One thing that the Brewers have tried to do over the last few seasons is incorporate techniques into their minor league system that minimize the injury risk for young pitchers. The Washington Post featured a nice article on May 20th about the efforts other teams have made to prevent injuries to their pitching prospects.

The Reds have a unique “piggyback” system that teams a pair of pitchers together and limits them to 75-pitches. When the first reaches his limit, the other comes in. Three days later, they do it again. The system was implemented by GM Jim O’Brien and in turn was influenced by the strategies used in Texas and, by extension, Oakland.

“Personally, I believe the 18- to 22-year-old arm is not prepared to pitch the way people traditionally think. Their arms are not fully grown and mature. They’re not prepared to take the torque that major league guys can. This system eases them into it.”

- Grady Fuson, Assistant GM of the Texas Rangers

The rest of the article, penned by Dustin Gouker, goes into more detail about this particular program as well as the efforts other teams have made to limit injuries. Definitely worth a read if you’re interested in the subject of baseball injuries. With the June Draft less than a week away, who isn’t?