If you can remember them all, from Jared Koenig to Brock Wilken, then congratulations. For the rest of us, as the Feb. 14 arrival of Brewers pitchers and catchers creeps closer, it’s worth a reminder of which players either signed Minor League contracts with Milwaukee that include invitations to Major League Spring Training camp or have been invited to big league camp from within the system.
Some of these names will prove important in 2024. Right-hander Colin Rea, for example, was a non-roster invitee a year ago and wound up logging the third-most innings for a division-winning team. Andruw Monasterio was an even deeper sleeper, since he signed the previous October, but he earned a place in Milwaukee’s everyday lineup as the team searched for production at third base.
Who will be this year’s surprises?
Here are the NRIs so far, listed by the date we learned of them:
Jan. 19: INF Tyler Black, 1B/C Wes Clarke, LHP Robert Gasser, RHP Evan McKendry, RHP Jacob Misiorowski, RHP Tobias Myers, RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez, 3B Brock Wilken invited to Major League camp
These are the bulk of the invitees from within Milwaukee’s farm system, including MLB Pipeline’s Brewers Top 30 Prospects Misiorowski (No. 3), Black (No. 4), Gasser (No. 5), Rodriguez (No. 6), Wilken (No. 7) and Clarke (No. 30). Those names are in addition to No. 1 Brewers prospect Jackson Chourio, No. 2 prospect Jeferson Quero and No. 23 prospect Oliver Dunn, who will be in big league camp by virtue of being on the 40-man roster.
It’s unprecedented in Brewers history for this many top prospects to be in camp at one time, and it’s sure to add some more youthful energy to an already young group. Of the non-roster invitees, Black may have the best chance to make a big impact, given the Brewers’ unsettled situation at first base and third base as of mid-January. Black, regarded for his strike zone recognition and bat-to-ball skills, posted a .930 OPS between Double-A Biloxi and Triple-A Nashville last season while impressing coaches at both stops with his commitment to defense. Wilken will provide some good competition; Milwaukee’s top Draft pick last summer made it all the way to Double-A by season’s end and has a chance to move fast considering how thin the Brewers are at third base.
It’s also worth keeping a keen eye on the pitchers -- Myers and McKendry because they could easily contribute in the bullpen if needed during the year, and Gasser and Rodriguez because they represent the first wave of reinforcements for the starting rotation.
Of course, we’ll all ignore that and focus on Misiorowski, the 6-foot-7, 100-mph-throwing, 21-year-old right-hander who is a real wild card going into this season. The Brewers want to continue developing him as a starting pitcher after he struck out 110 batters in 71 1/3 innings over 20 starts combined between Single-A Carolina, High-A Wisconsin and Biloxi in 2023. But it’s easy to dream about what that kind of stuff could do in short relief stints in the Majors, and it’s not inconceivable that Misiorowski could force his way to the big leagues in that role if needed.