Pannone's Comeback Start
Thomas Pannone Returns to Brewers Rotation, Pitches Three Innings in Giants Loss
Key Points
Pannone was selected from Triple-A Nashville to Milwaukee's active roster, filling the rotation spot and moving Garrett Stallings to Nashville as part of the roster reshuffle.
Pannone previously pitched for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2018-19, going 7-7 with a 5.43 ERA in 49 appearances (13 starts), part of a longer pro journey before returning to Milwaukee.
In the intervening years, Pannone spent time in Korea with the Kia Tigers (2022-23), where he logged 165 innings with a 3.49 ERA, illustrating the long road back to the majors.
Stallings made his major league debut on July 2 and has yet to allow a run in three relief appearances (five innings) for Milwaukee.
Drohan, who had been scheduled to pitch, will start Friday in Anaheim against the Angels, with Pannone handling the SF series finale as part of the rotation adjustment.
The Milwaukee Brewers recalled left-hander Thomas Pannone on Wednesday to start the series finale against the San Francisco Giants — his first major league appearance in seven years. Reuters reported that Pannone took the roster spot of rookie right-hander Garrett Stallings, who was optioned down to Triple-A Nashville.
Pannone, 32, did not make it through the third inning. He allowed three runs on three hits and two walks, including a three-run homer to Daniel Susac, and took the loss. According to CBS Sports, it was his first MLB outing since 2019.
A Seven-Year Road Back to the Majors
Pannone last pitched in the big leagues with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2018-19. He went 7-7 with a 5.43 ERA across 49 appearances. After that, his path to a return got complicated fast.
He spent 2022-23 pitching in South Korea with the Kia Tigers, logging 165 innings and a 3.49 ERA. Then a torn flexor tendon sidelined him in 2025. This season with Nashville, he posted a 4.13 ERA across 16 appearances, striking out 57 batters in 72 innings. BVM Sports called his recall a milestone in a long comeback journey.
Stallings Out, Drohan Shifted as Brewers Reshuffle Rotation
The roster move affected more than just Pannone. Stallings, who made his MLB debut on July 2, had not allowed a single run in three relief appearances covering five innings. Despite that strong start, Milwaukee sent him back to Nashville to make room.
Reuters noted that rookie Shane Drohan, originally scheduled to pitch in San Francisco, will instead start Friday in Anaheim against the Angels. The Brewers gave Drohan extra rest after a strong recent stretch. Pannone stepped in to cover the Giants finale on short notice.
Pannone Struggles but Opens Door for More Decisions
The start did not go as Milwaukee hoped. Pannone lasted just three innings and threw enough walks and served up enough hard contact to keep the Giants in control early. The three-run homer to Susac was the decisive blow.
CBS Sports confirmed the final line: three innings, three hits, two walks, three runs allowed — two earned. The outing raises questions about whether Pannone holds a rotation spot going forward or returns to Nashville. Milwaukee's pitching plans beyond this week remain unsettled, according to Reuters.
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