The Brewers' pitching depth is about to get even deeper

The Milwaukee Brewers’ starting pitching depth has been covered extensively around the league in recent weeks, as other teams speculate about how Matt Arnold and the Brewers' front office will approach the trade deadline, which is now just 11 days away. Some expect Milwaukee to use its starting pitching depth to swing a trade, either for a player who can help their current big league roster, or for prospects who can impact the team in the future. Others point to the constant stream of injuries that the Brewers experienced at the beginning of the season and wonder whether it would be prudent to test their depth by shipping off a proven starter to another team.

The immediate results are a Triple-A starting rotation that could compete with the likes of several MLB ones. Now, another name that fans may have forgotten about just took a major step in his rehab process and could join the rotation mix as early as mid-August. That name? Robert Gasser.

Gasser joined the Brewers as part of the notorious Josh Hader trade at the 2022 trade deadline. A former No. 71 overall pick by the San Diego Padres in the 2021 MLB Draft, Gasser climbed to the 7th spot on the Padres' Top 30 prospects ranking list prior to being traded to Milwaukee. After two strong seasons in the Brewers' minor league system, Gasser made his debut on May 10, 2024.

From May 10 to June 1, Gasser made five impressive starts for the Brewers, pitching to a 2.57 ERA with a 1.04 WHIP. Unfortunately, Gasser's rookie season was cut short when a left flexor strain landed him on the IL, and just a few weeks later, he underwent Tommy John surgery.

Robert Gasser begins rehab assignment after 2024 Tommy John surgery

Yesterday afternoon, the Brewers announced that Gasser was set to begin what is estimated to be about a month-long rehab assignment. His first stop is Rookie Ball, playing for the Brewers' Arizona Complex League squad.

Gasser, who turned 26 at the end of May, made his first appearance for the ACL Brewers last night and made quick work of the Cleveland Guardian's rookie ballers. He threw nine pitches, allowed one single, and finished his inning with a pick-off at first base.

The lefty Gasser was known for his efficiency when pitching for the Brewers a season ago. In three of his five starts, he covered six innings with less than 85 pitches. He's never been a big strikeout pitcher, but his five-pitch mix, highlighted by an excellent sweeper, kept opposing hitters off-balance and produced plenty of soft contact.

At the earliest, Gasser would be ready for big league innings by mid-August, notably a few weeks after the MLB Trade Deadline. His return could impact the way that the front office handles the deadline, allowing them to be more aggressive if they choose to sell off some of their starting pitching depth. It's sure to be an interesting couple of weeks for the Brewers' roster, and Gasser's eventual return will only make it more so.