5 Brewers position battles to watch during spring training

The calendar has finally turned to February, and though there is one football game left on the NFL side, the eyes of Wisconsin sports fans will slowly be gearing up for the return for their beloved Brew Crew. Milwaukee has won the NL Central 2 years in a row now, and is looking for a three-peat, and while the season is marathon, there are plenty of things that will be must watch as the Brewers hit American Family Fields of Phoenix in just a couple weeks. Devin Williams, Willy Adames, and Gary Sanchez are gone, who will fill their places, and other position battles that are going to have the eyes of Brewers fans this spring?

1. Brewers' Opening Day Starter

After trading Corbin Burnes just before the start of spring training last season, and knowing Brandon Woodruff would be out with injury for most, if not all of the 2024 season, the Brewers wound up rolling with Freddy Peralta as the #1 starter for the 2024 campaign. Peralta was solid last season, holding an 11-9 record, 3.68 ERA, and an even 200 strikeouts.

The Brewers have had an embarrassment of riches over the past 7 seasons, headlined, in part by Freddy Peralta, and the now returning Brandon Woodruff. "Big Woo" as his teammates call him, returns after having been sidelined for the 2023 postseason and the entirety of the 2024 season. His last fully healthy season came back in 2022, where Woodruff was 13-4 in his starts, with a 3.05 ERA, and 190 strikeouts.

Last month, Woodruff spoke with Brewers writer Adam McCalvy speaking about his return to this Brewers roster. He is throwing bullpen sessions twice a week, and is preparing to pitch "whether it be in New York or on the back end of the rotation."

Peralta and Woodruff aren't the only options Pat Murphy will have towards the top of the rotation. When the Brewers play Opening Day out in the Bronx against the Yankees, they will have the Yankees 2024 Opening Day starter in Nestor Cortes. While, Murphy is likely to go with one of his homegrown guys, Cortes could be an option if Woodruff isn't quite ready and to have a sentimental moment after spending the past 4 seasons in New York.

2. Back end starters

The Milwaukee Brewers could actually go 7 or 8 deep in the rotation if they chose to. While they likely will not (though with Murphy, never say never), they do have plenty of guys who can start. Aaron Civale returns after being acquired by the Brewers at the trade deadline. Tobias Myers was one of the breakout pitchers for the team last year, and figures to have a spot in the rotation, which would be 5 already with the guys in the first position battle.

That leaves guys like DL Hall and Aaron Ashby who have started games and will likely be long term inning eaters out of the bullpen but can start. There is also the phenom that is Robert Gasser. Gasser appeared in just 5 games, pitching 28 innings for a 2.57 ERA, and 16 strikeouts. Gasser was officially activated on February 3rd, and could be another option for a 6th spot.

3. Closer

From what is on the roster right now, this is a 2 horse race, with a 3rd dark horse looming. After officially trading Devin Williams to the Yankees, Milwaukee will be looking to find a new fulltime starter. Trevor Megill filled in for Williams admirably in the first half of the 2024 season. The 6'8" flame thrower converted 21 of 24 save opportunities, and struck out 50 batters in 46.1 innings with a 2.72 ERA.

Of course, the Brewers do have another flame thrower who has had a few stints with the big league club. That would be Abner Uribe. Uribe appeared in 14 games for the young pitcher, registering 3 saves, and 14 strikeouts in 14 innings pitched. Uribe did have an inflated ERA while seeing his walks and hit totals increase as well. Uribe did not appear in a game after his skirmish with the Rays on May 1st, but did appear in 7 minor league games before season ending surgery in July.

Then there is a dark horse candidate, the 6'7", 2022 draft pick, and non roster invitee, Jacob Misiorowski. If you aren't familiar with his game, the video below should be all the context you need.

Misiorowski spent the majority of 2024 with AA Biloxi, where he logged 105 strikeouts in 79.2 innings, with a 3.55 ERA in 19 games, all starts. He did appear in 14 games, mostly out of the bullpen, with 2 starts for AAA Nashville, gearing up for a potential September call up that ended up not coming. In 17.2 innings in Nashville, he did record 22 strikeouts and registered a save. He could be in the conversation as a backend starter as well, but closer might just be the spot for him.

4. Left side of the infield

To no one's surprise, Willy Adames left the Brewers in free agency, signing with the Giants for a monster contract. As the roster stands today, it seems like this is more of a question of where, not who. The who will likely be Joey Ortiz and Caleb Durbin. Ortiz spent most of 2023 at 3B, due to Adames holding down SS. Make no mistake about it though, Ortiz was acquired as a shortstop, and an insurance policy if/when Adames left. Ortiz did appear in 10 games at SS in 2024 and figures to slide over after spending most of his time in the minors at the position.

Much like Ortiz, Durbin was acquired from an AL East team in exchange for a top pitcher. Durbin had played seemingly almost every position throughout 2024 but spent significant time at 3rd. He is a great defender, hits for contact, and can steal bases at will. It would be easy for Milwaukee to basically repeat the 2024 process they did with Ortiz.

There are a few options that could spot start if needed, Oliver Dunn and Andruw Monasterio come to mind, but barring a massive spring from either of them, I am not sure I would be the most comfortable with them starting in either spot. Of course, with Christian Yelich set to return, the Brewers have a stacked outfield with Yeli, Garrett Mitchell, Jackson Chourio, and Blake Perkins all having key roles. Might that mean the Sal Frelick infield experiment returns? Consider it possible.

5. Backup catcher

The Brewers have one of the best catchers in baseball on its roster in William Contreras. The Brewers were able to avoid arbitration with their team MVP on Friday, agreeing to terms late last week. While Contreras has been the definition of dependable, appearing in 155 games, with 120 coming from behind the plate. Contreras will need someone to give his legs a break, while he DHs or is unable to convince Pat Murphy to stick him into the lineup.

Eric Haase returns after being the darling of spring training last year, and earning himself a roster callup in late June. Haase provided plenty of pop in limited appearances, with 18 hits in 66 at bats, with 5 homers. Haase may be the early season option, as the Brewers also have one of their top prospects knocking on the door.

That prospect is Jeferson Quero, the Brewers top ranked prospect, and 47th in all of baseball according to MLB.com. Quero missed the 2024 season, minus just one at bat, which was a walk. Prior to that, looking at the 2023 season where he was in AA Biloxi, Quero hit 16 home runs and collected 38 walks in 90 games. I wouldn't bet on Quero making the Opening Day roster, but very well could be a midseason call up. Still, Quero will be a fun piece to watch in Spring Training.

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