Milwaukee Brewers: 28-Man Opening Day Roster Prediction

Today, marks the first off day for the Milwaukee Brewers in what will be a condensed spring training compared to previous years. It also marks the exact halfway point in Cactus League play for the Crew, meaning the regular season is right around the corner.

Because of the shortened ramp up period, MLB and the players association will reportedly agree to expand rosters from 26 to 28 for the month of April. This will help some positions more than others, but either way it means two more bodies in the clubhouse come Opening Day 2022.

Teams will be limited to a max of 14 pitchers with the expansion of rosters. So, will the Brewers indeed go with an even 14-14 split or go hitter heavy? Which players on the border will end up making the cut? For the first time this spring, let’s take a look at who will be in Chicago for that first regular season game.

Here is our prediction at who will make the 28-man Milwaukee Brewers roster for Opening Day 2022.

Brewers Projected Opening Day Catchers (2)

Omar Narvaez, Pedro Severino

Other Candidates: Mario Feliciano

There should be absolutely no surprises here. The Brewers came into the 2022 season with a specific plan at catcher and nothing that has happened so far this spring appears to have altered that plan.

Omar Narvaez still projects to be the team’s primary catcher. Though he has gotten off to a slow 1-for-10 start in Cactus League play, he is coming off a strong 2021 season that resulted in the first All-Star appearance of his career and just agreed to a $5MM deal in his final arbitration year with the team.

Pedro Severino, meanwhile, still projects to be the backup after signing a one-year free agent deal this offseason. He has impressed early this spring, hitting 5-for-13 with two doubles, a homer, and five RBIs. The Brewers will hope to shore up some of his defensive deficiencies as the season goes on, but the plan for him to back up Narvaez hasn’t changed.

The only other catcher with a remote shot at making the roster is prospect Mario Feliciano. He looked good in a few games with the Crew early this spring, collecting a double and two singles, but will almost certainly begin the season in Triple-A Nashville instead.

Brewers Projected Opening Day Infielders (7)

Rowdy Tellez, Kolten Wong, Willy Adames, Luis Urias, Keston Hiura, Mike Brosseau, Jace Peterson

Other Candidates: Pablo Reyes

Five spots on the infield roster are relatively set. Rowdy Tellez, Kolten Wong, Willy Adames, and Luis Urias (more on him later) are what Brewers fans have a good chance of seeing from right to left on the team’s Opening Day lineup card in 2022.

Jace Peterson is also relatively entrenched as one of the top bench players for Opening Day. He was signed to a one-year, $1.825 deal last November to buy out his final arbitration year, is coming off one of the best major league seasons of his career, and has no minor league options remaining.

After poor seasons (by his standards) in 2020 and 2021, Keston Hiura was possibly in need of a strong spring to make the Opening Day roster in 2022. Early signs are very positive for him, though, and if he continues this way, Milwaukee might not be able to afford leaving his bat in the minors.

The Brewers traded for utility infielder Mike Brosseau last offseason expecting him to fill a role similar to Peterson’s last year. Not only will he likely make the roster to do just that, with Urias’ Opening Day status in limbo, Brosseau could possibly even start at third on Opening Day.

Speaking of Urias, he’s a bit of a wild card with this part of the roster. Recent reports are that his injured quad has been feeling better lately, but in a scenario where Urias is put on the injured list to start the season, the door opens for Pablo Reyes to possibly be in the dugout come Opening Day.

Brewers Projected Opening Day Outfielders (4)

Christian Yelich, Lorenzo Cain, Hunter Renfroe, Tyrone Taylor

Other Candidates: Corey Ray

Again, few surprises appear at the top of the outfield depth chart. Former MVP Christian Yelich, Gold Glover Lorenzo Cain, and last-second, pre-lockout trade acquisition Hunter Renfroe will, barring injury, be your likely Opening Day starters from left to right field.

The Brewers love carrying plenty of outfielders on the roster, even when it caps at 26 players, so even though there’s a non-zero chance he starts the year in the minors, Tyrone Taylor should make the roster as well. It helps that he’s been absolutely on fire this spring, though that hasn’t helped him catch a break with regards to cracking the regular starting lineup.

While Corey Ray is still on the 40-man roster, there are no indications that he will be anything more than a possible injury call up later in the season.

Brewers Projected Opening Day Designated Hitter (1)

Andrew McCutchen

Other Candidates: None

Just a few days after the MLB lockout was lifted, the Brewers brought in an old Pirates nemesis in signing free agent Andrew McCutchen to a one-year deal. And despite his extensive background as an outfielder, the team has said he was signed with the intent to be their primary DH in 2022.

That said, McCutchen will surely receive some starts in the outfield here and there. As a result, other players such as Yelich, Tellez, and Hiura will probably see some games at DH. It could also be a way for the Crew to work Taylor’s bat into the lineup if it stays hot.