Hoerner if he ends up participating as well, but Brewers fans can expect to see plenty of Turang on the international stage regardless.
It's a well-deserved honor for the 26-year-old and also begs the question, what other Brewers will be participating in the World Baseball Classic? Freddy Peralta hasn't officially announced his commitment, but has expressed a strong desire to represent the Dominican Republic. Neither William Contreras nor Jackson Chourio played for Venezuela in 2023, but they could be key parts of their lineup in 2026. Sal Frelick competed for Italy but hasn't confirmed his return to the team.
One of the biggest struggles for teams in the past has been assembling a quality pitching staff, as the best arms are typically still ramping up when the tournament starts in early March. So far, Paul Skenes is the only pitcher who has decided to play for Team USA, and depending on the willingness of other top names like Tarik Skubal and Garrett Crochet to join him, the Brewers could send a few of their own. Quinn Priester and Jacob Misiorowski would be the top two candidates, but Chad Patrick or Tobias Myers could provide some solid value as well.
Brock Wilken, third baseman for the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers, has been named the Brewers Minor League Player of the Month.
Wilken, the Brewers' first-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft out of Wake Forest, was outstanding at the plate in May. He posted a .938 OPS with nine home runs in the month while carrying a very respectable .368 on-base percentage. Thirteen of his 22 hits on the month went for extra bases. Wilken has logged most of his time at the hot corner in 2025, starting 39 of his 51 games there.
You can view Wilken's scouting report and stats on our prospect profile page:
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.
While the Milwaukee Brewers as a team didn't bring home any postseason hardware, one of their players may need to make room on their mantles for an individual award.
The Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) announced its award finalists on Monday, including Caleb Durbin as a Rookie of the Year finalist.
Durbin appeared in 105 games primarily at second base and shortstop. He finished the year with a .785 OPS, including nine home runs, and totaled 48 runs scored. He also swiped 22 bases. Overall, Durbin registered a .345 weighted On-Base Average (wOBA), resulting in a 121 wRC+. Defensively, Durbin was credited with +5 Outs Above Average (OAA) at second base, which would have ranked 7th in baseball had he had enough innings to qualify.
Do you think he will win the award? Let us know in the comments!
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 Milwaukee Brewers have brought Coleman Crow back up. Now the question is: Will this be for more than one game?
The right-hander was called up by the Brewers from Triple-A Nashville to start Friday's series opener against the Minnesota Twins. Left-handed reliever Brian Fitzpatrick was sent down to Nashville. Also, outfielder Akil Baddoo was sent to Nashville to begin a rehab assignment. Baddoo strained his left quad in spring training.
For Crow, this will be his second start after making his MLB debut April 17 on the road against the Miami Marlins. He went 5⅓ innings, allowing two runs on four hits with a walk and four strikeouts. But that was a spot start and he went back down to Nashville the next day.
This move could last at least a little while. Right-hander Chad Patrick was in the Opening Day rotation, but has made his last two appearances and three out of his last five out of the bullpen. Patrick proved very effective in that role in the postseason last year and still gives the Brewers some length out of the bullpen.
Crow has made five starts and one relief appearance at Nashville, where he compiled a 4.70 ERA, walking 13 and striking out 34 in 30⅔ innings.
Fitzpatrick also made his MLB debut with the Crew this year with very good results. Thus far, he has made four appearances out of the bullpen, covering 5⅔ innings with three walks and four strikeouts.
Baddoo signed a split contract with the Brewers in the offseason after five seasons with the Detroit Tigers, where he had been a Rule 5 draft pick. He has a career .224/.305/.369 slash line, including a .259/.330/.436 mark with 13 homers, 55 RBIs and 18 steals as a rookie in 2021. But as the Tigers were infused with prospects, his playing time diminished to just seven games in the majors last year.
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.
What is a reliever's reward for a stellar three-inning performance that saved other bullpen members?
For right-hander Garrett Stallings, it is a trip back to the minors, but with great appreciation. Such is the life at the back end of the bullpen. Stallings was optioned back to Triple-A Nashville on Friday by the Milwaukee Brewers, who called up left-hander Colton Gordon from the Sounds.
Stallings turned in his second three-inning outing in his most recent call-up in Thursday's 7-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Stallings did not allow a run while striking out six and allowing just one hit and one walk. He hasn't allowed a run in any of his six appearances with the Brewers this year over 14 innings, giving up just four hits with 17 strikeouts and five walks, perhaps putting himself in the conversation for a spot on the postseason roster.
Gordon comes up for the first time since the Brewers acquired him with Lance McCullers Jr. and cash on July 15 for minor-league outfielder Jadyn Fielder. Gordon has appeared in 24 MLB games with the Astros, including 15 starts. Only four of those appearances and one start came this year, allowing 12 runs in 9⅓ innings with three walks and 11 strikeouts. At Triple-A Nashville this year, he has made 10 starts and pitched 54 innings, with a 4.69 ERA, 6.1% walk rate and 20.9% strikeout rate.
Meanwhile, the Brewers on Thursday designated left-hander reliever Rob Zastryzny for assignment. He was on the 15-day injured list due to a left trapezius strain and out on a rehab assignment.
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.
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.
Devin Williams is slated to hit free agency after the 2025 season. Williams struggled with the Yankees, posting a 4.79 ERA – nearly three full runs over his career record with Milwaukee – and being demoted from the closer’s role, with the Bronx Bombers turning to David Bednar and Luke Weaver to fill the slot.
That being said, with the Brewers showing they can give pitchers new life (Jose Quintana being the latest example), it may behoove them to see if Williams would like to return. They’ve done this before with a closer – see Jeremy Jeffress, who ended up performing well for the Crew after having a rough time of it elsewhere.
Adding Williams back for at least 2026 could also be a good thing for Craig Yoho, who struggled in some of his appearances with Milwaukee in 2025. Yoho could stick in Triple-A Nashville for some more seasoning and adjustments – while also putting off further additions to his service time – and it could also help manage his innings.
Given Pat Murphy’s tendency to lean heavily on reliable arms, having Williams, who had an excellent track record with the Crew, may be a good way to avoid overuse of Abner Uribe, Jared Koenig, Trevor Megill, Grant Anderson, and Nick Mears as well as giving Yoho the chance to develop.
As for Williams, a return to the Ueck would be a chance to show that 2025 is an aberration. A one-year deal (maybe with a mutual option for 2027) could be just the thing to set him up for a better free-agent deal.
The Brewers need arms Pat Murphy can trust. Williams needs a chance to bounce back from an off year. A 2026 reunion would be a potential win-win for both parties.
Get ready, Milwaukee Brewers fans. It is less than a month until the three-time defending NL Central champions are back at American Family Fields of Phoenix.
Official report dates were announced, with the Crew pitchers and catchers due Feb. 12 and the first full-squad workout Feb. 17. Players in the Brewers' system who are playing in the World Baseball Classic have report dates of Feb. 11 and Feb. 12, respectively, regardless of their organization. Players often report early, especially those bouncing back from injuries or just wanting to get extra work in.
The first Brewers exhibition game is March 21, when they host the Cleveland Guardians. The Brewers also host WBC participant Great Britain on March 3, while the annual prospect showcase, Spring Breakout, will feature the Brewers traveling to the Seattle Mariners in Peoria, Ariz., on March 20. The Brewers' last home game in Arizona is the next day, March 21, against the San Diego Padres, with March 22 vs. the Chicago Cubs the last game in the desert at Mesa, Ariz.
The Brewers will face the Cincinnati Reds in two exhibition games in Milwaukee on March 23-24.
Opening Day for the Crew is March 26 vs. the Chicago White Sox at American Family Field.