MILWAUKEE — The wait was worth it for Robert Gasser.
Nearly two years after joining the Milwaukee Brewers organization in one of the most controversial and unpopular trades in franchise history, the hard-throwing left-handed pitcher finally got a chance to show why the Brewers were willing to part with a superstar to acquire him.
The Brewers’ top pitching prospect, Robert Gasser dazzled in his big league debut, striking out four batters over six shutout innings to lead Milwaukee to an 11-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals Friday night at American Family Field.
“I’m really happy for the young man,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “He was disappointed that he wasn’t brought up last year and it wasn’t until May that he was healthy and ready to go but he came in determined and threw the ball great.
“I’m really, really happy for him.”
Brewers’ Top Prospect Robert Gasser Shines in Big League Debut
Gasser needed only 79 pitches to get through his six innings of work and used his sweeper to baffle St. Louis’s hitters, who swung and missed nine times while looking at 19 strikes.
He held the Cardinals to just a pair of hits without walking a batter, making him the first Brewers pitcher to go at least six innings while allowing no more than three baserunners in his big league debut since Steve Woodard on June 28, 1997.
Remember the name: Robert Gasser@robertgasser5 pic.twitter.com/qwGhKGnclz
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) May 11, 2024
“It was awesome, especially ending on a strikeout,” said Gasser, who finished his day by throwing 17 consecutive strikes. He continued, “It was everything I could have dreamed of, playing in front of that many people, in the biggest game of my life so far. It was just awesome.”
Gasser, who turns 25 later this month, was one of four players Milwaukee acquired from the San Diego Padres in exchange for Josh Hader ahead of the 2022 MLB trade deadline, and the only member of that group still with the organization.
Right-hander Dinelson Lamet was designated for assignment before appearing in a game for Milwaukee, while outfielder Esteury Ruiz saw action in just three big-league games with the Brewers before eventually being dealt to the Oakland Athletics as part of a three-team deal that sent catcher William Contreras to Milwaukee.
“ＡＷＥＳＯＭＥ.”
That’s the word Robert Gasser used to sum up the experience of becoming the first #Brewers pitcher to throw six scoreless innings in his #MLB debut since Brandon Woodruff in 2017. #ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/1teusx0wJn
— Bally Sports Wisconsin (@BallySportWI) May 11, 2024
Gasser’s Path to the Majors
Selected by San Diego in the second round of the 2021 MLB Draft, Gasser was pitching for the Padres’ High-A affiliate at the time of the trade. He began his career in the Brewers’ organization at Double-A Biloxi, going 1-1 with a 2.21 ERA in five starts before earning a promotion to Triple-A Nashville, where he went 2-2 with a 4.44 ERA in five starts to close out the 2022 season.
Milwaukee sent him back to Nashville last year, and Gasser put together his best season as a professional. In 26 appearances (25 starts), he went 9-1 with a 3.79 ERA while striking out 166 batters over 135 1/3 innings.
While that performance wasn’t enough to earn a major-league promotion, Gasser earned Milwaukee’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year award and received an invitation to Brewers spring training in 2024.
Despite a 6.08 ERA in five Cactus League outings, Gasser was in contention for a spot in the Opening Day rotation before bone spurs in his throwing elbow forced him to start the season on the injured list and back in Nashville, where he made three starts before finally getting the call-up to Milwaukee.
“I wouldn’t say I was necessarily upset or anything, but obviously when you’re doing well in Triple-A, you want to be here and help the club win games,” Gasser said of his slow path to the majors. “But there’s no time like the present to get up here. There’s a lot of good people in this clubhouse and I’m just happy to be here.”
Slick Glove Work
As sharp as Gasser was on the mound, he also benefitted not only from another breakout performance by the Brewers’ offense but a pair of second-inning web gems from his teammates.
Nolan Arenado opened the inning with a fly ball to shallow-right center that would have dropped in for St. Louis’s first hit of the day had Sal Frelick not charged, dove, and hauled it in.
“There were definitely some extra emotions,” said Frelick, who played with Gasser at Nashville over the last two seasons. “You’re always thinking that you’re not going to let that ball drop but I was ready to run through a wall for that kid.”
After Iván Herrera followed with the first hit of the game, Alec Burleson smacked a line drive that second baseman Brice Turang leaped to grab and then fired off a throw to first to pick off Herrera to end the inning.
“I played with both of those guys at Nashville,” Gasser said. “Having them here made me feel welcome and making great plays behind me made me feel really good.”
The Ol’ Switcheroo
Along with Robert Gasser’s promotion ahead of his big league debut, Milwaukee made several other changes to its roster on Friday. In addition to selecting his contract from Nashville, the Brewers acquired right-hander Mitch White from San Francisco for cash considerations.
White, 29, was 1-0 with a 7.63 ERA in seven games for the Giants this season and is 4-11 with a 5.20 ERA over seven seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays, and the Giants. He has started 22 of his 65 big-league appearances but has been used exclusively in relief the last two years and is expected to work out of the bullpen when he reports to the Brewers in the next few days.
To make room for Gasser and White on the active roster, the Brewers optioned right-hander Tobias Myers to Nashville and placed right-hander Joel Payamps on the bereavement list.
Since both Gasser and White needed to join Milwaukee’s 40-man roster, the team transferred right-hander JB Bukauskas to the 60-day injured list and designated right-hander Corbin Martin for assignment.
Wiliams, Hall Getting Closer to Return
A day after getting Christian Yelich back following a month-long stint on the injured list with back soreness, the Brewers got more good news on the injury front.
All-Star closer Devin Williams, waiting to make his season debut after undergoing surgery during spring training to repair microfractures in his back, will get a follow-up exam next week. He is “less than two weeks away” from starting to play catch, Murphy said.
Starter DL Hall has also been making progress. The right-hander threw another bullpen session Friday. Barring any setbacks, he will throw live batting practice next Monday as he continues to work his way back from a left knee sprain. He has not pitched since April.
Photo Credit: © Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports
