Steve Drumwright

A pretty good overall outing that had a clunker of an ending ended the regular season for left-hander Colton Gordon. Gordon was optioned to Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday by the Brewers, who selected the contract of right-hander Lyon Richardson from Nashville. With the Triple-A season over and Gordon going five innings in Tuesday's 6-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies, it is unlikely he returns unless an injury prompts an activation for Sunday's regular-season finale. The Brewers had an opening on their 40-man roster to accommodate Richardson. Gordon, acquired from the Houston Astros in the Lance McCullers Jr. trade on July 15, made his Brewers debut and was having a very good game before the Phillies scored three runs (two earned) off him, with the help of a bad break, in the bottom of the eighth to snap a 3-3 tie. Gordon had not allowed a hit in his first four innings, then gave up four straight in the eighth. He walked one and struck out one. Richardson is back for his second stint with the Brewers this year. Signed as a minor-league free agent after being designated for assignment by the Cincinnati Reds in early June, Richardson pitched 1⅔ hitless innings vs. the San Diego Padres in his only Brewers appearance Aug. 10, walking one and striking out one. He was DFA'd by the Brewers (he is out of minor-league options) and remained in the organization. View full rumor

Image courtesy of Wisconsin Timber Rattlers In its first season of existence, the Wilson Warbirds’ record reflected their final rankings in the Carolina League stat leaders. The Warbirds, the Milwaukee Brewers’ affiliate who were previously the Carolina Mudcats, finished second in the North Division’s first half and fourth in the second half. They had one of the league’s best offenses, putting up the second-most runs and the fourth-most homers. But the pitching was another story. Despite some nice individual performances, the Warbirds were 10th in the 12-team league in ERA (5.39) and 11th in opponent batting average (.255). With a lot of the key prospects in the Brewer Fanatic Top 20 at higher levels to begin the season, the Warbirds still had plenty of contributions throughout the season. That started with shortstop Brady Ebel, the Brewers’ first-round compensation pick (32nd overall) in 2025. The 19-year-old put together a .261/.417/.420 slash line with 10 homers, 68 RBIs and a team-high 39 stolen bases in 105 games before getting moved up to the High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. Trey Ebel, Brady’s younger brother, was the Brewers’ first-round draft choice this year (25th overall) and made his pro debut with the Warbirds, playing in 13 games with a slash line of .190/.424/.286 with a homer and five RBIs. Jose Anderson, a 19-year-old center fielder who was signed as an international free agent in 2024, emerged as a power threat with a team-high 23 homers despite a .173/.272/.389 slash line in 103 games that included 70 RBIs. He had hit 19 homers in 140 games over the previous two seasons. Another outfielder, 18-year-old Brailyn Antunez, had a terrific season, including 34 games with the Warbirds, where he put up a .339/.450/.573 slash line, hitting seven homers, driving in 33 runs and stealing 10 bases. On the pitching side, right-hander Jarrette Bonet, an undrafted free agent signed in 2025, led the team with 100 strikeouts and 109⅓ innings while posting a 4.86 ERA. None of the five pitchers who made double-digit starts for the Warbirds had a strikeout total that was greater than their innings pitched. One reliever who had a nice stint with the Warbirds was left-hander Jose Meneses, who had a 1.88 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 38⅓ innings over 23 games before earning a trip up to the Timber Rattlers. One good story to note would be the appearance of left-handed starter Frank Cairone in a Warbirds uniform. Cairone, the 19-year-old who was the Brewers’ second-round draft pick in 2025, was involved in a serious car accident in mid-January and made a tremendous recovery to appear in an Arizona Complex League game July 2. After four games there, he made it into one game with the Warbirds. Stats don’t matter in this story. It was the comeback for someone who had thought his pro baseball career might be over before it began that was important. Stat Leaders League: Carolina League North Division First half: 36-30, second place, 10 GB, plus-15 run differential Second half: 28-36, fourth place, 11 GB, minus-71 run differential Hitting leaders (20 games minimum) Average: Brailyn Antunez .339, Carsten Sabathia .288, Luis Lameda .270 Slugging percentage: Antunez .573, Rylan Mills .483, Sabathia .466 OPS: Antunez 1.023, Sabathia .847, Mills .839 Runs: Handelfry Encarnacion 75, Brady Ebel 74, Juan Ortuno 71 HRs: Jose Anderson 23, Mills 14, Encarnacion 12 RBIs: Encarnacion 71, Anderson 70, B.Ebel 68 Pitching leaders (10 games minimum) ERA: Jose Meneses 1.88, Anfernny Reyes 2.05, Peyton Niksch 2.70 Strikeouts: Jarrette Bonet 100, Carlos Carra 93, Tyler Renz 87 WHIP: Garrett Hodges 0.89, Reyes 0.91, Menses 0.99 Opponent average: Reyes .080, Hodges .117, Reyes .181 Wins: Bonet 8, Thomas Conrad 5, Meneses 5, Enderson Mercado 5, Joshua Quezada 5 Saves: Meneses 6, Quezada 5, Joey Broughton 2, Niksch 2, Eric Prado 2, Hayden Robinson 2 View full article

Image courtesy of Wisconsin Timber Rattlers It was a conundrum of a 2026 season for the High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. The Timber Rattlers finished second in the first half of the Midwest League’s West Division at 34-48, but had a minus-31 run differential. In the second half, the T-Rats had a better record at 38-31 and a much better run differential at plus-74, but finished fourth in the division. Overall, they had the third-best record in the West and fifth-best in the Midwest League, but that didn’t yield a playoff spot. Wisconsin had the third-highest batting average, second-best OPS, scored the third-most runs, tied for third in stolen bases. Pitching was another story. The Timber Rattlers were 10th in the 12-team league in ERA, struck out the second-fewest and had the ninth-worst opponent batting average. There was plenty of talent at Wisconsin. Shortstop Luis Pena (Brewer Fanatic’s No. 2 prospect), left fielder Josh Adamczewski (No. 3 prospect), outfielder Braylon Payne (No. 4), corner infielder Andrew Fischer (No. 5 prospect), catcher Marco Dinges (No. 11 prospect) all started the season with the Rattlers, while shortstop and 2025 second-round pick Brady Ebel (No. 7 prospect), 2026 second-round outfielder Sawyer Strosnider (No. 15 prospect) joined the roster late in the season, well after the others were promoted to Double-A Biloxi. That core made for some excitement. Most notably, of course, was Fischer, who smashed the first 20 of his 48 regular-season homers, which led all of the minors, in 54 games with the Timber Rattlers. He is the first Brewers prospect to lead the minors in homers since Bill Foley had 34 in 1978 with Class A Burlington. Fischer had a 1.118 OPS with the T-Rats. Left-handed starter Wande Torres also made a nice step this season. The 21-year-old, signed back in 2022 as an international free agent and sidelined all of 2023 with a back injury, finished with 131 strikeouts (after two relief appearances at Biloxi), which ranks third in the Brewers’ system, and logged 122⅓ innings, also third. Right-handed starter Ethan Dorchies, a 10th-round pick in 2024, also made his mark with 101 strikeouts in 113 innings. Pena had a couple of scary incidents. The 19-year-old, who played in the Futures Game, was sidelined a month after becoming dehydrated and passing out in the dugout of a game in late April. He then missed two weeks in June due to a hamstring injury. He had a slash line of .298/.384/.420 with two homers, 23 RBIs and 27 steals in 51 games before being promoted to Biloxi in mid-August. Stat Leaders League: Midwest League West Division First half: 34-28, second place, 5 GB, minus-31 run differential Second half: 38-31, fourth place, 6½ GB, plus-74 run differential Hitting leaders (20 games minimum) Average: Josh Adamczewski .331, Josiah Ragsdale .327, Andrew Fischer .298 Slugging percentage: Fischer .675, Adamczewski .572, Braylon Payne .561 OPS: Fischer 1.118, Adamczewski 1.036, Ragsdale .975 Runs: Eric Bitonti 93, Daniel Dickinson 83, Payne 71 HRs: Bitonti 25, Payne 23, Luis Castillo 20, Fischer 20 RBIs: Castillo 90, Bitonti 88, Dickinson 66 Pitching leaders (10 games minimum) ERA: Michael Fowler 2.41, Jose Meneses 2.89, Garrett Hodges 3.38 Strikeouts: Wande Torres 126, Ethan Dorchies 101, Braylon Owen 79 WHIP: Meneses 1.13, Fowler 1.21, Owens 1.27 Opponent average: Meneses .129, Fowler .184, Hodges .189 Wins: Torres 9, Chandler Welch 7, Travis Smith 6 Saves: Fowler 6, Yerlin Rodriguez 4, Daniel Corniel 3, Bjorn Johnson 3 View full article

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. View full rumor

When it comes to the Arizona Fall League, there is a mix of players who teams want to see perform against other top prospects and others who need extra reps after injuries took away innings or at-bats during the season. The Milwaukee Brewers are sending seven players to the Arizona Fall League, led by center fielder Braylon Payne, Brewer Fanatic's No. 4 prospect. Payne, the Brewers' first-round draft pick in 2024 who just turned 20 a month ago, is the only member of our Top 20 heading to the AFL. Others who will participate in the showcase are corner infielder Eric Bitonti, catcher Matt Wood, left-hander Jose Meneses and right-handers Ryan Birchard, Miqueas Mercedes and Josh Quezada. They will play for the Scottsdale Scorpions. Payne has had a breakout season in 2026. He spent the first five-plus months of the season with the High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, then spent the final month at Double-A Biloxi. Combined, he put up a .277/.358/.552 slash line with 28 homers, 67 RBIs and 25 RBIs in 102 games. Bitonti, the Brewers' third-round draft choice in 2023, posted a .262/.378/.507 slash line with 25 homers and 93 RBIs with 24 stolen bases in 117 games, 111 with Wisconsin and six with Biloxi. View full rumor

An injury to a valuable bullpen arm has paved the return of a young starter. The Milwaukee Brewers on Monday called up right-hander Brandon Sproat from Triple-A Nashville as they put right-handed reliever Grant Anderson on the 15-day injured list with inflammation in his right biceps. Anderson pitched 2⅔ scoreless innings in Sunday's 12-8 loss to the Cincinnati Reds, only giving up one hit, while walking two and striking out two. Anderson is one of the key relievers to the Crew's B bullpen, the relievers deployed in blowout wins and losses, able to cover multiple innings. He has a 4.32 FIP (3.36 ERA) with a 9.8% walk rate and 22.1% strikeout rate. Sproat returns after struggling in the starting rotation and being sent down to Nashville to sort things out. After a very rough first game with the Sounds, allowing six runs on eight hits over four innings on Aug. 4, Sproat followed that up with four of his five outings being scoreless. He pitched a combined 18 innings at Nashville, allowing eight runs on 12 hits with 10 walks and 27 strikeouts. Sproat could step into the rotation spot held by left-hander Kyle Harrison, who has had trouble commanding his fastball. Manager Pat Murphy said a shift to the bullpen was likely in Harrison's future as the Brewers try to shape up their pitching plan for the postseason. The Brewers entered Monday's opener of a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs with the best record in baseball at 88-56 and a seven-game lead over the second-place Cubs in the NL Central. View full rumor

While there is a huge qualifier to this announcement, it still deserves its proper space. The Milwaukee Brewers will begin Cactus League play on Feb. 19 with a home game at American Family Fields of Phoenix against the Los Angeles Angels. The Crew will play 32 exhibition games, 15 at home. All 30 teams will play that same day. The Brewers will conclude Cactus League play with games March 22-23 against the rival Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park in Mesa, Ariz., before opening the 2027 season at home vs. the Angels on March 25. And now for the line that has to be included with any story about the start of the 2027 MLB season: Everything is dependent on owners and the MLB Players Association reaching a deal on a new collective bargaining agreement. The last time the owners locked out the players was 2022, with an agreement reached March 10, just three weeks before the scheduled start of the regular season. View full rumor

The Joel Kuhnel experience has come to an end. Kuhnel was designated for assignment by the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday. Kuhnel had been on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder impingement since July 4. He had been on a rehab assignment since Aug. 2, but with that 30-day period expiring, the Brewers activated him from the IL and DFA'd him. The Brewers' 40-man roster stands at 38. Kuhnel, who doesn't have minor-league options remaining, hits the waiver wire and could be claimed. If he goes unclaimed, he could be assigned to Triple-A Nashville, be released or become a free agent. But the results haven't been there for Kuhnel either. In 10 games, Kuhnel had a 9.30 FIP (6.52 ERA) with a 12.2% walk rate and 16.3% strikeout rate. The Brewers acquired Kuhnel on June 6 for cash after he had been DFA'd by the A's. View full rumor

The long wait for JoJo Romero to make his Milwaukee Brewers debut is over. The left-handed reliever, acquired at the Aug. 3 trade deadline, was activated from the 15-day injured list by the Brewers, who also called up catcher Bo Naylor from Triple-A Nashville as rosters expanded from 26 to 28 Tuesday. Romero, picked up along with right-handed starter Dustin May from the NL Central rival St. Louis Cardinals at the trade deadline, has been sidelined since mid-July following an appendectomy. He had two recent rehab appearances and then threw a bullpen to show his readiness before being activated. Romero fortifies the back end of the bullpen and provides another late-inning left-handed option other than Aaron Ashby. In 44 games and 43 innings this season, Romero has a 3.99 FIP (3.35 ERA) with an 8.6% walk rate and 23.1% strikeout rate this year. Naylor was also acquired at the trade deadline from the Cleveland Guardians along with right-handed reliever Codi Heuer for center fielder Blake Perkins and right-handed reliever Blake Perkins. Heuer was quickly cut loose by the Brewers without making an appearance. Naylor has been at Triple-A Nashville and now comes up to allow manager Pat Murphy more flexibility with how he deploys starting catcher William Contreras and backup Gary Sanchez while having a safety net in Naylor. Unlike his brother, Seattle Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor, Bo Naylor doesn't do much offensively. He was slashing .143/.200/.238 with two homers and seven RBIs in 28 games with the Guardians before being sent to Triple-A. He made his MLB debut with the Guardians in 2022 and has a career slash line of .199/.279/.372. Naylor was added as the 27th player for the Little League Classic but did not play. View full rumor

Over the weekend, Abner Uribe went viral for wearing the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers' brat uniforms. Now, the Milwaukee Brewers' right-handed reliever is done wearing silly (complimentary) alternate uniforms for minor-league teams. The Brewers on Monday activated Uribe off the 15-day injured list and put right-handed reliever Bryse Wilson on the 15-day IL. Wilson has a low-back strain. Uribe, the Brewers' primary setup man for closer Trevor Megill, went on the IL Aug. 14 with a strained right forearm flexor. He spent just over the minimum on the IL and made two rehab appearances before joining the Brewers in time for the four-game series at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs, who trail the Crew by eight games in the NL Central. The two teams play each other seven times over the next 10 days. Wilson was injured during Sunday's 7-4 loss to the Texas Rangers. He grabbed at his lower back in the ninth inning and was looked at by the training staff, remaining in the game. Wilson went 2⅔ innings in another bullpen-saving outing. The Brewers are still waiting for left-hander JoJo Romero, who was acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals at the trade deadline while on the IL following an appendectomy. He also has made two rehab appearances and could be activated when rosters expand by two on Tuesday. View full rumor

The summer of Sal is back in action. Right fielder Sal Frelick was activated from the 10-day injured list Tuesday by the Milwaukee Brewers. Infielder-outfielder Jonathan Ornelas was designated for assignment. Also, left-handed reliever JoJo Romero (appendectomy) and right-hander Abner Uribe (right forearm flexor strain) were sent to the High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers to begin a rehab assignment. Romero was acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals at the trade deadline. Frelick has been out since July 18 due to a strained right shoulder. A terrific defender, Frelick has not been as big of an offensive contributor this season, putting up a .236/.301/.330 slash line with four homers, 34 RBIs and six steals in 90 games. Last year, Frelick had a career season with a slash line of .288/.351/.405 with 12 homers, 63 RBIs and 19 stolen bases in 142 games. Ornelas was a stopgap solution as the Brewers had injuries on the infield. He was acquired in an Aug. 15 trade with the A's for cash and played in three games, going 2-for-9 with an RBI and a run scored. View full rumor

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. View full rumor