Brewers release bullpen candidate Olmsted

PHOENIX -- The Brewers announced on Monday that they released hard-throwing right-hander Michael Olmsted, a non-roster invitee who was one of several candidates competing for a bullpen spot.

The 26-year-old Olmsted, originally a ninth-round pick by the Mets in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, made two relief appearances for the Brewers this spring. On March 1 at Arizona, he allowed one earned run in one inning. On Sunday at the Cubs, he faced one batter, striking out George Kottaras in the sixth inning.

Manager Ron Roenicke and his staff didn't see a fit for Olmsted in their top two farm teams, and by releasing him now, Olmsted may have a better chance to hook on with another organization with time still left in Spring Training.

"We've talked about it -- we're pretty deep in Double-A and Triple-A," Roenicke said. "For him to get an opportunity, we thought now was a better time rather than putting him on the Minor League side and doing it later."

For Roenicke, Olmsted's biggest hurdle was command and being able to repeat pitches.

"He's got good pitches," Roenicke said. "He's got a good fastball, he's got a good slider. But he has to be able to repeat those pitches. He came into the game yesterday and threw a nice slider to George Kottaras and was able to get him. But [it's] being able to go out there and do that consistently."