The Brewers’ next Opening Day roster is starting to take shape, and the picture looks a lot different than it did back in December. A handful of prospects who were easy to dream on then are still in Double-A now, which makes them tougher bets for the first day of 2027.
Add in the new CBA, which could shorten team control and push Milwaukee to hold back some of its top young talent, and the latest projection feels more measured. Less wishful thinking, more reality.
At catcher, there isn’t much mystery. William Contreras is still the anchor, still one of the best at the position, and still looks like a strong bet to be in Milwaukee next season.
The Brewers already kept Willy Adames through free agency, and unless the new CBA changes compensation for teams that lose top free agents in a major way, Contreras appears likely to stay put too. Behind him, Quero has rebounded in Triple-A after a rough start and should be ready to split time with Contreras next year.
The infield is where the biggest reshuffle shows up. Brice Turang has delivered the breakout that had been building since last August, and the projection calls him the best all-around second baseman in baseball, even if MLB left him off the All-Star team. Around him, Milwaukee’s depth is so crowded that it may be pointing toward movement either at this year’s deadline or over the winter.
Cooper Pratt now looks like the club’s shortstop answer through this season and into the next, a bigger vote of confidence than many expected. David Hamilton has also forced his way into the mix, quickly becoming a Pat Murphy favorite while his bat has started to do more damage.
The glove still comes with questions, and he’ll need to return from his leg injury in good shape, but he has a real foothold. Joey Ortiz remains the best defensive infielder on the roster and the backup shortstop.
Andrew Vaughn is projected at first base, while Andrew Fischer is slotted for first and third after showing the kind of power the Brewers haven’t had since Prince Fielder. The expectation here is that Fischer arrives in September, helps in the postseason, and then earns a place on the 2027 roster, taking over for Jake Bauers once he reaches free agency after this season.
There’s also a wave of young infielders waiting behind them. Jesus Made could be ready sometime in 2027, though the question is whether he pushes Pratt off shortstop or slides into third. Blake Burke and Luke Adams could also make a run at first base, but unless Vaughn is traded, both are likely to stay in Triple-A and wait their turn.
In the outfield, Garrett Mitchell has changed the conversation. His health and production have both been surprises, and the projection now treats him as locked in.
That’s notable considering how much of this season he’s likely to play compared with the rest of his career combined. His defense has slipped some and the BABIP won’t hold forever, but he’s in the lineup and helping win games.
Jackson Chourio is back to looking like the player Milwaukee envisioned when it signed him to that record-breaking extension. After missing time just before the season began, he has returned and played like an All-Star.
Luis Lara is also penciled in after his extension and call-up, and if Mitchell or Frelick gets moved before 2027, Lara is already positioned to step in. The Brewers’ outfield depth gives them a lot of ways to shuffle pieces.
On the mound, the rotation starts with The Miz, who has been the best pitcher in baseball this year and is set up to lead the staff for a long time. Harrison and Sproat, both acquired in trades this year, look like rotation locks.
Harrison has been excellent, while Sproat has shown flashes and, just as important, has stayed on the field. Henderson has been excellent when healthy and should have a rotation spot next season as well.
That leaves one spot open, and it sounds like a real competition. Gasser, Shane Drohan and Chad Patrick are all in the mix. Patrick has already shown he can handle both high-leverage work and heavier bullpen usage, while Drohan’s arsenal gives him a similar path.
The bullpen projection is loaded with familiar names and a few arms that could matter in a big way. Trevor Megill, Abner Uribe and Aaron Ashby headline the group, with Patrick, Drohan, Craig Yoho, DL Hall and Colton Gordon filling out the rest.
The earlier version assumed Megill might be traded, but that thinking has shifted. If Milwaukee is in the World Series picture this season and next, keeping Megill - along with Contreras and Turang - may make more sense than dealing him.
Ashby is described as tired right now, but still an elite reliever. Yoho has dominated the minors and still needs to prove he can consistently throw strikes in the majors, though his most recent call-up has been better.
Hall has a bullpen home when he’s healthy and pitching to his ability. And Gordon, the newest addition, is expected to become a contributor too.
In Other News...
Brewers Pitching Plans Just Took A Troubling Turn With McCullers Back
The Brewers pitching picture shifted again with Lance McCullers Jr. coming off the 15-day injured list and joining the active roster after a two-month absence because of shoulder inflammation. Milwaukee made room by optioning left-hander Jared Koenig to Triple-A Nashville, a reminder that even a bullpen move can ripple through a staff that has been trying to piece together innings while waiting on healthier arms.
McCullers is set to begin his Milwaukee tenure in the bullpen, a notable wrinkle for a pitcher the club brought in expecting him to help stabilize the staff. The timing matters even more with Brandon Woodruffs shoulder situation trending in the wrong direction, leaving the Brewers with one more reason to keep searching for workable answers while the rotation picture remains unsettled. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Farm System Shuffle Suddenly Puts Nashville And Biloxi In Focus
The Brewers minor league shuffle pushed Nashville and Biloxi into the spotlight again, with a handful of roster moves reshaping the upper levels of the system. Milwaukee optioned left-hander Jared Koenig to Nashville, while the Sounds also moved on from shortstop Eddys Leonard and added right-hander Cameron Wagoner and left fielder Jacob Hurtubise from Biloxi, a reminder that the organization is still sorting through roles and depth as the season moves along.
The timing came against the backdrop of another Nashville game that slipped away late against Norfolk, which rallied to win after breaking a tie in the seventh. For the Brewers, the bigger picture is less about one result than the constant churn underneath the major league roster, where Nashville and Biloxi keep serving as the next stop for arms and bats that may be needed sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]
Garrett Mitchell Carried Brewers In A Win That Came With Concern
Garrett Mitchell spent much of the night making sure the Brewers had a chance to win it, and Milwaukee needed every bit of that effort in a tight extra-inning game against Miami. He tracked down two deep drives in the gaps with running, leaping catches that kept the Marlins from turning loud contact into extra bases, helping the Brewers stay within striking distance until the game finally tilted their way in the 10th.
The win came with some unease, though, because the Brewers had to navigate more than just the scoreboard. Logan Henderson was pulled after five innings with a forearm cramp, and the club was cautious given his injury history, while Sal Frelick also left with right shoulder soreness. Milwaukee got the result it wanted, but the bigger concern may be what the roster looks like when the dust settles. [Read more 🡒]