Quick Lesson For Brewers’ Kirby

PHOENIX—It didn’t take long for lefthander Nathan Kirby to get a lesson in mental toughness as a professional.

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Selected 40th overall in the 2015 draft out of Virginia, Kirby blew out his elbow after five outings at low Class A Wisconsin and had Tommy John surgery in September. He has been rehabbing ever since at Maryvale Baseball Park.

“It’s going very well,” said Kirby, 22, who helped Virginia win the College World Series last year despite missing much of the season with a lat strain behind his pitching shoulder. “I can’t tell you how long I’ve been throwing. It feels like forever. I’m still at 45 feet (off flat ground), about to graduate to 60 feet. My arm feels great.”

As for having Tommy John surgery so early as a pro, Kirby said, “It’s baseball. It’s part of the game. I’ve been throwing since I was 4 years old. It’s bound to happen eventually, especially with how much our generation has been throwing, and how much emphasis has been put on velocity.

“I’m glad it happened early in my career, and, hopefully, it won’t happen again.”

Kirby remained mum on the unusual circumstances regarding his signing with the Brewers. Reports indicated the sides had a deal for $1,545,400, but it was reduced to $1.25 million because of an “undisclosed medical concern.”

When Kirby’s elbow blew out later, it was presumed that was the issue.

Kirby’s rehabbing partner is righthander Taylor Williams, who looked strong in camp last spring but injured his elbow, sat out the season and then had Tommy John surgery afterward. Neither is expected to pitch in 2016.

“We’re kind of connected at the hip,” Kirby said. “There’s no doubt in my mind I will be back. Hopefully, down the road I will be able to make an impact on the organization.”

MICROBREWS

• Catcher Jacob Nottingham, whom Milwaukee acquired for Khris Davis in February, made such a positive impression behind the plate in his first big league camp that big league manager Craig Counsell said: “There’s no question in anybody’s mind he’s going to be a catcher.”

• Righthander Zack Jones, a Rule 5 pick from the Twins, suffered a shoulder strain early in camp and will not be ready for the start of the season.