Jeffress, teammates savor his all-star nod
PITTSBURGH - He tried keeping it to himself, but Sunday was a tough day for Jeremy Jeffress.
The National League all-star team, including the entire pitching staff, was announced, and the Milwaukee Brewers’ veteran reliever was left off. Jeffress knew if he wasn’t going to be recognized as an all-star this year, it likely would never happen.
After all, Jeffress knew he couldn’t pitch any better than this.
“It was (tough),” Jeffress admitted. “But it’s just how it goes. You can’t change anything. Just keep doing what I’m doing.”
All of that disappointment washed away late Thursday night when manager Craig Counsell announced Jeffress had been added to the NL staff as a replacement for injured Washington reliever Sean Doolittle. The Brewers had just dropped a 6-3 decision to Pittsburgh but Jeffress’ teammates erupted in cheers upon getting that news.
“All the guys believed in me,” Jeffress said. “They knew when the results came out, I should have been there. But they stuck behind me and kept believing in me.”
Pitching in the shadow of strikeout sensation Josh Hader, Jeffress has been one of the highest performing relievers in the majors. In 44 appearances, he has gone 6-1 with a 0.99 ERA, the lowest mark among qualifying relief pitchers. Jeffress has allowed only 25 hits and 13 walks in 451⁄3 innings.
His addition gives the organization a record five all-stars. Jeffress will join Hader, outfielders Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain and first baseman Jesús Aguilar
Moves aplenty: After a taxing three-game series in Miami that included two extra-inning losses, the Brewers refurbished their pitching staff Thursday.
The Brewers reinstated left-hander Wade Miley from the 60-day DL to start the opener of a five-game, fourday series against the Pirates and recalled right-handers Alec Asher and Adrian Houser from Class AAA Colorado Springs to provide fresh arms in the bullpen.
“They were on all-star break, and we need fresh pitchers,” Counsell said of Asher and Houser.
To make room for those pitchers, the Brewers optioned right-handers Freddy Peralta to Class A Wisconsin and Jorge Lopez and infielder Nate Orf to Colorado Springs.
The move to the Timber Rattlers was mostly a paperwork move for Peralta, who had been in the starting rotation for a few turns but wouldn’t pitch again before the all-star break after going 32⁄3 innings Wednesday night in Miami.
Lopez went the final 21⁄3 innings in that game, taking the loss in the Brewers’ 5-4, 12-inning defeat. Orf had been optioned to Colorado Springs last weekend but was recalled the next day when Ryan Braun went on the disabled list. Orf played in eight games for the Brewers and was 1 for 14, the one hit a home run.
The Brewers also announced they had released infielder Eric Sogard and sent reliever Mike Zagurski outright to Colorado Springs. Both players had been designated for assignmen.
Miley, 31, has spent most of the season on the disabled list, first with a groin strain suffered near the end of spring training and then an oblique strain in his second outing after being activated. He had been pitching on minor-league rehab at Class AA Biloxi.
The Brewers need a second starter to go with Chase Anderson for the makeup doubleheader Saturday against the Pirates, and Counsell said left-hander Brent Suter is an option. Suter is on the DL with forearm tightness but had a successful bullpen session Wednesday in Miami and believes he is ready to go.
International signings: The Brewers also announced the signings of 13 international players, most of which had been previously reported.
The most highly rated of the signings were Dominican Republic centerfielder Eduarqui Fernandez, Venezuelan shortstop Eduardo Garcia and Colombian third baseman Branlyn Jaraba.
Others who signed: Dominican shortstop Angel Bautista, Dominican leftfielder Erys Bautista, Venezuelan catcher Jhonnys Cabrera, Dominican right-hander Jose Espiritu, Venezuelan centerfielder Rafael Martinez, Colombian centerfielder Bryan Nino, Mexican right-hander Mario Perez, Venezuelan shortstop Joneiker Ponce De Leon, Venezuelan shortstop Carlos Roa and Dominican right-hander Abner Uribe.
According to Baseball America magazine, Fernandez, Jaraba and Garcia are the best players in the class, with each receiving a signing bonus of $1.1 million. The Brewers waited to announce the signings because Garcia didn’t reach the required signing age of 16 until Tuesday.
“He’s a pure shortstop, has good body size,” said Michael Groopman, the Brewers’ director of international scouting. “He’s got really good shortstop action and a strong throwing arm.”
The Brewers value athletic centerfielders, and Fernandez fits that mold.