Should Anthony Seigler Be Deployed Behind The Dish In 2026?

[Harold Hutchison]

Image courtesy of © Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

Brewers fans have to wonder about Anthony Seigler. The one-time Yankees prospect has posted some disappointing numbers on the surface (.194/.250/.194), but underlying metrics have been much better, but can he buy himself some time by returning to his roots?

Seigler first came to Milwaukee as a switch-hitting, switch-throwing minor-league free agent catcher who also saw time at other positions, including a shift to second base in the 2024 season. Lately, he has only been hitting left-handed, which helped his offensive numbers some in Triple-A Nashville and in Milwaukee, he’s primarily played third base, while splitting time between catcher and second base with the Sounds.

But what about his future? That can be quite uncertain. Not because Seigler isn’t talented or lacks potential – far from it – but he’s got a lot of competition. Cooper Pratt, Jesus Made, Luis Pena, Luke Adams, Mike Boeve, and Ethan Murray are just a few of the names that come to mind in the infield over the 2026-2027 timeframe in the higher levels of the minor-league system. You can also add in Tyler Black, Caleb Durbin, Isaac Collins, and Joey Ortiz from the 40-man roster, for starters.

Short version, this is a highly-talented organization, one that will have a lot of good options, and Seigler is just one of them. However, Seigler could fill an important role for the 2026 Brewers – where an opening just may be waiting for him: backup catcher.

Danny Jansen, acquired in a deadline deal with the Rays, is a pending free agent, and the Crew (or Jansen) probably will not exercise his $12 million mutual option for 2026. Jeferson Quero’s comeback from a 2024 season in which he had one plate appearance at Triple-A Nashville (a walk) has been complicated by injuries and an adjustment to the pitching at that level, although he has recently heated up. Many of the other catchers have low ceilings.

The only other real prospect behind the plate at Double A or above is Darrien Miller, a pending minor-league free agent at the age of 24 who’s rediscovered a bit of power (six homers in 222 at-bats), and has long demonstrated the ability to get on base, but who’s struggled to hit the Uecker line (.205 batting average over two seasons at Double-A Biloxi).

Siegler’s only donned the tools of ignorance briefly in Milwaukee, but his past experience – and the Brewers’ track record of improving catchers’ defense – may be beneficial for Seigler and the Crew. For starters, he will have something free agents won’t have: Experience with future rotation mainstays Logan Henderson and Jacob Misiorowski from his time with the Sounds. This is not a small consideration.

One of Milwaukee’s biggest weapons is the chemistry in its clubhouse. Every trade or free agent signing can alter that in the negative (see the 2022 Josh Hader trade as an example). Keeping things “in the family,” if you will, is a far less risky approach.

Second, Seigler offers a solid option off the bench, especially with his recent offensive development – he can give William Contreras a game off and not be a black hole in the lineup. He also becomes a potential platoon partner for Quero when he arrives in MLB.

Third, Seigler also offers flexibility. When Quero forces his way to Milwaukee, the Brewers could arguably build a “super bench” with Seigler, Collins, and either Black or Ernesto Martinez (depending on what moves they make in the 2025-2026 offseason) alongside Quero, allowing Contreras to DH more with a greater degree of confidence.

Then again, the Brewers could use Seigler as the number two catcher and wait to start Quero’s service time clock, allowing Contreras to rebuild trade value with an offensive resurgence in 2026.

Or for another option, the Brewers could move Contreras in, who has two years of team control left, in the 2025-2026 offseason and bring in a haul of prospects at multiple positions by pillaging a farm system from a team like Cleveland, Texas, or Toronto. That would turn the Esteury Ruiz trade into an even bigger win, and make the Hader deal a long-term win.

Anthony Seigler has much to offer the Brewers. The question is whether the Brewers will be willing to move him to a position where he can make that difference.

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[Stubby66]

The one catcher that everyone is forgetting about is Wood. He is gradually turning himself into a major league back up catcher. I think you put him at AAA next year as the starting catcher and your going to see him flourish.  

[Jim French Stepstool]

No.

[Jim French Stepstool]

15 minutes ago, Stubby66 said:

The one catcher that everyone is forgetting about is Wood. He is gradually turning himself into a major league back up catcher. I think you put him at AAA next year as the starting catcher and your going to see him flourish.  

Yes. In conversations like this Wood needs to be mentioned ahead of Miller IMO.

[sveumrules]

Yeah, not sure how Miller at 194/381/329 with a 16.3 CS% in Biloxi this year is ahead of Wood at 263/355/389 with a 29.9 CS% since his promotion.

Miller still can't throw anyone out and his batting line is propped up entirely by an unsustainable 18.5 BB% (and 6.3 HBP%) with accompanying 24.5 K% while Wood has a much more promising 10.5 BB% | 12.5 K% under the hood in Biloxi.

Seigler is fine as a third or emergency catcher, but expecting him to be the backup backstop (even with how rarely Contreras sits) is probably stretching things, especially with only a 20.0 CS% for his minor league career.