Manager Pat Murphy rewards Shane Drohan’s versatile arm and unwavering composure, solidifying a multi-role weapon for the Milwaukee Brewers’ pitching staff.
Manager Pat Murphy made Shane Drohan’s postseason status clear on Thursday. The rookie left-hander will be included on the Milwaukee Brewers’ National League Division Series roster regardless of what happens during the remaining games.
According to Adam McCalvy from MLB.com, Murphy told reporters during his pregame session that Drohan would make the roster “come hell or high water.”
“One development from Pat Murphy’s pregame session today: Shane Drohan is on the NLDS roster ‘come hell or high water,’” McCalvy wrote.
Milwaukee opens the National League Division Series on Oct. 3 after winning the National League Central and securing a first-round bye. The Brewers enter Friday’s series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals at home with a 100-59 record.
Drohan’s journey so far
Drohan was not part of the Opening Day roster. Milwaukee recalled him April 8, and he made his MLB debut that night against the Boston Red Sox, the organization that traded him in February.
The Brewers acquired Drohan, Kyle Harrison and David Hamilton from Boston for Caleb Durbin, Andruw Monasterio, Anthony Seigler and a compensatory draft pick.
Drohan is 7-5 with a 4.24 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in 123 innings over 32 appearances (19 starts).
He allowed one run on three hits with two strikeouts and two walks in 2.2 innings against the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday.
Milwaukee has repeatedly moved Drohan between the rotation and bullpen. He began the season as a starter before shifting to relief work through late May.
Drohan then made 13 consecutive starts beginning June 1, going 4-3 with a 4.44 ERA in 71 innings.
He later returned to the bullpen before making four more starts from late August through mid-September. Drohan followed those appearances with two relief outings and started again Thursday.
That flexibility secured his postseason role. October innings are limited, and pitching plans can change quickly. A left-hander capable of covering two or three innings with little notice or making a spot start gives Murphy another valuable option.
Murphy praised Drohan’s composure in June, describing him as tremendously poised for a pitcher without previous MLB experience. The manager also called him impressive and underrated.
Drohan is a 27-year-old, 6-foot-2 left-hander from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He was drafted in 2020.
The Brewers will finish the regular season with MLB’s best record and they secured home-field advantage throughout the postseason.
Their pitching staff already features several young arms, while Drohan provides insurance if a starter exits early or a bullpen game becomes necessary.
Drohan’s adaptability
Moving between starting and relieving requires different preparation, warm-up routines and mental approaches, yet Drohan has continued accepting every assignment.
In addition to adaptability, he also brings poise to unpredictable situations. A multi-inning reliever must enter without knowing how long he will pitch or which part of the opposing lineup he will face.
Milwaukee’s mix-and-match approach requires length, flexibility and left-handed options against particular lineups. Drohan supplies each element.
The postseason roster will become official closer to Oct. 3, but Murphy’s comments indicate this decision has already been made. The same approach that helped Milwaukee win at least 100 games will continue in October, with Drohan firmly included.
