The Brewers announced that they have selected the contract of left-hander Thomas Pannone. He takes the active roster spot of right-hander Garrett Stallings, who has been optioned to Triple-A Nashville. The 40-man roster has a couple of vacancies, so Pannone fills one of those without a corresponding move.
It appears that Pannone has been summoned to give Milwaukee’s starters some extra rest. Shane Drohan was initially scheduled to start today’s game but now Pannone will take the ball instead. Drohan is now listed as Friday’s starter, after the club has an off-day Thursday.
Pannone, 32, gets back to the big leagues for the first time since 2023. He made one appearance for the Brewers that year. Apart from that, his big league track record consists of 49 appearances for the Blue Jays over the 2018 and 2019 seasons. On the whole, he has a 5.46 earned run average in 118 2/3 innings. He also spent some of 2022 and 2023 in the KBO, putting up a 3.49 ERA in 165 innings.
He spent 2024 in the minors with the Cubs and Yankees. He returned to the Brewers on a minor league deal going into 2025 but suffered a torn flexor tendon in spring training. Per his Instagram, he had surgery last summer. He didn’t pitch in any official capacity but has been back on the Triple-A mounds with the Brewers this year. He has thrown 72 innings over 16 appearances with a 4.13 ERA. His 18.9% strikeout rate is subpar but his 7.3% walk rate is good and his 41% ground ball rate around average.
Pannone is out of options. If the Brewers only plan for him to make this one start, then he could be designated for assignment in the coming days. He could perhaps stick around in a bullpen role if the Brewers like him as a long man.
Photo courtesy of Arianna Grainey, Imagn Images
