Brewers NDFA Signings - 2025

[balsamlaker]

The Brewers reputation for developing pitchers is likely a positive for many of these draftees and UDFAs.  For those that haven't been around as long, this is a completely different reputation than the team had prior to the Derek Johnson / Chris Hook days.

[biedergb]

6 hours ago, balsamlaker said:

The Brewers reputation for developing pitchers is likely a positive for many of these draftees and UDFAs.  For those that haven't been around as long, this is a completely different reputation than the team had prior to the Derek Johnson / Chris Hook days.

Yes in the 1990s-early 2010s we were lucky when developed pitchers (Sheets, Gallardo were like it) that we routinely made trades for pitching or bad FA signings (Sabathia, Greinke, Marcum; Suppan, Garza).  And somewhere in 2016-2018 time frame they started to develop pitchers (Peralta, Woodruff, Burnes) or take marginal pitchers and get great years out of them (Choucin, Miley). Since 2021 it’s been really really good.

On a side note -does anyone have a running list of NDFA for the past few years?  It seems like last year was low (Seppings, Gillis, Langhorne, Hostetler, Fielder, did I miss someone), and some years like much more. This years seems higher or at least earlier in terms of signing/announcements.

[snoogans8056]

8 hours ago, Spencer Michaelis said:

RHP Caleb Nieman from Central Arizona JC

Aww heck yeah, thick frame glasses!?

[biedergb]

7 minutes ago, snoogans8056 said:

Aww heck yeah, thick frame glasses!?

Tyler Bryant has company .... bring it!

[Jim Goulart]

Regarding Nieman -

 

[jay87shot]

It's impressive that we are able to sign HS guys and upside JC players as UDFA. On top of what looks like could be a deep class of HS arms with 4/5  HS pitchers drafted already committed to sign.

[SomewhereInTime]

On 7/15/2025 at 4:42 PM, snoogans8056 said:

Do other teams sign high school non drafted guys?

Feels odd. I know we had Fielder and Walling recently as well.

If you think about its not much different than drafting high school kids in rounds 21-50+ like in the past.

[ClosetBrewerFan]

On 7/18/2025 at 10:00 PM, biedergb said:

On a side note -does anyone have a running list of NDFA for the past few years?  It seems like last year was low (Seppings, Gillis, Langhorne, Hostetler, Fielder, did I miss someone), and some years like much more. This years seems higher or at least earlier in terms of signing/announcements.

Garrett Hodges was also signed.  From 2023, Hunt and Root are the only remaining from the NDFA list (lost track of who else was signed).

[Spencer Michaelis]

On 7/18/2025 at 10:00 PM, biedergb said:

Yes in the 1990s-early 2010s we were lucky when developed pitchers (Sheets, Gallardo were like it) that we routinely made trades for pitching or bad FA signings (Sabathia, Greinke, Marcum; Suppan, Garza).  And somewhere in 2016-2018 time frame they started to develop pitchers (Peralta, Woodruff, Burnes) or take marginal pitchers and get great years out of them (Choucin, Miley). Since 2021 it’s been really really good.

On a side note -does anyone have a running list of NDFA for the past few years?  It seems like last year was low (Seppings, Gillis, Langhorne, Hostetler, Fielder, did I miss someone), and some years like much more. This years seems higher or at least earlier in terms of signing/announcements.

3 hours ago, ClosetBrewerFan said:

Garrett Hodges was also signed.  From 2023, Hunt and Root are the only remaining from the NDFA list (lost track of who else was signed).

Was curious so went through the old NDFA’s going back to 2020. If their name is in bold, they’re still in the org. Added notes for guys who got traded or picked in Rule 5 (ok, only one of those).

2020:

• Drew Smith, 2B, Grand Canyon
• Noah Campbell, 2B, South Carolina
• Brandon Knarr, LHP, Tampa
• Jason Munsch, LHP, Concordia (Neb.)
• Evan Reifert, RHP, Central Missouri (traded to TB for 3B Mike Brosseau)
• TJ Shook, RHP, South Carolina (traded to NYM for LHP Tyler Jay)

2021:

• Jakob Brustoski, LHP, Texas Tech
• Shane Smith, RHP, Wake Forest (drafted by CWS w/ 1st pick of most recent Rule 5 Draft)
• Trevor Tietz, RHP, Jefferson (Mo.) CC

2022:

• Logan Adams, RHP, North Carolina State
• Jonathan Beymer, RHP, Campbell
• Ryan Brady, RHP, Brigham Young (Part of trade to KCR for RHP Taylor Clarke)
• Will Childers, RHP, Georgia
• Nick Merkel, RHP, Central Methodist (Mo.)
• Reece Walling, OF, Prairie (Wash.) HS
• Tyler Wehrle, RHP, Tiffin (Ohio)

2023:

• KC Hunt, RHP, Mississippi State
• Isaiah Jackson, RHP, Heartland (Ill.) JC
• Alejandro Rodriguez, C/INF, Florida Gulf Coast
• Bayden Root, RHP, Oklahoma State
• Blake Whiting, RHP, Utah
• Harrison Durow, RHP, Trinity (TX)

2024:

• Jadyn Fielder, INF, Almonte Springs, Fla. (TNXL Academy)
• Miles Langhorne, RHP, Charlotte
• Jake Seppings, RHP, Brown
• Tanner Gillis, RHP, Northern Kentucky
• Jack Hostetler, RHP, Whitman College (D3)
• Garrett Hodges, RHP, Charlotte

[ClosetBrewerFan]

Interesting. thanks for doing the research Spencer! So, looks like the Brewers typically sign 6-7 NDFA each year and they have signed seven so far this year.  Probably means they have signed who they wanted to sign.

[balsamlaker]

Any chance any of the 2025 group went over the $150K threshold?  I feel like Bonet may be the strongest sign at this point.