Brewers call up infielder Rogers from Triple-A

MILWAUKEE -- The Brewers promoted Jason Rogers from Triple-A Colorado Springs on Friday, but it doesn't appear he is on the list of candidates to fill the team's long-term need at third base.

That position was in limbo even before the Brewers traded Aramis Ramirez to the Pirates last month. Ramirez announced in Spring Training his intention to retire at season's end, and the Brewers do not have a third-base prospect ready to take over. Since the Ramirez trade, they have been auditioning Hernan Perez at third.

Of Rogers, Brewers manager Craig Counsell said, "I think we explored third base. To me, I don't think he's the answer as an everyday third baseman defensively."

Rogers committed two errors in his only Major League start at third base this season. In the Minors, he was charged with 23 errors in 129 games at the position, mostly last season when the Brewers gave him a long look there.

But Rogers does have promise as an occasional starter at first base as a right-handed foil to left-handed-hitting starter Adam Lind. Rogers also showed proficiency in pinch-hit situations during his first stint with the Brewers this season, when he was 8-for-32 (.250) off the bench.

Video: MIL@PIT: Rogers opens scoring with solo home run

In more regular playing time at hitter-friendly Colorado Springs, Rogers hit .344 with eight home runs in 33 games.

"I went down and got some at-bats I needed," Rogers said. "It was understandable [when the Brewers sent him down last month]. I wasn't upset. I was struggling a little bit. I had to get my timing back, so it was helpful."

To make room for Rogers, the Brewers removed utility infielder Hector Gomez from the 40-man roster and sent him outright to Triple-A. Since Gomez has been outrighted previously, he could opt to refuse the assignment and elect free agency.

The silver lining for Gomez was that he'll get to play baseball again.

The 27-year-old had been with the Brewers all season but riding the bench for weeks, limited to only two starts and 20 total plate appearances since June 15, a span of 45 team games.

He was hitless in his last 17 at-bats.

"I think Hector had a real good start to the season. The way things started going, there just wasn't playing time for him," Counsell said, noting that Perez hit his way into regular duty at third base. "I think he got a little rusty."