Hall has blast with the Brits in World Baseball Classic exhibition

This story was excerpted from Adam McCalvy’s Brewers Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

PHOENIX -- DL Hall knew ahead of time that he would log some innings this week for Great Britain’s entry to the World Baseball Classic, which asked the Brewers for some arms to help cover Tuesday’s exhibition.

But Hall didn’t know anybody would be watching.

“Funny story about that: I didn’t know it was a real game!” said Hall. “I thought we were playing on a back field or something.”

But no, this was a ticketed affair in the main stadium at American Family Fields of Phoenix. Hall found that out about 90 minutes prior to his first pitch, and took the mound wearing one of the Brewers’ new powder blue uniforms in contrast to his British teammates’ red. That’s a quirk you’ll notice if you look very closely at the painting produced by Britain’s team artist, Andy Brown -- yes, “team artist” is a real thing -- during what became a 7-3 Great Britain win.

Hall’s heritage is Italian, but he had a blast with the Brits thanks to his enthusiastic new teammates, who treated the exhibition seriously as they tuned-up for an underdog bid in a pool with the likes of Team USA. Hall threw three innings, allowing only one hit and one unearned run while pushing his pitch count to 45.

“Every time I came in between innings, they were all fired up,” Hall said. “That kept me competitive versus throwing a live batting practice against our own guys. I was out there to actually complete, instead of going through the motions.”

This is an important camp for Hall, who is being built-up this spring in case the Brewers need him in the starting rotation to begin the season, He came to the Brewers with high expectations as part of the Corbin Burnes trade with the Orioles in 2024 and has a 4.30 ERA in 33 appearances, including 10 starts, with Milwaukee so far, missing time with knee and oblique injuries. Once armed with a 100 mph fastball, he’s been touching 96 mph on good days but struggling to be consistent.

“Right now it’s fluctuating,” Hall said. “Like these games, I’ll go 94-96 mph one outing to 92-94 the next, then 94-96, then 92-94,” Hall said. “It’s just about hammering in mechanics. My body is getting sore in new places, which is exciting. When I was throwing 100, my low back was my number one spot. Working on this stuff the last two weeks, my low back has been sore, but I almost see that as a good thing. I’m starting to do it right.”

His innings with Great Britain were part of the process.

Hall’s only disappointment was that he didn’t come away with anything to remember the experience. The Brewers had already arranged for some of their Minor League players to wear baby blue uniforms while sitting in the bullpen as possible backups for Great Britain in case the pitching got thin. That’s one of the reasons why Hall also wore a Brewers jersey and cap instead of Great Britain’s.

Fortunately, Brewers visiting clubhouse manager Phil Rozewicz came to the rescue. When Hall asked this week whether Rozewicz could contact the Brits about sending a jersey, Rozewicz replied, “Give me three minutes.”

Instead of merely making a call, Rozewicz returned as promised with a Great Britain jersey in hand.

“Those guys hyped me up,” Hall said. “I wish there was a picture of me walking off the mound while they all had their hands in the air.”

He’ll have to settle for a painting.