Brewers Promote Reliever Who Narrowly Missed Opening Day Roster

Easton McGee gets called up to Milwaukee's bullpen after strong 2025 season

Apr. 10, 2026 at 9:33pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball pitcher's motion broken down into overlapping planes of muted earth tones, conceptually representing the Brewers' fluid roster management.The Brewers' flexible roster approach allows players like Easton McGee to quickly earn a shot at the major league level.Peoria Today

The Milwaukee Brewers have recalled right-handed reliever Easton McGee from Triple-A Nashville, just two weeks after he narrowly missed making the team's Opening Day roster. McGee, who made nine appearances for the Brewers last season, will now join the major league bullpen ahead of this weekend's series against the Washington Nationals.

Why it matters

McGee's promotion shows the Brewers' commitment to a fluid roster and giving players on the 40-man roster opportunities, even if they don't make the initial Opening Day squad. The 28-year-old reliever will look to build on his solid 2025 campaign and solidify a spot in Milwaukee's bullpen.

The details

Just days before the start of the 2026 season, the Brewers acquired right-hander Jake Woodford in a trade, pushing McGee out of the Opening Day bullpen and sending him to Triple-A. However, with the team in need of a fresh arm, McGee has now been recalled after just two weeks in the minors. McGee struggled in his four appearances for Nashville, but his underlying metrics from last season suggest he can be an effective reliever at the big-league level.

  • On the Tuesday before the Brewers' opening game against the White Sox, the team acquired Jake Woodford, pushing McGee out of the Opening Day roster.
  • McGee opened the 2026 season with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds.
  • Just two weeks into the season, the Brewers have recalled McGee to join their major league bullpen.

The players

Easton McGee

A 6'7" right-handed reliever who made nine appearances for the Brewers in 2025 and is now being recalled from Triple-A to join the major league bullpen.

Jake Woodford

A versatile right-handed pitcher acquired by the Brewers in a trade just before the start of the 2026 season, pushing McGee out of the Opening Day roster.

Shane Drohan

A rookie left-handed pitcher who was called up by the Brewers to make a spot start, but was then demoted to Triple-A, creating a roster spot for McGee's promotion.

Pat Murphy

The manager of the Milwaukee Brewers, who emphasized the team's philosophy of giving players on the 40-man roster opportunities throughout the season.

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What they’re saying

“Happy for him [McGee]...like I told guys in Spring Training, 'you're going to get a shot. If you're in this clubhouse in Spring Training, you're going to get a shot.' Great kid.”

— Pat Murphy, Manager, Milwaukee Brewers

What’s next

McGee will look to solidify a spot in the Brewers' bullpen with his performance over the coming weeks, as the team continues to navigate injuries and a fluid roster situation.

The takeaway

The Brewers' willingness to give players on the 40-man roster opportunities, even if they don't make the initial Opening Day roster, highlights the team's commitment to developing talent and maintaining a flexible roster. McGee's promotion shows that the organization values players who can contribute at the major league level, even if they narrowly miss out on making the team to start the season.