Uncommitted Daniel Coyle delivers three big hits as St. Laurence rolls past Lemont. ‘Never give up.'
A varsity starter since he was a freshman at St. Laurence, junior infielder Daniel Coyle has been one of the Catholic League's most productive hitters throughout his career.
But while several of the conference's stars have scholarship offers from major colleges, Coyle's recruiting so far has been quiet.
That's just motivation for Coyle, who still has a point to prove.
'I love playing with that pressure on my back to keep going and show everyone what I can do,' Coyle said. 'I love when people doubt me, honestly. People see me and they're like, 'Oh, look at that short kid.'
'I'll prove you wrong any day.'
Consider Coyle's point made on Saturday. He came up with three big hits, including an RBI double, and scored two runs as the host Vikings rolled to an 11-1 win over Lemont in six innings in the Class 3A St. Laurence Sectional championship game.
Danny Donovan had a two-run double for the top-seeded Vikings (34-5). Adrian Perez went 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI, Wisconsin-Stout recruit Connor Marino finished 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI and South Suburban College commit Ben Geary was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run.
It's the first sectional title since 2021 and seventh overall for St. Laurence, which will take on Simeon (20-12-1) at 5 p.m. Monday in the Crestwood Supersectional at Ozinga Field.
John Strzechowski allowed four hits and six walks but just one run over 4 1/3 innings to earn the win as he consistently pitched out of jams.
'As soon as the coaches gave me this game, I was so fired up,' Strzechowski said. 'The guys were fired up. I knew I've got the guys behind me to win a sectional championship with.'
Oakton recruit Zach Corse went 2-for-3, while Missouri-St. Louis commit Matt Devoy reached base three times and scored on a sacrifice fly by Zane Schneider for second-seeded Lemont (30-8-1), which fell short of making it back to state after last season's runner-up finish.
That run last spring included a 9-0 win over St. Laurence in a sectional semifinal, and the Vikings were certainly hungry for revenge Saturday.
'This felt great,' Coyle said. 'That hurt last year. I really thought we had a great team last year, but this year, we have an even better one. We're tough, we're gritty and we're going to do whatever it takes to win.'
Those adjectives certainly apply to Coyle. Just ask St. Laurence coach Pete Lotus.
'He's played with my son, Mickey, since they were really young and I've seen Dan be the best player on the field since he was a really young kid,' Lotus said. 'Over the years, other kids have gotten bigger or a little more physical than him, but he's still the same player.
'He's one of if not the best player on the field every single day. I think he does carry that chip because some other guys might get more college looks than him. But he's a baseball player and we'll take him anywhere on the field.'
St. Laurence scored four runs in the second inning and four more in the fifth. Coyle's RBI double in the fifth came right after Lemont had cut the deficit to 4-1.
'He never gives up,' Donovan said of Coyle. 'He's always working. He's the biggest leader on our team, I'd say. He gets all the guys going no matter what, even if he's playing bad.
'Today, he had big hits. He can do it all.'
Coyle is hitting .324 with 39 runs, 16 stolen bases, three homers and 41 RBIs.
Batting third in St. Laurence's order, he's certainly smaller than most people who bat in that spot. But that hasn't stopped him yet.
'I believe there's no one better than me,' Coyle said. 'When I get to the plate, all I'm thinking is 'This pitcher can not beat me.' I believe I'm the best one out there.
'Not cocky, but confident.'
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Associated Press
37 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Caleb Durbin hits a walk-off homer to give the Brewers 4-3 victory over the Padres
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Caleb Durbin hit a walk-off homer leading off the ninth inning as the Milwaukee Brewers rebounded after squandering a late lead to beat the San Diego Padres 4-3 on Saturday night. After a two-run, two-out double by Luis Arraez tied it in the top of the ninth, Durbin ended it by sending the first pitch from David Morgan (0-1) over the wall in left-center field. It was the rookie third baseman's second career homer — and first since April 21. Milwaukee's Trevor Megill (1-2) picked up the victory after blowing a save opportunity in the ninth. Elias Díaz hit a one-out single, Xander Bogaerts drew a two-out walk and both runners advanced on a double steal. Arraez tied it by connecting on a 3-2 pitch and hitting a double into the left-field corner. Milwaukee had taken the lead with two runs in the eighth. Rhys Hoskins' bases-loaded sacrifice fly brought home Christian Yelich, then Isaac Collins singled home William Contreras. The Brewers tied it at 1 in the seventh when Jake Bauers' sacrifice fly brought home Collins with an unearned run. San Diego opened the scoring in the fourth inning. Jackson Merrill hit a leadoff single, advanced to second on a Jose Iglesias walk and came home on a two-out single to left from Elias Díaz. Padres starter Stephen Kolek pitched 5 2/3 shutout innings. Milwaukee's José Quintana allowed one run in five innings. Key moment After Arraez tied it with his two-out double in the ninth, he stole third as the Padres threatened to take the lead. Megill regrouped and got out of the inning by retiring Manny Machado on a grounder to shortstop Andruw Monasterio. Key stat After going scoreless in the first 15 innings of this series, the Brewers scored four runs over the last three innings Saturday. Up next Ryan Bergert (1-0, 2.00 ERA) was set to start for San Diego on Sunday against Freddy Peralta (5-4, 2.92) in the series finale. ___ AP MLB:
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
2025 Milwaukee Brewers Top 50 Prospects June Update
2025 Milwaukee Brewers Top 50 Prospects June Update originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Milwaukee Brewers continue to boast one of the best farm systems in all of baseball. Prior to spring training, Athlon Sports published our Top 50 Brewers prospects in the system for fans to keep an eye on throughout the year. Advertisement Now two months into the season, we have a significant enough sample size in results for a lot of players to move them up or down or for some players to enter the list for the first time. There have also been a couple of graduations from the preseason list. Caleb Durbin (#14) and Chad Patrick (#28) have enough big league service time to no longer qualify as prospects while Yophery Rodriguez (#7) was traded to Boston in April. So how does the Top 50 shake out now? © Curt Hogg / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Brewers Top 50 Prospects - June 2025 Update 1. SS Jesus Made (Preseason rank: 1) Jesus Made just turned 18 years old but despite his youth, he's tearing up the Carolina League through the first couple months of the season, further solidifying his status as the top prospect in the Brewers organization and continuing his climb towards being the top prospect in all of baseball. 2. RHP Jacob Misiorowski (Preseason rank: 3) Jacob Misiorowski bumps up a spot in this update after he's taken steps forward in his development this year. The command has improved without any significant drop in velocity and the results have been dominant. He has a 1.60 ERA through his first 56.1 IP and his BB/9 has dropped from 5.5 last year to 3.5 this year. It's now looking more and more possible Misiorowski can stick as a starter, which bumps up his prospect stock. 3. SS Cooper Pratt (Preseason: 2) Cooper Pratt continues to hold his own as a 20 year old at Double-A Biloxi. He's had some tougher batted ball luck in a tough hitting environment in the Southern League. He's still showing a solid power-speed combination and has looked smooth at shortstop. The Brewers aren't going to rush his development to Triple-A just yet but he's looking to be a big piece of the future infield in Milwaukee. 4. C Jeferson Quero (Preseason: 4) Jeferson Quero remains a highly talented backstop with the upside of being an everyday player at a premium position. However, he's been recovering from last year's shoulder surgery and then once he was just about ready to go, he suffered a hamstring injury. He's been playing in Arizona on rehab but is soon going to return to Triple-A Nashville to continue his march to the majors. 5. RHP Logan Henderson (Preseason: 8) Logan Henderson entered the season as one of the starting pitching prospects closest to cracking the big leagues. He's more than met the moment. In his first four MLB starts, Henderson is 3-0 with a 1.71 ERA and 29 strikeouts to six walks. Despite being sent up and down a couple of times, Henderson has looked the part of a mid-rotation starter and if it weren't for the crowded MLB roster picture, he'd be in the majors still and should graduate soon. 6. 1B/3B Mike Boeve (Preseason: 6) Like Quero, Mike Boeve missed the start of the season recovering from a shoulder injury suffered last year. Boeve has been back for a few weeks already at Double-A Biloxi and picked up right where he left off, hitting for a high average, not striking out, and showing a little pop. 7. 3B Brock Wilken (Preseason: 10) Brock Wilken had a tough 2024 season after being hit in the face with a pitch. Now in 2025, with his vision improved and a fresh start, Wilken is doing a lot more of what was expected of him. He's hitting for power, already slugging a dozen home runs on the season. His improvement helps him climb up a little higher in the top 10. 8. SS Luis Pena (Preseason: 21) One of the biggest risers this year is Luis Pena, who like Jesus Made, made the jump straight from the DSL to Low-A Carolina this year. Pena wasn't as highly regarded as Made coming into the season, but he continues to put up the big numbers, hitting well over .300 with an OPS over .900 and 22 stolen bases. He's also increased his power with four home runs in the first two months. Pena is a legit Top 10 player in this system. 9. LHP Robert Gasser (Preseason: 9) Robert Gasser is staying put at nine as he continues to recover from Tommy John Surgery. His big league stint last year was dominant and he remains on track to return to the field late in the 2025 season. 10. RHP Bishop Letson (Preseason: 18) Bishop Letson is one of the Brewers young, projectable pitching prospects and he's separated himself from the pack in 2025. At the Spring Breakout, Letson was the cause for a lot of buzz among scouts and he's showing why with High-A Wisconsin. Letson's dominating with a sub-2.00 ERA with strong strikeout and walk rates. Just 20 years old, the former 11th round pick is proving he can stick as a starting pitcher and is making good on his immense raw talent. 11. OF Braylon Payne (Preseason: 12) The Brewers' first round pick in 2024 has shown improved exit velocities since entering pro ball. That has increased optimism about the speedsters' hit and power tools. Despite missing a few games with a minor injury, Payne returned to the lineup and he has tremendous upside if this hard contact continues to improve. 12. 1B/3B Tyler Black (Preseason: 5) The first big dropper in this list update, Tyler Black didn't come particularly close to making the team out of spring training, then suffered a hamate fracture that has sidelined him to start the year. He's been rehabbing in Arizona and will soon rejoin Triple-A Nashville. The Brewers are open to trying him at third base again to present another path to playing time because he's currently blocked at his best positions of first base and second base. 13. RHP Craig Yoho (Preseason: 13) Craig Yoho was one of the most highly anticipated prospect arrivals in Milwaukee this season despite being a reliever only. Yoho made his MLB debut and while he had some good moments, the command wasn't quite where it needed to be and he's been back in Nashville. He's still one of the most talented arms at the Brewers disposal and should be back when a bullpen job opens up. 14. 1B Blake Burke (Preseason: 24) Selected with the draft pick acquired in the Corbin Burnes trade, Blake Burke has raked in his first full season of pro ball. Heading into June, Burke is leading all Brewers minor leaguers in hits and is top three in batting average, hitting over .300. While there hasn't been a ton of pop, just three homers to this point, it's certainly in there and you'll never complain when a guy like Burke is hitting over .300. 15. 2B/SS Jadher Areinamo (Preseason: 15) Areinamo stays put at 15 on this list update as he's stayed put at High-A Wisconsin this year. He's continued to put up numbers, hitting over .275 with an OPS near .800. The power has ticked up, but the Brewers are focusing on Areinamo making improved swing decisions this year. 16. 3B/OF Luke Adams (Preseason: 16) Luke Adams has greatly tamed down his pre-swing motion this year, which has been great to see. The results, however, have been similar with a low batting average in the .220 range, but an OBP over .400 due to a high walk rate and 14 HBPs, and a ton of extra-base pop. He's sustained some success against the higher competition in Double-A, but hasn't made a big jump nor dropped off, so he stays at the same spot in this update. 17. 3B Eric Bitonti (Preseason: 11) Eric Bitonti has an incredibly high ceiling, but has struggled in Low-A to start the season. Brewers VP of Player Development Brenton Del Chiaro told The Call Up Podcast that they're working on making adjustments to the lower half for Bitonti at the plate. Those adjustments might be starting to pay off but Bitonti remains a high-risk, high-reward prospect. 18. RHP Bryce Meccage (Preseason: 19) Bryce Meccage is a young, projectable arm the Brewers drafted from the New Jersey prep ranks last year and he's had a strong start to his pro career, pitching to a 2.45 ERA in his first eight starts for the Carolina Mudcats. He has a four pitch mix, running his fastball into the mid-90s with an above-average slider and curveball, as well as a changeup. 19. SS Josh Adamczewski (Preseason: 29) Adamczewski's ability to hit has been on full display since the Brewers took him on Day 3 in the 2023 Draft. He torched the Carolina League to start the season and while he's been on the shelf recently with a back injury, the Brewers are hoping to get him back on the field soon and he's been one of the best pure hitters on a loaded Carolina roster this season when healthy. 20. RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez (Preseason: 27) Rodriguez's prospect stock took a dip last year after some uneven performance in the minors and three poor starts in the big leagues. He's looked much better in 2025, the stuff is a little sharper, and he earned himself one call up already. The big question is he left his most recent start with an arm injury and the Brewers are awaiting the results of the tests he underwent to determine the extent of it. 21. OF Luis Lara (Preseason: 25) The Brewers have continued to be aggressive with placing 20 year old switch-hitter Luis Lara. He's spending this year in Double-A Biloxi and is getting on base at a solid clip, stealing bases, and he's improved his slugging slightly. This is despite being in a tough hitting environment in the Southern League. Lara may not have a super high ceiling due to his lack of home run power, but he's an exciting player. 22. RHP Josh Knoth (Preseason: 17) Josh Knoth has perhaps the highest ceiling of the Brewers collection of raw, projectable right-handed prep arms. However, it's going to take him a little longer to progress as he's missing the entire 2025 season recovering from Tommy John surgery. 23. RHP KC Hunt (Preseason: 22) An undrafted free agent out of Mississippi State, KC Hunt has made some noise as a prospect. He's in Double-A Biloxi as a starter and while his surface results this year have just been okay, a 4.79 ERA in eight starts, Hunt has a starter's build and arsenal. The Brewers will continue to develop him as a starter. 24. RHP Brett Wichrowski (Preseason: 23) Brett Wichrowski missed the first month of the season on the IL, but since he's returned, he's been as good as expected with a 2.45 ERA in five starts. Wichrowski has a big fastball that he can run triple-digits. I still question whether he can remain in the rotation as he's yet to complete five innings in a start this year and has allowed 12 walks in 18.1 IP so far. 25. 1B Ernesto Martinez (Preseason: 36) It's been a slow climb up the organizational ladder for Ernesto Martinez, but after making some noise in spring training, the 6'6" lefty is knocking on the door of the majors. Martinez has an OPS over .800 in Triple-A. He missed some time with a finger injury and is currently blocked at first base in the majors, but Martinez is a legitimate roster candidate. 26. SS Filippo Di Turi (Preseason: 38) An international signing in 2023, Di Turi got a short stint in Low-A last year and is back in Carolina this year. The 19 year old switch-hitter has taken a big step forward in his development this season. He's already slugged six home runs this year with an OPS well over .800. He's been a big part of that vaunted Mudcats lineup and takes a big jump in our June update. 27. RHP Manuel Rodriguez (Preseason: 39) Another teenage sensation in this Brewers system, Manuel Rodriguez was an under-the-radar signing out of Mexico with just a $40,000 bonus. Rodriguez fills up the zone and even though his stuff isn't eye-popping, he gets results. He has a 1.80 ERA in five starts this year with 25 Ks and just five walks. He's been on the IL since the beginning of May, but he's an arm to watch. 28. OF Jose Anderson (Preseason: 41) Another unheralded international signing, Jose Anderson is the third member of the Brewers 2024 international class to already be in Low-A Carolina, joining Jesus Made and Luis Pena. Anderson lit up the Arizona Complex League with three homers and a 1.217 OPS, earning the promotion to Carolina in late May. The 18 year old has power and speed and the Brewers have been aggressive with him. 29. C Marco Dinges (Preseason: 42) Milwaukee's 4th round pick last year out of Florida State, Marco Dinges has mashed his way up the prospect rankings. Dinges already hit his way out of the Carolina League, with a .353/.500/.576 slash line for the Mudcats. Now he's in High-A Wisconsin and if his defense behind the plate continues to develop, the Brewers may have themselves another legit catching prospect behind Jeferson Quero. 30. RHP Tyson Hardin (Preseason: NR) The highest ranked newcomer to this list is Tyson Hardin. Last year's 12th round pick out of Mississippi State, Hardin has exploded onto the scene, putting up a 1.29 ERA in his first nine starts with 53 strikeouts and just six walks. The Brewers will monitor his workload as he transitions from pitching out of the bullpen in college to the rotation in pro ball, but Hardin is a name that can rise even further. 31. Brailyn Antunez (Preseason: 30) One of the Brewers top international signings this year, Brailyn Antunez was regarded as one of the best hitters in Venezuela, a country the Brewers have a great track record in scouting. We'll get our first look at him on the field when the DSL season starts June 5th. 32. SS Juan Baez (Preseason: 20) Juan Baez has been a contact and on-base machine to this point in his professional career. However, the 19 year old has struggled with an aggressive placement in High-A Wisconsin this year, managing just two extra base hits, both doubles, in 44 games, with a sub-.500 OPS. Perhaps his bat will heat up with the summer weather in Wisconsin. 33. LHP Tate Kuehner (Preseason: 31) A 7th rounder in 2023, Tate Kuehner is another pitching development win for the Brewers. He's posting a 2.77 ERA in his first 10 starts for Double-A Biloxi this year. That's combined with a concerning 5.7 BB/9, however. The command will need to improve, which is why he's down slightly, but Kuehner has the ability to be a back-end starter or swingman. 34. RHP Coleman Crow (Preseason: 47) The return in the trade of Tyrone Taylor and Adrian Houser, Coleman Crow is finally recovered from Tommy John surgery and pitching for Double-A Biloxi. Crow has some nasty stuff on the mound and it's translated to a 3.46 ERA in his first seven starts. The Brewers are taking it cautiously with his innings load, but Crow is finally getting a chance to show why the organization brought him in despite his injury and that's why he's climbing up this list. 35. 2B/OF Dylan O'Rae (Preseason: 26) Dylan O'Rae's 2025 season is over before it got a chance to start as he's undergone wrist surgery and will be out for the rest of the year. It's a 4-6 month recovery timeline and he's expected to be ready to go for spring training 2026. 36. 2B/3B Anthony Siegler (Preseason: NR) Anthony Siegler was a former first round pick of the Yankees that hadn't been able to figure things out. The Brewers picked him up on a minor league free agent deal with an invite to spring training. He showed well there and has dominated Triple-A pitching this year. The Brewers have started working Siegler at third base to see if he could play there because that's his best path to Milwaukee since second base is occupied. 37. OF Kenny Fenelon (Preseason: 37) Kenny Fenelon got the biggest signing bonus from the Brewers international class this year. The right-handed hitter has big time power and we'll get a chance to see how quickly he can tap into it when the DSL season starts on June 5th. Since we don't have any results yet, Fenelon stays put at 37. 38. RHP Alexander Cornielle (Preseason: 48) Alexander Cornielle has had kind of middling results ERA-wise the last couple of years, but the Brewers have stuck with him as a starter and he eats up innings. This year, Cornielle has taken a step forward in Double-A Biloxi. Through his first nine starts, Cornielle has a 2.30 ERA. His walk rate has jumped a bit, but largely due to one blowup outing. 39. RHP Jaron DeBerry (Preseason: NR) DeBerry wasn't very highly ranked when the Brewers selected him in the 3rd round last year out of Dallas Baptist as a senior sign. But the Brewers have an eye for pitching and despite a modest $25k signing bonus, DeBerry has already earned one in-season promotion. He made quick work of the Carolina League with a 1.04 ERA in three starts and is now in High-A Wisconsin. 40. RHP Justin Yeager (Preseason: 33) The closer for Double-A Biloxi and the third piece of the William Contreras trade, Yeager is a relief-only prospect. In 16 outings, Yeager has a 2.18 ERA and has converted eight of nine save opportunities while striking out 24 and walking just five. Repeating Double-A as a reliever and already 27 years old, Yeager should be getting close to Nashville soon at the very least if the Brewers believe he's a legit big league option. 41. OF Handelfry Encarnacion (Preseason: NR) Signed for $400,000 in 2024, the lefty-hitting Encarnacion has impressed in his first stateside action. Already with ten extra-base hits, including three homers, Encarnacion is one of the top hitters the Brewers have in the ACL. He could very well earn himself a promotion to Low-A Carolina soon if he keeps this up. 42. SS Christopher Acosta (Preseason: NR) Another one of the top Brewers international signings in 2025, Christopher Acosta has stood out more for his glove than his bat through most of the scouting process. But it's sounding like his bat has been taking steps forward of late, and he gets himself up to the back end of the Top 50 ahead of his pro debut when the DSL season starts on June 5th. 43. RHP Ryan Birchard (Preseason: NR) The Brewers love junior college arms and Ryan Birchard is their latest project from those ranks. Birchard got lit up in his last outing, but overall has had a strong season in High-A Wisconsin. He struggles with walks a little bit, but there are solid ingredients here for a back-end starting pitcher. 44. RHP Travis Smith (Preseason: 34) Practically an elder statesman for Low-A Carolina at 22 years old, Travis Smith has had a solid start to his pro career after being a 15th round pick last year out of Kentucky. Smith hasn't had big strikeout numbers but also doesn't walk many. Pitching to contact has worked well so far, but there's still a ways for Smith to go in his development. 45. 2B Ethan Murray (Preseason: NR) A 5th rounder out of Duke back in 2021, Ethan Murray has been under-the-radar but a favorite of some Brewers player development staff. Murray has missed the last couple weeks with an oblique injury, but had an .840 OPS in Double-A Biloxi prior to the injury. He could be a utility infielder in the majors if he keeps on hitting enough. 46. OF Hedbert Perez (Preseason: NR) A former highly touted signing, Hedbert Perez makes his return to the top 50 Brewers prospects. Perez is in the midst of a resurgent season in High-A Wisconsin with six homers and six stolen bases so far with a nearly .800 OPS. He's healthy now after dealing with two foot injuries in recent years. Still just 22 years old, Perez is putting himself back on the radar. 47. SS Eduardo Garcia (Preseason: NR) Always seen as a glove-first shortstop, Eduardo Garcia is finally starting to tap into his offensive potential in his age-22 season in High-A. Garcia already has 20 extra-base hits and a career-high 16 stolen bases. His slash line is up across the board and his OPS is over .800. If Garcia can continue to hit like this with his defense up the middle, he can reach the big leagues. 48. SS Gery Holguin (Preseason: NR) The 19 year old Holguin's second season in the ACL is going much better than his first. Through 15 games, Holguin has already matched last year's home run output with four and he has a 1.112 OPS. If there was room in that Carolina infield, he might earn the call up to Low-A soon, but that might have to wait until Jesus Made and Luis Pena make their move upward. 49. SS Juan Ortuno (Preseason: 50) Another performer in the ACL, Juan Ortuno was a surprise star in the DSL last season to put his name on the radar. He has an OPS over .900 and has walked more than he's struck out this year. 50. RHP Jack Hostetler (Preseason: NR) Jack Hostetler was an undrafted free agent pitching in the Alaskan Summer League when the Brewers picked him up last year. He made the Spring Breakout roster as a relative unknown, until he entered the 9th inning and started pumping 97 MPH fastballs. He's in Low-A Carolina and missed some time on the IL but is back and is a name to watch. Advertisement Related: 4 Early Trade Targets For Brewers To Boost Anemic Offense Ready to join the community? Follow Athlon Sports on YouTube, Facebook, and X to join in on the conversation. You can also follow Site Publisher David Gasper at @dgasper24 on X. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Brewers Offseason Addition Suffers Setback in Recovery From Elbow Injury
Brewers Offseason Addition Suffers Setback in Recovery From Elbow Injury originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Do you ever wish you could go back and do a decision over again? The Milwaukee Brewers likely do after yet another tough break for one of their offseason additions, left-handed pitcher Connor Thomas. Advertisement The Brewers selected Thomas in the Rule 5 Draft last December from the St. Louis Cardinals organization. They intended on him being a potential bullpen arm to provide a different look than what they already had in-house. Milwaukee chose not to protect right-handed pitcher Shane Smith to leave open the roster spot that was used on Thomas. Smith was selected first overall in the Rule 5 Draft and is on track to be an All-Star, while Connor Thomas just got some devastating news. © Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images Connor Thomas Suffers Setback The Brewers placed Thomas on the IL back in April with elbow arthritis. He was transferred to the 60 Day IL a few weeks later, but remained on track for a June return. He began a rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League in late May. However, in his first and only outing of that rehab assignment, Thomas' elbow flared up again. Advertisement Thomas has some loose bodies in his elbow, he's been shut down from throwing, and he told Athlon Sports that he's "back to square one". Manager Pat Murphy confirmed that Thomas was getting a second opinion on his elbow and that there is the possibility of surgery to clean up the area. At this moment, Thomas doesn't believe the injury to be season-ending, but if he returns it will be late in the season. Thomas has pitched in just two MLB games, totaling 5.1 IP with a 20.25 ERA. Since he was a Rule 5 pick and hasn't been on the active roster for 90 days, it's likely he'll face the same Rule 5 roster restrictions in 2026. Advertisement It's an extremely tough break for Thomas, who had been given a great opportunity and earned a spot in the Brewers big league bullpen. It's also a tough break for the Brewers seeing their Rule 5 addition not be able to produce the way they had hoped and then the player they could've protected instead in Shane Smith go on to have a sub-3.00 ERA with the White Sox. Related: 2025 Milwaukee Brewers Top 50 Prospects June Update Ready to join the community? Follow Athlon Sports on YouTube, Facebook, and X to join in on the conversation. You can also follow Site Publisher David Gasper at @dgasper24 on X. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
