Brewers release veteran reliever Ernesto Frieri, who couldn't overcome his command issues

PHOENIX - Ernesto Frieri just couldn't throw enough strikes to give himself a shot at making the Milwaukee Brewers' bullpen.

Accordingly, the Brewers released the veteran reliever Sunday, ending what had become a frustrating attempt to re-establish himself in the majors.

"I just didn't pitch good," Frieri said as he packed his bag to leave camp. "It's disappointing. I liked it here; a great clubhouse, great coaches. It is what it is.

"Command was a problem. I didn't have my (velocity). Every time they put the bat on the ball, they found a hole. That's the way it goes."

Frieri pitched in eight exhibition games for the Brewers, going 2-1 with a 7.94 earned run average. In 5 2/3 innings, he allowed nine hits and nine walks, resulting in a 3.180 WHIP. He struck out nine but opponents batted .333 against him.

The 32-year-old right-hander once was a dominant closer in the majors, saving 23 games for the Los Angeles Angels in 2012 and 37 the following season, using mostly a high-octane fastball to blow away hitters. He began having command issues the next year, however, and bounced around to Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay and Texas in recent years.

Frieri asked for his release by Philadelphia near the end of spring training in 2016 and went back to Colombia, sitting out the season. He tried to re-invent himself by mixing in more off-speed stuff and the Brewers thought he might be a bounce-back candidate but he just didn't show enough command to keep in camp any longer.

Frieri was signed to a minor-league deal in mid-January with an invitation to big-league camp.

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"This is where we’re starting to make some tough decisions. Releasing players is never any fun," manager Craig Counsell said.

"It was a struggle for him this spring. He struggled throwing strikes, more than anything. That was the big issue. This is a guy who has had a lot of success. He said he feels great and is doing good but just didn’t throw enough strikes.

"His velocity was good, maybe not at the peak of last year. He has been a guy who has survived with one pitch, really. That can be a tough way to live, sometimes, if you don’t feel that pitch is exactly what it was."

Although Frieri didn't fare well on the field, Counsell commended him for his influence in a clubhouse that has stressed being connected with each other.

"I hope he gets another opportunity with somebody," Counsell said. "He made an impact on some of our younger players. They’ve mentioned his name. He was definitely making an effort to be a good teammate."