Brewers Shake Things Up: Aaron Civale Transitioned to Bullpen – What This Means for the Team

The Brewers have made a surprising move by shifting right-hander Aaron Civale from their starting rotation to the bullpen. This decision comes as top prospect Jacob Misiorowski is set to make his major league debut, as confirmed by manager Pat Murphy.

Civale has been performing well since returning from a seven-week injury layoff due to a hamstring strain. He has a 3.32 ERA and a solid strikeout-to-walk ratio of 17-to-6 over 19 innings pitched in five starts. However, he hasn’t gone deep into games, with his longest outing being just over five innings.

What’s especially interesting is that this will be the first time Civale pitches in relief in his professional career. Since being drafted by Cleveland in 2016, all his appearances have been as a starter. Understandably, he was unhappy about this role change, as it comes just before he enters free agency.

Milwaukee picked up Civale last July in a trade with the Rays, sending minor league infielder Gregory Barrios in return. At that time, Civale was struggling with an ERA above 5.00. However, he redeemed himself with a 3.53 ERA in 14 starts for the Brewers during the late months of the season. His overall ERA with Milwaukee stands at 3.84, with a strikeout rate around 20.7%.

The decision underscores Milwaukee’s strategy with pitchers. They’ve been known to pull starters earlier than many other teams. In fact, only the Marlins have allowed their pitchers to face hitters a third time less frequently than the Brewers this season.

While Civale’s frustration is understandable, this change might also impact his market value as he approaches free agency. The Brewers had tough decisions to make. They could have burned a minor league option on one of their promising pitchers, but opting for Civale made sense given the circumstances.

This situation has generated buzz among fans and analysts, leading to speculation about a possible trade, especially since he remains an affordable option with an expiring contract. However, there’s no indication that Civale has requested a trade.

For a bit of historical context, the Brewers have a history of making bold decisions regarding their veterans, which often leads to interesting trade discussions as the season progresses. The current landscape of injuries and unconventional usage indicates that Civale might find himself back in the rotation sooner than later.

For further insights into the Brewers’ pitching situation and player dynamics, you can check out detailed reports on MLB.com.



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aaron civale,jacob misiorowski