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Rookie Right-Hander Bringing Stability To Brewers Rotation

Rookie right-hander Tobias Myers has brought greater stability to the Milwaukee Brewers’ fledgling starting rotation.

Following a recent season-ending injury to franchise history-making rookie starting pitcher Robert Gasser, Myers has taken command and thrived under the pressure-packed situation. He is 3-0 in his last three starts since being recalled from Triple-A Nashville on June 5. In turn, combining for 15 strikeouts with a 0.44 earned run average in 20 1/3 innings during that pivotal stretch for the Brewers.

Myers’ statement-making return to the mound has been critical for the first-place and defending National League Central Division champions, who are currently 44-31 overall (.587 winning percentage).

Brewers Rookie Tobias Myers Bringing Stability To Rotation

Myers, 25, has a 4-2 overall record with a 3.26 ERA and 1.128 WHIP. He has helped propel the team to seven victories in nine starts this season, registering 42 strikeouts in 47 innings of work.

He was a sixth-round pick of the Baltimore Orioles (No. 181) in the 2016 Major League Baseball Draft. Following minor league stints with the Orioles, Tampa Bay Rays, Cleveland Guardians, and San Francisco Giants, he signed a minor league contract with the Brewers on November 22, 2022. The rookie right-hander made his MLB debut on April 23 of this year in the Brewers’ humbling 2-1 road loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Since giving up a home run to the first batter he faced, Pittsburgh’s Andrew McCutchen on a first-pitch inside fastball, he has continued to demonstrate his heart and resilience.

The 6-foot-1, 217-pound Myers is one of 12 pitchers to start for Milwaukee this season. Gasser, Freddy Peralta, Aaron Ashby, DL Hall, Jakob Junis, Jared Koenig, Wade Miley, Colin Rea, Carlos Rodriguez, Joe Ross, and Bryse Wilson round out the list.

First-year Brewers manager Pat Murphy has been impressed with the rookie’s mental toughness, fight, and determination throughout the season. “Tobias is growing in confidence, growing with every game,” said Murphy, in a post-game interview with Brewers Live reporter Sophia Minneart. “It’s great to see and has given us a big lift. That’s what this team has been about all year. Guys that nobody expected a lot from have stepped up.”

Myers utilizes a six-pitch arsenal. It includes a four-seam fastball, cutter, slider, changeup, curveball, and sinker ranging in speed from 77.9 to 92.6 MPH, according to Baseball Savant.

Myers Pitching With Confidence

During his last three starts, Myers has pitched six or more innings in leading the Brewers to convincing victories over the Detroit Tigers (8.0), Toronto Blue Jays (6.0) and Los Angeles Angels (6 1/3). Myers’ dominant eight-inning, one-hit shutout versus Detroit on June 8 included five strikeouts and achieved a career-best for innings in a single game.

“He keeps giving us great innings,” said Brewers reliever Trevor Megill, in a post-game interview. “When you have a guy that goes out and gives you quality like that, it just helps everybody and is very motivating.”

The timely stretch of June individual performances has proven to be invaluable to a rotation decimated by injuries. Working off the consistent efforts of first-year ace Freddy Peralta and veteran starter Colin Rea, Myers continues to bring stability and a strong additional option to the mix. With the trade deadline fast approaching, the encouraging development has turned a once desperate situation into a far less critical one.

Patience and growth have been a part of the Brewers’ mantra this season. So, adding a proven veteran starter to the rotation may not be a necessity. Myers’ progression is evidence of that.

 

Photo Credit: © Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Jeff Hagenau

Jeff Hagenau

Jeff has been a sports writer in southeast Wisconsin for the past 27 years, covering at the high school, collegiate and professional levels. He graduated from Carroll University with a degree in journalism and covers the Milwaukee Brewers for Last Word On Sports.

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