MILWAUKEE -- After delivering two of the Brewers¡¯ biggest moments in the waning days of the 2024 season, first baseman Jake Bauers is back, but he¡¯ll have to earn his spot.

Bauers, whom the Brewers removed from the 40-man roster in early November in anticipation of a non-tender, has signed back with the club on a Minor League deal that includes an invitation to Major League camp.

Bauers will find himself in a familiar position, an option for first base alongside right-handed-hitting Rhys Hoskins, who exercised a player option to return for 2025 after posting a slash line of .214/.303/.419 and hitting 26 home runs in 517 plate appearances last season. Bauers slashed .199/.301/.361 and hit 12 home runs in 346 plate appearances but delivered some signature moments -- a walk-off single against the Phillies on Sept. 18, the day the Brewers clinched the NL Central title, and a pinch-hit home run against the Mets in Game 3 of the NL Wild Card Series to break a scoreless tie in the seventh inning.

The homer was the first of back-to-back shots for the Brewers in a thriller of a game, which ultimately went to the Mets on Pete Alonso¡¯s go-ahead home run in the ninth.

¡°There¡¯s something to be said for mental toughness, focus, not giving up, being persistent and having a little bit of confidence regardless of how things are going or how they¡¯ve been,¡± Bauers said that night. ¡°Just show up and be the best version of yourself every day and let the chips fall where they may.¡±

Bauers¡¯ power will be one of his assets as the Brewers report to Spring Training camp. Willy Adames, who led last year¡¯s club with 32 home runs, signed with the Giants this winter, and the Brewers haven¡¯t yet acquired any hitters to fill that void.