Connor Sadzeck the latest pitcher from Class AAA Nashville to get a shot with Brewers

SAN FRANCISCO – Myriad injuries combined with the normal wear and tear a major-league pitching staff endures over the course of a season has led to quite the churn at Nashville, the Milwaukee Brewers' Class AAA affiliate.

To that end, the Sounds have sent nine different arms to the Brewers in the first half, with Connor Sadzeck the latest to receive a shot in the major leagues.

The right-hander was in the midst of a terrific campaign – 1-1, 0.96 earned run average, WHIP of 1.04 with three saves in 24 appearances – when he was recalled Wednesday to give the Brewers an extra arm in the bullpen.

The 30-year-old had been on the taxi squad once earlier in the season but wasn't needed.

This time, he's active and awaiting his first deployment.

"It’s awesome," Sadzeck said. "It’s been three years in the making. It’s an awesome opportunity. I couldn’t be more grateful."

A native of Crystal Lake, Ill., Sadzeck is feeling especially grateful considering the two Tommy John surgeries he's endured to get back to this point.

The first occurred in March 2014 when he was with the Texas Rangers and the most recent in October 2019 during his time with the Seattle Mariners, for whom he'd pitched 20 times and compiled a 2.66 earned run average with 27 strikeouts in 23 ⅔ innings.

"There’s some of that," Sadzeck said when asked about doubting whether he'd be able to make it back after the second surgery.

Another reliever in the Brewers organization, Justin Topa, also made it through a pair of elbow reconstructions and the two became friendly in Nashville as they compared notes.

"Obviously, you’ve got to push all that to the side," Sadzeck said. "But there wasn’t much doubt in my mind once I got the surgery that I was going to be able to come back. I knew I had the strength to be able to do that.

"You push those negative thoughts aside and say, ‘I’m going to go into this rehab and do what I can and when I’m healthy I’m going to let it rip.’ "

Sadzeck joins the likes of Trevor Kelley, Peter Strzelecki, Luis Perdomo and Luke Barker as relievers who have made their Brewers debuts this season after performing well for the Sounds.

None of Sadzeck's predecessors have been able to stick for a long stretch despite the Brewers having an acute need at the front end of their bullpen.

"This year is kind of the first full year of being healthy again from the beginning," Sadzeck said. "Kind of just went back to what I did before then, and that was kind of a two-pitch mix – fastball/slider, kept it simple and attacked hitters all season.

"Good feedback in spring. Things were going well then. Pitched well and went to Triple-A and continued that. Put together a good couple weeks and that turned into a good couple months, and here I am."

Manager Craig Counsell noted Sadzeck's splits – .106 against right-handed hitters and .231 against lefties – as a strong suit.

"This was an off-season target for a guy to provide major-league depth," he said. "He’s thrown the ball well. His cut fastball has been a very good pitch for him. A very dependable pitch that’s made him good against left-handed and right-handed hitters, which is important for relievers coming up.

"He’s pitched his way here, as most guys in his situation have to do."

Adrian Houser progressing

Adrian Houser, on the injured list since July 1 with a flexor strain in his right elbow, said Friday he was coming off consecutive days of playing catch on flat ground from 90 feet, with no pain.

"It's been going all right," he said. "Just kind of taking it day by day right now and making sure we're staying on top of everything. Taking it nice and slow and not trying to overdo it right now.

"A little weirdness from not throwing (off a mound) for a couple weeks, but nothing that's alarming right now."

Houser said it's possible he could begin throwing off a mound following the all-star break depending on how his work during that stretch goes.

"Much like Freddy (Peralta), it's the same type of plan – you get on a schedule of flat-ground catch, you eventually work to bullpens, then to live (sessions) against hitters and then to rehab (assignments)," Counsell said. "It's very scheduled. It's based on days, and as long as you keep having good days, you can stick to a calendar."

Counsell couldn't offer any sort of timeline for when Houser might be expected to return to action for the Brewers.

"I always think, when they get off a mound, that's when we our calendar kind of comes into play," he said. "But until we're off a mound, he's be playing catch for a period of time, and then that goes to long toss.

"Then, when we get off the mound, then we put together a firm calendar."

Tyrone Taylor, Miguel Sánchez sent out for rehab

Outfielder Tyrone Taylor and right-hander Miguel Sánchez departed the Brewers in advance of Friday's game as they began minor-league rehab assignments with Nashville.

Taylor has been on the concussion injured list since July 3 while Sánchez has been sidelined since June 25 with a right UCL strain.

Christian Yelich, meanwhile, returned to the Brewers lineup after a three-game absence caused by a tight back. He singled in his first at-bat the night after making his first-ever appearance as a pinch runner in the major leagues.

He scored the winning run in Milwaukee's 3-2, 10-inning victory over San Francisco.

In fact, Yelich hadn't appeared as a pinch runner at any level since all the way back on Oct. 30, 2012, while playing in the Arizona Fall League.

The player he replaced? Former Brewer Khris Davis.