MILWAUKEE — Jake Bauers has reached an agreement with the Milwaukee Brewers for a minor league contract and is set to join the major league spring training sessions.
Bauers recently became a free agent on November 4, after opting against an outright assignment from the Brewers to Triple-A Nashville.
The 29-year-old player had a challenging season last year, posting a batting average of .199 alongside a .301 on-base percentage during his time with Milwaukee. He recorded 12 home runs, 43 RBIs, and stole 13 bases across 116 games, which included 346 plate appearances, while also setting a personal record for strikeouts with 118.
One notable highlight from his previous season was a crucial seventh-inning home run off José Buttó during Game 3 of the Wild Card Series against the New York Mets. This homer ended a scoreless tie; however, the Mets made a comeback in the ninth inning to secure a 4-2 victory.
Over the course of five seasons, Bauers has maintained a .208 batting average, hitting 51 home runs and driving in 183 RBIs. His career has spanned stints with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018, the Cleveland Guardians in 2019 and 2021, the Seattle Mariners in 2021, and the New York Yankees in 2023, before returning to the Brewers in 2024.
For the upcoming season, Rhys Hoskins is anticipated to take the starting position at first base for the Brewers.