Abner Uribe and JoJo Romero both turned in strong rehab appearances Friday for the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Milwaukee Brewers could soon receive a major boost to their bullpen with Abner Uribe and JoJo Romero both progressing through their respective rehabilitation assignments.
Uribe continued his comeback from a forearm injury Friday, pitching for High-A Wisconsin against South Bend. The right-hander delivered a perfect inning and struck out two batters, giving Milwaukee another encouraging indication that he is nearing a return to the major-league bullpen.
The Brewers have been careful with Uribe throughout the recovery process. Although Milwaukee could use another dependable arm in its bullpen, the organization has prioritized making sure the 25-year-old is completely healthy before activating him.
That approach is understandable considering Uribe's importance to the Brewers' pitching staff.
Before going on the Injured List on Aug. 14, Uribe had established himself as one of Milwaukee's most reliable late-inning relievers. He recorded a 2.05 ERA in 49 appearances and frequently worked in important situations as one of the team's primary setup options for closer Trevor Megill.
His absence has left the Brewers without one of their most effective options for protecting leads late in games.
Uribe began his rehab assignment earlier this week with Wisconsin, throwing a scoreless inning in his first appearance. Rather than immediately bringing him back to Milwaukee, the Brewers elected to give him additional time in the Minors.
The extra work should allow the team to evaluate not only how Uribe performs on the mound but also how his forearm responds afterward. That will be particularly important before he resumes a regular major-league workload.
Meanwhile, Romero is also making progress toward his own return.
The left-hander pitched for Wisconsin on Friday while working his way back from an appendectomy. Romero was especially sharp during his appearance, striking out all three hitters he faced.
Romero joined the Brewers at the Trade Deadline and was expected to provide another experienced left-handed option out of the bullpen. His absence has prevented Milwaukee from seeing what he can add to a relief corps that has already been one of the team's strengths.
The Brewers are likely to take a similarly measured approach with Romero. Before activating him, Milwaukee could look to have him pitch on consecutive days to ensure he is ready for the demands of a major-league bullpen.
If both relievers continue progressing without setbacks, Milwaukee could soon add two valuable pieces to an already productive relief corps.
That would be particularly important as the Brewers move deeper into the season and prepare for the postseason push. Uribe would give Milwaukee another trusted late-inning option, while Romero would add another capable left-hander to the mix.
The Brewers do not need to rush either pitcher back. Their priority is making sure both are healthy enough to contribute consistently.
If their recent rehab outings are any indication, however, Milwaukee is moving closer to having both Uribe and Romero available again.
