SAN FRANCISCO — At the end of spring training, Craig Yoho found himself just short of making the Milwaukee Brewers roster for the start of the season. Despite this setback, Brewers manager Pat Murphy assured Yoho that the call to the majors would come soon. Now, the 25-year-old pitcher, who had not previously played in Triple-A, is officially joining the major league team.
Yoho has shown promise with a strong performance in Triple-A this season, earning him a spot with the Brewers. “I felt my performance in Triple-A put me in the conversation, and now I’m poised to contribute,” Yoho shared from the visitor’s dugout at Oracle Park in San Francisco. “I’m prepared for whenever I’m needed.”
The Brewers newcomer was set to be available for the four-game series against the Giants, bringing along an eager group of supporters. Yoho’s wife, Sydni, their 8-month-old daughter, Daisy, accompanied him from Charlotte, North Carolina, while his parents, Lance and Connie, his brother, Brandon, and Brandon’s wife, Madison, traveled from Indianapolis. His in-laws also traveled from the San Antonio area to support him.
In Triple-A Nashville, Yoho has been impressive, allowing just one unearned run over 9 2/3 innings this year, after boasting a 0.94 ERA over 48 relief appearances across various minor league teams last season. Drawing confidence from his spring training experience, Yoho believes he’s ready for a significant stint with Milwaukee. “Spring training gave me the confidence, knowing my skills can compete at this level,” he said. “It’s about trusting myself and pitching my game.”
Manager Murphy’s advice to Yoho was to earn his place in the team, not just to be content with arriving. “His message was, ‘You’re here because you earned it, now aim higher,'” Yoho explained. For Yoho, who was drafted in the eighth round by Milwaukee in 2023, reaching this point has been a journey. After transferring to the University of Houston post the 2020 pandemic season, he faced setbacks, including Tommy John elbow surgery and a knee injury.
The Brewers are hopeful Yoho will invigorate a bullpen that has struggled this season, with a bullpen ERA of 5.14 that sits 26th in the majors. This marks a stark contrast to last year’s promising second-best bullpen ERA of 3.11. Manager Murphy expressed excitement about giving Yoho his major league debut.
“The best part of coaching is watching players realize their potential,” Murphy said. “It’s incredible to see them reach this level and dream of excelling beyond it. I am very grateful to be part of this process.” The Brewers cleared roster space for Yoho by sending right-hander Logan Henderson back to Nashville and placing left-hander Nestor Cortes on the 60-day injured list. This comes after Henderson’s strong MLB debut the previous day, where he logged nine strikeouts and allowed just one run over six innings.