DENVER – Joel Kuhnel was with the Milwaukee Brewers on two separate occasions during 2024 but never appeared in a game.
The third time should be the charm.
The Brewers, after suffering a rash of injuries to the bullpen in recent days, acquired the right-handed reliever from the Athletics in exchange for cash on June 6.
Kuhnel, 31, went 1-2 with a 4.21 ERA and 4 saves in 25 outings for the Athletics this year. Prior to a four-run outing against the Cubs ealrier in the week, his ERA was 2.88.
Kuhnel primarily features two pitches, a sinker and cutter, while mixing in a slider, changeup, four-seamer and rare curveball to deep the mix. The cutter, with a 34.3% whiff rate and .228 expected batting average against, has been his best pitch.
His 5.6% walk rate rates in the 90th percentile for MLB pitchers this year.
Kuhnel has spent parts of six seasons in the majors, with his longest stint in the bigs coming in 2022 with the Reds when he made 53 appearances with a 6.36 ERA.
Milwaukee lost left-handers DL Hall and Brian Fitzpatrick to injuries over the previous two days. With Brandon Woodruff, Quinn Priester and Logan Henderson all on the injured list from the rotation, as well, the Brewers’ pitching depth has thinned of late.
Christian Yelich
Age at start of season: 34
Position: Left field/DH
Years with Brewers: 2026 will be his ninth season in Milwaukee
1 / 26Christian Yelich
Age at start of season: 34
Position: Left field/DH
Years with Brewers: 2026 will be his ninth season in Milwaukee
2 / 26William Contreras
Age: 28
Position: Catcher
Years with Brewers: Fourth season
3 / 26Andrew Vaughn
Age: 27
Position: First base
Years with Brewers: Second season
4 / 26Brice Turang
Age: 26
Position: Second base
Years with Brewers: Fourth season
5 / 26Joey Ortiz
Age: 27
Position: Shortstop
Years with Brewers: Third season
6 / 26Luis Rengifo
Age: 29
Position: Third base
Years with the Brewers: First season
7 / 26Jackson Chourio
Age: 22
Position: Outfield
Years with Brewers: Third season
8 / 26Sal Frelick
Age: 25
Position: Right Field
Years with Brewers: Fourth season
9 / 26Garrett Mitchell
Age: 27
Position: Center Field
Years with the Brewers: Fifth season
10 / 26Gary Sanchez
Age: 33
Position: Catcher
Years with Brewers: Second season overall in 2026; second stint (played for team in 2024)
11 / 26Jake Bauers
Age: 30
Position: First base/DH
Years with the Brewers: Third season
12 / 26David Hamilton
Age: 28
Position: Infielder
Years with the Brewers: First season
13 / 26Brandon Lockridge
Age: 29
Position: Outfield
Years with Brewers: Second season
14 / 26Jacob Misiorowski
Age: 23
Position: Starting pitcher
Years with Brewers: Second season
15 / 26Brandon Woodruff
Age: 33
Position: Starting pitcher
Years with the Brewers: 10th season
16 / 26Chad Patrick
Age: 27
Position: Starting pitcher
Years with the Brewers: Third season
17 / 26Kyle Harrison
Age: 24
Position: Starting pitcher
Years with the Brewers: First season
18 / 26Brandon Sproat
Age: 25
Position: Starting pitcher
Years with the Brewers: First season
19 / 26Aaron Ashby
Age: 27
Position: Pitcher
Years with the Brewers: Sixth season
20 / 26Jake Woodford
Age: 29
Position: Pitcher
Years with the Brewers: First season
21 / 26Grant Anderson
Age: 28
Position: Relief pitcher
Years with the Brewers: Second season
22 / 26DL Hall
Age: 27
Position: Relief pitcher
Years with the Brewers: Third season
23 / 26Jared Koenig
Age: 32
Position: Relief pitcher
Years with the Brewers: Third season
24 / 26Angel Zerpa
Age: 26
Position: Relief pitcher
Years with the Brewers: First season
25 / 26Abner Uribe
Age: 25
Position: Relief pitcher
Years with the Brewers: Fourth season
26 / 26Trevor Megill
Age: 32
Position: Relief pitcher
Years with the Brewers: Fourth season
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers acquire reliever Joel Kuhnel from Athletics
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