Does Biloxi Have The Answer For The Brewers Backup Backstop Blues?

The 26-Man Roster Crunch
William Contreras has been a highly durable option for the Brewers at catcher – with Gary Sanchez primarily serving as designated hitter for the Crew. Sanchez has been on the injured list with a left calf strain and could return after the All-Star break. In the meantime, Eric Haase, who was initially on the 40-man, had to be outrighted when he didn’t make the 26-man roster out of spring training due to being out of options.

When Sanchez returns, Haase is likely to be designated for assignment again, and this time, the Crew will not be as fortunate as they were in March. So, the question is, do they lose Haase for nothing or salvage some return? But a trade could leave them without a backup catcher… or is an answer already in-house?

Biloxi’s Outstanding On-Base Machine
Darrien Miller has been one of the more under-the-radar prospects for the Brewers since being drafted in the ninth round in 2019. Jeferson Quero got a lot of attention and is on the prospect lists. Still, since being drafted out of high school, Miller has quietly displayed outstanding on-base skills (195 walks in 1139 professional at-bats through July 10) and, in most years, has flashed some pop in his left-handed bat.

In 2024, Miller’s formidable on-base skills have taken a quantum leap at Double-A Biloxi. From 2021-2023, including his winter stint at Brisbane, Miller posted a .368 OBP. As a Shucker in 2024, his OBP is .432 through July 10, fueled by 45 walks, and it includes a selection as Hitter of the Month by Brewers Player Development. Miller has also gotten on base the hard way – as of July, he’s been hit 16 times in 2024, with a career total of 67.

If Miller has an issue, it’s that he’s been unable to keep baserunners from taking larcenous liberties – in his professional career, he’s thrown out just 16% of would-be base stealers. So, in one sense, he is a bat-first catcher, although not to the extent of Satchell Norman. Otherwise, he’s a solid backstop.

The Case For Selecting Miller
The Brewers need another catcher on the 40-man to address any additional IL visits by either Sanchez or Contreras – and Contreras may be wearing down and in need of more off days. While most backup backstop issues may be fixed by having Christian Yelich DH more, the Crew needs a backup that can take the shuttle from Milwaukee to Nashville in 2024. Quero was to have been that guy, but his shoulder injury wiped out his 2024 season.

Miller, though, could be that guy for the Crew and offers additional benefits. His left-handed bat complements the righty bats of Contreras, Quero, and Sanchez. Plus, he will have three option years – and the Crew can use him for the shuttle. If his on-base skills and pop translate to the majors, so much the better for the Crew, they will have plenty of options.

The Alternatives
Why Miller over Wes Clarke, Francisco Mejia, and Brian Navarreto? Mejia has a solid case to be added to the 40-man roster – plenty of MLB experience, a switch hitter, substantial pedigree as a top prospect, and playing at Triple-A Nashville.

The problem with Mejia is that it puts the Brewers in the same position they are in with Haase—Mejia burned his option years in 2018, 2019, and 2020. In August 2023, the Rays outrighted Mejia. The Brewers can do much better than a “lather, rinse, repeat” of the Eric Haase situation. Mejia is a guy who thinks about flipping for help, either in the bullpen or to find a prospect.

Navarreto’s biggest problem is the bat. It’s nowhere near as good as Miller’s; he is another right-handed hitter. At 29, he is a solid depth option and mentor for catching prospects who make the high minors, but the Brewers can do better regarding MLB options.

As for Clarke, the potential issue is rust. While he was the primary backup to both Quero and Miller in 2023 and 2022, this year, he has all six games behind the plate. The big reason is that his three-true-outcomes bat made it to Triple-A Nashville, where Haase and Mejia have done the catching. Clarke deserves a 40-man spot due to his bat, but it may need to wait until the offseason.

Overview
The fact is, the Brewers have some blues when it comes to a backup catcher for the short term, given Quero’s injury and Haase’s lack of options and vulnerability to the DFA process. The Brewers should look to deal Haase – perhaps to Cleveland, which could use an upgrade at catcher (even if Austin Hedges is more of a coach). The Brewers could give Cleveland an upgrade over Hedges as a player in exchange for Cleveland’s competitive balance pick in the 2024 draft.

After that deal, the Brewers could then make a call to Biloxi that could fix these backup backstop blues, not just for 2024 but for years down the road.

Interested in learning more about the Milwaukee Brewers' top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!