Milwaukee Brewers: Who are the non-roster invitees?

SURPRISE, AZ - NOVEMBER 03: AFL West All-Star, Keston Hiura #23 of the Milwaukee Brewers bats during the Arizona Fall League All Star Game at Surprise Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
SURPRISE, AZ - NOVEMBER 03: AFL West All-Star, Keston Hiura #23 of the Milwaukee Brewers bats during the Arizona Fall League All Star Game at Surprise Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Every Major League team invites extra players to camp. The Milwaukee Brewers have 14 extra players coming to camp. Can any of these guys make the team?

Whether teams want to get a look at their top prospects, or just want a few extra bodies for camp, every team has 12-to-20 non-roster invitees in camp. Some guys are just there on a brief stopover before heading to Minor League camp, while others are looking to earn a spot on the 25-man roster.

The Milwaukee Brewers have 14 NRI’s coming to camp. Could anyone really end up on their active roster?

Who are the prospects?

The Milwaukee Brewers will get to take a look at Zack Brown, Bubba Derby, Payton Henry, Lucas Erceg, Keston Hiura, and Corey Ray.

Of the names listed here, Henry’s is the one that comes as a surprise. Henry hasn’t turned 22 years old yet, and he spent last year in Single-A. A few days or weeks in Major League camp should give the Brewers a better idea of what they have in Henry.

All the other names were expected to get an invite to Major League camp. Mauricio Dubon and Troy Stokes will also be there.

How about the other guys?

There are a few of them! Pitchers Deolis Guerra, Jon Olczak, Angel Perdomo, Miguel Sanchez, and Burch Smith are the extra arms in camp.

Tuffy Gosewich is a professional catcher who will stick around Major League camp as along as the Milwaukee Brewers need an extra catcher.

Infielders Jake Hager and Nate Orf have also received invites to camp. Hager spent 2018 in Triple-A with Colorado Springs, and Orf actually got the call to the Majors.

Guerra was a top prospect in 2008, and Sanchez put together a really interesting 2018 season. Smith is signed to a Minor League contract and should start the season in Triple-A.

Are any of these guys expected to make the roster?

The 25-man roster? No. The 40-man roster? Also probably no. The Milwaukee Brewers might add someone to the roster if there’s an injury or injuries, but it’s unlikely. The only prospect who the Brewers might look at for the active roster is Hiura, and it’s been confirmed that he won’t start 2019 in the Majors.

None of the ‘other guys’ are really that exciting. Gosewich has an outside shot at a roster spot, but that would require multiple players to miss time. The Milwaukee Brewers have an incredibly deep pitching staff, and will have a hard time finding roster spots for guys currently on the 40-man roster. A few of the pitchers could earn a Minor League contract, but none should start the season on the 25-man roster.

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