Imagine a team striving to bolster its roster by adding versatile arms to its pitching staff — but here's where it gets controversial: not every signing guarantees immediate success or long-term stability. The Milwaukee Brewers recently made headlines by signing two talented pitchers, Gerson Garabito and Drew Rom, to minor league contracts. Both players are also being offered non-roster invitations to participate in the upcoming major league spring training camp, providing them an excellent opportunity to prove their worth at the highest level.
Let’s delve deeper into each of these signings, their backgrounds, and what they could mean for the team moving forward.
Gerson Garabito, a 30-year-old right-hander, is making his return to organized baseball after a brief stint playing in South Korea. Standing at 6 feet tall, Garabito had a promising run with the Samsung Lions after signing with them in June. During his time there, he made 15 starts and impressed with a solid 2.64 ERA, along with a noteworthy 26% strikeout rate. It’s somewhat surprising that his club and he didn’t come to an agreement for the upcoming 2026 season, as his performance seemed promising. Instead, Garabito will now focus on spring training, aiming to earn a spot back in Major League Baseball. He has some prior experience at the highest level, having pitched 34 1/3 innings with a 5.77 ERA for the Texas Rangers during the 2024-2025 seasons.
The signing is a compelling move for Garabito, especially since returning to affiliated ball can be a crucial step in reigniting his MLB ambitions.
As for Drew Rom, turning 26 years old this Monday, this signing feels like a thoughtful birthday gift — or perhaps a new chapter in his career. Originally drafted in the fourth round by the Baltimore Orioles, Rom was later traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in the significant deal that included Jack Flaherty. Rom got a chance to start for the Cardinals down the stretch in 2023, but unfortunately struggled, posting an 8.02 ERA over eight starts. The following spring, he required shoulder surgery, which sidelined him for a substantial part of the season. The Cardinals eventually outrighted him off their 40-man roster at the end of 2024.
Despite these setbacks, Rom stayed within the St. Louis system, although his season was plagued by injuries once again. He began the year on the injured list due to his recovery but made a brief comeback at Triple-A Memphis in mid-May, where he pitched four starts, surrendering nine runs over 14 1/3 innings. His season wound down after he was once again placed on the injured list.
With this new opportunity in Milwaukee, Rom has a fresh chance to showcase his resilience and pitching ability. This signing is especially notable for his perseverance after a tough injury history and a challenging past season.
In conclusion, both Garabito and Rom face uncertain futures but hold significant potential. These signings highlight how teams often take calculated risks in adding talented but unproven or recovering players to their system, hoping they can develop and contribute in the future. Do you believe these moves are smart investments that could pay off, or are they risky gambles? And more broadly, what does this tell us about the team’s approach to rebuilding and managing pitching talent? Your thoughts and opinions are highly encouraged — the world of baseball is often full of surprises and debates!
