Brewers Outright Caleb Boushley

The Brewers have assigned right-hander Caleb Boushley outright to Triple-A, per MLB.com’s transactions log. There had been no prior indication that Boushley had been placed on waivers. Boushley does not have the requisite service time to reject the assignment but figures to be eligible for minor league free agency in November unless added back to Milwaukee’s 40-man roster.

Boushley, who celebrated his 30th birthday earlier this month, was selected by San Diego in the 33rd round of the 2017 draft. He spent five seasons in the Padres’ minor league system, with a 4.25 ERA in 332 2/3 innings of work across five levels of the minor leagues. He was selected by the Brewers in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft in December of 2021, and pitched well as a starter at the Triple-A level during the 2022 season with a 3.25 ERA in 127 1/3 innings of work, albeit with a strikeout rate of just 17.5%.

Boushley saw his strikeout rate tick up to 18.9% across 135 2/3 innings of work with Milwaukee’s Triple-A affiliate this year, though unfortunately the increase in strikeouts was combined with significantly worse results on the mound. Across 29 appearances (26 starts), Boushley posted a 5.11 ERA, nearly two runs higher than his 2022 figure. That didn’t stop the Brewers from giving Boushley his first taste of big league action in 2023, however. The minor league journeyman made his MLB debut after six seasons in the minors in late September to decent results. In 2 1/3 innings of work, Boushley struck out five while walking two and allowing a home run, good for a 3.86 ERA.

Now, Boushley is poised to enter free agency for the first time in his career. As difficult as his 2023 campaign was, it’s certainly feasible that he could receive interest from clubs with a dearth of rotation arms as a possible minor league depth option, given his strong 2022 campaign. As for the Brewers, the club’s rotation depth is headlined by left-hander Robert Gasser, the club’s #5 prospect per MLB Pipeline. Gasser pitched well in 2023, with a 3.79 ERA in 135 1/3 Triple-A innings of work in his first full season with the Brewers since the club acquired him in the Josh Hader trade last summer.