Brewers' Mark Canha: Viewed as first base, DH option
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Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Monday that the club is looking at Canha primarily as an option at first base, designated hitter and pinch hitter, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Most of Canha's experience at the major-league level is as an outfielder, but it sounds like the Brewers would use him there only in a pinch. The 36-year-old is in camp as a non-roster invitee, but he should have a good chance to make Milwaukee's Opening Day roster. Canha struggled in 2024, slashing .242/.344/.346 in 125 games between the Tigers and Giants.
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Brewers' Tyler Black: Dealing with back stiffness
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Black has been held out of Cactus League play due to minor back stiffness, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
It shouldn't be a long-term issue, but it's not clear when Black might be ready to play in games. Black already seemed unlikely to win a spot on the Opening Day roster, and any delay seemingly decreases his odds.
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Brewers' Christian Yelich: Spring debut in early March
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Yelich (back) took batting practice on the field Monday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Yelich is behind other Brewers position players in camp following a microdiscectomy procedure in August to address a herniated disc in his lower back. However, his rehab is coming along well and he is expected to be ready for Cactus League games in early March. Barring a setback, Yelich should be ready to go by Opening Day.
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Brewers' Mark Canha: Inks minor-league deal with Brewers
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Milwaukee signed Canha to a minor-league contract Saturday that includes an invitation to spring training, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Canha went through most of the offseason without garnering interest from a team, but he will get a chance to catch on with the Brewers for the 2025 campaign. He ended the 2024 regular season with the Cardinals after being traded by the Tigers in July, but he suffered a right thumb sprain in late September that resulted in him being placed on the 10-day IL. He finished the 2024 regular season slashing .242/.344/.346 with seven stolen bases, seven home runs and 42 RBI across 462 plate appearances. If he does manage to make the Opening Day roster, the 36-year-old Canha won't likely serve in more than a complementary role behind Jackson Chourio, Garrett Mitchell and Sal Frelick.
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Brewers' J.B. Bukauskas: Dealing with significant lat injury
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Imaging revealed Saturday that Bukauskas has a significant right lat injury, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Bukauskas missed much of last season due to triceps and shoulder injuries, and his 2025 campaign is already off to a similar start. The right-hander has yet to decide between undergoing surgery to address the issue or rehab, and his return timeline will be unknown until he makes a decision.
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Brewers' Blake Perkins: Out with fractured shin
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Perkins was diagnosed with a right leg fracture Saturday after fouling a pitch off his shin during live batting practice, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Manager Pat Murphy said Perkins will require 3-to-4 weeks to recover, and he likely won't be able to play in games for the Brewers until May. The 28-year-old entered camp as the favorite to win a roster spot as Milwaukee's reserve outfielder, but his injury likely leaves the newly signed Manuel Margot as the frontrunner for the job.
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Brewers' Manuel Margot: Gets NRI deal from Milwaukee
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The Brewers signed Margot to a minor-league contract Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Margot slashed only .238/.289/.337 with four home runs and five stolen bases over 129 contests during his lone season with the Twins in 2024. The 30-year-old's defensive metrics have slipped in recent years, but he sports a career .279/.338/.415 line versus left-handed pitching. Margot will compete for a reserve outfielder job.
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Brewers' Joey Ortiz: Getting first crack at shortstop
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Ortiz will start at shortstop and bat sixth in Saturday's Cactus League opener against the Reds, Sophia Minnaert of Bally Sports Wisconsin reports.
Manager Pat Murphy said to not look into the positional alignment too much, but it's still notable that the 26-year-old is getting the first exhibition start at shortstop following the offseason departure of Willy Adames. Ortiz provided strong defense at third base last season and had a .239/.329/.398 slash line with 11 homers and 11 steals in 142 regular-season games. Brice Turang is also being considered for a shift shift to shortstop, but it may make more sense to keep him at second base since that's where he won the Platinum Glove Award last year.
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Brewers' J.B. Bukauskas: Undergoes MRI on arm
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Bukauskas underwent an MRI on his right arm after suffering an injury during a live batting practice session Wednesday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
McCalvy is referring to the injury as a "setback," which could indicate Bukauskas is again having issues with his right triceps, which is an injury that sidelined him for a bit last season. He's in Brewers camp as a non-roster invitee, and this development could erase any chance he might have had to make the Opening Day roster.
Frelick added 25 pounds of muscle over the offseason, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Frelick clubbed only two home runs over 524 regular-season plate appearances last season and his 83.4 mph average exit velocity was the lowest in baseball. The 24-year-old stole 18 bases in 2024 and his elite glove should keep him in the lineup, but his appeal in fantasy leagues will remain limited unless he can add some thump, which he hopes the strength he added will help him accomplish.
Made arrived at the Brewers complex in Arizona in mid-January, Jesus Cano of Baseball America reports.
Made, who was ranked as a top-25 prospect by several outlets before stepping foot in the United States for the first time in January, said through a translator that he felt comfortable and that it's been an amazing experience getting to know his teammates. There has never been a prospect this highly regarded after only playing in the Dominican Summer League, but it's because Made's advanced data is special, as is his athleticism and long-term physical projection. Nobody should be surprised if he's the No. 1 prospect in baseball a year from now, but it's also worth noting that he doesn't turn 18 until May, so it's hard to say how everything will translate with the big jump in competition after he presumably gets assigned to Single-A.
Knoth underwent Tommy John surgery during the offseason and will miss the entire 2025 campaign, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Knoth spent his entire first season as a pro with Single-A Carolina, finishing with a 4.48 ERA and 1.40 WHIP alongside a 96:40 K:BB over 84.1 innings. However, he spent the final month of the year on the injured list due to an elbow injury that will ultimately cost him another whole season. The 19-year-old right-hander will now spend the next several months recovering from the procedure before turning his focus to returning sometime in 2026.
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Brewers' Christian Yelich: Confident in Opening Day return
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Yelich (back) said Saturday that "there's no reason to think he won't be ready for Opening Day," Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Yelich still isn't quite at 100 percent after undergoing a microdiscectomy procedure in August to address a herniated disc in his lower back, but he noted Saturday that he's on schedule in his rehab. He likely won't be ready for game action once the Cactus League schedule begins, but he should be able to get into a few games later this spring, at which point we'll have a better idea of how his oft-injured back is holding up.
