Brewers Bolster Bullpen by Acquiring Reliever Joel Kuhnel from Athletics

DENVER – The Milwaukee Brewers have secured the services of reliever Joel Kuhnel from the Oakland Athletics in a cash deal, marking his third stint with the team. This acquisition comes on June 6, as the Brewers grapple with a series of bullpen injuries.

Kuhnel, 31, has had a mixed season with the Athletics, recording a 4.21 ERA with a 1-2 record and four saves across 25 appearances. His performance was impacted by a challenging outing against the Cubs earlier this week, where he allowed four runs; prior to that, he had posted a more favorable 2.88 ERA. His pitching arsenal primarily consists of a sinker and cutter, complemented by a slider, changeup, four-seamer, and an infrequently used curveball. The cutter, in particular, has shown promise, boasting a 34.3% whiff rate and a .228 expected batting average against, making it his standout pitch. Additionally, Kuhnel's walk rate of 5.6% places him in the 90th percentile among MLB pitchers this season.

Throughout his six-year Major League career, Kuhnel's most significant tenure was with the Cincinnati Reds in 2022, where he made 53 appearances and recorded a 6.36 ERA. The Brewers are currently facing a pitching crisis, having recently lost left-handers DL Hall and Brian Fitzpatrick to injuries. Compounding the issue, starting pitchers Brandon Woodruff, Quinn Priester, and Logan Henderson are also sidelined, further straining the team's pitching resources.