Spring Training might be more about getting back into the swing of things than racking up wins, but when you see a pitcher like Easton McGee strike out a 3x All-Star like Fernando Tatis Jr. and a seasoned player like Ramón Laureano, it's hard not to take notice. McGee's performance in Arizona against the San Diego Padres was nothing short of impressive, as he kicked off the Milwaukee Brewers' afternoon game with a bang.
McGee didn't just handle the Padres' lineup; he dominated it. With just seven pitches, he breezed through the top of the order, including big-leaguer Will Wagner.
He started by striking out Laureano in three pitches, using a mix of a pitch timer violation, a foul ball, and a high four-seamer that Laureano couldn't catch up to. Then, he induced a groundout from Wagner with a curveball low in the zone.
Finally, McGee capped off his inning by getting Tatis to chase a sweeper below the zone for another three-pitch strikeout. Not a bad way to make a statement in your 2026 Cactus League debut.
This outing is a significant boost for McGee, who's on the brink of making the Brewers' Opening Day roster. Although he has just 24.1 innings of major league experience, McGee has a few things working in his favor.
One key factor is his standing on the Brewers' 40-man roster. Despite others like Bryan Hudson and Elvis Peguero being designated for assignment, McGee retained his spot throughout the 2025 season and into the offseason, even as the Brewers made several trades. This consistent faith in McGee suggests the Brewers see something special in his skill set.
McGee's arsenal is another reason for optimism. He boasts a diverse mix of pitches, including three types of fastballs-four-seam, cutter, and sinker-and two breaking balls, a curveball and a sweeper. Interestingly, despite his low arm angle, McGee leans more on his four-seam and curveball combo, which adds an unpredictable element to his game.
While his major league track record is brief, McGee has shown flashes of potential. His elevated ERA in 2025 was skewed by one rough outing against the Nationals, but his overall numbers tell a different story. In 14.2 innings, he posted a 35.1% chase rate and a 47.7% ground-ball rate, indicating his ability to get hitters to swing at pitches outside the zone and induce groundouts.
Adding to his appeal is the Brewers' current bullpen composition, which is predominantly left-handed. With right-handers like Trevor Megill and Abner Uribe likely reserved for high-leverage roles, there's room for another righty like McGee to step in and contribute.
If McGee continues to shine in Spring Training, he could very well secure his spot on the Opening Day roster, offering the Brewers a versatile and intriguing option out of the bullpen.