MILWAUKEE -- The Brewers picked up another versatile defender on Thursday in former Pirates prospect Pablo Reyes, who inked a Minor League contract with Milwaukee that includes an invitation to big league camp.
Reyes, 27 and a 5-foot-8 right-handed hitter, was No. 18 on MLB Pipeline’s list of the top Pirates prospects entering 2019, when he vied for an Opening Day roster spot and made the cut. But he slumped to a .596 OPS that season in 157 plate appearances, then was slapped with an 80-game suspension in February 2020 following a test for Boldenone, an anabolic steroid.
Even though the 2020 season was shortened to 60 games, Reyes’ suspension is considered served per an agreement between MLB and the MLB Players Association. In doing their due diligence before signing Reyes, the Brewers concluded that his PED use was an “isolated mistake,” said president of baseball operations David Stearns.
Whenever Spring Training begins, Reyes will look around at a clubhouse stocked with similar players. In 89 Major League games and 220 plate appearances for Pittsburgh in 2018-19, Reyes has already made starts at all three outfield positions as well as second base and third base. He’s also manned shortstop in a pair of games.
That makes him kindred spirits with Tim Lopes, claimed off waivers last month from Seattle, and Brewers holdovers Luis Urías and Mark Mathias. All have experience playing all over the infield, and all but Urías have also made starts in the outfield. Another non-roster invitee, Zach Green, has essentially split his time in the Minor Leagues between first base and third base.
“Players who can move around the field, clearly we think it's important,” Stearns said. “The interesting part of Pablo's background is this is a player who, at 24 years old [in 2018], showed a pretty significant level of production in a short time at the MLB level. That's pretty unique. To get him back playing, to give him a chance, it's something we wanted to do."
In that short stint with Pittsburgh in 2018, Reyes slashed .293/.349/.483 with three home runs in 63 plate appearances.
Notably, Reyes has two option years remaining. That means the Brewers could send him to the Minors to begin 2021, allowing Reyes to build a foundation of at-bats after missing 2020.
For now, business as usual
The Brewers continue to operate as if Spring Training will start on time, Stearns said, meaning a pitchers and catchers report date of about Feb. 18. Should the situation change, the team will adjust.
“We have to be prepared,” Stearns said. “And I think we will be prepared. I think we also have to understand that Spring Training is likely to look different this year. We’re probably not going to have the same number of people -- not necessarily players, just people -- around the team as we might normally. We might not have the same number of Minor League players around as we normally would. But it will be a logistical challenge whenever it starts. We’ll be prepared for that.”
Among the many challenges is a basic one: finding players and staff places to stay while they work at American Family Fields of Phoenix. Typically, those bookings are long done by now, but this year teams remain in a holding pattern.
Nottingham on the mend
Brewers catcher Jacob Nottingham has resumed workouts with his left thumb in a cast following Dec. 30 surgery for a torn radial collateral ligament. He was hurt in Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series on Oct. 1.
“It was getting better,” Stearns said. “The rehab was working as appropriate, and as Jacob began to ramp up baseball activities, it just didn’t feel 100 percent. So, since it didn’t feel 100 percent, Jacob thought it was the right time to go in and do the procedure.”
The Brewers remain confident that Nottingham, who is out of Minor League options and is one of six catchers on Milwaukee’s 40-man roster, should be back to full health by the start of an on-time Spring Training or very shortly thereafter, Stearns said.