DL Hall looks sharp in return to MLB

DL Hall made his long-awaited return to the mound on May 26, suiting up for the Milwaukee Brewers in a middle-relief role against the Boston Red Sox. For Hall, who had been sidelined since early in the season with a left lat strain, it was his first major league appearance of 2025.

Tasked with navigating multiple innings in a bridge role, Hall showcased versatility the Brewers have been actively seeking amid what has been a grueling season for their bullpen. The 26-year-old left-hander threw 33 pitches across 2 1/3 innings, allowing two hits and one earned run. He struck out one and walked two, displaying some flashes of potential that made him such a highly-touted arm during his days as a prospect.

DL Hall delivers in stretch role as Brewers seek bullpen relief

The Brewers, whose bullpen has been one of the most heavily used in baseball, are in clear need of fresh arms capable of soaking up innings in the middle frames. According to Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Hall’s profile fits well into a hybrid relief role that can alleviate the burden on the high-leverage "A" bullpen group. Hogg also pointed to Aaron Ashby as another candidate for a similar role, suggesting that the Brewers may be shifting their bullpen strategy to better handle the intense workload of a long season.

To put the bullpen strain in perspective, Milwaukee relievers have logged the second-most innings in Major League Baseball this year. Over the last nine days alone, they’ve thrown over 100 more pitches than the bullpen of any other team. That kind of usage rate is unsustainable without reinforcements, making Hall and Ashby worthy candidates for stabilizing the unit.

Hall's debut performance was particularly encouraging considering the layoff. While there was definitely a touch of rust — evident in the two walks — he looked composed, maintained his velocity, and seemed comfortable enough working across multiple innings. His ability to give the Brewers seven outs on a day when they needed someone to bridge the middle innings could very well signal the beginning of a new role for him within the pitching staff.

If Hall can continue to build on this outing, he may emerge as one of Milwaukee’s more valuable bullpen assets — more than just as a lefty specialist. For a team with playoff aspirations and a bullpen in overdrive, this could be pivotal timing for Hall’s return.