3 Brewers Players Who Won't Make the Opening Day Roster But Will Contribute in 2023

Here are three Brewers players who won't make the Opening Day roster, but will contribute at some point in 2023.

3. RHP Janson Junk

Like Frelick, right-hander Janson Junk probably has the roster math working against him when it comes to securing an Opening Day roster spot. The Brewers are loaded with starting pitchers and would likely rather have him stay fresh as a starter in the minors than have him on the MLB roster as a long reliever.

But if 2023 goes even partially like it did in 2022 for the starting rotation, Junk should be ready to hear his name called at any time.

Per Spotrac, the main Brewers starters spent a combined 246 days on the injured list last season. Those players were Freddy Peralta (90), Adrian Houser (64), Aaron Ashby (46), Brandon Woodruff (32), and Eric Lauer (14), leaving Corbin Burnes as the only one not to hit the IL.

One would hope that the same situation, or worse, wouldn't present itself again in 2023. But even if that total number were to be reduced in half, there's a good chance reinforcements will be needed at some point. And Milwaukee doesn't have a ton of depth in that regard, even after adding Wade Miley to the rotation mix for this season.

Junk, who came over in the Hunter Renfroe trade, has just seven games of MLB experience and has a 4.74 ERA over 24.2 innings. That's still more starting experience than some other options and being a top 20 prospect in most rankings, the future is believed to be bright. It's hard to predict exactly when he might get his chance with Milwaukee, but it's bound to happen in 2023.

This trio still has a few weeks to state a strong case for an Opening Day roster spot for 2023. But even if they don't secure one, count on seeing them in a Brewer uniform at some point later in the year.