We’re less than a month away from pitchers and catchers reporting to the newly renovated facilities in Maryvale, and about 4 1⁄2 weeks away from the first full squad workout. To mark the occasion, the Brewers released an updated Spring Training schedule, for those of you planning to make the trip down to Arizona to witness the team’s run for a second straight Cactus Cup.
Your most up-to-date Spring Training schedule is here.
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) January 16, 2019
Pitchers & catchers report just four weeks from today.https://t.co/v2TXdJhngF pic.twitter.com/he8V3DmrJl
We’re also getting a better idea on who will be in camp once players start reporting. In addition to a handful of minor league free agents they signed this winter, the team is announcing a number of prospects who will be invited to big league camp — including Keston Hiura, who will look to follow up his impressive run with the big leaguers last year.
The following nine #Brewers farmhands have been invited to Major League camp: 3B Lucas Erceg, C Payton Henry, 2B Keston Hiura, INF Nate Orf, OF Corey Ray, RHP Zack Brown, RHP Bubba Derby, RHP Jon Olczak and RHP Miguel Sánchez. The team now has 14 non-roster invitees.
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) January 16, 2019
It could end up being a nice audition for Hiura, who almost certainly won’t break camp on the big league roster, but could end up impressing as a prelude to a debut later in the year, similar to Ryan Braun’s spring in 2007.
He’s not the only name on that list who could end up playing in the majors this year, either. With Keon Broxton and Domingo Santana no longer on the outfield depth chart, there’s a chance we could see Corey Ray later this year. On the pitching side, Zack Brown could end up following in the footsteps of Brandon Woodruff and Corbin Burnes as guys who went on to contribute in the majors after winning the organization’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year award.
Pitchers and catchers report to Maryvale on February 13th, while position players report on the 18th and the first full-squad workout is the next day. The Brewers’ first game in the chase for the Cactus Cup is February 23rd on the road against the Cubs. Their first game in the newly renovated Maryvale stadium — sorry, the “Brewers Fields of Phoenix” — is February 26th.