{"id":549199,"date":"2026-02-01T16:29:12","date_gmt":"2026-02-01T16:29:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/549199\/"},"modified":"2026-02-01T16:29:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-01T16:29:12","slug":"a-breakdown-of-the-17-non-roster-invites-to-brewers-spring-training-brewers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/549199\/","title":{"rendered":"A Breakdown of the 17 Non-Roster Invites to Brewers Spring Training – Brewers"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tWith the minor league signing and non-roster invite extended to Reese McGuire<\/a> earlier this week, the number of NRIs that will work out in the major league camp at American Family Fields of Phoenix was increased to 17 players.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tThis group of players will typically include free agents who recently signed minor league contracts with the club, along with top prospects in the minor leagues. Here is a brief overview of the players invited.\n<\/p>\n

\tBrewers Pitchers<\/p>\n

\tRHP Gerson Garabito<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\tGarabito, 30, was signed to a minor league deal in December. He had an interesting journey last year, starting in the majors for the Rangers, but was sent down to Triple-A Round Rock after two appearances. Garabito made 10 starts there, posting an abysmal 8.53 ERA.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tGiven his release, he signed with the Samsung Lions in the KBO. He made 15 starts for the Lions, going 4-4 with an ERA of 2.64. That was enough to pique the Brewers’ interest for 2026. The veteran of 21 big-league appearances, he will start the season at Nashville but could get a call at some point from the Brewers.\n<\/p>\n

\tLHP Tate Kuehner<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\tEntering his fourth season in the Brewers organization, Kuehner spent most of last season at Double-A Biloxi, making 21 starts for the Shuckers, posting a record of 7-5 with an ERA of 2.50. The soon-to-be 25-year-old got promoted to Triple-A Nashville and made two starts there at the end of the season.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tKuehner, a seventh-round pick in 2023, will most likely begin the season in Nashville but could get a late-season call-up to Milwaukee if he continues his success.\n<\/p>\n

\tLHP Drew Rom<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\tThe extent of Rom\u2019s major league experience consists of eight starts in 2023 for the Cardinals. He began his professional career with the Baltimore Orioles before getting traded to the Cardinals in 2023. The 26-year-old has been injury-prone, having suffered biceps and shoulder injuries in 2024 and 2025.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tHe only hits 91 on the gun, but has a handful of secondary offerings that could make him an interesting pickup and another candidate for the Brewers’ pitching lab after signing a minor league deal with the Brewers in mid-December.\n<\/p>\n

\tRHP Jacob Waguespack<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\tA recent signing, the 6-foot-6, 230-pound Waguespack has had a checkered career. He made 27 appearances (13 starts) with Toronto in 2019 and 2020 but then pitched for the Orix Buffaloes in Japan over the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Waguespack signed with Tampa Bay in early 2024 and made four appearances with the Rays before being sent down for the balance of the season. Shoulder problems limited him to 33 innings.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tLast year, Waguespack pitched well at Triple-A Durham but went on the shelf with an undisclosed injury in June and then was released in July. He signed with Philadelphia in August and made 11 appearances at Triple-A Lehigh Valley but was granted free agency after the season.\u00a0Waguespack, 32, can pitch in multiple roles, offering the Brewers more organizational depth, at least for now.\n<\/p>\n

\tBrewers Catchers<\/p>\n

\tReese McGuire<\/p>\n

\n\tThe man they call \u2018Pieces\u2019 has nearly 400 games of big-league experience over eight seasons with Toronto, Boston, White Sox, and with the Cubs last year. Although the lefty hitter slashed only .226\/.245\/.444 over 44 games, he showed some pop with nine home runs in just 133 at-bats.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tSigned to a minor league deal a few days ago, McGuire now has a leg up on the back-up job behind \u2018Wild Bill\u2019 Contreras, possibly relegating Jeferson Quero<\/a> back to Triple-A for additional seasoning.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tThe 30-year-old McGuire was a first-round pick (14th overall) by the Pirates in 2013 but has never been anything more than a backup, a role that he would embrace with the Brewers.\n<\/p>\n

\tDarrien Miller<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\tThe lefty-swinging Miller played the prior two seasons and Double-A Biloxi and hit a combined .203\/.385\/.308 over 719 plate appearances in 2024 and 2025. In his career, he has thrown out just 15% of runners trying to steal.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tOne thing he can do is get on base, having drawn walks at a rate of nearly 17% while taking one for the team (HBP) once every 16 at-bats. Ouch.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tSoon to turn 25, Miller gets bumped down the depth chart with the signing of McGuire and could start the year in Nashville. But if Quero starts out in the minors, Miller either sees less playing time or will spend another year in Biloxi.\n<\/p>\n

\tRam\u00f3n Rodriguez<\/p>\n

\n\tSelected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2016 MLB Draft, Rodriguez was later picked up by the Baltimore Orioles. Milwaukee picked him up after the 2023 campaign and had a nice year at High-A Wisconsin in 2024, bashing 10 home runs in just 74 games. He moved up to Double-A Biloxi in 2025 but suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in mid-May.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tIf 100% healthy again, the 27-year-old Rodriguez is still one of the catchers blocked by the Contreras-McGuire-Quero trio at the top of the catcher depth chart. You can also throw Matt Wood<\/a> and Marco Dinges<\/a> into that second group. He most likely will play in Biloxi again.\n<\/p>\n

\tMatt Wood<\/p>\n

\n\tNow in his fifth year in the Brewers organization, Wood isn\u2019t a prototypical power hitter but is a good gap hitter with doubles power. Over his career, he has drawn walks at a rate of 14%.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tWood, who will turn 25 in March, started 2025 at High-A Wisconsin but moved up to Biloxi after just 30 games with the T-Rats. At the higher level, he batted .271\/.371\/.415 with 18 extra-base hits across 207 at-bats. Wood has a decent arm, having thrown out 27% of runners trying to steal on him in Double-A.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tWhere will he start in 2026? Most likely in Biloxi, but he could begin in Music City.\n<\/p>\n

\tBrewers Infielders<\/p>\n

\tLuke Adams<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\tAlso in his fifth year in the Brewers chain, Adams, 21, spent a half-season at Biloxi last year and is likely to begin there in 2026. He walked at a rate of 15% but struck out 22% of the time. Adams has 50 grade power, but it hasn\u2019t really translated into home run numbers. He\u2019s okay at either corner infield spot, and although he stole a combined 58 bases in his first two full seasons in the pros, he\u2019s not gonna be a burner on the bases.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tRanked the ninth-best prospect on Brewer Fanatic and 10th on MLB.com Top Prospects, Adams isn\u2019t ready for prime time yet, but could be ready to take over at first base in 2027, especially if Andrew Vaughn<\/a> regresses to his 2025 White Sox version or leaves in free agency.\n<\/p>\n

\tJes\u00fas Made<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\tMade is the most anticipated Brewer since Jackson Chourio<\/a> a couple of years ago. The switch-hitter has moved rapidly up the Brewers chain and won\u2019t be 19 until early May 2026. He is ranked third on MLB.com\u2019s Top 100 Prospects list and has a major league ETA of 2027. This year, he will most likely start at Biloxi to build on his five-game stint there at the end of last season.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tHe is a plus runner and grades out at 55 in the field. Made has played mostly at short but also has experience at second and third. All eyes will be on this exciting youngster in Arizona this spring.\n<\/p>\n

\tCooper Pratt<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\tPratt is one of the three top SS prospects in the Brewers chain and is ranked number 64 on MLB.com\u2019s Top Prospects list this year. Pratt is the closest of the trio to make the big leagues, at least at this point. His defensive tools (arm, fielding) grade out at 60, and he won a Minor League Gold Glove in 2024, so his defensive pedigree is solid. Pratt posted decent stats last year at Biloxi, especially in the walks department, drawing free passes at a rate of nearly 13% while only striking out at a 15% rate.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tThe 21-year-old Pratt will most likely begin the season with Nashville, but has a great opportunity in spring training to cement his standing in the Brewers’ shortstop pecking order.\n<\/p>\n

\tBrock Wilken<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\tWilken was off to a good start at Biloxi last year, bashing 18 home runs in 65 games while drawing walks at a rate of 20% before being lost for two months with a dislocated left kneecap suffered in a locker room celebration. Unfortunately, he also struck out at a dismal 27% rate. Wilken returned for the last 16 games of the season but only batted .185 (10-for-54) with no homers.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tThe 6-foot-4, 225-pound slugger is an average defender at third and only grades out at 30 for speed\/base running, so his power will carry him as far as he can go.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tWilken, 23, might start the season at Biloxi, but he could move up to Nashville at some point in the season, depending on his health.\n<\/p>\n

\tBrewers Outfielders<\/p>\n

\tLuis Lara<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\tThe diminutive (5-foot-8, 167-pound) speedster will fit right in with the Brewers \u2018Short Kings\u2019 roster. Only 21, Lara played a full season at Biloxi last year and showed speed (44 steals) and gap power with 32 doubles.<\/p>\n

Lara has a 60 grade for running, arm, and fielding, and plays an excellent center field. He will never hit for power, but has some elite tools that will move him up. Nashville appears to be the starting destination this year for the switch-hitter.\n<\/p>\n

\tBrewers Infielders\/Outfielders<\/p>\n

\n\tThese four players have played both infield and outfield in their careers and should fit right in with their versatility.\n<\/p>\n

\tEduardo Garcia<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\tThe lanky (6-foot-3, 160-pound) Garcia is 23 and played most of the year at Appleton before moving up to Biloxi for the last six weeks of the season. Base stealing became part of his game last year as he stole 41 bases in 48 tries after only stealing a combined 39 bags in the previous four campaigns.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tGarcia has bounced around in the organization, having played for four years for the T-Rats and parts of two seasons in Biloxi. He has played almost every position except for catcher and pitcher in the minors, and at this point is strictly organizational depth.\n<\/p>\n

\tGreg Jones<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\tSoon to turn 28, the switch-hitter was signed to a minor league deal in early December. Jones has played very briefly in the bigs, appearing in nine games over the last two seasons with the Rockies and White Sox. \u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\n\tJones is another organizational piece for Milwaukee, but his speed, defense, and versatility will make him a valuable member at Nashville. His main positions are shortstop and center field.\n<\/p>\n

\tEddys Leonard<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\tThe well-traveled Leonard is now in his fourth organization with Milwaukee. Like many of the other Brewer NRIs, he is very versatile and has played every position except catcher, but has spent most of his time at short.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tLeonard, 25, \u00a0has decent power, having hit 95 home runs in parts of seven minor league seasons. All his tools are average or a little above, but for now, he is going to be a \u2018camp body\u2019 and provide depth at Nashville.\n<\/p>\n

\tJett Williams<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\tLast but not least, the 22-year-old will be one of the most-watched players at camp this year. Williams came to Milwaukee from the Mets, along with Brandon Sproat<\/a>, in the Freddy Peralta<\/a> and Tobias Myers<\/a> deal.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tThe 5-foot-7, 175-pounder offers speed and versatility and is ticketed for either center field or shortstop, but he can also play second. He stole at least 30 bases in two of his three seasons in the minors, with a high of 45 in 2023 between three teams in the Mets chain. Williams also exhibits a little pop and could be a 15-20 HR guy.<\/p>\n

Much has been written about Williams, and I offer an excellent piece<\/a> by our @Jack Stern that will tell you more about him.\n<\/p>\n

\tWill Any of These Make the Brewers’ 26-Man Roster?<\/p>\n

\n\tAt this point, only McGuire is projected to make the 26-man Opening Day roster, displacing Jeferson Quero as the backup catcher. But a great spring by Quero could alter that plan.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tLikewise, Williams will likely battle Andruw Monasterio<\/a> for the utility infielder spot. Williams could use a little seasoning as he only has 40 games worth of action at Triple-A. But again, a great showing in the Arizona camp could force the Brewers to keep him once the season starts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"With the minor league signing and non-roster invite extended to Reese McGuire earlier this week, the number of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":549200,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2401],"tags":[5,136,25265,25711,56850,4790,25481,57928,47034,60255,843,59,4280,4,15567,57364],"class_list":["post-549199","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-milwaukee-brewers","tag-baseball","tag-brewers","tag-brock-wilken","tag-cooper-pratt","tag-darrien-miller","tag-jacob-waguespack","tag-jesus-made","tag-luis-lara","tag-luke-adams","tag-matt-wood","tag-milwaukee","tag-milwaukee-brewers","tag-milwaukeebrewers","tag-mlb","tag-reese-mcguire","tag-tate-kuehner"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@mlb\/115996325788047786","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/549199","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=549199"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/549199\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/549200"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=549199"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=549199"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=549199"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}