The Milwaukee Brewers have made an important move by re-signing first baseman and corner outfielder Jake Bauers to a minor league contract, as officially announced by the team today. This decision positions Bauers to join the major league camp as a non-roster invitee, offering him a chance to showcase his skills once again.

Bauers had a challenging but revealing season in 2024 with the Brewers, having been acquired from the New York Yankees during the previous offseason. Throughout the course of 116 regular season games, he accumulated a total of 346 plate appearances, resulting in a batting line of .199/.301/.361. Despite hitting 12 home runs and stealing 13 bases, his performance was marred by a high strikeout rate of 34.1%, even though he managed to walk at a commendable 11.3% rate.

This pattern has been consistent throughout Bauers’ major league career, as he maintains a batting average of .208 with an on-base percentage of .302 and a slugging percentage of .361 across more than 1,700 plate appearances with five different teams. While he has demonstrated average power and good walk rates, his tendency to strike out frequently remains a concern. Defensively, he is regarded as an average first baseman, though his performance in the outfield has received subpar evaluations.

Despite his struggles during the regular season, Bauers managed to make a memorable impact during the postseason. In a critical Wild Card series against the New York Mets, he appeared as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning of a scoreless game. He hit a decisive home run off José Buttó, temporarily giving the Brewers the lead. However, the game ultimately slipped away as Pete Alonso led the Mets to victory in the ninth inning, overshadowing Bauers’ moment.

Unfortunately, this clutch performance wasn’t enough to secure his position on the team, as the Brewers placed Bauers on outright waivers at the season’s end. He opted for free agency but has now returned for a second season with the Brewers. Currently, Rhys Hoskins is projected to be Milwaukee’s starting first baseman, leaving Bauers to compete for a role as a left-handed bench player or in a platoon situation.