The Milwaukee Brewers have seen a notable shift in their organizational depth chart over the past few seasons. Not long ago, their outfield pipeline was one of the deepest in baseball - a steady stream of athletic, toolsy prospects who looked primed to patrol the big-league grass for years to come.
Now, many of those names are already in the Majors, and the pipeline’s focus has shifted inward - literally. The Brewers’ top prospects today are largely infielders, leaving the outfield depth chart a little thinner than it once was.
That’s where Jacob Hurtubise comes in.
Milwaukee made a quiet but strategic move this weekend, signing Hurtubise - a former Cincinnati Reds outfielder - to a minor league deal. He won’t be part of Major League Spring Training, at least not initially. Instead, he’s been assigned to Triple-A Nashville, where he’ll serve as a depth piece in the outfield - an insurance policy with speed, defensive chops, and a little bit of on-base savvy.
Hurtubise’s big-league résumé is limited. In 41 games over two seasons with Cincinnati, he slashed .167/.291/.212 - not exactly the kind of production that grabs headlines.
He didn’t leave the yard, drove in four runs, and generally struggled to find his rhythm at the plate. But those numbers don’t tell the full story.
In Triple-A last season, the lefty-hitting outfielder posted a .350 on-base percentage despite hitting just .160. That’s a rare combination, and it speaks to a skill set that’s always been his calling card: plate discipline and speed. Hurtubise knows how to work a walk, and once he’s on base, he can be a real problem for opposing pitchers.
That’s not new. Back in his college days at Army West Point, he was a menace on the basepaths.
He still holds school and Patriot League records for career walks and stolen bases - a testament to his elite on-base instincts and speed. In 2019, he was named the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year, and that glove-first profile has followed him into the professional ranks.
So what does this mean for the Brewers?
At first glance, Hurtubise is a depth move - a low-risk, potentially high-reward signing that gives Milwaukee another option in case injuries or underperformance hit the big-league outfield. He still has a minor league option remaining, so the Brewers can call him up without committing to a full-time roster spot. That flexibility is valuable, especially considering the current outfield depth chart.
Right now, the Brewers’ outfield mix is headlined by top-tier young talent. Jackson Chourio, one of the most electric prospects in baseball, is expected to play a major role.
Sal Frelick and Garrett Mitchell - both former top prospects themselves - are already contributing at the big-league level. Behind them, there’s a group of players vying for supporting roles: Blake Perkins, Brandon Lockridge, Akil Baddoo, and Greg Jones.
That’s a crowded group, and breaking into it won’t be easy. But depth matters.
Injuries happen. Slumps happen.
And when they do, teams need players like Hurtubise - guys who can step in, play solid defense, get on base, and keep the machine running.
The Brewers aren’t asking Hurtubise to be a star. They’re asking him to be ready. And given his track record of grinding out at-bats, stealing bags, and covering ground in the outfield, he’s exactly the kind of player who could quietly make an impact when called upon.
It’s not a headline-grabbing move, but it’s the kind of addition that smart organizations make - a small piece that could play a big role down the line.