The Milwaukee Brewers entered this season with the bullpen being a question mark. The bullpen has some electric arms, but many are unproven. When the Brewers acquired Bryse Wilson via an early offseason trade, not much was made of the move. However, Wilson has been terrific out of the bullpen and has probably earned a more prominent role.
With the Brewers’ rotation decimated by injuries and having started in his prior stops, Wilson may have to step into a rotation spot and serve as a 3-inning opener type for the Brewers. Wilson has shown versatility to be a one-inning guy as well and could be in line for a more high-leverage spot there. Either way, he’s earning the right to be put in big spots for the Crew.
Bryse Wilson, an Unsung Acquisition
Bryse Wilson came to the Brewers via trade in December from the Pirates.
He was dealt to Pittsburgh in 2021 from Atlanta, where Wilson was once a highly-ranked prospect. The burly right-hander was drafted in the fourth round of the 2016 MLB Draft by the Braves and ranked as high as the No. 6 prospect for Atlanta. He even started a playoff game for the Atlanta Braves as well, pitching six innings and allowing just one hit. Not many are aware of a decent pedigree to the unheralded Wilson.
He was a starter with the Pittsburgh Pirates and made four starts versus Milwaukee last year, going 1-0, including a 6-inning, two-run effort.
Things didn’t quite work out in Pittsburgh, though. He came to Milwaukee with a career record of 9-17 with a 5.54 ERA. The Brewers picked him up in a trade for cash after a DFA by Pittsburgh.
We’re chatting with Bryse Wilson, the RHP and former top prospect picked up by the Brewers yesterday in a trade with Pittsburgh. He said he’s been working this winter on two priorities: Honing a splitter, a new pitch for him. And rediscovering some lost FB velo.
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) January 5, 2023
It was unsure what Wilson’s role with the Brewers would be, but with no options remaining, Wilson made the Brewers club with a pretty good spring training. To start the year, the Brewers’ question-mark-filled bullpen has been pretty darn good.
Most of the Brewers’ bullpen has been good except for veterans. Matt Bush was handed the setup role coming into the year, but his ERA was over 8 before being placed on the IL. Javy Guerra was DFA after looking shaky. The rest of the bullpen has been quite good despite being largely unproven. Bryse Wilson is part of that.
Bryse Wilson has been one of the success stories of the Brewers’ underrated bullpen with a victory tonight as well as a pair of three-inning saves to his credit: pic.twitter.com/QTZzTUvOxp
— Todd Rosiak (@Todd_Rosiak) April 19, 2023
Quality Relief Work Could Lead to More Prominent Role
To start the year, Bryse Wilson hadn’t been put in many high-leverage games, but the way he’s throwing, he deserves to pitch in bigger situations. He has shown versatility being a long-reliever and used as a one-inning option also.
Wilson is 1-0 in 15 appearances and has tossed 26.2 quality innings, allowing just 6 earned runs for a 2.70 ERA. He has struck out 24 batters, walked eight, and allowed 21 hits for a 1.09 WHIP, has two saves and two holds.
BREWERS WIN A LATE ONE IN EXTRAS✅
• Yelich with 3 hits and a leadoff HR
• Adames with 2 hits and the go ahead RBI
• Bryse Wilson with a clutch save in the 11thMilwaukee improves to 13-5, and 8-4 on the road #FearTheBeer #ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/NoUf4LwJKs
— IKE Brewers Podcast (@IKE_Brewers) April 19, 2023
Not many expected Bryse Wilson to be a staple of the bullpen to start the season. However, Wilson has become a reliable option for Craig Counsell to call upon. Now with three Brewer starters – Brandon Woodruff, Wade Miley, and Eric Lauer – who opened the year in the rotation on the injured list, the veteran may be needed in an opener role. He has earned a promotion to the rotation, even if it is just as a three-or-four-inning start. Wilson has started in the past and could be a viable option going forward, whether it’s as an opener or in a more high-leverage spot in the bullpen with how well he’s throwing the ball.
On Wednesday afternoon, in the Brewers’ 4-0 win over the Astros, Bryse Wilson came on in the seventh inning with the Brewers leading 2-0. Could that be a sign of more high-leverage spots for Wilson to come?
Here’s some trivia for your cocktail party conversation tonight:
Current Milwaukee saves leader Bryse Wilson (2) is the first Brewer with multiple 3+ inning saves since Dave Burba in 2004. The last Brewer with three saves of 3+ innings in a season was Darren Holmes (3 in 1991).
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) April 15, 2023
Bryse Wilson Is a Valuable Hurler for the Brewers
The Brewers have a formidable but young bullpen. Wilson has started games and is used to pitching in tough situations. With other veterans Bush and Guerra previously struggling, Wilson has been stabilizing force in the bullpen with the versatility to throw long relief or in a late-inning, one-inning spot. Being semi-stretched out as a long reliever, Wilson could now slide into a rotation spot with the rotation decimated by injury. He’s earned it.
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