Brewers Terminate Contract of Veteran Outfielder

The Milwaukee Brewers released outfielder Jacob Hurtubise on Monday as the club begins its offseason after claiming its first World Series title.

Hurtubise spent the 2026 season in the Brewers’ minor league system and did not appear in a major league game. MLB.com reported that he elected free agency following the release.

The 28-year-old outfielder split the year between Double-A Biloxi and Triple-A Nashville. In 88 games, he hit .258 with zero home runs, 28 RBI and 21 stolen bases. He also posted a .385 on-base percentage and a .704 OPS.

Hurtubise signed a minor league contract with Milwaukee in February 2026 after previous stints with several organizations. He joined a Brewers club that posted the best regular-season record in baseball at 103-59 and then defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in five games to win the World Series.

His major league experience came exclusively with the Cincinnati Reds in 2024 and 2025. Across 41 games and 66 at-bats, Hurtubise batted .167 with one double, one triple, four RBI and two stolen bases. He recorded a .291 on-base percentage and a .503 OPS in those appearances.

Hurtubise first reached the majors with Cincinnati in May 2024. He appeared in 29 games that season and 12 more in 2025 before the Reds designated him for assignment in June. He was later claimed by the Seattle Mariners, released, signed by the Houston Astros and released again before landing with the Brewers.

A left-handed hitter who throws right-handed, Hurtubise has built his professional reputation on speed and on-base ability rather than power. He has 11 home runs in more than 1,400 minor league at-bats during his career.

Across his full minor league career, Hurtubise owns a .272 batting average and 151 stolen bases. He has primarily played left field while also seeing time in center and right.

The Brewers’ championship season featured a deep outfield led by Jackson Chourio, Garrett Mitchell and Sal Frelick. Organizational depth options like Hurtubise provided insurance but did not break into the big-league roster amid the team’s success.

Hurtubise, a native of Indianapolis, played college baseball at the United States Military Academy. He signed with the Reds as an undrafted free agent in 2020 and rose through their system before his brief big-league window.

With the release, Hurtubise returns to the free-agent market. Teams seeking left-handed outfield depth or speed for Triple-A rosters have shown interest in similar profiles in past offseasons.

Milwaukee’s front office has already begun reshaping the roster after the title run. Several other minor league players have also elected free agency or been released in the opening days of the offseason.

Hurtubise’s 2026 production showed improvement from his .160 average in limited minor league action the previous year. The 21 steals continued a trend of consistent baserunning value.

At 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, he offers a contact-oriented approach that has produced solid walk rates in the minors. Those skills have not yet translated over his small major league sample.

The Brewers’ 103 regular-season wins marked a franchise record. Their postseason run included a sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.

For Hurtubise, the next step will likely involve another minor league opportunity. His combination of speed and defensive versatility remains the clearest path back toward the majors.