Opening day for the Milwaukee Brewers is March 30, 2023 against the Chicago Cubs. Spring training games begin February 25. Before any games get underway, it is fun to look ahead and predict who may make the opening day roster.
One thing to take into consideration when predicting an opening day roster is minor league options. Brewers players who are out of options include: Rowdy Tellez, Tyrone Taylor, Keston Hiura, Javy Guerra, Matt Bush, Bryse Wilson, Adrian Houser, and Joel Payamps.
If any of these players do not make the 26-man opening day roster, they would have to be exposed to waivers prior to being assigned within Milwaukee’s minor league system. This clearly has its disadvantages. For a player, being option-less may actually sway Milwaukee to initially keep them on the active roster.
Here are three players that may make the 2023 opening day roster and not have any MiLB options left.
1) OF Tyrone Taylor
Currently, the Brewers have four other outfielders on their 40-man roster aside from Taylor. Christian Yelich is expected to play left field, Garrett Mitchell center field, Jesse Winker right field/designated hitter, and Blake Perkins role is to be determined. Keeping Taylor on the opening day roster would be beneficial for he can play center field as well as right field and is a much better defender than Winker. The biggest question with Taylor going forward will be his bat.
2) RHP Javy Guerra
The Brewers bullpen has a lot of new faces this year and Guerra is one of them. Guerra was acquired from the Rays via trade in November at the tender deadline for a PTBNL. On the mound Guerra’s velocity can reach 98 MPH (sinker) and he compliments that with a slider. The 27 year old has a career 6.60 ERA over 43 Major League innings, but if he performs well in spring training he may initially get a chance with Milwaukee.
3) INF Keston Hiura
Over the past few seasons Hiura has been unable to replicate the promise at the plate that he showed briefly in 2019 with the Brewers. He has hit in the minor leagues, but at the next level he has struggled and as a result Milwaukee has been unable to effectively use him/find consistent playing time. There was some thought this offseason that the once promising prospect would get traded, but so far that has not happened. It’s unlikely that the Brewers will want to risk losing him through waivers, so he could make the opening day roster.
The most up to date Brewers roster can be found here. Be sure to stay tuned to WI Sports Heroics throughout the duration of the baseball season for up to date information!
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