Middle-infield spots key to Brewers' 26-man roster projection

MILWAUKEE -- Little has changed since the end of December when we took our first, way-too-early crack at predicting the Brewers¡¯ 2025 Opening Day roster. Now, with pitchers and catchers reporting to camp, it¡¯s time to revisit our picks.

Remember the ground rules: Opening Day rosters will consist of 26 players, with no more than 13 pitchers. Last year, the Brewers maxed out on pitchers right from the start, so we¡¯ll use that as the basis once again.

Catchers (2): William Contreras, Eric Haase
Waiting in the wings (and now on the 40-man roster) is Jeferson Quero, MLB Pipeline¡¯s top Brewers prospect, who missed all of last season following surgery on his throwing shoulder.

First baseman (1): Rhys Hoskins
In his first season back from knee surgery, Hoskins hit 26 home runs for the Brewers but posted a minus-0.2 bWAR based in part due to his below-average defense. His decision to exercise an $18 million player option to return for 2025 was a huge factor in what turned into a relatively inactive Brewers offseason. Tyler Black is a backup option here along with Jake Bauers, who re-signed with Milwaukee as a non-roster invitee.

Second baseman (1): Caleb Durbin
This is a total guess, since Brewers officials haven¡¯t tipped their hands as to how they¡¯ll address the departure of star shortstop Willy Adames. Brice Turang not only won the NL Gold Glove Award at second base, but he also won the Platinum Glove Award as the NL¡¯s top overall defender. It might be crazy to move him off second base for the unproven Durbin, a 5-foot-6 prospect acquired from the Yankees in the Devin Williams deal. On the other hand, if Turang is the team¡¯s best defender, shouldn¡¯t he be placed at the most important defensive position?

Shortstop (1): Turang
For the reasons above, we¡¯re going Turang at shortstop for now. But the job just as easily could go to Joey Ortiz.

Third baseman (1): Ortiz
He quietly posted 2.7 bWAR as the Brewers¡¯ primary third baseman last year despite a drop-off in offensive production following a scorching May. If the Brewers opt to move Ortiz to shortstop, they¡¯d have to either sign or trade for a third baseman, or split the position between the likes of Durbin, Andruw Monasterio or Oliver Dunn.

Outfielders (5): Jackson Chourio, Sal Frelick, Garrett Mitchell, Blake Perkins, Christian Yelich
It isn¡¯t a lock, but Yelich still has a chance to be ready for Opening Day after undergoing back surgery in August. The Brewers have the depth to cover the outfield ably if he¡¯s the designated hitter early in the season. Brewer Hicklen is also on the 40-man roster.

Designated hitter: Rotating
Yelich, Contreras, Hoskins and Black (if he cracks the roster) are all options here.

Utility (2): Monasterio, Isaac Collins
The Brewers also have Dunn on the 40-man roster, as well as versatile infielder Vinny Capra, who is out of Minor League options.

Starting pitchers (6): Freddy Peralta, Nestor Cortes, Tobias Myers, Aaron Civale, Aaron Ashby, DL Hall
Brewers manager Pat Murphy told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel last week that Brandon Woodruff probably won¡¯t be ready for Opening Day as he continues his comeback from shoulder surgery. Ashby and Hall are question marks as well, but in a different way. They each had success last season in relief but may return to a starting role this year. For now, we¡¯ll list them as starters and let it play out.

For depth, the Brewers signed right-hander Elvin Rodriguez to a one-year deal with a club option for 2026; he has Minor League options.

Relief pitchers (7): Trevor Megill (closer), Joel Payamps, Jared Koenig, Bryan Hudson, Nick Mears, Elvis Peguero, Connor Thomas
The Brewers have had MLB¡¯s second-best bullpen ERA each of the past two seasons, and they¡¯ll try to sustain that success in spite of Williams¡¯ departure. Hall and/or Ashby could figure prominently here, as will Abner Uribe, though we¡¯ll leave him out of this Opening Day exercise for now because he has an option, and he¡¯ll have to serve a suspension before he can pitch in the big leagues. Thomas is a Rule 5 Draft pick, so he¡¯ll have to make the cut or be offered back to the Cardinals. Payamps and Mears are out of options.

Depth pieces for the ¡¯pen include Grant Anderson, Grant Wolfram and Rodriguez on the 40-man roster, along with prospects like Logan Henderson (who is on the 40-man roster) and Jacob Misiorowski and Craig Yoho (who are not). Deivi García is among the very interesting non-roster invitees.

Injured list (2): Robert Gasser, Woodruff