The Milwaukee Brewers are one step closer to getting a key component on their bullpen back in left-handed pitcher Will Smith.

Smith, who suffered a torn LCL in his right knee during spring training in a freak accident removing a shoe, will head to High-A Brevard County tomorrow to start a rehab assignment for two games, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

New York – The Brewers have decided to send reliever Will Smith on minor-league rehab to high Class A Brevard County on Tuesday to continue his recovery from a knee injury.

After Smith completes his rehab assignment at Brevard County, Haudricourt notes that Smith will head to Triple-A Colorado Springs to pitch in two games that will be back-to-back tests. Brewers manager Craig Counsell told the media if all goes well with Smith’s rehab assignment, he should return during the first week of June.

Smith and Chris Capuano will Milwaukee’s only two left-handed pitchers once Smith is activated from the disabled list. Smith is likely to serve as the setup man in the 8th inning to get the game to the 9th inning for closer Jeremy Jeffress.

The 26-year-old Smith posted a 7-2 win-loss record with a career best 2.70 earned run average and 91 punchouts over 63.1 innings of work. Smith also struck out 12.9 batters per nine innings, which is another career-high for the lefty.

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