Milwaukee Brewers Minor League Relievers of the Month - May 2025

This was a strong month for relievers in the Brewers system, with quite a few making a strong case for this list, which means we will need to begin with a few honorable mentions:

HONORABLE MENTIONS

• LHP - Tyler Jay - Nashville Sounds - 7 G, 8.0 IP, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2.46 FIP, 1.12 WHIP, 6 H, 3 BB, 9 K
• RHP - Craig Yoho - Nashville Sounds - 7 G, 8.0 IP, 2-1, 2.25 ERA, 2.83 FIP, 1.38 WHIP, 6 H, 5 BB, 12 K, 1 SV
• RHP - Will Childers - Biloxi Shuckers - 9 G, 13.2 IP, 2-1, 2.63 ERA, 2.83 FIP, 1.38 WHIP, 6 H, 8 BB, 19 K, 1 SV
• RHP - Garrett Hodges - Carolina Mudcats - 6 G, 9.1 IP, 2-0, 0.96 ERA, 4.85 FIP, 1.07 WHIP, 1 H, 9 BB, 11 K

TOP FIVE RELIEF PITCHERS FOR MAY

#5 RHP - Justin Yeager - Biloxi Shuckers - 7 G, 9.1 IP, 1-1, 1.93 ERA, 1.51 FIP, 0.78 WHIP, 7 H, 2 BB, 12 K, 5 SV
Unranked by all publications

The third piece that the Brewers received in the infamous Esteury Ruiz-for-William Contreras and Joel Payamps trade, Yeager was drafted in the 33rd round by the Braves in 2019. His mid-90s fastball plays extremely well when he gets it up in the zone, due to an induced vertical break averaging close to 20 inches. Yeager’s cutter has more of a short slider shape, and sits in the 86-89 range with a lot of late bite to it. Both pitches can be above-average or better, but they can play down at times due to his lack of command.

In May, Yeager led the organization in saves, with five. He struck out 34.3% of the batters he faced and generated whiffs on 27% of swings. Yeager finished the month on a high note with a two-inning save on May 30 against Rocket City, not allowing a single baserunner and striking out three of the six batters he faced.

Now in his third season with the Brewers organization (and after a strong 2024), Yeager has somewhat surprisingly remained in Double A to begin 2025. Perhaps another strong month of May will change that.

#4 RHP - Tyler Bryant - Biloxi Shuckers - 9 G, 11.2 IP, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 3.12 FIP, 0.84 WHIP, 4 H, 6 BB, 10 K
Unranked by all publications

Tyler Bryant had his contract purchased by the Brewers from the Quebec Capitales of the Frontier League in June 2024. He split the rest of the season between Carolina and Wisconsin, pitching to a 1.82 ERA in 24 2/3 innings, striking out batters at a 32.4% rate. He was assigned to Double-A Biloxi to begin this season, where he got off to a slow start in April, before quickly turning things around in May.

Bryant is equipped with a fastball that borders on being a plus pitch, sitting in the 94-97 MPH range and touching 98. It is thrown from a very low release height, with around 16 inches of IVB. In spring training, it averaged a -3.8 Vertical Approach Angle. When he locates it up in the zone, it can be really difficult for hitters to square up. He also throws a slider and a curveball, both of which are thrown at similar velocities in the mid-80s, but with distinct shapes.

Bryant didn’t allow a single run in May, after giving up 12 in eight April innings. His strikeout rate of 23% and whiff rate of 25.4% were both average for the level, but he limited hard contact extremely well, which allowed him to work around a walk rate of 12.8%. Bryant’s May got off to a great start when he went 8 1/3 innings without allowing a single hit. 

Looking forward, if Bryant can continue to pitch similarly to how he did in May, he will be someone to watch as a potential big-league bullpen option in the next year or so. He has the stuff for it.

#3 RHP - Jack Seppings - Carolina Mudcats - 11 G, 9.0 IP, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2.95 FIP, 1.28 WHIP, 9 H, 5 BB, 13 K, 1 SV
Unranked by all publications

The Brewers signed Seppings as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 draft, out of Brown University. The right-hander had a four-inning stint with the Mudcats in 2024, and has returned there to begin 2025.

Seppings’s four-seam fastball sits in the 91-93 MPH range, with around 19 inches of IVB. He throws an 86-88 MPH cutter/slider that appears to have some similarities to Chad Patrick’s cutter, in that he seems to be capable of changing the shape of the pitch depending on whether he’s trying to get a whiff or to land it for a strike. He also throws a sweeper in the low 80s that he’s comfortable using in any count.

In May, Seppings worked around a lot of traffic on the bases, both in terms of hits and walks, to avoid allowing any runs. He struck out over 30% of batters he faced, and he was able to generate whiffs on 34.1% of swings. He recorded his lone save on the month on the 7th, working the final 3 1/3 innings of a 1-0 victory and striking out four along the way.

As a 22-year-old, Seppings is one who could be pushed to High-A if he continues to have productive months like he did in May.

#2 RHP - Zach Peek - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers - 10 G, 14.1 IP, 2-0, 2.19 ERA, 2.03 FIP, 1.14 WHIP, 9 H, 6 BB, 22 K, 1 SV
Unranked by all publications

Peek was a Minor League Rule 5 selection by the Brewers this past winter. Coming off numerous injuries, he had not pitched much in professional baseball over the last year and a half. He was sent to High-A Wisconsin this year, and has gotten off to a solid start, and a very strong May.

Peek throws several pitches, including a four-seam and a two-seam variation of the fastball. The fastball sits in the 91-93 MPH range and touches 95. He throws a slider in the mid-80s, and uses it quite a bit. The curveball is thrown in the 78-80 range, with a 12-6 shape. It’s a pitch he goes to when he’s looking for a strikeout against either lefties or righties. He also mixes in a mid-80s changeup that shows flashes of being an above-average pitch.

In May, Peek posted a 38.5% strikeout rate and a whiff rate of 29.5%. He was a multi-inning reliever multiple times during the month, and some of his best work happened in his final outing on the 31st, in which Peek threw two innings in extra innings. He allowed only one of the “Manfred Man” runners to score in extra innings, helping lead the Rattlers to an extra-inning win.

Peek is 27 years old. He should get a shot in Double A sooner, rather than later, and performances like the ones he had in May only make it more likely that will happen.

#1 LHP - Mark Manfredi - Biloxi Shuckers - 8 G, 10 IP, 0-0, 0.90 ERA, 1.43 FIP, 0.80 WHIP, 3 H , 5 BB, 16 K, 1 SV.
Unranked by all publications

The Brewers used their ninth-round pick in 2023 on this Dayton University left-hander. Manfredi was assigned to High-A Wisconsin in 2024, where he got off to a strong start but struggled with command down the stretch of the season. He did strike out 95 batters in 76 innings and showed flashes of brilliance in his long-relief role. 

His time in the Arizona Fall League did not go well, with the command issues catching up to him against higher-level offensive competition. He walked 13 in 5 1/3 innings and posted a 13.50 ERA in his time there. Manfredi’s velocity was down a couple of ticks in the AFL, and it’s possible he was just exhausted from his first full season of professional baseball. Despite his struggles, the Brewers still assigned him to Double-A Biloxi to start 2025.

Manfredi is working mostly around his fastball, which is sitting in the 93-96 MPH range and topping out at 97. His upper-80s changeup has been a big weapon for him, as well—especially against right-handed hitters. He rounds out his repertoire with a slider in the mid-80s that he uses mainly in matchups with lefties. 

Similar to Tyler Bryant, April did not go all that well for Manfredi, as he failed to find the strike zone with any regularity, walking 10 batters in only 6 1/3 innings pitched and posting an ERA over 7.00. May was a completely different story. 

Manfredi’s May was highlighted by striking out 44.4% of the batters he faced. His whiff rate of 31.6% was strong, as well. His month was highlighted by his first professional save on May 23, which was of the two-inning variety. He did not allow a hit, though he did walk two in the outing. The changeup mentioned earlier was the pitch he used to record the final out.

Manfredi’s command is going to continue to be a linchpin for his success, but when he is in and around the zone regularly, there is not a lot of hard contact and quite a few missed bats as well. 

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