The Milwaukee Brewers have made significant roster changes, including designating right-hander Thyago Vieira for assignment and calling up right-hander Bradley Blalock from Double-A Biloxi for his MLB debut.

Vieira, known for his blazing fastball that averages 98 mph this season, has struggled to find consistent success. In 16 appearances, he has been scored upon in nine of them, resulting in a 5.64 ERA over 22 1/3 innings. The Brazilian-born pitcher has shown an impressive strikeout rate of 23.6%, but his walk rate of 12.3% has posed a challenge. Opponents have hit six home runs off him this year, averaging 2.42 per nine innings.

With the decision to designate Vieira for assignment, the Brewers now have a week to either trade him, pass him through outright waivers, or release him. Vieira had previously played for the Yomiuri Giants in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball before joining the Brewers.

Replacing Vieira on the roster is Bradley Blalock, a talented right-hander who was called up from Double-A Biloxi. Blalock, a former 32nd-round pick by the Red Sox in 2019, has impressed with a 2.27 ERA in his seven starts this season at the Double-A level. Although his strikeout rate of 20.6% is below average, Blalock has displayed excellent control with a 5% walk rate and a solid 43.1% ground-ball rate.

The 23-year-old right-hander's rise through the ranks has not gone unnoticed, as he is ranked among the top prospects in the Brewers' farm system. At FanGraphs, he holds the 13th spot, while he is 17th at MLB.com and 22nd at Baseball America. Blalock's arsenal includes a fastball that ranges from 92-96 mph, along with secondary offerings such as a slider, split-change, and curveball.

Blalock's call-up comes at a time when the Brewers are dealing with an injury-plagued pitching staff. While they do not require a starter in the immediate future, Blalock will provide depth and the ability to provide length in case of a short start. The Brewers' rotation currently features Joe Ross, Robert Gasser, and Freddy Peralta, with Bryse Wilson and Colin Rea set to follow in the upcoming weekend series against the Boston Red Sox.

Despite not stepping into the rotation right away, Blalock's potential as a back-end starter or a long-relief option has caught the attention of experts. He could play a crucial role in filling the void left by injured pitchers such as Brandon Woodruff, Wade Miley, Jakob Junis, and DL Hall.

As the Milwaukee Brewers continue to navigate their way through injuries and strive to maintain a strong pitching staff, the addition of Bradley Blalock provides hope for stability and success moving forward.