Key Brewers bullpen option off to encouraging start after Spring Training injury

The Milwaukee Brewers are currently dealing with the difficult reality of losing Ángel Zerpa for the remainder of the 2026 season, with his availability for 2027 now potentially in question as well. Zerpa is scheduled to undergo elbow surgery on Monday, May 11, performed by Dr. Keith Meister.

Compounding matters, Milwaukee is also without fellow left-handed relievers Rob Zastryzny and Jared Koenig, placing added pressure on recently-promoted rookie Brian Fitzpatrick, who has impressed in a limited sample size so far.

Of the right-handed bullpen options, Grant Anderson has been heavily relied upon, leading the Brewers in appearances. Abner Uribe has assumed the closing duties while Trevor Megill continues to work through some early-season inconsistency and Jake Woodford handles low-leverage, multi-inning situations.

That said, there is at least some encouraging news developing in Triple-A on the bullpen front, where Craig Yoho appears to be recovering well after suffering a calf strain back in early March.

Craig Yoho could factor into the Brewers' bullpen in the near future after strong start in Triple-A

Yoho rose through the Brewers' minor league system rather quickly, reaching the majors in 2025 despite entering pro ball as an eighth-round pick out of Indiana University in 2023. His elite changeup consistently baffled minor league hitters, but big league batters proved far more disciplined, especially when the pitch drifted away from the edges of the zone. That adjustment led to command issues and underwhelming results during his brief eight-game stint in the majors in 2025.

Entering 2026, Yoho was, and still is, viewed as a legitimate bullpen option for Milwaukee. The tools to succeed at the big league level are clearly there, but refining his command and consistently working around the strike zone remained key developmental goals.

So far, the results have been highly encouraging, as Yoho has allowed runs in just one of his seven appearances since making his minor league season debut on April 19. Perhaps even more impressive than his 2.35 ERA is his 0.65 WHIP, as he has issued just two walks while surrendering only three hits all season.

At some point this season, Yoho is expected to factor into the Brewers bullpen equation, especially given the club’s current injuries and heavy workload on several relievers. That makes his strong start in Triple-A all the more encouraging. The improved command, low traffic on the bases, and overall sharper execution suggest he may be making the adjustments necessary to translate his intriguing arsenal into big league success.

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