Brewers option Brewer Hicklen to Triple-A, return several players to minor league camp

The roster is at 38 players with less than two weeks to Opening Day

The Brewers continued to trim their roster down this afternoon, announcing several roster moves ahead of today’s game against the Giants. Brewer Hicklen was optioned to Triple-A Nashville and six other players were returned to the minor league camp.

Hicklen’s option to Triple-A isn’t much of a surprise considering the Brewers’ outfield situation, though there was more of an opportunity following the injury to Blake Perkins. He appeared in 12 games and went 4-for-21 for a .190 batting average this spring. He’ll start the season in Nashville and will serve as roster depth for the team.

The Brewers also returned six others to minor league camp: infielder Raynel Delgado, catcher Darrien Miller, and pitchers Deivi García, Easton McGee, Jacob Misiorowski, and Vinny Nittoli. There aren’t any surprises in that list as all were expected to at least begin the season in the minors.

Some of these players could make appearances this season, though. Delgado had a good spring with the team (7-for-25 in 12 games). Miller appeared in eight games but only got three at-bats. All four pitchers pitched in several games this spring. Their stats are as follows: García (8 IP, 4.50 ERA, 9 K, 5 BB), Misiorowski (7 ²⁄₃ IP, 9.39 ERA, 9 K, 5 BB), McGee (6 IP, 3.00 ERA, 3 K, 2 BB), and Nittoli (5 ¹⁄₃ IP, 3.38 ERA, 3 K, 2 BB).

With today’s transactions, 38 players remain in camp: 18 pitchers, three catchers, 10 infielders, and seven outfielders. 12 more players will need to be cut from that list prior to the first game of the regular season on March 27.