Varland cleared waivers and has been returned to the Dodgers.
The Rule 5 pick was designated for assignment by the Brewers following a hideous performance last week and now is back in his previous organization. Varland was previously used as both a starter and reliever during his time with the Dodgers and it's unclear what role they might stick him in now, but he'll likely report to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Gus Varland: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Varland was designated for assignment by the Brewers on Tuesday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Varland has lost his 40-man roster spot after getting torched in a mop-up situation Monday night against the Cardinals. The 26-year-old righty heads into DFA limbo with a career 11.42 ERA in 8.2 major-league frames.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Gus Varland: Lit up in mop-up duty
Rotowire
Varland retired just two batters and was charged with nine earned runs on six hits and three walks while striking out one in Monday's 18-1 loss to the Cardinals.
The rookie right-hander maintained a tidy 2.25 ERA through his first seven big-league relief appearances, but a 0.0 K-BB% and a 5.93 FIP suggested that Varland's run prevention was due for a correction. Regression hit Varland in a major way Monday, as he allowed nine of the 11 batters he faced to reach base and surrendered a pair of home runs while placing only 18 of his 33 pitches for strikes. Though this sort of outing would normally put an unestablished player like Varland at risk of a demotion to the minors, his status as a Rule 5 pick means he'll have to remain on the Brewers' active roster all season when healthy.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Gus Varland: Activated from injured list
Rotowire
The Brewers activated Varland (hand) from the 15-day injured list Tuesday, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports.
Varland will return to the Brewers' bullpen ahead of Tuesday night's game against the Dodgers after missing three weeks due to a right hand contusion. The Rule 5 Draft pick has allowed three runs -- two earned -- in 6.2 innings this season with Milwaukee.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Gus Varland: Back with big club
Rotowire
Varland (hand) has rejoined the Brewers and is expected to be activated from the injured list soon, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Varland is done with his rehab assignment and while he is not yet back on the active roster yet, it sounds like that's imminent. The Rule 5 pick has been out since mid-April after taking a comebacker off his pitching hand.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Gus Varland: Moves rehab to Triple-A
Rotowire
Varland (hand) had his rehab assignment transferred Tuesday from Low-A Wisconsin to Triple-A Nashville, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Varland surrendered three earned runs on four hits and one walk over two innings (two appearances) at Wisconsin, but he remains on track to return to the Brewers' bullpen sometime this week. The 26-year-old right-hander landed on the injured list April 16 after taking a comebacker off his throwing hand, but X-rays subsequently ruled out any fractures.
Varland (hand) gave up three runs while getting one out in a rehab appearance for Low-A Wisconsin on Thursday and is scheduled for multiple innings Saturday, Sophia Minnaert of Bally Sports Wisconsin reports.
Varland allowed three hits in his rehab appearance and also issued a walk. The results are borderline inconsequential, as it's more important that the right-hander is getting closer to making it back to the Milwaukee bullpen after missing time with a bruise on his right hand. If Saturday's appearance goes well, Verland should rejoin the Brewers early next week.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Gus Varland: Set for rehab appearances
Rotowire
Varland (hand) is set to make rehab appearances Thursday and Saturday with High-A Wisconsin, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
If both those outings go smoothly, Varland will then travel to Colorado with the Brewers next week and should be activated from the 15-day injured list at some point during their three-game series at Coors Field that begins May 2. He's been sidelined since April 15 due to a right hand contusion.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Gus Varland: Moves to injured list
Rotowire
Varland was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday with a right hand contusion.
Varland was hit in in the hand, face and forearm by a comebacker Saturday, with his hand being receiving the brunt of the impact. The 26-year-old will be unavailable for at least the next couple weeks. Elvis Peguero was recalled from Triple-A Nashville in a corresponding move.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Gus Varland: X-rays negative on right hand
Rotowire
Varland told reporters after Saturday's game against the Padres that x-rays returned negative on his right hand, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Varland was hit in the hand, face and forearm by a liner off the bat of Manny Machado that registered a 105 mph exit velocity. The right-hander said that his hand took the brunt of the blow and believed he could have continued while acknowledging that could be adrenaline talking. It appears Varland has avoided a serious injury, but he still should be considered day-to-day at this point.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Gus Varland: Leaves after being struck in face
Rotowire
Varland left Saturday's game against the Padres in the eighth inning after being struck in the face by a comebacker, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports. He allowed an unearned run over two-thirds of an inning before exiting.
It was a scary moment for Varland, as he was hit in the chin area by a line drive off the bat of Manny Machado that had a 105 mph exit velocity. The right-hander went down to a knee before being able to leave the contest. Javy Guerra replaced Varland on the mound.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Gus Varland: Logs first career strikeout
Rotowire
Varland threw a scoreless inning out of the bullpen Thursday against the Cubs, striking out a batter and allowing two hits and a walk.
Varland struck out Miles Mastrobuoni, the first batter he saw in his MLB career, before getting himself into and out of a bases-loaded situation in the seventh. The 26-year-old reliever has experience starting in the minors and will likely be used in a multi-inning role out of the bullpen this season.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Gus Varland: Will be part of Opening Day roster
Rotowire
Varland secured a spot Monday on the Brewers' Opening Day roster, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
The Rule 5 pick has impressed this spring, posting a 4.15 ERA but a 17:1 K:BB over 8.2 innings. Varland seems likely to be used in a multi-inning relief role and will need to remain on the roster all season or be offered back to the Dodgers.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Gus Varland: Opening eyes of late
Rotowire
Varland has allowed one hit in 3.1 innings with a 9:0 K:BB over his last three spring appearances.
Varland allowed at least one earned run in three of his first four exhibition outings, but per Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, his pitches were being tipped because his PitchCom was set too loud. Since turning down the volume, the right-hander has been almost perfect. Varland was selected by the Brewers in the Rule 5 draft from the Dodgers' organization and has never pitched above the Double-A level, but he might end up proving to be a steal. Through 7.1 spring innings in total, he's posted a 15:1 K:BB.
... See More... See Less
Brewers' Gus Varland: Selected by Brewers
Rotowire
Varland was selected by the Brewers with the 14th overall pick in the 2022 Rule 5 draft, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Varland spent the last two seasons at Double-A Tulsa and posted a 6.04 ERA and 1.58 WHIP in 104.1 innings over 57 appearances (21 starts). Despite his lackluster results overall, he had some more success after moving to the bullpen last year, so it's possible the Brewers utilize him in that capacity this season.
... See More... See Less
Dodgers' Gus Varland: Headed to spring camp
Rotowire
Varland will join the Dodgers at their big-league camp in spring training, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports.
Varland was acquired by the defending champions from Oakland in a trade last week, and he'll now get a chance to show off his ability during spring training. The right-hander has shown considerable success across 64.1 minor-league innings, though he has yet to pitch above the High-A level.
