Taylor Jungmann looks to re-establish himself with Brewers

Tom Haudricourt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Taylor Jungmann throws during a spring training workout last week.

PHOENIX - Even when he got decent results in exhibition action last spring, Taylor Jungmann invariably said afterward he didn’t feel comfortable on the mound.

Unfortunately for the Milwaukee Brewers right-hander, that trend carried over to the regular season, and he quickly pitched his way out of the starting rotation.

Lesson learned.

Jungmann, 27, no longer is a starting candidate for the Brewers but was determined to come to spring camp ready to pitch this year. Accordingly, he ramped up his throwing program before reporting to Maryvale Baseball Park.

“I used last year as a motivational tool, to get right before I got to camp,” Jungmann said. “Last year, I was a little later in getting ready. This spring, I got more bullpens in so I know I’m right coming into camp, instead of waiting until I get here to get right.

“You don’t want to throw too much but I thought I threw too little last year (beforehand). I don’t know why I would change something that was working but it happens. Now, I feel good going in.

“Last year, I never really felt right and I kept saying that. And that was from Day 1, I didn’t feel comfortable. Even when I threw well, it didn’t feel right.

"This year, I feel really good about where I am. The ball is coming out good.”

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After a successful rookie showing (9-8, 3.77 ERA in 21 starts) in 2015, Jungmann earned the right to open last season in the starting rotation. But he pitched horribly in his first five starts (0-4, 9.15) and was demoted to Class AAA Colorado Springs, a notoriously tough venue for pitchers.

It only got worse there for Jungmann, who went 1-3 with a 9.87 ERA in eight outings with 35 walks in 31 innings. After getting a mental break at the Brewers’ training complex here, he was sent to Class AA Biloxi, where he regrouped (2.51 ERA in 13 starts).

The Brewers rewarded Jungmann for his perseverance with a September call-up but he pitched only six innings before being shut down with an ailing hip. He lost his place in line in the process and is not among the seven candidates being considered for the rotation this spring.

Jungmann did not report to camp with his spirits dimmed, however. Instead, he said he looks forward to the challenge of re-establishing himself.

“To be honest with you, I’d rather have a competition than have a spot given to me,” he said. “I feel like going (back to) college, I’ve had to compete to earn a spot. If you shy away from competition, you’re not meant for this game.”

Manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday that Jungmann would be given an opportunity to win a job in the bullpen in a middle-relief role.

“If we can see things we like, if he’s pitching well, then we’ll consider him for a bullpen spot to start the year,” Counsell said. “Where it goes from there is based on what we see. With how we’re composed right now, that’s the spot we think he can contribute in trying to take the best pitching staff to Milwaukee.”

With a unique crossfire delivery, Jungmann readily admits he has less room for error with his mechanics. He never got them squared away last spring and is committed to avoiding a repeat of that nightmare.

“The reason my velocity dipped a little last year (89 mph, down from 92 mph in 2015) was because I had zero confidence in what I was doing out there,” Jungmann said. “I was so out of whack. You’re not going to let the ball go if you don’t trust what you’re doing.

“That’s where I feel it’s different this off-season. I feel good. I’m letting the ball go. It’s coming out clean. I think I’ll be back to where I was the previous year.”

As for Jungmann’s unusual delivery, Counsell said, “The blessing is also a curse. The blessing is he has a tough delivery for hitters to see. The curse is it’s a higher maintenance delivery.

“That’s what he has to deal with, and that's his challenge.”

Best buddies: Outfield prospects Lewis Brinson and Ryan Cordell already are having fun poked at them about how inseparable they are in camp. Brinson and Cordell were two of the three players obtained from Texas last season for catcher Jonathan Lucroy and reliever Jeremy Jeffress, and already were close friends at the time of the trade.

"We've known each other a long time; we were roommates in the minors for three years," Cordell said. "The other guys get on us about how they see us together all the time. They have fun with it but it's nice having him here. It makes it more comfortable."

The Brewers have collected some impressive outfield talent during their rebuilding process, and Cordell said it has been noticeable during workouts.

"It's been fun being out there with them," he said. "It's pretty cool seeing all the athleticism in the outfield. 'Brins' and I are always pushing each other, always working. We kind of feed off each other. It's been really good."