CAMP REPORT

On the field: Manager Craig Counsell mentioned the progress pitching prospects Corbin Burnes and Freddy Peralta have made over the last year, making themselves legitimate options for the major leagues.

In the lower levels of the minors, several pitching prospects will return this season after dealing with injuries. Lefthander Nathan Kirby (elbow surgery) and right-hander Phil Bickford (broken hand) have been given the green light to pitch with no restrictions, while right-hander Devin Williams (Tommy John surgery) is throwing off a flattened mound and right-hander Daniel Missaki (second Tommy John) is nearing a return as well.

Kirby and Williams were both high draft picks for Milwaukee, while Bickford and Missaki were acquired via trades. Weather: 52 degrees, sunny.

Cactus juice: Understandably, much of the talk Wednesday centered around the details the Brewers announced regarding their massive renovation of Maryvale, which is scheduled to start near the end of spring training and be finished in time for 2019 spring training. Counsell mentioned his admiration of those who design such projects when he was asked how much he was involved in the planning process.

“I’m there to answer questions, more functionality issues, probably,” he said. “I’m not an architect. I’d love to be an architect. I think that’s a great, creative, fun job.

“We showed the staff a big presentation the first day of spring training in our meeting, and to be able to create what they did and what they showed us, it was awesome. Now that they can kind of walk you through these things in virtual reality so you can get a feel for what it’s going to look like, it makes it more exciting and real.”

Scoreboard: The Brewers begin exhibition play Friday with split-squad games against the Chicago Cubs at Maryvale Baseball Park and the San Francisco Giants in Scottsdale. Both games are at 2:05 p.m. Central.

Countdown: 35 days until the Brewers’ season opener March 29 in San Diego.