PEORIA, Ariz. -- In six big league seasons, Hunter Renfroe has played 576 regular-season games and spent 4,448 2/3 innings in the field -- 4,439 2/3 of which have been in the outfield. As for the other nine, those came at first base during a two-game span with the Rays late in 2020.

It’s possible there could be more first base in Renfroe’s future, though. On Wednesday, he started and played five innings at the position in the Brewers’ 4-2 Cactus League loss to the Padres at Peoria Stadium, marking his first game action at first since playing there for the final inning of Game 4 of the 2020 World Series with Tampa Bay.

Acquired in a trade with the Red Sox last Dec. 1, Renfroe will bring more right-handed power to Milwaukee’s lineup this season. He’s hit at least 26 home runs in four of the past five seasons, with the lone exception being when he belted eight during the shortened ’20 campaign.

With Renfroe now in the mix to play some first base, Brewers manager Craig Counsell has the ability to stack the order with more righty hitters against lefty starters. And it creates additional flexibility to move players around the field, if needed.

“He’s very willing to do it and not intimated by doing it,” Counsell said. “So if it comes up as an option, I feel like we could use it.”

Renfroe didn’t get much defensive action in Wednesday’s game, but he corralled a pop fly off the bat of Luke Voit in foul territory for the second out of the fifth inning. While Renfroe doesn’t have much experience at first, he’s comfortable at the spot.

“I feel fine. Don’t know exactly where to go on cutoffs and stuff like that, it’s all kind of new a little bit,” Renfroe said. “As far as like positioning, it’s pretty easy. I look over there and if they want to move me, they move me. Ground balls, I’m good with my hands, so that’s not a big deal.”

Renfroe isn’t about to give himself a Gold Glove Award at first base, either.

“No chance,” Renfroe said. “Zero chance.”

But if it helps the team, Renfroe is ready to play some first base in 2022, if called upon.

Ureña joins club, ready to contribute
José Ureña joined the Brewers in their big league clubhouse on Wednesday, as the right-hander’s contract was selected by the club a day after he signed a Minor League deal. Milwaukee’s 40-man roster is now at 39 following the addition of Ureña, who has no options remaining.

That would seem to indicate that Ureña is likely to be on the Crew’s Opening Day roster, right?

“We expect him to impact our Major League team. And so if he’s healthy and ready to do that, then yes,” Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns said.

Stearns noted that Ureña is being viewed as a “reliever first” and will likely provide length out of the bullpen to begin the season. The 30-year-old right-hander has made 52 relief appearances among his 168 career games. He posted a 5.81 ERA in 26 games (18 starts) in 2021, his lone season with the Tigers.

Although Ureña arrived to Spring Training late -- and with only a little more than a week until Opening Day -- he said he feels to be in a good spot entering ’22. Prior to his signing, he had been working out in the Dominican Republic, where he was pitching in simulated games and facing hitters. So Ureña is optimistic he can be ready for the start of the season.

“The way I was preparing myself, that didn’t take me long,” Ureña said. “We'll see how I feel and how we can keep it moving.”

Peralta continues strong spring
Right-hander Freddy Peralta made his third Cactus League start of the spring on Wednesday, striking out five Padres batters over four innings. He allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits -- including a Manny Machado two-run homer in the third -- and one walk.

Peralta, who was a first-time All-Star in 2021, has a 4.50 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 10 innings this spring. More important than the numbers, the 25-year-old is happy with where he’s at entering the season.

“I think I’m in a very good spot right now,” Peralta said. “I was working for this during the offseason -- and during the spring, too -- to feel exactly how I’m feeling right now.”