The Brewers signed Jacob Hurtubise to a minor league deal earlier this week, according to the outfielder’s MLB.com profile page. Hurtubise has been assigned to Triple-A Nashville, and his contract doesn’t appear to include an invitation to the Brew Crew’s big league spring camp.
An undrafted free agent who started his pro career by signing with the Reds in 2020, Hurtubise has appeared in 41 MLB games, all with Cincinnati over the last two seasons. The Reds designated Hurtubise for assignment in June, starting a whirl of transactions that saw the outfielder claimed by the Mariners, outrighted and released in July, and then Hurtubise joined the Astros on a minor league deal before being released again in September.
The 28-year-old Hurtubise will now look to return to the Show on another NL Central team. Even after trading Isaac Collins to the Royals earlier this winter, the Brewers still have a decent amount of outfield depth beyond starters Jackson Chourio, Garrett Mitchell, and Sal Frelick. Hurtubise joins Akil Baddoo, Brandon Lockridge, and Greg Jones as outfielders providing depth behind fourth outfielder Blake Perkins. Though Hurtubise has a minor league option remaining, being an outfield-only player might hamper his roster chances since the Brewers tend to favor more versatile players for their bench.
Hurtubise does have plenty of experience at all three outfield positions, plus his strong speed and baserunning ability makes him a pinch-running candidate. Hurtubise has stolen 130 bases in 153 attempts over his minor league career, while hitting .260/.411/.324 over 576 plate appearances at the Triple-A level. This on-base ability hasn’t manifested itself over the small sample size of Hurtubise’s time in the majors, as he has hit just .167/.291/.212 over 83 PA for the Reds.
Blake Perkins you mean
I feel like this is a name I’ve heard a lot but can’t recall him.
All you need to know is he couldn’t crack Cincy’s outfield. Good guy by all accounts but can’t hit.
Hurt me once, I Hurtubise!
Didn’t your mom teach you to never Hurtubise ?
Just walk away man….
not my bees!
Great defense and base running skills, if only could translate his OBP to the majors he’d be a good 4th OF.
Slasher type hitter with no power and a good eye. Might develop in a good guy to get a hit off the bench.
He’s gonna borrow the Ryan Braun stash left over that Andrew Vaughn found. And he’ll manage to hit like 15 Homeruns this year.
Christian Yelich isn’t listed among the OFs. Is he now a full time DH?
He started 18 games in the outfield in ’25 for a frame of reference.
Despite having a great farm, Brewers have little AAA OF depth. Need to fill AAA roster spots.
Would like to see the Brewers sign MJ Melendez and Rengifo to minor league contracts.
Won’t sign Melendez or Rengifo due to the Brewers quota/policy regarding players. Which is why they sign Hurtubise among others.
Interested to hear your perspective on what their quota/policy might be??
Been a Brewers fan a lot longer than a Sharks Fan. I have my opinion on what appears to be a common thread over the years with the Brewers front office and roster. I’m not the only one who thinks there’s an issue. Maybe we’re wrong and it’s a coincidence? If it is, it’s an awful one for the 21st century!
I challenge you to take a look at the U-WI basketball roster over the past ten years and tell me there doesn’t appear to be a “quota/policy”?? Or is it simply a “coincidence?”
Far from miserable Steinbrenner2728, Sharks are rebuilding after a tear down and moving forward. The Brewers have been winning more than losing for the past decade plus.
Another sure fire every day outfielder that flamed out for the Reds. Makes me wonder if there’s a disconnect in the hitting coaches for the minor league teams. Not on that level, but when I was playing ( late 70’s and early 80’s) one teams hitting instructor tells you one thing and the next goes exactly opposite. I was a big strong kid, so one convinced me to use the heaviest bat that was allowed, balls launched when I hit them, but nobody ever said anything about bat speed, until I was done with baseball and was playing on a softball team. I wonder who is derailing all these can’t miss prospects with bad advice
I’m sure there must be parents and peers in a player’s ear preaching to stick with what got you there, and it’s gotta be tempting as you see other guys around you having success to try what works for them. Then you must have the organizational coaches pushing in another direction. It must be tough to remain grounded in yourself and keep a love for the actual game!
Also a graduate of the US Military Academy at West Point. Loved his style of play (except for the lack of hitting, of course). He was full hustle all the time.
BBRef says he was drafted in the 39th round in 2019 by Seattle. Odd that they said he was an undrafted FA in 2020. I guess he must have not signed in 2019.
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