Looking at the Brewers Non-Roster Invitees

10 of 19

There are 18 non-roster players heading into spring break, some of which are trying to get into the big leagues for the first time while others are veterans looking to continue their careers. But, which ones are going to make it and which ones are going to go home without a job? Here are a quick look and analysis of each of those 18 players.

Jul 2, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A pair of Milwaukee Brewers fans enjoy their team /

Next: Blaine Boyer

Boyer is turning 35 in July, but that didn’t stop him from having one of his best seasons last year with the Twins posting a 2.49 ER with 1.246 WHIP and 19 Holds in 65 IP. He made the Twins in the same situation last year so he knows wat he needs to do to get the job done. He holds a career 4.22 ERA and 1.367 WHIP and has the veteran experience to help a young rebuilding Brewers squad. If this year is anything like last he’ll make the Brewers squad and have a strong presence in the bullpen.

Oct 3, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Blaine Boyer (36) pitches to the Kansas City Royals in the seventh inning at Target Field. The Royals win 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports /

Next: Hiram Burgos

The last time Burgos was in the show was 2013 when he pitched in 6 games with the Brewers while posting a 6.44 ERA, 1.670 WHIP. He was released by the Brewers in 2014 but was signed again months later. Last year he pitched well at the Triple-A level as well as the Double-A level posting a line of 3.79 ERA 1.165 WHIP in 15 starts (AAA) and 3.68 ERA, 1.193 WHIP in 5 starts (AA). Burgos will need to go into Spring Training showing that last season’s numbers in the Minors weren’t a fluke and that he has what it takes to pitch at Miller Park.

May 21, 2013; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Hiram Burgos pitches in the 1st inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /

Next: Chris Capuano

Capuano has been around long enough that at one point he was teammates with Brewers Skipper Craig Counsell. He signed a minor-league deal with the Brewers over the offseason and he’s looking to resurrect his career in Milwaukee. He hasn’t been good for quite some time, but he does get K’s (it’s the ERA that is an issue). The Brewers could be the perfect place for Capuano to resurrect his career, but given his track record, it’ll be hard for him to make the 40-man.

Oct 4, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Chris Capuano (26) pitched during the fourth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

Next: Josh Hader

Hader was acquired by the Brewers last season in a trade and pitched well in his short time with the Brewers posting a line of 2.79 ERA/0.983 WHIP at the Double-A level. In the Arizona Fall League Level, he struck out 19 hitters in 16 IP. Given that there is plenty of gaps in the bullpen currently, along with Boyer Hader could make an impact there.

Jul 16, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; United States pitcher Josh Hader (17) delivers a pitch against the Dominican Republic during the 2015 Pan Am Games at Ajax Pan Am Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Next: Cesar Jimenez

Jimenez posted a line of 3.66 ERA/1.220 WHIP last season with the Brewers (after being claimed off of waivers) and was re-signed in January and is another good bullpen option for the Brewers if he has a good showing in spring training I’d expect him to make the 40-man.

Sep 8, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Cesar Jimenez (51) throws against the Miami Marlins during the fourth inning at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Next: Daniel Tillman

Tillman is another reliever looking to fill the holes in the Brewers bullpen. He lacks big league experience, having never pitched above Double-A, but he boasts impressive numbers, with the Dodgers organization last season he posted a 2.76 ERA, 1.142 WHIP with a 10.4 K/9 rate. He’s had plenty of control issues in the past and at 27 he chances of making the bigs are growing slimmer by the day.

Photo: Courtesy of MiLB.com

Next: Jake Elmore

Elmore was signed on as a 2B by the Brewers but in reality, he’s a utility player (having played every position in the majors). He’s shown that he has a value offensively posting a .385 OBP despite having a line of .215/.277/.288 over his career. He’s a utility player, so it seems likely that he’ll make the Brewers 40-man as he can play any position they need.

Jul 26, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Jake Elmore (10) singles during the fifth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Tropicana Field. The Orioles won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Next: Rene Garcia

Garcia is one of those prospects that is looking to make it into the show. With the fact that Lucroy will almost certainly be gone by the end of the season and the Brewers recently acquired Nottingham, there isn’t much depth at Catcher. Garcia is one of the pieces looking to fill that depth. Last season in the Phillies farm system Garcia hit .348 in Double-A but then struggled in Triple-A hitting just .235. Garcia has shown that he can be strong defensively and should make the 40-man.

Mar 16, 2015; Clearwater, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies catcher Rene Garcia (76) works out prior to the spring training game at Bright House Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Next: Will Middlebrooks

Middlebrooks finds himself in a peculiar situation, he slashed his way through Boston posting a .288/.325/.509 line in hi first three seasons but fell off that line in the last three seasons posting a line of .212/.191/.227. He could post a solid spring training and find himself the Brewers third-baseman but he’d have to get himself out of the funk he is in.

Jun 23, 2015; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Diego Padres third baseman Will Middlebrooks (11) hits a double against the San Francisco Giants during the eighth inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /

Next: Jacob Nottingham

Nottingham was acquired in the trade that sent Khris Davis to Oakland. Nottingham was the prize of that trade (partly due to the Brewers lack of catcher depth) having posted a line of .316/.372/.505 with three different minor league seasons. The expectation is for Nottingham to start the year at Double-A but a strong Spring Training Showing might change that.

PI-MLB-Brewers-Jacob-Nottingham-batting-021316.vnocropresize.940.529.medium.31 /

Photo: Courtesy MLB.com

Next: Shane Peterson

Peterson was DFA’d when the Brewers acquired Rymer Liriano from the Padres but found his way back when he cleared waivers. In an already crowded outfield, Peterson is one of many competing for a starting or backup spot. He posted a line of .259/.324/.353 with the Brewers last season, getting on the 40-man may be the toughest for Peterson as he was already on it before being DFA’d.

Oct 4, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers right fielder Shane Peterson (35) hits a double to drive in a run in the third inning as Chicago Cubs catcher Miguel Montero (47) watches at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /

Next: Hernan Perez

Perez finds himself in the same boat as Peterson, as he was with the Brewers last season but finds himself no longer on the 40-man roster going into spring training. With the Brewers last season Perez posted a line of .270/.281/.365 and now he finds himself competing with Middlebrooks for a 40-man roster spot.

Sep 23, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Hernan Perez (14) throws out Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant (not pictured) during the ninth inning at Wrigley Field. Milwaukee won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /

Next: Brett Phillips

Another outfielder competing in a busy area Phillips is clearly here for experience as most of his career has been at the Single-A level. He’s only twenty-two and needs much more experience before he finds himself playing in Miller Park on a day-to-day basis.

PI-WI-Brewers-Brett-Phillips-021616.vnocropresize.940.529.medium.41 /

Photo: Courtesy MLB.com

Next: Manny Pina

Pina came to Milwaukee over the winter when the Brewers sent K-Rod to Detroit, Pina spent last season with the Tigers Triple-A affiliate posting a line of .305/.379/.461 and as well has very limited MLB experience at age 28 (having only played 5 games for KC back in 2011). With Nottingham still young it Pina might become the number four catcher in the Brewers system.

Mar 16, 2015; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Jacob Wilson (87) turns a double play over Detroit Tigers catcher Manuel Pina (79) at Roger Dean Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Tigers 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports /

Next: Jose Pinto

Pinto has the best chance to become the backup catcher beyond Lucroy, he has a career minor league line of .257/.339/.445 as well as a major line of .271/.348/.434. His weakness lies in his defensive ability as he struggled last season and it was part of the reason the Twins parted ways with him.

Sep 28, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Minnesota Twins catcher Josmil Pinto (43) hits a single in the fourth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

Next: Alex Presley

Presley is yet another outfielder competing for a spot this spring albeit he has a leg up given his veteran experience. With the Pirates, Minnesota, and Houston he’s posted a line of .259/.299/.393.

Jul 3, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Houston Astros center fielder Alex Presley (20) takes second base after hitting an RBI double in the fourth inning as Boston Red Sox second baseman Brock Holt (26) watches at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /

Next: Adam Weisenburger

Weisenburger’s biggest weakness lies in his hitting power, he’s only hit 12 homers in 1,228 minor league at-bats to go along with a .333 SLG and a .241 BA. HE can get on base though as he has a career .355 OBP and he has shown strong defensive skills, I wouldn’t expect him to make the 40-man roster.

Mar 10, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Milwaukee Brewers catcher Adam Weisenburger (71) slaps hands with teammates after hitting a two-run home run in the eighth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Maryvale Baseball Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

Next: Eric Young Jr.

Young is another veteran vying to bring back some life to his MLB career, he has a decent career line of .247/.314/.328 but struggled last season with the Braves and Mets posting a line of .153/.217/.247 but his ability to switch hit will certainly help his case this spring.

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Sep 14, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets center fielder Eric Young Jr. (1) gestures as he scores during the seventh inning against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /

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