MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee manager Ned Yost knew he was getting a good player when the Brewers signed center fielder Mike Cameron in the offseason.

But how good?

Not this good.

"I thought he was a good player, but I didn't know he was that good,'' Yost said before Friday night's exhibition game against the Kansas City Royals. "He surprised me.''

Cameron made his debut in a Brewers uniform at Miller Park in the game, a taste of what Brewers won't see until the 26th game of the season.

Cameron must serve a suspension for testing positive last fall for a banned stimulant.

Yost said Tony Gwynn Jr., who will start in center during the suspension, and Gabe Kapler will play in Saturday's exhibition finale against the Royals.

Once the season begins, Cameron will return home to Georgia for a few days to see his family before returning to Arizona to continue workouts. He will rejoin the Brewers on April 15 in St. Louis, then play five games with Class AAA Nashville before returning to the Brewers.

"A couple of days ago, the reality started to hit me,'' said Cameron, who hit .351 with four home runs in the Arizona portion of spring training. "I'll take it as it is.

"Physically, it will be pretty good. Mentally, I'll watch every game.''

Cameron made an instant impression the clubhouse, living up to his reputation of being a good teammate.

"I wanted to look good,'' he said of his spring training performance. "I had the intention of coming in and playing good baseball so my teammates would know what to expect of me.''

Cameron said his stint in the minors should be enough to get him back on track once he is eligible to play.

"I'll use it to my advantage,'' he said. "I'll be fine.''

Lineup almost set

While Gwynn will be Cameron's primary replacement, Yost wouldn't say if Gwynn will hit in the No. 2 spot in the order, where Cameron will hit when he returns.

Gwynn will either hit second or seventh, which would lead to shortstop J.J. Hardy moving behind leadoff hitter Rickie Weeks.

Yost said third baseman Bill Hall likely will hit fifth, followed by right fielder Corey Hart. Yost has tinkered with that arrangement throughout the spring.

"They're so close,'' Yost said of the two. "Billy has had some really good at-bats lately and Corey's haven't been as good. But I know once Corey gets going hot, he's a monster to get out.

"It's still something we can flop around.''

Munson off to Nashville

Catcher Eric Munson, who was outrighted to Class AAA Nashville on Wednesday, has agreed to report to the Sounds.

Munson will be one of the highest-paid backup catchers in Class AAA.

He will make $525,000 to play behind Vinny Rottino — Rottino has a minor league contract, while Munson has a major league deal.

"Vinny's going to catch,'' Yost said of the Racine native who is being groomed as insurance for Brewers catchers Jason Kendall and Mike Rivera.

Rottino has played a variety of positions in the Brewers' farm system, but has never been an every-day catcher.

"Vinny needs to play,'' Yost said, "to get into the flow of the game as a catcher.''

Suppan struggles

Jeff Suppan, scheduled to start Wednesday's game at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs, needed 49 pitches to get through his first two innings and allowed three runs in a 4-1 loss to the Royals before a crowd of 15,363.

Suppan managed to get through five innings, but needed 93 pitches to do so. He allowed seven hits and two walks, struck out five and finished the spring with an 8.34 ERA.

The Brewers managed eight hits off five Royals pitchers, with left fielder Ryan Braun getting half of them. Milwaukee's only run came on shortstop J.J. Hardy's leadoff home run in the fifth.

Around the horn

Right-hander Carlos Villanueva, who is scheduled to start Friday's home opener against San Francisco, and left-hander Manny Parra remained in Arizona and are set to throw in a minor league game Sunday. Right-hander Yovani Gallardo, recovering from knee surgery, also is expected to pitch Sunday. … Alcides Escobar, the 21-year-old shortstop who made a big impression this spring, will start the season at Class AA Huntsville. Escobar is considered the most likely replacement if starter Hardy should be injured.