Brewers Face Setbacks in Spring Training Amid Arizona Heat
In Phoenix, the Milwaukee Brewers found themselves navigating a few bumps in the road during their spring training. Kyle Harrison, the promising left-handed pitcher, had to exit his start after just three innings due to a blister on his left index finger.
This isn't uncharted territory for Harrison, as manager Pat Murphy pointed out. "He’s had issues with it in the past," Murphy noted, attributing the flare-up to Harrison's grip on his changeup.
The team is keen on addressing this early to prevent future disruptions.
Despite the early exit, Murphy isn't overly concerned about Harrison's availability moving forward. The lefty might take a short break from throwing, but the expectation is that he'll be back on track soon.
Harrison's velocity did see a slight dip, dropping from 94.6 mph in the first inning to 93.1 mph by the third. With the Arizona sun cranking temperatures up to a blistering 100 degrees, the Brewers decided to play it safe and pull him from the game.
On the offensive side, Jake Bauers continued his impressive spring, launching his fourth homer of the Cactus League. Luis Rengifo also added to the tally with a home run, showcasing the Brewers' potential firepower.
However, it wasn't all smooth sailing for the Brewers' lineup. Garrett Mitchell, Christian Yelich, and Sal Frelick struggled at the plate, combining for an 0-for-10 performance. Their spring batting averages reflect these challenges, with Mitchell at .080, Yelich at .105, and Frelick at .175.
In a split-squad game against the Mariners, the Brewers fell 7-3. Tyler Black shone bright, going 2 for 3 with a triple and three RBIs, while Cooper Pratt delivered a perfect 3 for 3 performance, scoring twice.
On the mound, Carlos Rodriguez had a tough outing, allowing four runs over four innings. Easton McGee followed, giving up three more runs in his single inning of work.
Looking ahead, the Brewers are set to face the Texas Rangers on Thursday at 8:10 p.m. Milwaukee's Brandon Woodruff will take the mound against Texas' Jacob Latz, with the game broadcast on 620 WTMJ. As spring training progresses, the Brewers will aim to iron out these early kinks and build momentum heading into the regular season.