Nashville Sounds' Projected 2026 Opening Day Lineup Features Incredibly Talented Roster

Jett Williams, ranked No. 3 in the Brewers system and No. 51 overall on MLB Pipeline's prospect list, is set to anchor the middle infield of a Nashville Sounds lineup that reads less like a Triple-A roster and more like a farm system hall of fame. Batting second and playing second base, the 22-year-old Williams was arguably the prized prospect Milwaukee received by dealing Freddy Peralta to the Mets.

Leading off in left field is Tyler Black, a player with elite plate discipline who consistently works himself into favorable counts and piles up walks. Black has stolen 20-plus bases three years in a row, despite missing significant time in 2025 with a broken hamate, making him a natural fit at the top of the order. Finding a permanent defensive address has been the trickiest part of his professional résumé; the Milwaukee Brewers chose Black with the 33rd overall selection of the 2021 MLB Draft, and the organization has tried him at multiple spots. After 38 games in left field for the Sounds last year and two more for the Cactus Crew this spring, the corner outfield appears to be where the Brewers intend to play him in 2026, particularly with several other first-base options already in Nashville.

Williams slots in right behind Black for good reason. While Williams profiles as a capable leadoff man himself, his power history pushes him to the two-hole. Despite standing just 5-foot-7, Williams generates more power than his size might suggest, combining average or better raw power with a swing built to lift the ball to the pull side, giving him legitimate long-term potential to produce 20 home run seasons at the major-league level. Defensively, Williams offers versatility. His glove is playable at shortstop, and he has the athleticism to handle several positions around the field, though second base would seem to be the most natural long-term fit. Expect him to move around the diamond throughout the season to preserve that versatility and improve his chances of an early-season call to Milwaukee.

The rest of the projected starting nine fills out with legitimate prospects at every spot. Blake Perkins bats third and mans center field, Brock Wilken hits cleanup at first base, and Jeferson Quero catches from the five-hole. Corner infielder Brock Wilken is considered a dark horse candidate to be the first one promoted to the big leagues, as his prolific power could carry him there before you know it. Luke Adams handles the DH role batting sixth, Luis Lara occupies right field at seven, Cooper Pratt starts at shortstop in the eight-hole, and Eddys Leonard rounds out the lineup at third base.

The bench takes advantage of Triple-A's roster rules. Nashville operates with a 28-man roster rather than the 26-player limit teams face at the big-league level, which means the Sounds can carry five bench players. That group is projected to include Zamora, Jones, Hurtubise, and Ethan Murray, with either Ramón Rodriguez or Darrien Miller rounding out the catching room alongside Quero.

The Brewers have no shortage of near-MLB-ready talent knocking on the door, and it wouldn't be surprising to see one or more of these names make an impact in Milwaukee before long. Further additions could reshape Nashville's starting nine by season's end, with Jesús Made and Andrew Fischer both mentioned as candidates to work their way into the lineup. Made, in particular, has drawn attention as a potential five-tool superstar after the Brewers pushed him to Double-A at just 18 years old.

Andrew Fischer was recently ranked the No. 1 third base prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline, so his eventual arrival in Nashville would only deepen an already formidable roster. For Milwaukee, that depth is the point: every prospect developing in Nashville represents a phone call that could keep the big-league club afloat when the injury list grows long, as it inevitably will.