2026 Nashville Sounds Roster Preview: Prospects Set to Make Music

[Steve Drumwright]

Image courtesy of © Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

On the surface, you might wonder how the Nashville Sounds, the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, would fare over a 162-game MLB schedule. That is because the roster is loaded with prospects, some of whom will make their MLB debuts this season or return to the majors to fortify the major-league roster.

But the players on the Sounds' 28-player Opening Day roster are in Nashville for one reason or another. For several, they need that extra bit of seasoning before they start to cook for the Brewers. For others, it was simply a numbers issue at the MLB level.

Seven of Brewer Fanatic's Top 20 prospects, including three of the top seven, begin the season with the Sounds.

Already, the Brewers have tapped into that depth as they had to call up center fielder Blake Perkins, a surprise demotion, to replace injured outfielder Jackson Chourio. For the moment, the Sounds only have two listed outfielders, although some of the infielders can easily move to the outfield.

Left-hander Robert Gasser will be on the mound as the Sounds open the season Friday on the road with three games against the Norfolk Tides, a Baltimore Orioles affiliate. Nashville returns home Tuesday to open its first homestand against the Charlotte Knights (Chicago White Sox).

Three players are on the injured list. Right-handers Gerson Garabito (broken ankle) is on the 60-day IL, while relievers J.B. Bukauskas and Thomas Pannone are on the seven-day IL.

Here is the roster that manager Rick Sweet will have to work with:

Projected starting rotation (5)

• Robert Gasser, LH
• Logan Henderson, RH (No. 6 Brewer Fanatic prospect)
• Shane Drohan, LH
• Coleman Crow, RH
• Carlos Rodriguez, RH

Gasser and Henderson could have easily been in the Brewers' rotation. They will undoubtedly get their shots at some point in the season. Is there anything to read into Gasser starting the season opener over Henderson? Probably not. Gasser came back from Tommy John surgery after five MLB starts to begin 2024 to make two abbreviated late-season starts and was included on the postseason roster, making a pair of relief appearances. Henderson had three call-ups and made five starts in his MLB debut season of 2025 before elbow issues shut him down prematurely. That elbow caused him to miss a little time in spring training, which may have led to him starting the season at Nashville.

Drohan and Crow are exciting arms to watch. Drohan certainly would have been included in our prospect list, but was acquired from the Boston Red Sox after it was published. Both have dealt with significant injuries, with Drohan limited to 15 starts in 2025 by a forearm strain and Crow returning from Tommy John surgery to make 12 starts. The 24-year-old Rodriguez has been pushed down the depth chart, but has made five MLB appearances for the Crew over the last to seasons.

Projected bullpen (9)

• Kaleb Bowman, RH
• Will Childers, RH
• Joe Corbett, RH
• Brian Fitzpatrick, LH
• Blake Holub, RH
• Tate Kuehner, LH
• Easton McGee, RH
• Sammy Peralta, LH
• Drew Rom, RH
• Garrett Stallings, RH
• Peter Strzelecki, RH
• Jacob Waguespeck, RH

While technically there are no prospects in the bullpen, there are plenty of talented arms. McGee was bumped off the Brewers' Opening Day roster by the acquisition of right-hander Jake Woodford on Tuesday. Holub, Kuehner, Peralta, and Waguespeck are some of the other interesting arms who could find their way to Milwaukee at some point this season.

Catcher (3)

• Jeferson Quero (No. 7 prospect)
• Andrick Nava
• Ramon Rodriguez

Quero is the Brewers' catcher of the future, perhaps starting in 2027, depending on whether William Contreras is still around. Quero dealt with surgery on his right labrum after being injured in the 2024 season opener for the Sounds, then had a cranky hamstring that delayed the start of his 2025 season, and later injured his left shoulder. Quero is terrific defensively, but his throwing has not been as good as it was before the surgery. His power, which produced 16 homers in 90 games in 2024 and 11 in 69 last year, has been slow to return, but improved as 2025 wore on. Getting his arm back up to par and showing off his hit tool (.276/.353/.453 career slash line in the minors) will be key.

Infield (8)

• Luke Adams, 3B (No. 13 prospect)
• Tyler Black, 1B-LF
• Eddys Leonard
• Ethan Murray
• Cooper Pratt, SS (No. 4 prospect)
• Brock Wilken, 3B (No. 15 prospect)
• Jett Williams, SS-2B-CF (No. 3 prospect)
• Freddy Zamora

Sweet will be like a kid in a candy store with this talented group. With only two outfielders to begin with, Williams is likely to get more time in the outfield to begin the season. Otherwise, Sweet will be able to roll out a number of different combinations. Williams' versatility is the key to that, while Pratt is likely to play a position other than shortstop for the first time since just after he was drafted in 2023 and had three games at second base in the Arizona Complex League. Williams, a consensus top-75 prospect, could force his way onto the Brewers' roster with a good first-half showing. He struggled in 34 games after being promoted by the New York Mets to Triple-A last year. Adams and Wilken will probably alternate at the two corner infield spots, with Black, who had a strong spring, also seeing time at first. Adams further developed his power in 2025, but still topped out at 11 homers for the season. He did hit three homers in 16 Arizona Fall League games. Wilken is looking to stay healthy after two freak injuries marred his last two seasons (hit in the face by a pitch, knee injury while celebrating the first-half title). Still, Wilken produced 18 homers in 79 games in 2025.

Outfield (2)

• Greg Jones
• Luis Lara (No. 11 prospect)

Lara's defense is the star attraction, which bodes well for him eventually fitting into the Brewers' roster. But he has also made improvements at the plate. He had a .257/.369/.343 with 44 steals in 51 attempts. In three seasons since coming Stateside, Lara has translated his speed into 121 steals in 152 attempts. Unfortunately, the power is nonexistent, with eight homers in that same timespan. Any improvement there would help raise his profile for his eventual MLB debut.

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[CheeseheadInQC]

I wonder if Rodriguez is getting pushed to the pen because Kuehner is listed as the Sunday starter.

[BrewerFan]

Quero's pop times were back in the 1.80s-1.90, right? Maybe not quite the plus-plus arm, but back to being a viable starting catcher even if he's a below average hitter overall. We're spoiled with Contreras, even with a "down year," but Contreras is in that really bad spot in terms of roster management. 

Set to become a FA after what is looking like it could be a truncated 2027 season which should suppress his value. Given a catchers learning curve, I could see them going with Contreras and Quero next year, then taking the comp pick or dealing him if.... they magically play a full season. 

 

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while Pratt is likely to play a position other than shortstop for the first time since just after he was drafted in 2023 and had three games at second base in the Arizona Complex League. Williams, a consensus top-75 prospect, could force his way onto the Brewers' roster with a good first-half showing. 

I'd guess Pratt would still be the primary SS. I'd want to see him at 3B over 2B if we're giving Jett Williams does seem closer and more likely, but with 3B prospects, guys they'll at least give playing time to like Adams, 2B seems more likely. 

I'd love to see Fischer, Burke force their way to AAA. I'd keep Made in AA all year in all likely scenarios, even one in which he hits ~.315/.400 with power and then I'd be more than happy to lock him up ala Chourio before '27, but that's jumping the gun a bit.