Brewers manager Craig Counsell said if Middlebrooks can show an aptitude for first base that would help his chances of making the club out of camp, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Tom Haudricourt reports.

EDGE Analysis

He is primarily competing for starts at third base with Aaron Hill and Garin Cecchini, with Hill being the clear favorite to start at the hot corner. However, the Brewers don't have a clear backup at first base, so if Middlebrooks shows that he is capable of backing up both corner infield spots, that could lead to him making the 25-man roster. He has just two hits (both singles) in 14 at-bats while striking out three times and walking zero times so far this spring, so he isn't really helping his cause with the bat.