PEORIA, Ariz. -- Think of Brent Suter, but right-handed and with just a couple of extra ticks on the fastball. That is the role the Brewers envision for strong-armed prospect Drew Rasmussen in 2021.

Rasmussen, 25, has pro experience as a starter, but he pitched out of the bullpen in his Major League debut season in 2020, when he had the team’s highest average fastball velocity at 97.7 mph. He pitched in short stints last year, but now the Brewers face a season in which they are reverting back to a 162-game schedule, and an ability to cover multiple innings will be as valuable as ever.

So, the Brewers are metaphorically stretching out Rasmussen’s arm. He threw one inning in an intrasquad game on Saturday and two innings against the Padres in Wednesday’s 8-5 Brewers win at Peoria Sports Complex. Rasmussen started the day by striking out Fernando Tatis Jr. and Trent Grisham with sliders and whiffed three batters in all during a hitless outing.

“He had good velocity and his slider, that’s a pitch we’re trying to take little steps forward with it,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “I thought he did a nice job with it today. His misses were right on the plate, which is a good place for him to be.”

Of Rasmussen’s potential role, Counsell said, “It’s really thinking about him the same way we think about Brent.”

Rasmussen is on board with the idea.

"Just to see how my body handles it and see how quickly I bounce back and that kind of stuff moving forward,” he said. “You know, now's the time to kind of experiment with that kind of stuff and so that is the plan right now."

Williams update
The Brewers are continuing a slow approach with 2020 National League Reliever of the Year Devin Williams, who missed last year’s NL Wild Card Series against the Dodgers with a right shoulder injury.

“You’re not going to see Devin in a game until after that second off-day [on March 17],” Counsell said. “That’s what the schedule reads for him. That puts him in a good place to start the season, but when we start you that late, you have to have good days. Because we decided to start him late and put a little bit bigger foundation under him before we start his games, we have to stick to the schedule.”

The other Brewers reliever yet to appear in a game is Josh Hader, but he is scheduled to pitch Friday in a "B" game, Counsell said. Hader doesn’t need many innings to get ready for a season, so the Brewers are planning “a pretty soft schedule, to be honest with you,” Counsell said.

Alternate sites return
Major League Baseball informed teams on Tuesday that the start of the 2021 Triple-A season will be delayed by a month to early May, and that clubs will operate alternate training sites similar to those used during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.

It’s not yet known how many players will be assigned to alternate training sites. Last year, the Brewers’ site was in Grand Chute, Wis. (just outside Appleton), the home of the Class A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

“Look, we’d much rather have players play in games in a normal Triple-A season,” Counsell said. “It’s not a good change for the players as far as having them prepared, but I think we don’t want them traveling essentially for the first month of the season, so that’s how it comes down like that. Look, from our perspective, it’s not ideal. It’s Appleton in April. That’s not ideal. But we’ll make the best of it and we’ll figure it out.”

The Brewers’ top affiliate in Nashville will now open the season on the road in Toledo, Ohio against the Mud Hens on Tuesday, May 4. The scheduled home opener is one week later.

“We were surprised with yesterday’s news of a delayed 2021 Triple-A season,” Sounds general manager Adam Nuse said in a statement. “While the news was certainly disappointing, our fans can take comfort in our efforts to provide a truly unforgettable season at First Horizon Park. It will now mark 616 days between games at the best ballpark in Minor League Baseball. May 11, and every home game that follows, will be a welcomed sight.”