The path to the Milwaukee Brewers' 2026 Opening Day roster isn't set in stone yet, and the journey promises some intriguing storylines. But here’s where it gets controversial: while many fans focus on star players, the small, under-the-radar moves—particularly involving non-roster invitees—could make a big difference in shaping the team's opening roster this season. As the countdown to spring training continues, just a few weeks remain before the Brewers gather in Arizona to kick off their preparations for the 2026 campaign.
Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to American Family Fields of Phoenix on February 12, marking the official start of spring training activities. The first full squad workout will take place five days later on February 17, and by February 21, the Brewers will face off against the Cleveland Guardians in their first spring exhibition game.
But before any of these games begin, Milwaukee’s front office, led by Matt Arnold, is likely considering a handful of minor roster adjustments. Currently, the Brewers' 40-man roster features only 38 players, which leaves room for strategic moves—potentially shifting the team’s composition enough to influence who makes the final cut for Opening Day. Simultaneously, the roster for opening day is expected to resemble last year’s team quite closely, although one key difference will be the absence of Freddy Peralta from the top of the starting rotation.
A critical component in the team’s lower-tier roster plans involves a group of non-roster invitees—players who aren’t officially part of the 40-man roster but are invited to spring training to compete for a spot. While Milwaukee recently brought in promising young prospects like Jesús Made and Cooper Pratt, these two aren't the front-runners for a roster spot at the moment. Instead, the meaningful contenders are players the Brewers signed to minor league contracts this offseason, who now have the chance to earn their place among the team’s major league roster in 2026.
Historically, the Brewers have shown a willingness to give opportunities to such players. Examples include Jared Koenig and Jake Bauers—former non-roster invitees who later played critical roles on the team’s roster in subsequent seasons. This track record suggests that some of these offseason signings could be the dark horses in the race for roster spots.
Let’s take a closer look at three non-roster invitees most likely to earn a seat in Milwaukee’s opening-day lineup for 2026.
1. C Reese McGuire
For fans focused on the catcher position, spring training will be an important period to monitor. The back-up catcher role appears to be a two-person race between the team's promising prospect Jeferson Quero and veteran Reese McGuire, who signed a minor league deal last week. While Quero is technically on the 40-man roster and thus existing as a more obvious candidate, McGuire currently seems the favorite for the backup role at the start of the season.
Quero’s readiness is a key question. He’s still recovering from a serious shoulder injury that kept him out of competitive play during 2024 and limited his appearances early in 2025. The injury has impacted his arm strength, which was previously one of his strengths, and raised concerns over his exit velocities at the plate. Given these challenges, the Brewers might prefer to keep Quero in Triple-A initially, allowing him to continue developing and regain strength before possibly making his MLB debut later in 2026.
Another consideration is service time. Debuting Quero in the second month of the season would push his service clock back, effectively giving the team an additional year of control—a strategic move if they view him as their future catcher. On the other hand, McGuire, with his eight years of MLB experience as a reliable backup, might be the safer choice to back up William Contreras on Opening Day.
2. INF Eddys Leonard
Besides McGuire, the likelihood of other non-roster invitees making the roster is slim unless unforeseen injuries occur. However, Eddys Leonard, an infielder signed last November, deserves attention. Last year, he hit 20 home runs for the Braves' Triple-A team, showcasing his power. Leonard’s versatility—capable of playing multiple infield positions, primarily shortstop—makes him an appealing depth option.
He’ll be competing against players like Andruw Monasterio and Anthony Seigler for the utility infielder spot. The Brewers’ quick signing of Leonard indicates they see potential in him, believing he could contribute at the major league level if he performs well in spring.
An interesting aspect is Leonard’s roster status. Despite not having debuted in the majors, he has exhausted his minor league options due to his three years on a 40-man roster and at least 20 days spent in Triple-A during those years. In contrast, Monasterio and Seigler still have minor league options, which gives the team flexibility to shuttle them between levels without risking waivers. This means Leonard might be kept in reserve unless the team specifically needs him or his spring performance blows expectations out of the water. Still, if he impresses significantly, he could potentially edge out Monasterio or Seigler for the utility infielder spot at the season’s start.
3. RHP Gerson Garabito
Finally, for pitchers, Gerson Garabito’s chances hinge heavily on injuries within Milwaukee’s pitching staff. The most common reason non-roster invitees make the roster during spring training is due to injuries, which open opportunities for late-blooming arms like Garabito.
Despite a rough showing in affiliated ball last year, Garabito found renewed success in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), finishing with a 2.64 ERA and 84 strikeouts over 78.1 innings. Equipped with a five-pitch arsenal—including a pair of fastballs, curveball, slider, and changeup—he’s capable of inducing soft contact when located well.
While he has primarily pitched as a starter in Korea, Garabito has experience as a reliever in MLB, and that’s likely where he would fit if added to the roster early on due to injuries. Notably, the Brewers lack many right-handed pitching options among their non-roster invitees, so Garabito’s strong spring could see him as a candidate for a bullpen role or a spot in Triple-A with the Nashville Sounds, from where he could be called upon later in the season if needed.
And this is the part most people miss: the roster-building process often hinges on these smaller, strategic roster moves, which — while not always splashy — can decisively influence the team’s success early in the season. Do you agree that investing in overlooked players can pay off significantly? Or do you believe teams should primarily focus on established stars? Share your thoughts in the comments—this debate is just getting started.
