MILWAUKEE -- After four days in the Brewers' bullpen, Taylor Jungmann packed a bag Thursday and prepared for another stint with Double-A Biloxi.
The Brewers needed a roster spot for waiver claimNick Franklin, the utility man set to arrive at Miller Park before Friday's series opener against the Cubs, so they optioned Jungmann to Biloxi and told him he will "stretch out" as a starter.
Jungmann labored through his only appearance during the Brewers' opening series against the Rockies. He inherited a 6-0 lead in the ninth inning on Wednesday and surrendered a run on two hits, a walk and a hit batsman. With two outs, the bases loaded and the tying run on deck, Brewers manager Craig Counsell called upon closer Neftali Feliz for a one-out save, sealing a 6-1 win.
A former first round Draft pick who pitched so well as a starter in 2015 that the Brewers pushed him as a National League Rookie of the Year candidate, Jungmann opened 2016 as Milwaukee's No. 3 starter but was demoted to Triple-A Colorado Springs in late April. He struggled there, too, so Jungmann was again demoted to Biloxi, where he gained a foothold and posted a 2.51 ERA in 13 starts.
He will join a Shuckers staff that includes No. 13 Brewers prospectJorge Lopez, who similarly struggled in the conditions at Colorado Springs last year before finding success in Biloxi.
The Brewers can move Jungmann back and forth between the Majors and Minors for the rest of this season, but he will be out of options beginning next year.