Brewers Roster Bubble Projections: Who Are The Last Three In, First Three Out

Last three to make the Milwaukee Brewers: Tyler Naquin

Tyler Naquin will make the Brewers Opening Day roster mainly because of the void left with the injury to Tyrone Taylor.

The Brewers grabbed Naquin and signed him to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring camp. Naquin brings a lot of major league experience having played seven seasons at the major league level. Naquin will have the opportunity to keep the major league spot in the time it takes Tyrone Taylor to get healthy.

Last three to make the Milwaukee Brewers: Javy Guerra

I tried my hand at predicting the Milwaukee Brewers bullpen not long ago and two of my picks to make the team were already optioned to the minor leagues, Alex Claudio and Ethan Small. However, one remains and seems poised to make the major league roster, Javy Guerra. Guerra throws a four seam fastball at 98 MPH, a sinker at 97 MPH and slider at 88 MPH, so he has the tools and velocity to be a solid reliever.

Javy Guerra was acquired from frequent Milwaukee Brewers trade partner Tampa Bay Rays in a November trade that was just recently completed. Guerra pitched just 18 innings at the Major League level in 2022 but did so productively, especially once he arrived in Tampa Bay from the San Diego Padres.

As a member of the Rays Guerra pitched 16 innings to a 3.68 ERA and a decent, not dominant 1.31 WHIP. Guerra does generate a lot of ground balls, over 45 percent of batted balls against Guerra in 2022 were ground balls, so Guerra may be a guy that gets the call from Craig Counsell to get out of a jam with guys on base.

First three left off the Milwaukee Brewers roster: Keston Hiura

Keston Hiura has had a tough go trying to keep his place on the Milwaukee Brewers since bursting on to the scene back in 2019. Hiura has struggled at the plate, mainly with his strikeout numbers, which if this spring is an indicator, isn't improving as the Brewers and fans would hope. Hiura has nine strikeouts in 25 at bats, nearly a 40 percent clip.

Unfortunately, despite playing first base and left field for the first time in the major leagues and being a second baseman when the Brewers first called him up, Hiura has not found his place defensively either. With better hitters and better defenders on the roster, Keston Hiura may be best suited for a change of scenery.

Hiura is out of minor league options, meaning if he doesn't make the Opening Day roster, the Brewers will have to put him on waivers. He doesn't appear to be on track to making the club, leaving him on the wrong side of the roster bubble.

First three left off the Milwaukee Brewers roster: Sal Frelick

It pains me to put Sal Frelick on the list of players who misses the cut for the major league roster because I am a huge fan of his potential and can't wait to see him in a regular season game for the MIlwaukee Brewers.

However, I do think Sal Frelick is going to eventually force Tyrone Taylor out of the Brewers plans in the outfield, possibly sooner than later. Sal Frelick will get his call up and may never go back down, similar to how Garrett Mitchell progressed into his role in late August of 2022, but it may not happen on Opening Day.

Frelick primarily plays center field but if Tyrone Taylor doesn't progress from his return from injury in the expected timeline and if Tyler Naquin can't hold down the right field position in Taylor's absence, the Brewers will have few options. Brian Anderson will likely see some time out there and could help out alongside Naquin until the outfield gets healthy. Otherwise they either have to use Jesse Winker in right field instead of primarily at designated hitter, or call up Sal Frelick. Matt Arnold may decide to see the young guy sooner than later, but he's on the wrong side of the bubble at the moment.

First three left off the Milwaukee Brewers roster: Brice Turang

Brice Turang is another tough player to leave off the Opening Day roster because his spring training play has made him deserving of a spot. This spring Turang is slashing .360/.429/.520, we will likely see Turang in 2023 at some point but not to begin the year.

Turang misses out not because he hasn't done enough but because the Brewers have gotten solid play from so many other infielders who will be playing the middle infield positions. Willy Adames is locked and loaded at shortstop, I believe Luis Urias will start Opening Day at second base, Brian Anderson at third base with still Mike Brosseau and Owen Miller to back them up.

Rather than forcing Brice Turang to watch a bunch of big league games and not play the Brewers can keep him in AAA getting tons of playing time and staying ready for his call up, which may not take long.