Brewers add Wooten to bullpen from Triple-A

MILWAUKEE -- With news that relief pitcher Brandon Kintzler would be the first in-season addition to the 15-day disabled list late Saturday, the Milwaukee Brewers recalled Rob Wooten, who played a large role on the 2013 squad and narrowly missed breaking camp this time around.

"Obviously you're always excited to come back to the big leagues, but to come back to this team is pretty fun," Wooten said. "Last night, I knew before the game [at Triple-A Nashville], so I watched the whole [Brewers] game. I was pretty pumped, and as I heard, the whole crowd was into it, too."

Wooten's numbers were greatly impacted last year by three bad outings, including consecutive appearances against the Angels in which he surrendered two runs and three runs, netting his lone blown save and loss in the latter. He also allowed five earned runs against St. Louis in just two-thirds of an inning Sept. 21, but his other 10 appearances after the Angels series were scoreless outings.

"I've played this game long enough to know that things are not going to be easy," Wooten said. "I got off to a great start here, knowing that wasn't going to last like that. But I didn't change anything. I kept doing what I was doing. I learned from it, built off it and finished off the season pretty strong. I came into Spring Training with the most confidence that I've ever had, and I still have it."

In all, 22 of his 27 outings in 2013 were scoreless appearances. He finished the season at 3-1 with a 3.90 ERA and 18 strikeouts (to eight walks) in 27 2/3 innings.

After becoming the final cut during Spring Training, when he allowed five earned runs in 11 2/3 innings, he also started out hot at Nashville, setting down all nine men he faced and securing three saves in three appearances.

He walks into a bullpen that entered Sunday leading the league with a dominant 0.83 ERA. Kintzler had been among those to not allow a run yet this season.

"I saw it coming, to be honest with you," Wooten said of the bullpen's success. "The first series here didn't go how they wanted, but I was looking at it [thinking] they were going to shock some people, and sure enough."

With Kintzler going down, Wooten was the obvious replacement.

"Coming out of spring, he easily could have been on this team," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. "He's throwing well, he's on the [40-man] roster, he has options, there's a lot of reasons. But we want him here, that's the main reason. … I'm comfortable bringing him into any situation -- left-hander, right-hander. He showed he could get lefties out last year. It's a lot different than bringing a guy up and being unsure in what he can do for you."

Added Wooten, "I wanted to get off to a really good start in Nashville. If that opportunity presented itself, I wanted to make sure that I was one of the guys they'd consider."