The Milwaukee Brewers are currently in the spring training phase of baseball before they begin the 2025 MLB regular season. They have won the National League Central in back-to-back seasons and Milwaukee is looking to win the division again for a third consecutive season.
On October 3, they signed Ernesto Martinez to a minor league contract and they invited him to spring training. On October 7, he was assigned to the Nashville Sounds in Triple-A and he was moved up from the Biloxi Shuckers in Double-A. Martinez is 25 years old and is a player to watch for during spring training.
Milwaukee Brewers Ernesto Martinez Named Dark Horse To Make Opening Day Roster
MLB.com had different writers from each team talk about one potential player who is a dark horse to make the 2025 Opening Day roster. Adam McCalvy mentioned that first baseman Ernesto Martinez is a player to watch for during spring training who could be a dark horse to make the team. McCalvy said:
“Known as “The Cuban Missile,” Martinez stands 6-foot-6 and tops exit velocity leaderboards with a powerful left-handed swing. Rhys Hoskins exercised an $18 million player option to return to Milwaukee for a second season so he’s the starter, and prospect Tyler Black or non-roster invitee Jake Bauers are probably ahead of Martinez on the organization depth chart as left-handed hitters for first base. But if Martinez shows his full arsenal of skills — which includes dropping into the splits while receiving throws on ground balls — he has a chance to impress.”
First base is not exactly a strong position for the Milwaukee Brewers entering the 2025 MLB season. Last season in the minor leagues, he had a .284 batting average with 13 home runs and 62 RBIs, along with 20 stolen bases. His on-base percentage last season was .365.
Ernesto Martinez can do it all and he is a left-handed hitter. It remains to be seen what he will do for the remainder of spring training.
Not Top 100 Prospects
Ernesto Martinez is not listed on the MLB.com Top 100 Prospects list. The Brewers have four different prospects on that list. Catcher Jeferson Quero is on the list and he is projected to reach the majors in 2025.
It is a surprise that Quero was not mentioned as a dark horse candidate to make the Opening Day Roster. Ernesto Martinez has all of the tools to potentially make the Opening Day Roster. However, the odds are that Martinez will have to start the 2025 season in the minor leagues, but it would not be a surprise to see him up in the big leagues during this season.
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