DENVER – Joel Kuhnel was with the Milwaukee Brewers on two separate occasions during 2024 but never appeared in a game.
The third time should be the charm.
The Brewers, after suffering a rash of injuries to the bullpen in recent days, acquired the right-handed reliever from the Athletics in exchange for cash on June 6.
Kuhnel, 31, went 1-2 with a 4.21 ERA and 4 saves in 25 outings for the Athletics this year. Prior to a four-run outing against the Cubs ealrier in the week, his ERA was 2.88.
Kuhnel primarily features two pitches, a sinker and cutter, while mixing in a slider, changeup, four-seamer and rare curveball to deep the mix. The cutter, with a 34.3% whiff rate and .228 expected batting average against, has been his best pitch.
His 5.6% walk rate rates in the 90th percentile for MLB pitchers this year.
Kuhnel has spent parts of six seasons in the majors, with his longest stint in the bigs coming in 2022 with the Reds when he made 53 appearances with a 6.36 ERA.
Milwaukee lost left-handers DL Hall and Brian Fitzpatrick to injuries over the previous two days. With Brandon Woodruff, Quinn Priester and Logan Henderson all on the injured list from the rotation, as well, the Brewers’ pitching depth has thinned of late.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Needing bullpen help, Brewers acquire reliever from Athletics for cash
Reporting by Curt Hogg, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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By Curt Hogg, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
