Brewers Sign Jacob Hurtubise to Minor League Deal, Assign to Triple-A Nashville

Milwaukee has added a high-octane depth piece, signing 28-year-old outfielder Jacob Hurtubise to a minor-league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Nashville. The deal does not include an invitation to major-league spring training, positioning Hurtubise as depth with a clear path to impact via baserunning and outfield coverage rather than an immediate big-league role.

Hurtubise arrives with a clear profile: a contact and on-base specialist in the upper minors with game-changing speed. Across his minor-league career he has recorded 130 stolen bases in 153 attempts and has compiled a .260/.411/.324 slash line in 576 Triple-A plate appearances. That blend of walk rate and speed makes him a late-inning weapon and a classic pinch-running candidate while providing defensive versatility across all three outfield spots.

Major-league experience for Hurtubise is limited but real. He has appeared in 41 big-league games over two seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, producing a .167/.291/.212 slash line in 83 plate appearances and totaling no home runs and four RBI in that time. His most recent Triple-A season was a step back offensively, as he hit .160/.350/.200 in 56 Triple-A games with zero homers and 13 RBI; that single-season line sits alongside his career Triple-A aggregate and raises questions about consistency at the highest minor-league level.

Hurtubise’s path to this signing involved a busy stretch of transactions. He was designated for assignment by the Reds in June, claimed by the Seattle Mariners, later outrighted and released in July, signed with the Houston Astros on a minor-league contract and was released in September before landing in Milwaukee. Reports indicate he retains a minor-league option, a procedural detail that could give the Brewers roster flexibility as camp and the season unfold.

On paper Hurtubise joins a crowded Brewers outfield ecosystem anchored by Jackson Chourio, Garrett Mitchell and Sal Frelick, with Blake Perkins projected as a primary bench outfielder. Other depth names include Akil Baddoo, Brandon Lockridge and Greg Jones. Milwaukee’s roster construction historically prizes multi-position bench pieces, and Hurtubise’s lack of infield versatility could work against him in that competitive environment. Still, his elite baserunning efficiency and ability to draw walks in Triple-A keep him relevant as a situational weapon and a low-cost insurance policy.

Beyond the box score, Hurtubise’s background adds cultural resonance. A West Point product who earned 2019 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year honors and holds school and league records in walks and stolen bases, his journey from undrafted free agent in 2020 to repeated big-league callups speaks to alternative development paths and the value teams place on specialized skill sets. For the Brewers organization, the signing is a business-minded move: minimal financial outlay, upside on speed and on-base acumen, and a potential in-season roster piece who could affect late-game outcomes.

Hurtubise will report to Triple-A Nashville and attempt to work his way back to the majors within the National League Central. Fans should watch Nashville’s early-season deployment of Hurtubise, particularly in late-inning situations and on the basepaths, to judge whether his tools translate into another Major League opportunity.