MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy reports that the Brewers have signed Jeremy Jeffress to a minor league deal. The Brewers originally drafted Jeffress in the first round of the 2006 draft, 16th overall. In December 2010, the Brewers sent him to the Royals along with Lorenzo Cain, Alcides Escobar, and Jake Odorizzi to acquire Zack Greinke and Yuniesky Betancourt. In November 2012, the Blue Jays purchased Jeffress from the Royals. The Jays designated him for assignment last Sunday, and Jeffress elected to become a free agent rather than accept an assignment to the minor leagues.
Jeffress has shown that he still has the stuff that made him an exciting prospect, flashing a high-90’s fastball in his three relief appearances for the Jays in the first week of the season. However, in the brief amount of time Jeffress has been in the big leagues over the last five seasons, the right-hander has struggled with his command. Over 52 1/3 career innings, Jeffress has struck out 50 but has also walked 37 unintentionally.
