Milwaukee Brewers activate Jim Henderson

The Milwaukee Brewers were expected to activate closer Jim Henderson today, and they did indeed activate the 30-year-old right-hander off of the 15-day disabled list. Henderson only missed those 15 days with a right hamstring strain, and they demoted Tyler Thornburg to Triple-A in order to make room for Henderson’s return to the Brewers.

Henderson has nine saves this season in 20 appearances and 19.2 innings, and he has an exceptionally low ERA of 0.92, as well as a stellar 0.81 WHIP. He was pitching lights out before the injury, and he’s firmly entrenched as the Brewers closer due to his terrific numbers. Francisco Rodriguez is two saves away from 300 and the Brewers intention is to get K-Rod, who has four saves this year, to 300. Rodriguez will continue to get significant innings, but the closer job is Henderson. Besides, the role of the set-up man isn’t far off in importance from the role of the closer these days, but it is clear that Henderson is the best closer for the Brew Crew.

The fact that Henderson is ready to go comes as no surprise, as the hamstring strain was minor. He actually felt fully healthy a couple of days ago and showed it by punching out three in an incredible final rehab game. Henderson, Rodriguez, and John Axford have an incredible three-headed monster in the bullpen for the Brewers, but Henderson is still entrenched as the closer in Milwaukee despite the wealth of talented arms in the pen.