This is the final installment of a nine-part series previewing the Milwaukee Brewers by position leading up to Opening Day on April 6.
ON THE ROSTER:
2014 IN REVIEW:
Due to utilizing two platoons, the Brewers lacked versatility with their bench in 2014. Rickie Weeks and Scooter Gennett could only play second base, while Lyle Overbay was just a first baseman.
Jeff Bianchi began the season as the backup shortstop but was sent to Triple-A in May. He came back up in late June and played in eight games before his season was ended due to an elbow injury. Elian Herrera bounced back and forth between the big leagues and Triple-A before sticking with the Brewers in July.
After struggling offensively in 2013, Martin Maldonado raised his batting average to .234 in his third full season as Milwaukee's backup catcher.
Logan Schafer again broke camp as the team's fourth outfielder. He hit .181 in 116 at-bats and was just 2 of 13 as a pinch-hitter. Seeking an upgrade, the Brewers traded for Gerardo Parra at the trade deadline. The two-time Gold Glove winner hit .268 with three home runs and 10 RBI in 46 games with Milwaukee but was just 1 for 8 as a pinch hitter.
While he struggled as a starter, Overbay hit .324 (11 of 34) as a pinch hitter. Weeks was brought into a lesser role and led the Brewers with 14 hits off the bench.
Milwaukee's pinch hitters had a .222 batting average with four home runs and 27 RBI. Matt Clark, Irving Falu, Jason Rogers, Caleb Gindl and Hector Gomez all pinch-hit at least once for the Brewers in 2014.
2015 OUTLOOK
Maldonado and Parra were locks to make the roster, leaving three open bench spots entering spring training.
Luis Jimenez's ability to play first base, third base and serve as the emergency catcher helped him make his first Opening Day roster. The 27-year-old hit .286 with 21 home runs and 76 RBI in Triple-A with the Angels organization last year.
Milwaukee has been pleased with the improvement Gomez has made over the past year. Gomez, who also will be on his first Opening Day roster, will serve as the primary backup at shortstop but can also cover the Brewers at second base and third base.
Schafer beat Herrera out for the final bench spot, as the Brewers opted to go with a fifth outfielder over a utility infielder. Parra will play more than the typical fourth outfielder and could even see time at first base.
All five members of Milwaukee's bench are considered good defenders, especially Parra, Maldonado and Schafer.
KEY TO SUCCESS
Have Jimenez and Gomez establish themselves as role players. The Brewers know what they are going to get out of Parra and Maldonado, but Gomez and Jimenez remain unknowns. One will need to step up to cover third base on days Aramis Ramirez takes off.
THEY SAID IT
"I think we've got a lot of guys that are very versatile. Versatile for some guys is not necessarily good if you're weakening your defense. With Parra, we're not weakening our defense. With Jimenez, we're not weakening our defense. Hector, the same thing. At third, he's a plus. And Schafer is a plus. So, our bench's plus is really on defense." -- Brewers manager Ron Roenicke
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