The Brewers announced that they have recalled outfielder Chris Roller from Triple-A Nashville. He will be making his major league debut as soon as he gets into a game. Infielder Oliver Dunn was optioned to Nashville in a corresponding move. Prior to the official announcement, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel relayed that Dunn didn’t have a locker in the Brewers’ clubhouse.
Roller, now 27, was acquired from the Guardians in a cash deal in August. The Brewers then added him to their 40-man roster in October to prevent him from reaching minor league free agency. A 30th-round pick of the Dodgers back in 2017, Roller had gone to the Guardians in the Triple-A portion of the 2020 Rule 5 draft.
He’s never really been a prospect of note but was in good form last year. In 92 games with Triple-A Columbus, he hit 12 home runs and drew walks in 16.8% of his plate appearances. That led to a .222/.373/.412 batting line and 102 wRC+. He also stole 13 bases while playing all three outfield slots. After the trade, he got into 16 more Triple-A games with Nashville and hit .364/.493/.618 while swiping another six bags. Here in 2024, he got out to a slow start and landed on the minor league injured list. He was only recently reinstated, getting into just five games since coming off the IL.
Though he hasn’t launched out of the gates this year, the Brewers may have called him up for his right-handed bat. Between the two Triple-A clubs he played for last year, he hit .228/.388/.411 against righties but .296/.411/.546 against lefties.
Jake Bauers has played first base regularly against right-handed opponents but has largely been shielded from lefties. Rhys Hoskins had been moving from designated hitter to first base with lefties on the mound but he’s now on the injured list with a hamstring strain. Brice Turang has also been shielded from a few lefties, with Joey Ortiz, Owen Miller and Andruw Monasterio helping to cover second base.
There’s a few lefties in the outfield mix as well, with Christian Yelich and Sal Frelick both hitting from that side. Blake Perkins is a switch-hitter but he’s been better against southpaws in his career thus far.
By swapping out Dunn’s left-handed bat for Roller, the Brewers will give manager Pat Murphy another option for playing the matchups while Hoskins is out of action, while Roller will get a chance to play in a big league game for the first time.
hi Roller
later Dunn
Great song by April Wine
Slow roller down the 1st base line.
There’s a gambling joke here somewhere
Suspended!
Nah it’s ok we’ll just let the accused say he didn’t do it and take their word for it.
njbirdsfan, you seem to be a bigger Ohtani fan more than anyone here, the way you reference and make low jokes about the controversy more than discussing about your team.
Chris played for several years in the Guardians/Indians system and reportedly worked his tail off. I’m very glad to see him called up to the show. Good luck, Chris!
Ohtanis next translator
Blake Perkins has been horrible against southpaws in his career thus far.
If Weimer had not $crewed the pooch in Nashville he should have gotten called up. But can’t hit .212 in the MLB and .220 at AAA.
Wiemer just won’t make enough contact to cut it.
Weimer is on the IL right now.
He is so frustrating to watch. From the stance to the swing to the lack in ability to see more than 3 pitches in any at bat. He’s so good in the field though. Just needs to get his stance and patients in check.
17% walk rate is elite, leadoff?
Could he be the greatest roller since Wisconsin sports fans cheered for Dave Roller with the Packers?
Anyone else seen the show Claws and now you can’t help but hear Niecy Nash yelling the name “ROOOOLLLLEERRR”?