MILWAUKEE BREWERS

Camp report: Jimmy Nelson throws first official bullpen session of spring training

Tom Haudricourt
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Jimmy Nelson was among the Brewers pitchers who threw a bullpen session on Friday, and according to manager Craig Counsell, "It went great."

On the field: Among the pitchers who threw bullpens Friday was right-hander Jimmy Nelson, who is on the comeback trail from shoulder surgery that sidelined him in 2018. Nelson finished his rehab at the end of last season and is on the same throwing program as the other pitchers. “It went great,” manager Craig Counsell said. Nelson had thrown one bullpen Tuesday before camp officially opened.

Weather: 64 degrees, cloudy.

Scoreboard: First Cactus League game, Saturday, Feb. 23 vs. Cubs in Mesa.

BREWERS BY POSITIONNew catcher Yasmani Grandal gets right to work

Cactus Juice: Don’t look for Ryan Braun to see much action at first base, as he did last spring. There no longer is an outfield glut to be eased, with the trades of Domingo Santana and Keon Broxton, and first base is in the able hands of Jesús Aguilar and Eric Thames.

“As we sit now, I don’t see first base being a big part of (Braun’s) season,” Counsell said. “Spring training is for exploring positional versatility, and we will do that with other guys. If we do it with Ryan, it’s just because there may be a game in the 13th inning where Ryan ends up at first base. You want to create as much comfort for him as possible.”

Countdown: 40 days until the Brewers’ season opener on March 28 vs. St. Louis at Miller Park.