Camp Storylines: Guys Who Have to Have Great Springs

Spring training can be a great place to showcase a team's potential now and in the future. For seasoned veterans, they try to shake the rust off after four months away from the baseball diamond. For non-roster invitees, while their spot on the 26-man roster is unlikely, they try to make an impact as it’s their first taste of big-league baseball. But more importantly, it’s for those with uncertainties to show that they belong to the team.

The Brewers have made many additions in probably one of the busiest offseason in franchise history. But now it’s time to put their team to the test. Many players are fighting for their right to join the opening-day roster. With that in mind, here are six players who must have great springs to make that roster.

Brice Turang
Why don’t we start with the man who easily has the most competition this spring? It’s strange to say that a young rookie like Brice Turang, who made the Opening Day roster, has stiff competition for the spot at second base.

While he did make the roster and started his career with an infield single, there were struggles with getting on base. While we may remember his first home run being a grand slam off Tommy Hunter on April 3, that may have been his greatest highlight in the first half of his rookie season.

Before the All-Star break, he was hitting a .207/.265/.315 line and struck out 52 times over 219 plate appearances. After spending time in Nashville, he was called up in late June and showed progress. The best month of his career was in August when he hit a .256/.326/.326 slash and hit two of his six home runs and drove in nine runs.

While Turang was their primary second baseman last season, this year might be different. With the new additions of Oliver Dunn, Vinny Capra, and Christian Arroyo, Turang has his work cut out for him. To make matters worse, prospect Tyler Black is on the brink of breaking MLB levels, and Sal Frelick has been seeing time at second base getting lessons with Red Sox great Dustin Pedroia.

Turang doesn’t need to be a power hitter to succeed at the big-league level. Christian Yelich, Willy Adames, Rhys Hoskins, and William Contreras can provide 20+ home runs a season. If he can find a way to raise his average exit velocity (85.5 MPH) and perhaps hits anywhere in the .260 range, then he can easily break into the roster.

With two minor league options left, optioning him to Triple-A Nashville isn’t the end of the world. However, there isn’t much left to prove in the minors, and he is ready for MLB service time. It's time to let the kid play some games.

Jake Bauers
It’s no mystery the Brewers needed a first baseman entering the offseason. While Rowdy Tellez was a decent option, he struggled with the Brewers in the end, and in the end, they non-tendered him.

Before letting Tellez walk, the Brewers traded for outfielder and first baseman Jake Bauers from the Yankees. Struggling to land with a team, Bauers was traded to the Yankees on a minor league contract in 2022. He was re-signed to a minor league contract and invited to camp in 2023.

He was selected to the active roster after hitting a .304/.488/.797 with nine home runs and 20 RBI. In his first 49 games with the club, he hit a .224 batting average and a .782 OPS. Bauers was placed on the injured list with a left shoulder cuff contusion in July and was activated later that month. Since the injury, he has struggled to hit above the Mendoza line.

While Hoskins seems like the starting option at first base, Bauers must be available as a reserve when Hoskins needs a break. Depending on the situation, he may see some time as an outfielder or designated hitter.

The Brewers must’ve seen something that can correct his ability to hit the ball. His 34.9 strikeout percentage is very concerning, but his 48.7 hard hit percentage is ten percent more than the average MLB player. He may be a decent hitter off the bench if the Crew can find something to help him get on base.

While he has three years of club control left, Bauers has no more minor league options. Sending Bauers down will require the team to designate him for assignment, opening a spot on the 40-man roster. If the Brewers aren’t satisfied with Bauers's progress, Owen Miller and Tyler Black have some experience playing first base.

This is Bauers's only chance to make the Brewers roster. Even a batting average over .230 may be enough to make the roster.

Garrett Mitchell
After missing nearly the entire season due to a shoulder injury sliding into a base back in April, Garrett Mitchell is back and ready to compete for a roster spot.

While it sounds silly to think he is on the bubble for the last few spots on the roster, there is a little more competition than last year.

Christian Yelich, Blake Perkins, Joey Weimer, Sal Frelick, Chris Roller, and top prospect Jackson Chourio are all competing for at most five outfield roster spots. We know Frelick is getting playing time at third and second this spring, but it seems more like an emergency option if Turang or an infielder we mention later gets into a slump.

Mitchell is currently hitting a .278 batting average with a .795 OPS, a 120 OPS+, and a 119 wRC+. However, that is from a sample size of 141 plate appearances. We could see that number remain the same, but it could come down because of his prior injury.

There is a real chance Mitchell will be seen as the fourth or fifth outfielder. He could platoon with Weimer in the outfield if all goes well in spring. However, if Mitchell struggles and Chourio, Turang Wiemer, and Perkins start producing, Mitchell could start in Nashville.

He does have all three of his minor league options, but it would be rough to see the former first-rounder be downgraded on his comeback season.

Eric Haase
When the Brewers initially signed Eric Haase, we thought he was the bona fide front-runner for the backup catcher position. Fast forward to today, and he’s got two other catchers in his way.

While Austin Nola may have just been released, Jeferson Quero and Gary Sanchez compete for time behind the plate. Quero was added to the 40-man to prevent the Crew from losing him in the Rule 5 Draft. Quero could benefit from spending time in Nashville as he hasn’t seen a single at-bat in triple-A. Then again, tell Derek Jeter, who skipped triple-A together,

As for Sanchez, he was signed to a one-year $3 million deal with incentives that can make it $7 million. The organization is worried about Sanchez’s wrist, which he injured in September on a hit by a pitch. While it seems better, he may have re-aggravated it during workouts.

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Brewers planned to keep three catchers on the Opening Day roster. This could mean this is a two-horse race.

Hasse has had two successful seasons with the Tigers in 2021 and 2022. Combining those seasons, he had a .248/.295/.451 with 36 home runs and 105 RBI. If Sanchez is seen as the DH for the team and Haase can find that magic again, he’d be a shoo-in for the backup role.

He is signed on a split deal but is currently out of minor-league options. If, for some reason, he fails to have a good spring, he would then be removed from the 40-man and will have to clear waivers to stay with the organization. Let’s hope it doesn’t get to that point.

Andruw Monasterio
Remember that infielder I mentioned earlier who could lose the starting job to Frelick? Well, say hello to the forgotten man on the team, Andruw Monasterio.

Monasterio was called up after Adames got hit in the face with a foul ball. He became the regular third baseman in an odd and unexpected turn until Josh Donaldson took over in September.

Monasterio now has a chance to earn that position back, but he will have a bit of competition. Barring any last-second additions to the roster, Monasterio, Dunn, Ortiz, Black, and now Frelick could be a regular third baseman.

A good spring similar to last year’s regular season (.259/.330/.348) might be enough to get plenty of time at third. A bad one, however, could result in an option down to Triple A-Nashville or an infield platoon at best.

Joe Ross
While Joe Ross and Aaron Ashby are similar and could’ve made this list, Ashby has already been signed for multiple years and has a few minor-league options. As for Ross, there is a little more pressure.

The last time we saw Ross in MLB was when he was with the Nationals. He suffered an elbow injury in August of 2021, ending his season and eventually leading to Tommy John surgery in May. As part of the Giants minor league system, he made seven starts with a 5.14 ERA, giving up 18 hits in 14 innings. 

While his numbers are signs for concern, you have to remember the Brewers have a very talented pitching staff and have a reputation for turning a pitchers career around. Just look at Bryse Wilson. Elvis Peguero and Hoby Milner who all had a 4.00+ ERA prior to joining the Brewers. Even Wade Miley’s best numbers in his entire career arguably came as a Brewer.

Ross doesn’t have any more minor league options left and signed to a major league contract meaning this may be his last chance to break onto a big league team. He could be used in long relief like Wilson but he could easily be seen as a starter.

Along with Ross and Ashby, Jakob Junis, Colin Rea, DL Hall, Robert Gasser and Jacob Misiorowski are all competing for the last few spots in the starting rotation. The latter two are roster invites so there is no consequences for not making the 26 man roster.

But if any or all of these players outperform Ross, then he could be removed from the 40 man. A lot of pressure will be on Ross. However, if he can be even close to his 2016 form where he had a 3.43 ERA with a 3.49 FIP and 1.305 WHIP, he could make the roster as the fifth man in the rotation.

Do you believe any or all of these guys will be on the roster come April Know of any other players who need that a good showing in spring? Let us know in the comments below.