Milwaukee Brewers: My eventful trip to Brewers Spring Training

Spring Training Trip – Day 2

Day 2 was probably the most eventful day of the entire trip. The night prior Travis Shaw teases a photo of a Brewers jersey with Mayfield on the back. The Cleveland Browns quarterback is a friend of Yelich and Shaw, a major Browns fan, and they invited him to come join the team for a few days.

As we showed up to AFFOP, we ran into the Triple-A team as the prepared to start practice. I was able to steal a few moments with pitchers Zack Brown and Trey Supak, as well as play a lot of catch.

The crowd was also very light. San Diego Padres fans didn’t travel as well and Manny Machado was not playing today, so many fans ditched. As we stood in line, my stepson was asked to be the junior announcer and hang out in the press box during the 4th inning. So far very eventful, but what happens next is unbelievable.

As we stood patiently waiting for players to come over to sign after batting practice, I notice long time MLB writer Tim Kurkjian on the field. I wander over from the first base line to behind home plate and was able to steal about three minutes with him. Then I was able to steal a few minutes with Milwaukee Brewers GM David Stearns while they watched Mayfield take batting practice. As I walk my way back to the rest of the group, I am seeing my wife holding her broken Fitbit in one hand and a baseball in the other.

She was hit in the wrist by a foul ball hit by Baker Mayfield. He was amazing, asking if she was ok and signing the ball for her.

During the second inning we made our way to the newly renovated press box, prepping the junior announcer for his big debut. While waiting my wife tells the Brewers staffers about her Baker Mayfield incident, Tom Haudricourt, beat writer for the Brewers hears the story and interviews her (thanks Twitter for making the connection happen).

As for the game, no Yelich, no problem, the Milwaukee Brewers scored six runs before the Padres got in the board and won easily, 6-2.

While the Brewers handled the Padres, we made our way out to the Low-A game to see prospects Brice Turang and Joe Gray Jr. play against the Dodgers Low-A team. The minor league games are fun, you are standing no more than 15 feet away from a pitcher throwing mid to upper 90s and hitter slam foul balls over your head. We walked away from that game with four minor league baseballs, making a seven-year-old boy very happy.

Spring Training Trip – Day 3

Day Three: #Brewers finished 2-0-1 in games we attended. Day three was just as fun as before. Watched part of the game before wandering out to see the @missionsmilb play the #Padres . Good to see Matt Albers pitch 2 strong innings in relief during that game. #ST19 #ThisisMyCrew pic.twitter.com/vp9ZMrY8rM

Like the days prior, we always started our day in the minor league camp, talking with players and coaches. The Brewers were playing the Rockies, and crowds were once again very light, but Rockies fans are very passionate and lined up near the entrance waiting for the team to come in. This was also the only day of the trip that fans got a promo item at the gates. I was able to score a Bob Uecker bottle opener from last season. I was also lucky enough to walk right down to the field and snag an autograph from the battery of Corey Knebel and Manny Pina on this day.

The Milwaukee Brewers had a split squad that day with half the team going to Surprise to play the Royals. Our game featured many of the starters including Jhoulys Chacin who went 5.1 innings and looked ready to go for the season opener. Jimmy Nelson was electric in the game, going three innings, giving up just one run and Brewers would win the game on a Tuffy Gosewisch single.

While these two games were happening, Matt Albers, Alex Claudio and Junior Guerra were out with the Triple-A team working out of the bullpen. It’s amazing to watch major league players pitch when you are only separated by a chain link fence. After his inning and a half, I chatted with Matt Albers for a minute, he mentioned his arm felt better after the injury and was ready for 2019.

Personal opinions

If you have the chance, do Spring Training, it is a baseball fan’s dream vacation and you couldn’t have better access to players and coaches. Also watching a total of three major league and three minor league games was the right amount of baseball to get us excited for the season.

Things to know

Book your room early, get your flights on sale, and prepare to pay a lot for your rental car. Also pay attention to when tickets go on sale or find a group of people to go in with to buy tickets for Arizona with, because baseball is always better when you share the experience. Lastly prepare to spend money on food, drinks, souvenirs and sun tan lotion.

If it’s a yearly tradition or a once in a lifetime trip, enjoy it, take it all in and have fun, its baseball!