What can Brewers fans anticipate from Craig Yoho in the 2026 season?
Craig Yoho finally made his much-anticipated debut in Major League Baseball last season, but the outcomes were rather mixed. He showcased some impressive moments; for instance, his changeup achieved a remarkable whiff rate of 28.9%, and he managed to keep his overall hard-hit rate below 30%. However, he struggled with control, walking over 20% of the batters he faced, which resulted in an undesirable ERA of 7.27.
Interestingly, being part of the Brewers provides Yoho with a peculiar advantage: his right-handed pitching. Typically, right-handed pitchers are common in most major league bullpens, but Milwaukee's bullpen is notably skewed towards left-handers. Currently, only Abner Uribe and Trevor Megill are secure in their spots, along with Grant Anderson (though opinions on him may vary). This situation opens the door for at least one more right-handed pitcher to secure a position on the Opening Day roster.
So, could Yoho be the one to grab that opportunity?
Yoho's distinctive profile could be hampered primarily by his lack of control. Due to the limited number of right-handed options, he stands a strong chance of making a compelling case for a spot on day one in Milwaukee. Easton McGee is the only other right-handed reliever currently on the 40-man roster besides the previously mentioned trio. However, this could shift if the Brewers opt to utilize Chad Patrick or Logan Henderson to experiment with their elite talents in the bullpen instead of keeping them in Nashville.
Assuming those two promising right-handers remain stretched out for rotation roles, Yoho possesses the raw talent necessary to excel in high-pressure situations. He was beginning to establish himself in the MLB before the Brewers decided to option him last September. However, given the small size of the sample, it is challenging to draw any solid conclusions.
What’s clear is that for the 26-year-old to succeed at the major league level, he must improve his command. The tendency to issue walks has plagued him since moving up to Triple-A in 2024, and such a habit will be detrimental when facing top-tier hitters. Both his changeup and fastball exhibit significant arm-side run and there’s a notable difference of around 15 mph between the two pitches. Yet, this movement profile can make it exceedingly tricky to consistently locate them within the strike zone.
That said, Yoho shouldn’t aim to reduce the movement in his primary pitches—his four-seamer’s additional horizontal break of 7.3 inches compared to the average fastball is quite exceptional. However, he does need to develop a third reliable pitch that he can consistently throw for strikes. He has experimented with a fairly flat cutter and an even harder-to-locate sweeper previously; he will need to refine his ability to start these pitches in a way that ensures they finish close to the strike zone.
Such development is typically better suited for the minor leagues rather than the pressure of the majors, but Yoho possesses a unique profile—especially considering the Brewers' left-handed-heavy bullpen—that might make it difficult to keep him off the roster if he performs well during spring training. Regardless of when he makes his next appearance in Milwaukee, fans can expect to see plenty of highlights shared by Pitching Ninja on social media… along with a frustratingly high number of walks.
