Brewers Announce Several Top Prospects Earn NRIs To 2024 Spring Training

Spring training is just around the corner, even though it doesn't feel like it or look like it outside. One of the signs that spring is almost here is the Brewers announcing which minor leaguers have earned non-roster invites to big league spring training where they could earn an Opening Day roster spot.

Now most of these players will fall well short of the initial big league roster, it's an indication that these players are fairly close and it gives the big league staff a better and closer look at these players, as well as opportunities to play in Cactus League games.

The Brewers have announced eight minor league prospects have earned non-roster invites to 2024 spring training.

Jacob Misiorowski (#3 on MLB Pipeline), Tyler Black (#4), Robert Gasser (#5), Carlos Rodriguez (#6), Brock Wilken (#7), Wes Clarke (#30), Evan McKendry (unranked), and Tobias Myers (unranked) have been given invitations to Brewers big league spring training.

This means each of the Brewers top seven prospects per MLB Pipeline will be in big league camp this spring training. No. 1 prospect Jackson Chourio and No. 2 prospect Jeferson Quero are both already on the 40 man roster and will be in big league camp.

On the pitching side, Misiorowski, Gasser, and Rodriguez are the Crew's top three pitching prospects. With the offseason departures of Eric Lauer. Adrian Houser, Julio Teheran, and Brandon Woodruff, the Brewers will have plenty of opportunities for innings in the rotation this year. They've only brought in Joe Ross this offseason, plus brought back Wade Miley and Colin Rea. Rea and Ross are currently slated for the 4th and 5th spots in the rotation, but these prospects will compete for those spots.

It's highly likely we'll see all three of Misiorowski, Gasser, and Rodriguez in the 2024 season. Just how soon we see them will start to be determined by how they perform in big league camp this spring.

Also included is Evan McKendry and Tobias Myers. They aren't among the Brewers top 30 prospects, but they are back end starting options that could provide depth and spot starts for Milwaukee. Myers led the Double-A Southern League in innings pitched and strikeouts last season while McKendry was 3rd in Triple-A in strikeouts. They were the only two minor league pitchers in the organization to throw 140+ IP last season.

On the hitting side, the Brewers are inviting their first round pick from the 2023 Draft in Brock Wilken. Wilken barnstormed through the minors after signing and reached Double-A before the end of the year. An advanced college hitter, Wilken has the ability to move quickly and the Brewers certainly have openings at the corner infield spots. He's unlikely to make the Opening Day roster, but he'll be fun to watch.

Tyler Black may be a more likely candidate to make the roster though. GM Matt Arnold brought up Black's name as a candidate for the starting 3rd base job unprompted in a press conference and Black got plenty of experience in Triple-A last season, hitting .310/.428/.514 with more walks than strikeouts for the Nashville Sounds. We should see Black in Milwaukee early on in the season.

Wes Clarke has been a pop up prospect after a breakout 2023 in Double-A Biloxi. He's a first base-only profile but he slugged 26 homers last season and could've had more if it wasn't for the wind coming in off the Gulf down in Biloxi. Clarke slashed .241/.392/.497, adding 24 doubles as well. There may be some stiff competition between these three corner infield bats, but with the big league club lacking in those, unless they make an outside addition still this offseason, there's a path to playing time early this season for Clarke or any of these hitters.