Bauers overcame the late additions of Mark Canha and Manuel Margot, both since subtracted, to keep his spot on the Brewers bench. Patrick was initially sent down three weeks ago, but he’ll make the Brewers as a middle reliever as a result of some of their pitching injuries.

Bauers is competing for a bench spot with the Brewers after being re-signed to a minor league contract, and the 29-year-old has gone deep three times in the Cactus League. The Brew Crew will need to add Bauers to the 40-man roster in order for him to play in 2025.

Bauers augments Milwaukee’s bench depth heading into next season after batting .199/.301/.361 with 12 round-trippers and 13 steals in 346 plate appearances over 116 contests last year with the Brewers. The 29-year-old is merely a platoon option at this stage of his career, but he’s capable of filling in at several defensive spots, if needed.

Bauers has opted to hit the open market in search of a new opportunity rather than accept an outright assignment to Triple-A following his removal from Milwaukee’s 40-man roster. The 29-year-old posted a pedestrian .662 OPS with 12 homers and 13 stolen bases in 116 games this past season for the Brewers.