NEW YORK — Thyago Vieira is all smiles these days.
It's understandable, considering the right-hander is back in the major leagues for the first time since 2019 after being recalled by the Milwaukee Brewers from Class AAA Nashville.
The transaction took place before Wednesday's loss at Pittsburgh — with left-hander Clayton Andrews being optioned out — and Vieira was heading into the series opener against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Friday night eagerly anticipating his first action out of the bullpen.
But considering the road he's traveled to get back, waiting just a little bit longer really isn't that big a deal.
"I looked at it like I'm never going to give up on my dreams," said the 30-year-old Brazilian. "I know how hard I've been working. These have been the best three years, four years.
"I trust the process."
Vieira signed a minor-league deal with an invitation to major-league camp Jan. 12 after spending the 2020, 2021 and 2022 seasons pitching for the Yomiuri Giants in Japan.
It was there Vieira made a name for himself when, on Aug. 13, 2021, he fired the hardest pitch ever recorded in Nippon Professional Baseball history at 103.1 mph.
The previous recordholder? Some guy named Shohei Ohtani.
Vieira made only four Cactus League appearances in the spring and ultimately opened the season at Nashville, where he became one of manager Rick Sweet's regular choices out of the bullpen.
His 33 appearances and 37⅔ innings were tied for fourth on the Sounds, and Vieira went 2-2 with a 1.22 WHIP to go along with 51 strikeouts.
Vieira still throws extremely hard — he said he topped out at 101 this season — but he's now a more complete pitcher by his estimation.
"Mentally, I'm really strong right now," he said. "How I command my pitches. I just started trusting my hard work, controlling the zone. I just believe in myself."
The control piece — only 15 walks and three home runs allowed — definitely put Vieira on the Brewers' radar here for the stretch run.
"Good arm and is throwing strikes. And that should get hitters out," manager Craig Counsell said. "That's a good formula for success. Velocity is still for major-league hitters the thing that they don't like, and it should hopefully give Thyago a foundation to have some success."
Vieira's callup now gives the Brewers three relievers who can hit triple digits; Abner Uribe and Trevor Megill have made it a routine occurrence whenever called upon.
The trio all pitched together out of Nashville's bullpen for a spell earlier this season as well.
"Now I'm more smart — I know when the moment is and when to throw that pitch," said Vieira. "I'm not that young kid who's just, 'Zoom, zoom,' and firing it. Things changed a little bit, but I still have it."
Vieira originally broke into the majors with the Seattle Mariners in 2017, pitching one game for them before moving on to the Chicago White Sox. He totaled 24 ⅔ innings over 22 appearances in 2018 and 2019 before being released following the 2019 season.
He's 2-1 with a 7.36 ERA to this point in his major-league career — numbers he aims to improve whenever he's afforded the opportunity.
"It was my dream to come back to The Show in my new version," said Vieira, a native of Sao Paolo who's one of five Brazilians to play in the majors. Chicago Cubs catcher Yan Gomes is the only other Brazilian currently active.
"It's completely different," Vieira continued. "I learned a lot of things in Japan. My goal was to be back in the major leagues and show who I am."
Vieira is the 57th player to suit up for the Brewers this season, with that number expected to rise to 58 whenever Josh Donaldson joins the team.
Milwaukee used 53 players in 2022.
More: William Contreras has been the Brewers' MVP, and he'd love to stay in Milwaukee long-term
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Hard-throwing Thyago Vieira back in majors with Milwaukee Brewers
The Link LonkSeptember 09, 2023 at 05:27AM
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Hard-throwing Thyago Vieira is back in the majors for the first time since 2019 - Yahoo Sports
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