Brewers' Opening Day Roster Starts Taking Shape After Latest Round of Cuts

[Jack Stern]

Jackson Chourio has made the cut, Freddy Peralta is starting on Opening Day, and several infielders in positional battles have been optioned out. The Milwaukee Brewers' roster is starting to come into focus.

Image courtesy of © Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

With the start of the regular season just over a week away, the Brewers are getting closer to finalizing their roster.

After reports surfaced Monday evening that Jackson Chourio had made the Opening Day roster, the Brewers made a series of cuts this morning. Per Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, infielders Vinny Capra, Oliver Dunn, and Owen Miller have been optioned to Triple A, as has righthander Janson Junk. Tyler Black, Robert Gasser, and Jared Koenig were reassigned to minor-league camp.

None of the cuts are surprising. Capra was a long shot to make the roster, and while Pat Murphy has spoken highly of Dunn throughout camp, he indicated last week that he could use some more time in Triple A.

The optioning of Dunn and Miller adds some clarity to a third base competition that seemed wide open for much of camp. With the former heading to Nashville, Sal Frelick is now the top left-handed hitter on the depth chart at the hot corner. Miller's reassignment leaves Christian Arroyo and Joey Ortiz competing for the role of a second right-handed-hitting utility infielder, alongside Andruw Monasterio.

Gasser has impressed this spring, but was never likely to open the year in Milwaukee. However, Murphy hinted that he could join the starting rotation in April when the Brewers have two stretches of 13 straight games without a day off.

In other rotation news, Murphy confirmed this morning that Freddy Peralta will get the ball on Opening Day. Wade Miley's availability for the first week of the season remains a coin flip, leaving Colin Rea as the only other confirmed starter behind Peralta. Murphy has been coy on how the rest of his pitching staff will shake out, but DL Hall, Jakob Junis, Joe Ross, Aaron Ashby, and Bryse Wilson are all in the mix for bulk innings.

The Brewers still have key decisions approaching in the final days of camp, namely which relievers to carry in the bullpen and whether to squeeze Eric Haase onto the roster as a third catcher. Still, today's transactions brought the roster closer to the one that will travel to New York next week.

View full article

[Home runs or no runs]

Aaron Ashby has played in two games and has one start for a total of 3 innings pitched. Has there been any real update on how he is performing and wether he is in real consideration for the starting rotation?

[Brock Beauchamp]

3 minutes ago, Home runs or no runs said:

Aaron Ashby has played in two games and has one start for a total of 3 innings pitched. Has there been any real update on how he is performing and wether he is in real consideration for the starting rotation?

Welcome to Brewer Fanatic! I've been out of the loop a bit for a week or so but here are all articles with Ashby tagged in them.

https://brewerfanatic.com/search/?&type=cms_records1&tags=aaron ashby&search_and_or=or&search_in=titles

[bensheeps]

Early on, I thought Arroyo would find his way to the Opening Day roster due to his experience and lack of a remaining option.  But am I correct that I haven't seen him in game action much lately?

[wiguy94]

36 minutes ago, bensheeps said:

Early on, I thought Arroyo would find his way to the Opening Day roster due to his experience and lack of a remaining option.  But am I correct that I haven't seen him in game action much lately?

Arroyo is on a minor league deal with a camp invite, so he doesn't need to be optioned if he doesn't make the team.

[eddiemathews]

I dunno...I think Sal's gonna get quite a bit of time at third.

[eddiemathews]

33 minutes ago, eddiemathews said:

I dunno...I think Sal's gonna get quite a bit of time at third.

ruh roh...I feel less certain now...Jim Bowden agrees with me.

[ClearWaterWI]

I wish Owen Miller had a chance to stay on the roster. I see so much potential but he just can’t seem to break through. 

[Sugarrayray]

Strange thing is Black and Gasser are both actually probably more major league ready than Chourio at this point. It’s strange how they’re so aggressive with some and so slow with others.

I know they all play different positions, but it just really erks me that categorical bums like Haase, Bauers, and Taylor Clarke are considered options to get any type of playing time for this team while Black and Gasser go back to AAA, after both being dominant there last year. I know depth is very important but not at the cost of putting your best players on the field.

I mean, sorry to rant and I’m sure he’s a real good kid with a good attitude, but just imagine what Tyler Black must think. Like “huh, Brice is not a major league level hitter, but they brought him up opening day last year. And, they say my defense is a question and that defense is so important on this team, but then they just all of a sudden move Sal to 3rd where I’m supposed to play.” It’s complete mixed messaging. Sal looked terrible and lost at third when I watched their game yesterday.  You’d have to be a pretty special person to not be frustrated and negative-minded about that. I’m sure he’ll overcome it, but whats the point? You have top prospects who are ready to play ball, AAAA guys should never take a minute of playing away from guys like that.

[Diamond Dog]

Sugar - well said.  Black belongs at 3B and can fill in at 1B when needed, and Sal is an OF.

I do believe Black will be very important to the Crew for years.