TODAY: Lockridge and Sproat have been told they’re making the Opening Day roster, as per Adam McCalvy.
MARCH 19: The Brewers made a few camp cuts on Thursday. Starter Logan Henderson, outfielder Blake Perkins, and corner bat Tyler Black were all sent out and will open the season with Triple-A Nashville.
Two weeks ago, Henderson had seemingly been well positioned for a spot in the Opening Day rotation. There are at least two jobs up for grabs after the Freddy Peralta trade and with Quinn Priester beginning the season on the injured list. The Brewers have rotation roles committed to Jacob Misiorowski, Chad Patrick and (assuming he’s fully built up) Brandon Woodruff.
The 24-year-old Henderson was firmly in the mix after impressing over his first five MLB starts a year ago. His odds of breaking camp were set back when he reported minor elbow soreness last week. Henderson had finished the 2025 season on the injured list with elbow inflammation. The team didn’t consider this recent flareup especially alarming — he’s already throwing again — but he hasn’t appeared in a Spring Training game in two weeks.
Skipper Pat Murphy indicated the demotion is largely about giving Henderson a chance to build his workload in the minors. “Part of this move is to make sure he can go post regularly,” Murphy told reporters (link via Adam McCalvy of MLB.com). “We’re not going to immediately build him up to five innings. We’re going to let him go two innings and see how he responds, two innings and see how he responds. Just make sure he’s responding each time because he’s had (an injury) history.”
This probably paves the way for Brandon Sproat and Kyle Harrison to round out the rotation. Harrison left yesterday’s appearance with a blister, but it’s not expected to be an issue moving forward. Robert Gasser and Shane Drohan are also still in the mix, with Drohan having the far more impressive camp of those two.
Acquired from the Red Sox in the Caleb Durbin trade, Harrison has allowed 12 runs (eight earned) across 9 2/3 spring innings. That’s obviously not ideal, but he has struck out 15 opponents while averaging 95 mph on his fastball. Sproat came over from the Mets as part of the Peralta return. He has allowed five runs with a 10:2 strikeout-to-walk ratio over nine innings.
In any case, the Brewers will lean heavily on their bullpen while frequently shuttling starters up and down from Nashville. There’s more clarity on the position player side, which is down to 14 a week before Opening Day. The final camp cut will almost certainly be third catcher Reese McGuire, a non-roster invitee.
McCalvy notes that the Perkins option means Brandon Lockridge is heading north with the club. The speedster won the fourth outfield role by hitting .314 with four homers and three steals in 12 games this spring. He’ll join Gary Sánchez, Jake Bauers and utility infielder David Hamilton on the season-opening bench.
Tyler Black looked great I feel like he needs to get traded so he can find his way to regular playing time he is a good ballplayer he just keeps getting stuck in AAA.
I feel like they will make a trade to get him regular time at some point this season.
Really surprised they sent Henderson down. Would love to have him on the Giants.
Not until he’s built up post injury, but he’ll be up soon.
They can buy his last arb year in 5 years, until then, hes a Brewer.
the Crew were lucky to trade for any and every starter not nailed down by the other orgs; so they end up with 11 fair dinkum starters, and then 4 get hurt, a couple to AAA and you have five (well, at least four!)
with the classic and now breakout, this spring has been confusing to follow
My money is on Gasser making the rotation, he has been among the top rockies by stuff+ this spring, and I imagine the Brewers would be glad to squeeze an extra year out of Sproat by sending him down until mid may, provided their alternatives are solid.
Murph is on the record stating Gasser needs more innings in AAA. But yes I agree at some point he will be called up and prolly logs 80+ innings this yr
You sure you arent thinking of Henderson? I cant find anything where Murph says this.
Ashby Ashby Ashby Please
It makes sense to keep Logan Henderson in the minors, they don’t need to be in a Big Time Rush
Perkins (5 k-27ab this spring) being sent down instead of Mitchell(12K-21AB) is ridiculous. Tell me again there’s no bias. What a joke, just trade Perkins since he’s obviously not being given the same opportunities as the strike out & injury plagued one of Pat’s guys Mitchell!
Actually I think they’ve fallen in love with Lockridge, not Mitchell. Mitchell will get his chance but we’ll see plenty of Lockridge, in center and in right field.
Due to his spring, I get Lockridge making the team. Still doesn’t explain a good reason for Mitchell making the team over Perkins other than ___!
The starting rotation may be unmatched by any other team when you look at it from a value proposition. Next week they demolish the Sox. I wonder how many fans will show up at the Northern Cell next weekend
Henderson ‘s demotion was a surprise. That raises my concerns regarding his health.
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