DL Hall's return to the Brewers appears imminent. In what role is the question.
ATLANTA – DL Hall's on-again, off-again rehab stint in the minor leagues finally reached its end Tuesday night.
Pitching for Class AAA Nashville, the left-hander allowed two hits, a run and two walks with three strikeouts over four innings and 64 pitches.
What's next now for Hall? All indications point to a spot waiting for him in the Milwaukee Brewers bullpen.
"I think we've got a decision to make," manager Pat Murphy said on Wednesday. "I think there's a chance we'll see DL soon."
The 25-year-old, acquired as the centerpiece of the Brewers' trade of Corbin Burnes to the Baltimore Orioles heading into spring training, hasn't pitched in the major leagues since spraining his left knee on April 20 in a start at St. Louis.
Since then he's received opinions from different doctors on how to best proceed and then, once it was determined Hall would rehab and try to return to pitching, he twice had stints cut short due to freak circumstances – the first when he got his cleat caught in the mound in late May and then when he was hit in his left forearm by a line drive in early July.
Hall's third stint began with Nashville on July 21, and he has gone 2 ⅔, four, five and four innings leading him into a return to the team that will most likely come on Friday when Milwaukee opens a 10-game homestand against the Cincinnati Reds.
How Hall will be utilized is the question. Will he pitch in shorter stints to open games, or in longer stints during games? Could he potentially see some action in high-leverage situations when needed?
"All that we're going to discuss," Murphy said. "See how he fits in, see how the schedule works. All that is complicated, complicated, complicated. I want to win baseball games. That's it. And pitching is at the core of all great teams.
"This kid's been through it. He's been on the DL for a long time, no pun intended. Get him back healthy, feeling good and growing as a pitcher. I'm excited to have him back at some point. I don't know when that'll be, but I'm hoping that he's part of the mix because I think he's got tremendous upside."
Hall, who struggled to an 0-1 record, 7.71 ERA and WHIP of 2.27 in four starts (16 ⅓ innings) before being injured, has his fastball velocity back up to 96 mph, which is more in line with what he was throwing as a multi-inning reliever last season for the Orioles.
Two other key members of the bullpen, left-hander Bryan Hudson (left oblique) and right-hander Trevor Megill (low back), are also closing in on returns from the IL as well with Hudson rehabbing with Nashville and ahead of Megill at this point.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: DL Hall's return appears imminent. In what role is the question.
