In a normal season, the Brewers almost certainly would not cut ties with an established player like Brock Holt after 36 plate appearances.

In 2020, they decided they didn’t have time to wait.

The team designated the popular but slumping utility man for assignment on Saturday and promoted another versatile defender, Jace Peterson, from the four-man taxi squad traveling on this long road. Peterson is not expected to play every day, but Brewers manager Craig Counsell hopes the move supplies a jolt of energy to a sluggish offense.

“Thirty-six plate appearances is not a lot, but at this point we didn’t feel like we were getting anywhere,” Counsell said. “So we’re going to try something different. That’s the point we reached with Brock, unfortunately. He’s a really good teammate. Just, how this [shortened season] affected him, it just didn’t work. I guess that’s the best way to say it.”

Holt signed in February to a one-year deal with a club option for 2021, and he made a number of fine defensive plays, but he was 3-for-30 with the Brewers. When a player's contract is designated for assignment -- often abbreviated "DFA" -- that player is immediately removed from his club's 40-man roster, and 28-man roster if he was on that as well. Within seven days of the transaction (it was previously 10 days), the player must either be traded, released or placed on irrevocable outright waivers.

Holt was realistic about his troubles so far this year.

“My numbers stink,” he said late last week. “I'm working. I'm trying to figure things out. It's nothing mechanical or anything like that, it's just needing those reps and those at-bats, and I just don't have them yet. I'm still trying to stay as positive as possible. It's a weird, weird season and weird situation to be in, and we're all trying to get through it. It's the first time that we've had to deal with anything like this, so we're learning on the fly.”

Should Holt clear waivers, Counsell indicated that he does not anticipate Holt remaining with the organization.

Counsell described the Brewers as “a team that’s needing offense,” and that was the understatement of the day. Milwaukee entered Saturday’s game against the Pirates ranked 26th of 30 MLB teams in runs per game and 26th in OPS. They had been outscored in the first two innings of games by a 34-5 margin. And it was more than just Holt struggling; among the regulars hitting below replacement level so far (per Baseball-Reference offensive WAR), were Ryan Braun (minus-0.2), Eric Sogard (minus-0.3), Omar Narváez (minus-0.3), Ben Gamel (minus-0.4), Justin Smoak (minus-0.4) and Holt (minus-0.4). Weighted runs created plus paints an equally dismal picture, with 10 regulars below 100, which is average: Keston Hiura (97), Jedd Gyorko (95), Orlando Arcia (93), Avisaíl García (89), Gamel (67), Smoak (64), Braun (61), Sogard (56), Narváez (30) and Holt (1).

At least two of Holt’s teammates were surprised by the early hook, and one of them was Peterson.

“I feel like this whole year is a lot of things happening out of nowhere,” Peterson said. “You never know what’s going to happen next. For me, it’s just, ‘Stay ready if the moment did come,’ and sure enough, today I’m active. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to get back on the field, for sure.”

Said pitcher Corbin Burnes, who is set to start Sunday’s series finale against the Pirates: “It’s still one of those things I’m digesting a little bit. You know, shortened season, things look a little different. It’s tough. It’s just a tough year this year. You wish nothing but the best for Brock.”

Peterson gets a shot
Peterson’s role with the Brewers could look a lot like Holt’s, a mid-game replacement all over the infield and outfield and occasional starter at second base, third base or a corner-outfield position. The 30-year-old logged 1,632 career plate appearances with the Padres, Braves, Yankees and Orioles over the past six seasons.

“Jace’s strengths are he’s multi-positional, he’s left-handed, and hopefully he just can provide a little bit of energy for us,” Counsell said. “He’s not going to be an everyday player. He’s going to mix in there. But he had a nice summer camp. He’s definitely had experience in this league, he’s been all over the place positionally and we think he’s done some things offensive recently that can carry over.”

Peterson said he’d been a member of the Brewers’ taxi squads since the opening trip to Wrigley Field. When the Crew was home or did not travel with a taxi squad, Peterson was at the alternate training site in Appleton, Wis., playing intrasquad scrimmages every day.

“However you can get into the big leagues is a blessing, and I'm just looking to go and compete, play my game, be myself and try to help this team win,” Peterson said. “It's definitely been an interesting journey.”

Peterson entered as a defensive replacement, playing right field, in the eighth inning of Saturday's 12-5 loss to the Pirates. He grounded out to second to end the game.

He said it
“Thank [Brewers senior director of team travel] Dan Larrea and [equipment manager] Jason Shawger, who did a lot of work in collecting all of that. It was a lot of fun to watch. What was fun for me was just seeing a bunch of faces of teammates from the past, just people from the past. It was great to see their faces. I think in this time, it’s something we’ve all missed -- just not being able to connect with people as much as we’ve been accustomed to. … I appreciate what everybody did, and I appreciate what the Pirates did putting it on the scoreboard. It, temporarily, yesterday created good feelings.” -- Counsell, on the 50th birthday wishes that aired during batting practice on Friday