Luis Perdomo makes pitch for Brewers' rotation

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Luis Perdomo, the former Padres starter and a dark horse for the Brewers this spring, went six up, six down in his unofficial debut in Saturday’s 11-0 win at the Rangers in Surprise. He got up to 93 mph with his sinker, and the last four outs were groundouts. Perdomo threw sliders and splits off the sinker, and, overall, looked pretty good.

Most of all, Perdomo is healthy.

“I feel great physically,” said Perdomo upon reporting to Spring Training. “I’ve worked a lot mentally. I’m doing great.”

It has been a long journey to feeling great for the 28-year-old, who made his first Major League start in Milwaukee back in 2016 and started and relieved for San Diego over parts of five seasons. In the fall of 2020 he underwent Tommy John surgery and was released. The Brewers signed him to a two-year Minor League deal and rehabbed him in 2021.

Now, Perdomo is getting a chance to make a comeback. Because he is not on the 40-man roster, he was able to report to Brewers spring camp during the lockout and has been pitching there since January.

“It’s good that I see that there are a lot of good expectations for me,” Perdomo said. “I just have to be ready to go. There are expectations, but I’m waiting for that moment to have the opportunity.”

Perdomo is on a Brewers team that includes some former teammates (Hunter Renfroe, Luis Urías, Eric Lauer) and a former coach and manager in Pat Murphy, plus acquaintances from the Dominican Republic, including pitchers Freddy Peralta and Miguel Sánchez. The Brewers’ other Perdomo, left-handed pitcher Angel, grew up in the same area as Luis, who hails from Santo Domingo.

“We see a very talented player [who had] success in the big leagues, been derailed by injuries, on his way back and is definitely at a good point on his way back,” manager Craig Counsell said. “So, we feel like it's one of those really good risks to take. I wouldn't describe it as a risk, even, but a really good shot to take with a talented player.”

Erceg makes his pitch
Former second-round MLB Draft pick Lucas Erceg played in his 55th Cactus League game for the Brewers on Saturday, but this one was different. It was the first time he pitched.

Erceg, who opened up during the Brewers’ Minor League camp about his struggles with alcohol and depression, was drafted as a third baseman but converted into a full-time pitcher last season. His strength is a power fastball, which sat at 96-98 mph during a 1-2-3 eighth inning.

“Good velocity, great arm,” Counsell remarked. “But, you know, guys just don't walk into pitching and turn into big league. There's a process to it. It's full-time now. I think we're all really interested in watching him and [we'll] see what happens.”

Critically, Erceg is committed to the transition. The idea was presented to him prior to last season by his former coach at Menlo College, Jake McKinley, who now works in Milwaukee’s player development department.

“It's one of those things, you can't tell somebody [to pitch], they have to accept it and they have to want to do it, because it is a full-time job,” Counsell added.

Last call
• If you had catcher Pedro Severino in the “first Brewers player to homer in 2022” pool, collect your prize. Severino’s two-out, two-run home run in the first inning against Rangers right-hander Dane Dunning showcased some of the pop the Brewers hope to get from the 28-year-old, who hit 11 home runs in 379 at-bats last season in Baltimore. He’ll back up regular catcher Omar Narváez, a role previously filled by Manny Piña.

• Right-hander J.C. Mejía walked a batter and struck out two in a scoreless inning against the Rangers. Eleven of his 17 appearances for Cleveland last season were starts, but the Brewers, who acquired the 25-year-old in a November trade, plan to use him exclusively out of the bullpen. “Just simplify some things for him,” Counsell said. “There's no big pitch changes or anything like that coming with him. Just kind of simplify him out of the bullpen and hope that shorter stints and approach will optimize what he's doing.”

• The Brewers have renewed the contract of setup man Devin Williams for 2022, according to a report from The Athletic. Pre-arbitration players like Williams can negotiate their salaries, but have little leverage, as clubs can choose to renew a contract for any figure at or above the Major League minimum if they cannot reach an agreement with the player.

"We understand players have a right to take a renewal and look forward to watching Devin continue to make significant contributions to our team this season," president of baseball operations David Stearns told The Athletic.