[BirdWatcher]

One potential battle in the Spring camp for the Brewers this year might be for the right to be the back-up catcher this coming season.
Jeff Darden is a durable and hard-working strong defensive catcher who was starter Kevin Curtis (who, incidentally, is a having a great Spring at the plate) backup in 1971. Darden has played pretty well this Spring but has quite limited offensive upside and at 25 years old likely doesn't have a great deal of development left.
23-year old Spencer Wilson is equally solid behind the plate and at least somewhat more capable at the plate, especially as (like Curtis) he has a great eye and should draw an above average amount of walks. He won't likely every hit for much power but he should be capable of putting bat on ball more often than Darden. Like Darden, Wilson's is a left-handed hitter which complements right-handed starter Curtis.

Long-time Brewers moderate prospect Jose Careaga is having a fine Spring at the plate and in the field. Careaga is blocked at thirdbase by veteran slugger Jamison Bash. At 25 and having played mostly at AAA Chester the past 2 seasons, Careaga is understandably anxious to finally get a chance to stick with a big league club. It's just hard to see how that will be the Brewers this season. Careaga is a solid defender and a decent hitter with very good plate discipline who will draw a good number of walks and not strikeout very often. Having been drafted by the team in the 9th round of the 1965 draft, he has proven to be an over-achiever in his minor league career and if he was in a less successful organization he could likely be a WPK starting thirdbaseman already.

Another young outfielder who has had a decent Spring and in another organization might likely be on the 25-man roster going into the new season is Josh Schaeffer. Although Schaeffer does not have the best reputation and is considered unmotivated, he has had a good deal of success in his steady climb up the minor league ladder, mostly alongside the more celebrated Joe McPhillips. In fact, Schaeffer is having a better Spring at the plate than McPhillips, who is thought to be a sure thing to start the season in Brewers purple. Schaeffer has a slash line of .286/.423/.333 and has shown his great eye at the plate. Schaeffer does not have the defensive skills of McPhillips but he is considered a solid rightfielder with a strong arm and he has good speed and base-stealing abilities. It is hard to say what Schaeffer's future holds, but it is pretty clear he should be able to play at the WPK level and even has the upside of a solid starter.