The 2026 Opening Day storyline Brewers fans can't escape

The Milwaukee Brewers have built one of baseball’s more reliable talent pipelines in recent years, consistently developing players who rise through the system and make an impact at the major league level. A key stop along that path is Double-A Biloxi, home of the Shuckers, where many of the organization’s top prospects begin to separate themselves as legitimate big league contributors.

The Biloxi stage often serves as a proving ground, giving players their first sustained test against advanced competition while refining the skills that will eventually carry them to Milwaukee. As a result, the Shuckers have become a crucial link in the Brewers’ development chain, regularly sending a steady stream of talent to the big league roster.

Current members of Milwaukee's 40-man roster to have played in Biloxi include Brandon Woodruff (2016), David Hamilton (2021), Brice Turang (2021), Garrett Mitchell (2021 + 2022), Robert Gasser (2022), Abner Uribe (2022 + 2023), Jackson Chourio (2022 + 2023), Sal Frelick (2022), Aaron Ashby (2023), Carlos Rodriguez (2023), Jeferson Quero (2023), Tyler Black (2023), Jacob Misiorowski (2024), Logan Henderson (2024), Craig Yoho (2024), and Coleman Crow (2025).

That connection to Biloxi is set to play a key role in one of the storylines to watch on Opening Day.

After being teammates in the Brewers' farm system, Jacob Misiorowski and Shane Smith will face off on Opening Day in Milwaukee

Back in 2024, the Brewers’ and Chicago White Sox’s 2026 Opening Day starters were teammates in Biloxi with the Shuckers. Both Misiorowski and Shane Smith spent significant time together that season, with Misiorowski making 19 starts and Smith 16 (but 27 total appearances).

Coincidentally, both Misiorowski and Smith appeared in Biloxi’s Opening Day game on April 5, 2024. Misiorowski got the start, allowing four earned runs over 4.1 innings. The Shuckers later rallied from a 7–2 deficit to walk it off in the ninth, set up by a scoreless top of the inning from Smith, who ultimately earned the win.

After that improbable win, the two didn’t both take the mound in the same game again that season until reaching Triple-A, where each made bullpen appearances on September 13 and 18. By that point, Misiorowski had posted a 3.50 ERA in Double-A and logged several relief outings in Nashville, while Smith carried a 3.08 ERA in Double-A and came to Triple-A slightly after Misiorowski.

All this comes full circle on Opening Day this year, as shared stops in Biloxi and Nashville, and a memorable Opening Day moment in 2024, becomes a connection these now-opponents carry with them into their matchup on the big league stage. Meanwhile, Brewers fans can't help but wonder "what could've been?" had the team protected Smith ahead of the Rule 5 Draft an offseason ago.