Reliever Craig Yoho recalled from Triple-A Nashville

Yoho will make his major league debut after just one full year in the minors

Relief pitcher Craig Yoho has been promoted from Triple-A Nashville, per a report from Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The move is most likely a response to the recent struggles of high-leverage relievers Joel Payamps and Bryan Hudson, as manager Pat Murphy could use another consistent bullpen arm right now.

Yoho, drafted out of Indiana University in the eighth round of the 2023 draft, has done nothing but dominate in his short career as a professional. Yoho sports a career 1.16 ERA and 14.53 K/9 rate throughout his time in the minors. He hasn’t allowed an earned run yet this year through 9 ²⁄₃ innings pitched.

The right-hander was named the organization’s co-Minor League Pitcher of the Year in his first full professional season. His signature pitch is his changeup, which has been compared favorably to Devin Williams’ famed “Airbender.”

The Brewers haven’t announced a corresponding move yet, but someone will need to be DFA’ed or reassigned to make room for Yoho on the 40-man roster. Yoho is expected to make his major league debut during this week’s series against the San Francisco Giants.

UPDATE #1: Per Curt Hogg, RHP Logan Henderson is expected to be optioned to Triple-A to make room for Yoho. Henderson dazzled with nine strikeouts in his major league debut yesterday. He’s also still far from a finished product and will need to develop a third pitch to stick in the big leagues. With Tobias Myers expected back this week, the Brewers didn’t have room in the rotation for Henderson, and he’ll benefit developmentally from more time in Triple-A. A 40-man roster move will still need to be made to add Yoho, but that is still unreported at this time.

UPDATE #2: Nestor Cortes was moved to the 60-day IL to open a 40-man spot for Yoho. This means Cortes, who went on the IL in early April with a left elbow injury, will be out until at least mid-June as he works his way back.

If you want to know more about Yoho, and why some think he could be the Brewers’ next pitching lab success story, check out last month’s profile on him here.