Brewers: 3 Position Battles to Watch During Spring Training

PHOENIX, AZ - FEBRUARY 19: Ethan Small #74 of the Milwaukee Brewers poses during the Milwaukee Brewers Photo Day on February 19, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - FEBRUARY 19: Ethan Small #74 of the Milwaukee Brewers poses during the Milwaukee Brewers Photo Day on February 19, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images) /
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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – JUNE 30: Aaron Ashby #26 of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches against the Chicago Cubs in the first inning at American Family Field on June 30, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /

Here are three position battles to watch for the Brewers this spring.

2. No. 6 Starter/Swingman spot

For the past two seasons, the pitching staff has played a major role in the Brewers’ success.  Corbin Burnes was able to win the team’s first Cy Young Award since 1982 and between Josh Hader and Devin Williams, a Brewer has been the reliever of the year for four consecutive seasons.

As we look at the starting rotation to begin 2022, Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, Freddy Peralta, Adrian Houser, and Eric Lauer all seem to be locks. However, with the start of the season pushed back, the Brewers will play 24 games in 25 days to begin the year and may elect to utilize a six-man rotation again. This opens the door for Aaron Ashby, Ethan Small, or even Luis Perdomo.

Ashby debuted last season and made appearances both as a starter and in the bullpen.  It is unclear as to what role the Brewers plan to use him in this year, but odds are it may be similar to the 2021 season.

As mentioned above, Small is expected to make starts in 2022 at the major league level. The Brewers’ first round pick in the 2019 draft out of Mississippi State is not currently on the 40-man roster, so a move would have to be made in order to make this happen.

Perdomo, who has major league experience with the Padres and missed all of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery, is a long shot but had a solid spring debut with the Brewers on Saturday, starting and retiring all six batters he faced. Lucky for him the beauty of spring baseball is that everyone has a chance at making a roster.