Dream comes true for Nottingham
As with any player, Jacob Nottingham’s dream was to play in the major leagues but there’s no way he expected it to happen this soon.
Not at age 23, with only eight games of experience at the Class AAA level.
“You definitely dream about it as a little kid. For it to finally be here, it’s awesome. It’s a blessing,” Nottingham said Monday afternoon after donning a major-league uniform for the first time.
“When they gave me the news, I was a little in shock but I embraced it.”
Nottingham was summoned by the Milwaukee Brewers from Colorado Springs to fill in for catcher Manny Pina, who was placed on the 10-day disabled list after his right calf strain did not improve enough over a five-day period for him to play. That DL move was retroactive to Friday, the most days allowed to do so.
How much Nottingham plays during his first stint in the majors remains to be seen. Jett Bandy started his fifth game in a row behind the plate in the series opener against Cincinnati at Miller Park and manager Craig Counsell said he had “no firm plans” on using Nottingham.
“The fact it was Jacob means he was ready for this,” Counsell said. “But he also needs, preferably, significant experience in Triple-A as well. The thing that stuck out with Jacob for me this spring was there was a noticeable difference, mostly in how he caught. He had made a significant improvement and development in his receiving ability.”
The Brewers have a catcher at Colorado Springs, Christian Bethancourt, with 161 games of major-league experience who also was playing well there. Bethancourt is not on the 40-man roster, however, and the Brewers obviously didn’t want to add him for what likely would be a short stay.
No matter how much Nottingham plays this time around, Counsell said the time spent in the majors, watching how experienced players go about their business, can be invaluable.
“This is a huge moment, probably the biggest moment of a guy’s career,” Counsell said. “My first thought was this is a week where we set him up for the rest of the season. It’s an experience he can take back to Triple-A and use as a springboard.
“You prepare for everything but there are things that happen up here that you have to experience. You find the parts that you need to get better at.”
Veteran catcher Stephen Vogt, on the DL with a shoulder strain, first met Nottingham when the two were in Oakland’s system. A sixth-round draft pick by Houston in 2013, Nottingham was traded to the Athletics in 2015 and Vogt took him under his wing and will continue to help guide him this week.
“He’s a great kid,” Vogt said. “I’m excited that he’s here, happy for him. A well-earned promotion. I can help him just by sitting with him and watching the game. I’ve already talked to him about going to the video room to look at some things.
“I’m going to do whatever I can to help him as much as possible. He’s 22; got thrown into the big leagues. It’s not an easy level to play in, no matter how old you are. There are going to be some growing pains but he’s going to do great. He’s an eager kid.”
Nottingham was batting .296 with a .345 on-base percentage and .519 slugging percentage in eight games with the Sky Sox. He hit his first home run there Sunday and had four runs batted in, with two walks and eight strikeouts.
Nottingham was acquired from the Oakland Athletics on Feb. 12, 2016, with pitcher Bubba Derby for outfielder Khris Davis, who has hit 90 home runs since that deal.
Nottingham struggled last season at Class AA Biloxi, batting .209 with nine home runs and 48 RBI in 101 games. He has worked hard on his defense, which was an issue at the time he was acquired, getting lots of help from catching instructor Charlie Greene.
“I can’t thank (Greene) enough for everything he has done for me, teaching me new ways to catch and new things,” Nottingham said. “I think I’ve matured a lot.
“Baseball has ups and downs. When things aren’t going good, that’s when you have to fight the most. I’ve always been confident in myself. I knew some day I could be here.”
The Brewers also announced that reliever J.J. Hoover elected free agency rather than accepting an outright assignment to Colorado Springs. Hoover had that right because he had been sent outright to the minors in the past.
Walking wounded: The Brewers were awaiting word on a medical exam on first baseman Eric Thames, who left the game Sunday in New York with a groin strain. If the prognosis is that Thames will miss several days, he could go on the DL as well.
“He hasn’t really tested it yet,” Counsell said. “He’s a little sore, so we’ll see where we’re at. Do you wait three or four days, or make an immediate decision? If we think he’ll miss a week, it’s probably a DL. If it’s just three days, you wait for it.”
Ryan Braun, limited to a pinch-hitting role Sunday by lower back tightness, was out of the lineup again. Counsell said Braun remained available to hit off the bench but didn’t say when he might start again.
Outfielder Christian Yelich remained on the DL with an oblique strain but was a full participant in pre-game work and edged closer to being activated.
“We’ve got to string a couple of really good days together,” Counsell said. “We’re on that path. He’s tolerated everything on the field. At times, he’s had some soreness after workouts. We have to make sure that’s not happening.”