With opening day just a few days away, the Brewers made a flurry of announcements and roster moves this weekend. These moves certainly are helping us get a better understanding of what the opening day roster will look like.
The biggest news today was that RHP Justin Topa will begin the season on the injured list
So, to summarize #Brewers roster news: RHP Justin Topa (elbow) and OF Derek Fisher will open on IL. We can assume same on C Jacob Nottingham. RHP Brad Boxberger re-signs on minor league deal and TBD on his roster status. At very least will be on taxi squad, it seems.
— Tom (@Haudricourt) March 28, 2021
After briefly showcasing his skills in the Brewers bullpen last season many believed that Topa could emerge as a weapon in 2021. In just 7.2 innings pitched last season his mid 90s fastball and sweeping slider was making veteran hitters look silly at the plate.
Throughout spring training his results had not been good. The elbow may or may not have played a role in this but with a history of two prior john surgeries in 2011 and 2015 the fact that Topa landed on the IL due an issue in his throwing elbow is certainly concerning.
When Topa has that slider dialed in it is a great pitch and could help bolster this already good Brewers bullpen. Unfortunately we will have to wait longer to see an extended look at Justin Topa in the big leagues.
Despite what many thought was going to happen, Daniel Vogelbach is making the opening day roster.
After being acquired late last season, Vogelbach quickly became a fan favorite. However after it was announced that Keston Hiura was transitioning to first base and that the designated hitter was not returning, retaining an optionless Vogelbach became harder to justify.
Vogelbach serving primarily as a pinch hit role best fits what he can bring to the table at this time for he is not a strong defender and Keston Hiura is a better hitter. He does have some pop in his bat however and is a dangerous player to bring in to bat during the later innings, which it appears Craig Counsell is planning on doing.
“We’re going to try to take advantage of a big bat off the bench,” Craig Counsell said of Daniel Vogelbach. The aim is to “get him a big at-bat every night.”
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) March 28, 2021
With no other spot on this roster other than pinch hitter, Vogelbach is going to have to come through in clutch situations for the Brewers in order to remain on the roster. Hopefully this is a role that he can excel in because as a fan favorite it would be sad to see him leave Milwaukee.
Right handed pitchers Jordan Zimmerman and Brad Boxberger clear waivers and sign minor league deals with the Brewers.
Zimmerman and Boxberger are both non roster invitees in this years big league camp. Both pitchers were just released and had not been performing all that well in spring training, but now that they are staying in the organization they both still have tremendous value.
The AAA pitching staff for the Brewers has just been decimated by injuries so far, which is concerning for not only thinking about how the Missions will go about getting through games, but what happens if the Brewers are in need a starting pitcher to a fill in for a few starts in the rotation? As a veteran starting pitcher, Zimmerman could be that fill in guy and is why keeping him in the organization has value.
The same similarly goes for Boxberger as well. Should injurie arise, having a veteran bullpen pitcher with closing experience (77 career saves) is a nice luxury to have.
The Brewers have re-signed Brad Boxberger to a Minor League deal.
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) March 28, 2021
All of these moves are providing clarity as to what the opening day roster will look like come April 4, 2021. Stay tuned to Wisconsin Sports Heroics as we cover the Milwaukee Brewers all season long.
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