After an abbreviated Spring Training, the Brewers are set to get their regular season started Thursday against the Cubs.

While the team returns most of its division-winning roster from last season, there are plenty of questions fans will want to keep an eye on early in the season.

Here’s a look at some of the key things to watch on Opening Day and beyond.

Is Keston Hiura a rebound candidate?

Infielder Keston Hiura has made plenty of headlines this spring.

The Crew’s Opening Day first baseman from a year ago came into the Cactus League with no set role after a disappointing 2021 season. But the former first-round pick has looked like a potential rebound candidate this spring, slashing a blistering .393/.485/.929 in 33 plate appearances.

The sample size is small, but Hiura has a history of mashing. After getting called up in 2019, he crushed 19 homers with a .303 average in just 84 games as a rookie before hitting 13 homers in 59 games in 2020.

Now, the question becomes: Where will Hiura find his at-bats? He’s currently blocked by Rowdy Tellez at first base, Kolten Wong at second and Andrew McCutchen at designated hitter. Hiura has experimented in left field this spring, hoping to find some potential starts in the outfield when Christian Yelich gets a day off.

One thing is for sure, though. If Hiura hits, manager Craig Counsell will find a way to get his bat in the lineup.

Is Tyrone Taylor on the verge of a breakout season?

Taylor has also been one of the biggest stories of Brewers camp.

The third-year outfielder has been on a torrid run in Cactus League action, compiling a .414 average and a 1.234 OPS in 32 plate appearances. He’s also primarily played centerfield, one of the shallower positions on the Brewers active roster.

With Lorenzo Cain, Hunter Renfroe and Christian Yelich set to serve as the team’s primary outfield, Taylor will likely begin the year as the odd man out of the starting lineup. But that shouldn’t stop him from seeing significant action in 2022.

Last year, Taylor impressed in 93 games as the team’s fifth outfielder, delivering a .778 OPS with 12 homers. With a shortage of center fielders on the active roster, Taylor will likely pick up a start any time Cain takes a day off. He also has potential to pick up starts in a corner outfield spot or as the DH against lefty pitching.

Like Hiura, Taylor’s role will only grow if his spring translates into a big offensive regular season. Keep an eye on Taylor’s early at-bats in 2022.

We also cover Taylor’s red-hot spring in Episode 1 of Brewers Unfiltered.

How do the Brewers replace Severino?

With catcher Pedro Severino set to miss the first 80 games of 2022, the Brewers must look for other options to spell starting catcher Omar Narváez.

One option is Brett Sullivan, a former Rays prospect who signed with the Brewers this offseason. Sullivan is yet to appear in a Major League game, but he has spent significant time with the Big League club this spring. One thing that may be working against Sullivan is his handedness, though. With another lefty backstop, the Brewers wouldn’t have a coveted right-handed catching option against southpaw pitchers.

Another candidate may be prospect Mario Feliciano. The 23-year-old made an emergency one-game debut last season when the Brewers were down both of their primary catching options. However, he only appeared in 39 Minor League games for the year, and the Brewers likely want to get him playing time on Triple-A before he gets the call.

Perhaps the most likely option is for the Brewers to look externally via trade or free agency to fill the void left by Severino. Either way, catcher depth will be a situation to monitor until Severino is eligible to make his season debut.

How do players adjust to a shortened spring?

All 30 teams are adjusting to the same circumstances after completing a shortened Spring Training. Now, fans will want to keep an eye on how players adjust to an abbreviated camp.

One specific question is how less innings on the mound will affect pitchers. Usually, pitchers report early to camp to condition their arms for a season full of work and spend close to six weeks officially preparing for the season. This year, they had less than a month total to get their arms and pitch mix ready in camp.

The Brewers, who enter the season with one of the league’s top pitching staffs, are confident in their pitching depth. There’s been speculation that the team may deploy a six-man rotation at times in 2022 to keep innings down for each hurler in an unorthodox year.

But even with one of baseball’s elite staffs, some patience may be warranted as players continue to work their way into regular-season form.