The Brewers are set to promote one of the top pitching prospects in baseball, right-hander Corbin Burnes, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel tweets. The team has also activated outfielder Lorenzo Cain from the 10-day disabled list; sent fellow outfielder Ryan Braun and catcher Manny Pina to the DL; recalled infielder/outfielder Nate Orf and catcher Jacob Nottingham from Triple-A; and optioned righty Aaron Wilkerson, per Adam McCalvy of MLB.com.
In yet another move, Milwaukee announced that it has designated lefty Mike Zagurski for assignment. Between Zagurski’s exit and Burnes’ promotion, the Brewers still have an open spot on their 40-man roster.
Now 23, Burnes will get to the majors quickly after joining the Brewers as a fourth-round pick in 2016. After Milwaukee selected him, Burnes proceeded to race through the lower levels of the minors over the previous two seasons, and has spent all of this year at Triple-A. Burnes hasn’t been great at preventing runs in 2018, having recorded a 5.15 ERA in 78 2/3 innings (19 appearances, 13 starts), though the Brewers’ Triple-A home in Colorado Springs is a tough environment for pitchers. And to his credit, Burnes has managed 9.27 K/9 against 3.55 BB/9.
Both MLB.com (No. 56) and Baseball America (No. 58) regard Burnes as a top-60 prospect in baseball and one of the best farmhands in a quality Brewers system. In its free scouting report, MLB.com lauds Burnes’ “lightning-quick arm,” adding that he offers a 92 to 95 mph fastball with “natural cutting action,” two impressive breaking pitches and a solid changeup.
It’s unclear whether Burnes will factor into the Brewers’ rotation in the short term, as Wade Miley is nearing a return from the DL and could join Junior Guerra, Chase Anderson, Jhoulys Chacin and Freddy Peralta to comprise their starting staff. Wilkerson started for the club Saturday, going five innings and allowing two earned runs in a loss to Atlanta. The defeat dropped the Brewers to a still-excellent 53-36, good for a 1 1/2-game lead in the NL Central. With Milwaukee looking like a strong playoff contender, it could further bolster its roster – including its rotation – in advance of the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, though the club does have potential pitching reinforcements on the way in Miley, Jimmy Nelson, Brent Suter and Zach Davies (all of whom are on the DL). Although, Nelson may not pitch until September, if at all, general manager David Stearns told Haudricourt and other reporters Sunday.
Cain, meanwhile, will act as a reinforcement for the Brewers’ position player group after missing nearly two weeks with a groin strain. He had gotten off to a tremendous start in the first season of a five-year, $80MM contract. The also-expensive Braun has been uncharacteristically ineffective, on the other hand, with a .235/.283/.427 line in 255 plate appearances. Injuries have been an all-too-common issue of late for Braun, who’s now dealing with a back strain.
Pina, the Brewers’ starting catcher, is heading to the shelf with a left biceps strain. He’s part of a Brewers backstop contingent that hasn’t offered much at the plate this year, as Pina has hit .227/.294/.376 in 214 PAs. Pina has thrown out 36 percent of would-be base stealers, however, and been a middle-of-the-pack pitch framer, per Baseball Prospectus. His absence will leave the Brewers with Erik Kratz and Nottingham as their two catchers.
As for Zagurski, he lasted under two weeks on Milwaukee’s 40-man before it designated him. The well-traveled 35-year-old has seen his first major league action since 2013 this season, though it hasn’t been pretty. In two appearances with the Brewers, Zagurski has combined for one inning and allowed seven earned runs on five hits and two walks.
Aaron Wilkerson
Let’s see how he does!
It’s Aaron Wilkerson
What are the expectations on this one? Top pitching prospect despite not good AAA numbers this years speaks to a high ceiling. Keep getting him confused with MAJOR LEAGUE actor Corbin Bernsen.
DORN!
easy to do….I keep confusing Hader with Susan Dey……..
Brewers pitchers often perform more poorly in aaa than they do in the majors. Pitching in Colorado springs seems to screw them up in ways that get corrected once they move up.
Colorado Springs is just an awful place to pitch. He’s definitely got punchout stuff, and even prevented home runs at altitude. The real question is will he join the rotation or pitch out of the bullpen.
A lot of parks in the PCL are tough on pitchers. Agreed.
For the Cubs: Norwood called up from AAA, Bass to the DL. You heard it here first!
Not here first. heard it hours ago
Like all of these moves. Give Nottingham an extended chance with Braun and Pina on the DL and potentially improve the team long term. I hope burnes is coming to start because we have a strong enough pen as is.
Burnes isn’t stretched out to start – hasn’t started a game since 6/13. He will be coming out of the pen.
I doubt they would bring Burnes up now if he was going in the rotation. They would have given him the start that just went to Wilkerson.
I guess you’re right, but I don’t see how he’s much of an improvement if he’s in the pen…
Finally! I can’t wait til we are out of Colorado Springs and move to I think they said Houston next year. Hader has a 5.00 era last year in Colorado Springs also and then came up and dominated for the last year
Fresno Is AAA likely where Houston’s AAA is. Sky Sox will be rookie ball
Zagurski will be Sideways 8 to me.
We gotta get this going, the Brewers already have Travis Shaw the Mayor of Ding Dong City, time to add Jacob, the Sheriff of, Nottingham.
He better get in front of the ball on grounders, and not try to Olé it.
Braun’s balls must be raisins from the roids he took. Maybe that’s why he’s on the DL
Well gotta admit I like who they brought up so far but I’m still not satisfied or confident in Krantz think I would rather have Betancourt’s defense behind the plate plus maybe see what Huira can do after the break, we gotta put the ball in play a heck of a lot more. I would love to see if we could trade for Duffy of Tampa Bay to be our ss that would set us up for years instead of a rental
Why would the rays trade Duffy?
That is just the player I would rather go for then a rental like Machado. Plus you never know Tampa has already made some head scratchers already this year
I agree the Brewers have too many strikeouts in their lineup. Might be time to sit Shaw against all lefties. Perez can take those starts. Villar should be sitting in favor of Miller and Saladino. They still could use another MI bat, and I dont think they’ll promote Huira before September, if at all this year.
I hope Burnes gets to start at some point for the Brewers this year, with 4 quality pitches he shouldn’t be in the pen over a few starters who can’t hit 90 with their fastball