Jungmann joins Crew, ready for MLB debut

PITTSBURGH -- With starter Wily Peralta still on the mend, Brewers manager Craig Counsell recently turned to two prospects named Tyler -- Tyler Wagner, on May 31 against the D-backs, and Tyler Cravy, on Tuesday at St. Louis -- to make their Major League debuts and help fill a void in the starting rotation.

Counsell will go to another prospect on Tuesday, although he'll be breaking the Tyler trend. Barely.

Taylor Jungmann, a 25-year-old right-hander, will make his MLB debut for the Brewers' second game of a series in Pittsburgh.

"It's something I've dreamed of my whole life," Jungmann said before Monday's game.

Jungmann (6-foot-6, 220 pounds) was a first-round selection in 2011 (12th overall) and has worked his way through the Brewers' farm system. Ranked by MLBPipeline.com as the club's 13th-best prospect, Jungmann has struggled a bit this season, going 2-3 with a 6.37 ERA in 11 appearances (nine starts). But a 3.92 ERA in his past three starts is an encouraging sign.

Jungmann, who has family from Texas and Colorado flying in for the start, said he's not treating his debut any differently than any other game. Perhaps even more important, he is not overly worried about being kept in the Majors after this start.

"I'm not necessarily expecting another game," Jungmann said, "but I'm also not expecting just one game."

In terms of Jungmann's potential retention past the one start, Counsell said nothing is set in stone. Instead, the first-year manager and his staff will make a decision after Jungmann gets his shot.

"We're open to performance surprising us," Counsell said. "We're getting looks at these guys. I don't know what a fair look is, but it's the big leagues, and you have to perform in those looks."