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One of the biggest NRIs to have an impact on the Brewers was Rob Deer. He came over from the Giants in an unnoticed transaction before the 1986 season, but made the team and hit 33 homers with 86 RBIs, becoming a heart-of-the-order threat for the Brewers for several years in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Obviously, though, that's just one example among a great many. Could the 2025 crop of NRIs have some impact players? Let’s take a look.
RHP Jacob Misiorowski
Misiorowski’s floor has been as a right-handed version of Josh Hader, circa 2017-2018: a multi-inning fireman who can shut down an opposing lineup's best and hand the ball to a closer, if not get a game’s last five or six outs. The question has been whether he can control his slider well enough to be a top-of-the-rotation starter.
Either way, Misiorowski contributes to the Brewers. The real difference could come five years down the road, barring a change in the hot-stove economic realities. What will be intriguing is how Misiorowski fares against big-league hitters. Can he go multiple times through a big-league batting order?
RHP Craig Yoho
Yoho could be the first 2023 draft pick for the Brewers to see the majors. Selected in the eighth round, he has the funkiest changeup this side of recently traded Devin Williams. The chance to be a future closer is undeniable. Arguably, Yoho has nothing to prove in the minors, where he dominated to the tune of a 0.94 ERA and an identical WHIP, while striking out more than 15 hitters per nine innings.
The real intrigue comes from the rest of the bullpen. Trevor Megill is probably safe as Milwaukee’s closer for 2025, given his admirable job of filling in for Williams when the relief ace was sidelined with stress fractures in his back. But the same can’t be said for other pitchers. Could Yoho bump Abner Uribe, Joel Payamps, or Elvis Peguero from the Brewers pen with a hot spring?
C Darrien Miller
Miller has long been an under-the-radar prospect behind the plate for the Brewers, overshadowed by Jeferson Quero’s rapid rise through the minor-league system. His offense is highlighted by outstanding OBP skills (64 walks in 306 at-bats in Double-A Biloxi) that have been consistent throughout his professional career.
The real question in spring training will be what his invite means. Is Miller the long-term No. 2 catcher behind Jeferson Quero, with the Brewers deciding to move William Contreras? The team could do far worse than Miller as a second-string backstop, and he has been teammates with many of the young Triple-A pitchers.
1B Ernesto Martinez Jr.
Like Miller, Martinez has been an under-the-radar prospect. He’s a freakish athlete (6’5”, 250 pounds) who provides excellent defense at first base and has even seen limited action in center field, where he’s held his own. Aside from power and defense, he’s also shown speed on the bases (66 steals in 81 attempts over the last three years).
The intrigue here is his direct competition with Jake Bauers, who came back to the Crew on a minor-league deal with a big-league invite. While Bauers has spent time in MLB, in 2024, his batting average was below the Uecker line, and he struck out more than twice as much as Christian Yelich did.
OF Luis Lara
Lara is a fast outfielder with excellent defense in center field. Much of his offensive skill set involves hitting for average, with some excellent base-running skills on top of that (55 steals in 74 attempts between Advanced-A Wisconsin and the Arizona Fall League). He’s arguably a hybrid of Gold Glover Sal Frelick and Gold Glove finalist Blake Perkins.
Lara rapidly rose through the Brewers system, playing a full season at Wisconsin at the age of 19. His performance in spring training against big-league pitching could make things interesting, considering the Brewers have Yophery Rodriguez and Braylon Payne in the system, could Lara’s NRI be a way to showcase a potential trade chip, or are they evaluating to see if he can bump Perkins off the roster someday?
Which of these NRIs do you find the most intriguing? Are there others that you think could break out and help the Brewers? Let us know in the comments below!
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