April 16: The Brewers announced this afternoon that Hoover has rejected his outright assignment and will instead elect free agency.
April 15: Veteran reliever J.J. Hoover is staying with the Brewers after being designated for assignment earlier this week, per Adam McCalvy of MLB.com (Twitter link). The 30-year-old right-hander will head to Triple-A Colorado Springs.
Hoover, whom the Brewers added on a minor league pact in January, joined the big club on April 7. He then made two appearances, including a nightmarish second one against the Cardinals this past Tuesday. Hoover picked up both a blown save and a loss after surrendering three earned runs on four hits and a walk in an inning of work. As a result of that disastrous showing, he lost his place on Milwaukee’s 40- and 25-man rosters.
Since debuting with the Reds in 2012, Hoover has enjoyed some success in the majors – including in 2017. As a member of the Diamondbacks last season, Hoover threw 41 1/3 innings of 3.92 ERA ball and notched 11.76 K/9. However, a 5.66 BB/9 and a 32.8 percent groundball rate helped prevent him from landing a major league deal over the winter. Hoover will now attempt to work his way back to the Brewers via the minors.
He’s the poster boy for how volatile relievers are
I’m beginning to think that the Brewers are better off going with the young guys like Houser, Lopez, Williams,Derby, Perrin, Griep, Archer and Oczlak as relievers and go with Corbin, Ortiz, Peralta, Woodruff as starters if they need them. I also think it’s time to move on from Vogt and Bandy as catchers and go with Betancourt as back up catcher. They are also at the point when the outfielders are healthy they need to decide on Aguilar or Thames. It’s a luxury we can’t carry anymore
I agree with you to a point. I’m hoping for great things from Burnes and believe Ortiz, Woodruff and Peralta will be serviceable in the majors. If a top of the rotation pitcher can be had at the trading deadline and the Brewers are 500, they should make that move.
I like what I’ve seen from Williams so far. Houser and Lopez definitely have earned their shot.
With a healthy Pina, the Brewers have a good catching situation with either Bandy or Vogt as the backup. One of them will have to be DFAd when Vogt is ready. Hopefully they can get something in a trade before doing that.
I agree hopefully it is Aguilar to bad we cant trade Braun
Just dump that human gas can
We called him bj Hoover here in Cincinnati. He’d blow the heck out of a four run lead
Right!?!? I was so happy when he left town! I only wish Price had gone with him.