Craig Yoho delivers his signature changeup, a pitch that’s positioning him toward a potential MLB debut with the Milwaukee Brewers. (Photo courtesy of Craig Yoho)
PHOENIX – While most athletes experience adversity in some form, few have persevered through the challenges Craig Yoho has faced. The Milwaukee Brewers reliever twice underwent Tommy John surgery, dislocated his kneecap, and lost an additional year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, all before his senior year of college.
Yoho had more surgeries than pitching appearances heading into his senior year at Indiana, where he played following one season at the University of Houston. Coming out of high school, Yoho was recruited as a position player. He was the fourth-ranked shortstop in Indiana, and the No. 23 overall prospect by Perfect Game. Yoho appeared in eight games as a position player with Houston in 2019, with three starts before his first injury.
After appearing in just one game with the Cougars in 2020, Yoho transferred to Indiana, his home state, but missed all of his sophomore and junior seasons due to injuries. Yoho was recruited as a potential two-way player. Three surgeries and 1,082 days later, he made his way back to the diamond, but this time on the mound.
Yoho made 18 appearances his senior season, accounting for 37 innings. He accumulated 63 strikeouts and held a 3.41 ERA. That caught the eye of one Brewers scout who convinced the organization to draft Yoho in the eighth round of the 2023 MLB Draft.
Despite all the injuries and adversity, one constant for Yoho was his positivity.
“It’s a game and you can’t change that outlook on it. We’re lucky to do what we do every single day. I’ve never lost that perspective, whether it’s been like my journey that’s helped me stay in that mindset or not,” Yoho said. “It truly is a kid’s game and I’m blessed to be able to do that every day.”
During Yoho’s recovery from his meniscus tear, before his senior year at Indiana, he was grayshirted and couldn’t throw or lift with the team. He was recovering and throwing on his own. Through trying out different grips on the baseball and watching its movements as he threw at a big screen, he discovered a new pitch – his changeup.
It is the pitch that got him drafted and a $10,000 signing bonus, the fourth-lowest of the draft, and the pitch that has turned around the trajectory of his career. Yoho was drafted at 23 years old, played just one season in college and had dealt with three surgeries. The Brewers’ draft pick was a long shot, but his changeup was the reason there was a shot at all.
Through all the obstacles thrown Yoho’s way, the pitching prospect stayed rooted in his faith, and eventually success started brewing.
In 2024, Yoho made 48 appearances across single, Double and Triple-A. Led by his changeup, which he improved by tinkering with it throughout the season, Yoho dominated with a 0.94 ERA and 101 strikeouts over 57.2 innings. It helped him earn the Brewers’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year honors.
“It’s all thanks to God. I really can’t put it any other way. Everything that’s happened, whether it seems like the worst possible thing at the time, it always has had some sort of positive that has come out of it that I could have never imagined. It’s just truly been a blessing, and it’s not any of my doing, it’s just all God’s timing and all his plans,” Yoho said. “Whatever I’ll do, I’ll use my talents to glorify him.”
In addition to his success on the field, Yoho and his wife, Sydni, welcomed their first child this offseason. Now, not only is he working for a chance at a big league callup, but he’s also learning the ropes of being a girl dad.
“It’s not the easiest job to have, you know, it’s probably one of the hardest jobs you can have in the world is being a dad,” Yoho said. “But it’s been a blast. It’s an absolute blessing.”
Although having a newborn daughter adds to his plate, his wife has held down the fort. The two encourage and support each other through each stage of their lives.
Yoho had his mountain of injuries in college, but so did Sydni. She went through four knee surgeries while playing collegiate soccer at Houston. During Yoho’s journey, anytime he was struggling he looked at how Sydni handled adversity and it gave him the strength to persevere.
Strength and persistence run in the family, and with his wife and daughter at home, the game of baseball means a little more now.
“My wife’s amazing, I couldn’t do this without her,” Yoho said. “Now, (baseball) kind of just means a little bit more. There’s a little bit more to it, rather than just my personal goals. I’m doing this job – playing the game – to provide for my family now, so it’s a little different. It’s definitely been special.”
Developing in the minors
During the 2024 season, Yoho interacted with various teammates during his stints with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, Biloxi Shuckers and Nashville Sounds, but one Sounds teammate stood out.
Bryan Hudson was rehabbing in Nashville during Yoho’s stint, and the two grew close through talking baseball and finishing the season strong. Hudson has nine seasons of minor league experience and spent some time in the majors with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Brewers.
“The biggest piece of advice I give everybody is trust your own stuff. We talked about when to throw stuff, when, you know, what sequences and that kind of stuff work best,” Hudson said. “At the end of the year, there’s a lot of things that have happened. I think just going over the little things refreshes in your brain and kind of give you that boost that you need to finish the season strong.”
Throughout his nine minor league seasons, Hudson holds a 4.13 ERA. However, in 2024 with the Brewers at the major league level, Hudson threw 62.1 innings and carried a 1.73 ERA.
Hudson got his initial callup to the majors in 2023 with the Dodgers, and then was called up by the Brewers last season. He didn’t talk about the moment with Yoho, but he shared his emotional rush that came with the big news.
“I was a younger guy last year and didn’t really have any expectations of making the team, but wanted to, right? But yeah, I just kind of kept my head down and did it.” Hudson said. “The nerves will definitely get to you, but it’s just one of those things you have to push to the side and keep going, because they’re going to be everywhere.
“The people, the fans, the nerves are going to follow you. They’re not going to go away. So you just learn to deal with them the best you can and go out there and do your job.”
Yoho’s new changeup
Yoho worked with a fastball and a 12-to-6 curveball in college before he discovered his changeup. Now, his changeup is his go-to pitch and he can throw it in any count as hitters have a hard time picking it up.
Scouts and analysts marvel at the pitch. It’s a 70-grade on a 20-80 scale. Yoho throws it 12-15 mph less than his fastball, with analysts calling it a “magic trick”, an “airbender” and “the yoyo.”
Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy, seen here signing autographs for fans, believes Craig Yoho has a good chance to make his major league debut this year. (Photo by Dani Trujillo/Cronkite News)
“It’s gross,” Hudson said about Yoho’s changeup. “He went up quite a few levels in one year, and that speaks to him as a pitcher and a person. He’s got good stuff, and as long as he keeps throwing it, trusting in it and working on it, he’s going to be, obviously, very good. He already is.”
Devin Williams, the Brewers closer who was traded to the New York Yankees this offseason, had a lethal changeup that was a big part of his success. Some analysts have compared Williams’ changeup to Yoho’s because of the high grade and movement of the pitch.
However, Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy doesn’t necessarily agree. Murphy doesn’t like comparisons because he feels every player is unique and comparisons take away from that.
“I don’t think of Devin ever when I see (Yoho). It’s a changeup, but I don’t look at it that way,” Murphy said. “It’s a lot more than just your arsenal score and proving it in the big leagues. So I don’t like to put that (comparison) on either one.”
Whether Yoho’s new changeup is similar to Williams’ or not, it’s obvious that it’s been effective in messing with hitters so far. Yoho overcame three surgeries and time missed because of the COVID-19 pandemic in college, developed a new pitch, won Brewers Minor League Pitcher of the Year and had his baby daughter this offseason. The next step (or challenge): pitching at the major league level.
When will Yoho make his debut?
Yoho had an incredible run in 2024 to put himself in position to make his major league debut in 2025, whether it be on the Opening Day roster or later in the season.
He has continued that upward trend this spring in the Cactus League. Yoho has pitched in three games covering three scoreless innings. He allowed a hit, walk and struck out five.
Thought you'd be interested in back-to-back @YohoCraig Ks pic.twitter.com/Dtj4qgXyHY
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) February 23, 2025
It’s still early, but Yoho looks to be picking up where he left off.
“I’ve been really impressed with that kid. Just who he is, I’m into the ‘who’ first, and then ‘what’ they are. I’m impressed with who he is, and I like that changeup a bunch, what he does along with it,” Murphy said. “I’m excited for him. I think he’ll make his big league debut this year.”
The Brewers’ bullpen is crowded though, with Trevor Megill, Joel Payamps, Elvis Peguero, Jared Koenig, Nick Mears and Bryan Hudson pretty locked in, leaving few spots available. Plus, starting pitching depth could make its way to multiple-inning relief.
Murphy made a point before spring training began to let all the pitchers know that there’s a place for them to pitch at the major league level at some point in 2025. The Brewers use a lot of pitchers and find a way to get the most out of each player.
In 2024, the Brewers used 36 different pitchers, the sixth most in the league. The pitching staff carried a 3.65 ERA, good for fifth in the league. However, no other team that ranked in the top five for ERA used more than 30 pitchers. In addition, the Brewers ranked No. 2 in ERA+, which factors in the hitters’ ballpark. No other team in the top 10 in ERA+ used more than 33 pitchers.
Brewers pitchers covered the fourth most innings in the league last year. Milwaukee’s staff has been one of the best in the league at using a variety of pitchers to get the job done, and doing so effectively.
“Top to bottom our coaching staff on the pitching side is elite. They do a great job of giving us the foundation that we need to build on our strengths. They don’t try to cookie cutter us into one certain philosophy or pitch or whatever, so that’s really helped me grow as a pitcher,” Yoho said. “Leaning on what I do really well, that’s helped me flourish, and then just going through the system, being with a ton of different guys.
“Picking (Bryan Hudson’s) brain a little bit in camp, just hanging around those guys, you learn how they … you know, from getting here in the morning and doing their prep work to how they do their throwing program stuff. There’s always room to learn in baseball and whether it’s guys in high A, or in the big leagues, or 10-year big leaguers that are on our staff now. The Brewers just do a really good job of setting us up for success.”
Regardless of the other players in the mix, if Yoho keeps throwing his changeup past opposing hitters’ bats, he could pitch his way to a roster spot. But, if he starts the year in the minors, it wouldn’t be the first time he’s had to overcome an obstacle to achieve a goal.
Yoho has shown that his changeup is nasty, and the Brewers certainly know how to utilize pitchers with specialty pitches.
“We’re going to use a little bit of everybody to get the job done. We’ve seen it last year. We had how many people start? How many people close the game? They do a really good job of using everyone,” Hudson said. “If you have some stuff, we’re going to get it out of you because they’re really good at finding the best version of you.”
