MILWAUKEE -- The Brewers added another new face to their evolving center-field picture on Thursday by promoting Alex Presley from Triple-A Colorado Springs. He'll join two other left-handed hitters, Ramon Flores and Kirk Nieuwenhuis, in a loose platoon at the position.
The season is not yet three weeks old, but Presley will be the fourth player to man center field for Milwaukee. Keon Broxton was already optioned to Colorado Springs after starting the season 0-for-16 with 11 strikeouts.
"I think how the season's going to go, there's going to be shared at-bats in center field, is what I anticipate," manager Craig Counsell said. "I'll state it again: You'd like somebody to kind of jump up with it, but most likely, we're going to share the at-bats out there.
"Right now, it's three left-handed hitters to consider there. There's not ideal matchup scenarios to play, but we'll just have to figure it out and kind of go with the hot hand."
Presley started on a positive note in Thursday's 8-1 loss to the Twins, delivering a pinch-hit single in the seventh inning. Before that hit, Brewers pinch-hitters were 1-for-19 this season. After Thursday, they were 2-for-21.
Presley was the last position player cut in Spring Training, the decision coming down to the day of the Brewers' final exhibition game. He hit .344/.400/.563 in nine games at Colorado Springs before getting word Wednesday morning of the promotion.
"I was happy that it worked out to where I stayed with the Brewers," Presley said. "I knew there were opportunities here in the future if I played well, which I did in the short stint I was there. Things worked out. You could kind of see where something could shake out the rest of the year."
To make room for Presley on their full 40-man roster, the Brewers shifted Rule 5 Draft pick Zack Jones to the 60-day disabled list. Jones missed most of Spring Training with a right shoulder injury but has been making positive progress with a throwing program in Arizona, Counsell said Wednesday.
At some point, Jones will advance to a 30-day rehabilitation assignment in the Minors. That will be the Brewers' opportunity to evaluate whether to keep him or offer him back to the Twins, per Rule 5 Draft rules. A player must log 90 days on the active roster to become permanent property of his new team, though the 90-day window can span multiple seasons if necessary because of injury.
Citing Jones' recent progress, Counsell said he does not think that will be necessary.
"We've still got plenty of time to be within that window this year," Counsell said.