Brewers release intriguing bullpen option who was thriving in Triple-A

Back in late January, the Milwaukee Brewers made an overlooked, but intriguing signing, agreeing to a minor league deal with right-handed reliever Jacob Waguespack. The 32-year-old Waguespack has just north of 100 career major league innings to his name, most of which came as a starter for the Toronto Blue Jays back in 2019, but he possesses a unique arsenal that led many to believe he could find success under the tutelage of the Brewers' renowned pitching coaches.

Waguespack was given an invitation to major league Spring Training and took advantage of the opportunity, allowing just one earned run in seven appearances. However, Waguespack's inconsistent track record, which includes no major league experience since April of 2024, led the Brewers to assign the 6'6" right-hander to Triple-A to start the 2026 season with the Nashville Sounds.

In Nashville, the promise that Waguespack displayed during the spring exhibition season continued. Through his first 11 appearances with the Sounds, Waguespack covered 16 innings, surrendered just four earned runs, and struck out 23 opponents. Perhaps even more impressive was the 41.8% whiff rate that the right-hander boasted through the first month of the 2026 season. He has a unique delivery in which he comes almost directly over the top (~70-degree arm angle) which produces excellent rising action on his four-seamer and makes his oft-used changeup a difficult pitch to pick up.

Given his success in Triple-A, it's fair to assume that Waguespack was knocking on the door of the big leagues. However, on Monday, May 4, as reported by Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Nashville Sounds released Waguespack, granting him the opportunity to sign with a different organization.

Brewers release right-handed reliever Jacob Waguespack

Why would the Brewers who just placed another reliever in Ángel Zerpa on the injured list, release a relief option who was mowing down the competition? The answer is, it likely wasn't up to the Brewers.

Though not yet confirmed by the organization or Waguespack's representatives, it's likely the 32-year-old relief pitcher's release was due to some sort of upward mobility clause. Oftentimes, when former big-leaguers sign minor league deals, their contracts will include a clause that grants them the ability to enter into free agency and explore other options if they aren't promoted to the major league roster by a certain point in the season.

Early May is a common time for opt-out dates or upward mobility clause deadlines to occur, so paired with the otherwise perplexing nature of Waguespack's release, it's almost certain that the decision wasn't the Brewers' to make. Waguespack is now free to find a new opportunity elsewhere, and given the success he's displayed with the Brewers' Triple-A affiliate, there's likely to be some interest in the journeyman. However, should Waguespack not find an opportunity that suits him, it's still possible he returns to the Brewers' organization on a reworked deal.

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