Meet the 2020 Milwaukee Brewers

At long last, baseball is back.

Opening day has finally arrived, so it’s time to get better acquainted with the 2020 Milwaukee Brewers 30-man roster.

Since the Milwaukee will have four players start the season on the injured list, the team’s roster will look a bit different once some of those guys get back on the field. Those players are left-handed pitcher Brett Anderson (blister), right-handed reliever Ray Black (shoulder), left-handed pitcher Eric Lauer and infielder Luis Urias.

The Brewers will open the 2020 campaign Friday night on the road against the Chicago Cubs. The game will be broadcast on FOX Sports Wisconsin with a one-hour edition of “Brewers Live” beginning at 5 p.m.

Here’s a look at the Milwaukee Brewers’ 30-man roster:

SS Orlando Arcia

2019 Stats: 152 games, .223/.283/.350, 64 OPS+, -0.3 bWAR, 546 PA, 51 R, 15 HR, 59 RBI, 8 SB, 109 K

Outlook: Arcia saw his on base percentage and slugging percentage rise from 2018 but his batting average dropped from .236 to .223. Luis Urías could challenge for his spot, but he is currently on the injured list.

OF Ryan Braun

2019 Stats: 144 games, .285/.343/.505, 116 OPS+, 1.7 bWAR, 508 PA, 70 R, 22 HR, 75 RBI, 11 SB, 105 K

Outlook: Entering his age-36 season, Braun can still produce at the plate. The 2011 NL MVP should still see some time in the outfield but look for him to also fill in as a designated hitter.

RHP Corbin Burnes

2019 Stats: 32 games (4 starts), 1-5, 49.0 IP, 8.82 ERA, 1.837 WHIP, 3.1 HR/9, 3.7 BB/9, 12.9 K/9, -2.3 bWAR

Outlook: A year after going 7-0 in 30 games, Burnes struggled in 2019. If he can show that last year was a sophomore slump, then he’ll be a key piece in the Brewers rotation.

OF Lorenzo Cain

2019 Stats: 148 games, .260/.325/.372, 81 OPS+, 3.0 bWAR, 623 PA, 75 R, 11 HR, 48 RBI, 18 SB, 106 K

Outlook: While he was still a good defender, Cain could not repeat his excellent 2018 numbers in 2019 and his batting average fell from .308 to .260. That should be something to watch for in 2020.

LHP Alex Claudio

2019 Stats: 83 games, 2-2, 62.0 IP, 4.06 ERA, 1.306 WHIP, 1.2 HR/9, 3.5 BB/9, 6.4 SO/9, 0.6 bWAR

Outlook: Claudio led the National League with 83 appearances out of the bullpen in 2019 – his first year with the team. He’s a solid reliever and clearly trusted by Craig Counsell.

J. P. Feyereisen

2019 Stats (with AAA Scranton): 40 games, 10-2, 61.1 IP, 2.49 ERA, 1.109 WHIP, 0.9 HR/9, 4.5 BB/9, 13.8 K/9

Outlook: The River Falls native was acquired by the Brewers last September and will make his major league debut. He was great at striking out batters last year, so it should be interesting to see how well he can transfer that skill to the big leagues.

OF Ben Gamel

2019 Stats: 134 games, .248/.337/.373, 85 OPS+, 0.6 bWAR, 356 PA, 47 R, 7 HR, 33 RBI, 2 SB, 104 K

Outlook: Gamel was the fourth outfielder for Milwaukee in 2019 and he will likely have the same role this season. He hit .248 last year but batted .270 with the Seattle Mariners, so he is capable of improvement at the plate.

OF Avisaíl García

2019 Stats (with Rays): 125 games, .282/.332/.464, 111 OPS+, 2.1 bWAR, 530 PA, 61 R, 20 HR, 72 RBI, 10 SB, 125 K

Outlook: Signed in free agency, García had a very good season with Tampa Bay last year and should fit into the Brewers’ lineup well. He should be able to step in as a DH as well since he did that with the Chicago White Sox.

RHP Justin Grimm

2019 Stats (with AAA Oklahoma City and Louisville): 52 games, 65.1 IP, 6-4, 5.23 ERA, 1.454 WHIP, 0.8 HR/9, 4.4 BB/9, 11.6 K/9

Outlook: Grimm has had an up-and-down career in professional baseball but performed well in summer camp to make the team as a non-roster invitee. He will provide depth in the Brewers’ bullpen.

INF Jedd Gyorko

2019 Stats (with Cardinals and Dodgers): 62 games, .174/.248/.250, 33 OPS+, -0.4 bWAR, 101 PA, 6 R, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 2 SB, 24 K

Outlook: Signed in free agency, Gyorko had a tough season in 2019 because of injuries and below average batting. If he can get back to his career slash line of .245/.309/.421, then he’ll be a dependable player for Milwaukee.

LHP Josh Hader

2019 Stats: 61 games, 3-5, 37 saves, 75.2 IP, 2.62 ERA, 0.806 WHIP, 1.8 HR/9, 2.4 BB/9, 16.4 K/9, 2.7 bWAR

Outlook: Although his ERA rose a bit from 2018, Hader was great once again for the Brewers last season. He did match his 2018 mark of 143 strikeouts but came very close with 138.

UT Brock Holt

2019 Stats (with Red Sox): 87 games, .297/.369/.402, 101 OPS+, 1.4 bWAR, 295 PA, 38 R, 3 HR, 31 RBI, 1 SB, 57 K

Outlook: Signed in free agency, Holt can fill in almost anywhere on the baseball field. While he does not have much power, he’s reliable at the plate and can get on base.

RHP Adrian Houser

2019 Stats: 35 games (18 starts), 6-7, 111.1 IP, 3.72 ERA, 1.240 WHIP, 1.1 HR/9, 3.0 BB/9, 9.5 K/9, 1.9 bWAR

Outlook: Houser emerged into a starting role after the Brewers’ staff suffered some injuries. He’ll be a starter this season and if he can maintain or improve his play then he’ll give the rotation more depth.

2B Keston Hiura

2019 Stats: 84 games, .303/.368/.570, 138 OPS+, 2.0 bWAR, 348 PA, 51 R, 19 HR, 49 RBI, 9 SB, 107 K

Outlook: Hiura had a great first season with the Brewers last year. The question will be if he can still be productive at the plate after MLB pitchers have had more time to see him.

RHP Corey Knebel

2019 Stats: Missed the entire season recovering from Tommy John surgery

Outlook: Knebel was one of Milwaukee’s better relievers and at age 28, he should be able to get his career back on track this season. If the 2017 All-Star still has his high 90s fastball then he should be able to readjust quickly.

RHP Josh Lindblom

2019 Stats (with Doosan Bears of KBO): 30 games (30 starts), 20-3, 194.2 IP, 2.50 ERA, 0.997 WHIP, 0.6 HR/9, 1.3 BB/9, 8.7 K/9

Outlook: Lindblom spent the first few years of the 2010s going back and forth between the majors and minors, eventually leaving to the KBO in 2017. His numbers improved in South Korea and got him a three-year deal with Milwaukee, so we will see how his new game translates to MLB in 2020.

RHP Mike Morin

2019 Stats (with Twins and Phillies): 52 games, 1-3, 50.2 IP, 4.62 ERA, 1.105 WHIP, 1.1 HR/9, 1.8 BB/9, 4.6 K/9, -0.3 bWAR

Outlook: Signed to a minor-league contract in free agency, Morin has been around the block in MLB and should provide depth in the Brewers’ bullpen.

1B/DH Logan Morrison

2019 Stats (with Phillies): 29 games, .200/.263/.400, 68 OPS+, -0.1 bWAR 38 PA, 5 R, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 0 SB, 10 K

Outlook: Signed to a minor-league deal in free agency, Morrison made the team as a non-roster invitee. He spent most of 2019 in the minors but had recent success in 2017 when he hit .248 with 38 home runs with Tampa Bay and has experience as a designated hitter.

C Omar Narváez

2019 Stats (with Mariners): 132 games, .278/.353/.460, 120 OPS+, 2.3 bWAR, 482 PA, 63 R, 22 HR, 55 RBI, 0 SB, 92 K

Outlook: Acquired in an offseason trade with Seattle, Narváez is one of the better hitting catchers in MLB. He can hit for decent average and power and should be able to replace Yasmani Grandal’s production in the Brewers’ lineup.

RHP Freddy Peralta

2019 Stats: 39 games (8 starts), 7-3, 85.0 IP, 5.29 ERA, 1.459 WHIP, 1.6 HR/9, 3.9 BB/9, 12.2 K/9, -0.9 bWAR

Outlook: Peralta had a promising year for the Brewers in 2018 but took some steps back in 2019. Still, Milwaukee clearly believes in his potential since it signed him to a five-year contract extension this offseason.

RHP David Phelps

2019 Stats (with Blue Jays and Cubs): 41 games (1 start), 2-1, 34.1 IP, 3.41 ERA, 1.398 WHIP, 1.3 HR/9, 4.5 BB/9, 9.4 K/9, 0.4 bWAR

Outlook: Phelps signed a one-year contract with the Brewers this offseason. He is entering his second season after he missed the 2018 campaign with Tommy John surgery.

C Manny Piña

2019 Stats: 76 games, .228/.313/.411, 86 OPS+, 0.8 bWAR, 179 PA, 10 R, 7 HR, 25 RBI, 0 SB, 50 K

Outlook: Piña earned a spot as the team’s second catcher in summer camp. He’s a good defensive catcher and is a solid hitter as far as MLB backup catchers go.

1B/DH Justin Smoak

2019 Stats (with Blue Jays): 121 games, .208/.342/.406, 101 OPS+, 0.3 bWAR, 500 PA, 54 R, 22 HR, 61 RBI, 0 SB, 106 K

Outlook: Smoak, who is a switch hitter, signed a one-year deal with Milwaukee this offseason. While his play was underwhelming in 2019, he was productive with the Blue Jays in 2017-18.

INF Eric Sogard

2019 Stats (with Blue Jays and Rays): 110 games, .290/.353/.457, 116 OPS+, 2.1 bWAR, 442 PA, 59 R, 13 HR, 40 RBI, 8 SB, 68 K

Outlook: Sogard is on his second stint with the Brewers after signing a one-year contract this offseason. He may not hit .290 again in 2020 but he is still a solid hitter and batted .273 with Milwaukee in 2017.

LHP Brent Suter

2019 Stats: 9 games, 4-0, 18.1 IP, 0.49 ERA, 0.600 WHIP, 0.5 HR/9, 0.5 BB/9, 7.4 K/9, 1.0 bWAR

Outlook: Suter didn’t play until September of 2019 because of Tommy John surgery from the previous season, but more than made up for lost time when he came back.Expect Suter to be a great reliever-again in 2020, even if his numbers don’t match last year’s four-game stretch.

RHP Bobby Wahl

2019 Stats: Missed entire season with a torn ACL

Outlook: After coming to Milwaukee in a trade with the New York Mets, Wahl subsequently tore his ACL during spring training in 2019. He’s had some ups and downs in MLB, but has been able to strike batters out, registering a 11.8 K/9 in 2018 with the Mets.

RHP Devin Williams

2019 Stats: 13 games, 0-0, 13.2 IP, 3.95 ERA, 1.756 WHIP, 1.3 HR/9, 4.0 BB/9, 9.2 K/9, -0.1 bWAR

Outlook: Williams, 25, showed some promise in the 13 games he played for Milwaukee in 2019. He showed the ability to get strikeouts and his 3.95 ERA is a good sign that he could emerge as one of the Brewers’ better relievers.

RHP Brandon Woodruff

2019 Stats: 22 games (22 starts), 11-3, 121.2 IP, 3.62 ERA, 1.141 WHIP, 0.9 HR/9, 2.2 BB/9, 10.6 K/9, 3.0 bWAR

Outlook: Woodruff had a breakout campaign for the Brewers in 2019 and has been tabbed as the team’s opening day starter.

RHP Eric Yardley

2019 Stats (with Padres): 10 games, 0-1, 11.2 IP, 2.31 ERA, 1.286 WHIP, 0.8 HR/9, 2.3 BB/9, 5.4 K/9, 0.2 bWAR

Outlook: Claimed off waivers from San Diego, Yardley is a side-arming right-hander has a good slider and sinker and manages to limit walks.

OF Christian Yelich

2019 Stats: 130 games, .329/.429/.671, 179 OPS+, 7.0 bWAR, 580 PA, 100 R, 44 HR, 97 RBI, 30 SB, 118 K

Outlook: Yelich was not awarded NL MVP for the second straight season, but still managed a second-place finish. His 44 home runs were a career-high and his 2019 slash line of .329/.429/.671 were all league-bests.

//