The Brewers announced that they’ve signed infielder/outfielder Nick Franklin to a minor league contract and invited him to Major League Spring Training. He’s represented by the Boras Corporation.

Franklin, 27 in two weeks, was with the Rays last spring but went to the Brewers on waivers in early April. He appeared in 53 games and took 89 plate appearances before being designated for assignment and landing with the Halos for another brief stretch. Overall, the former top prospect hit just .179/.269/.283 through 119 plate appearances between Milwaukee and Anaheim.

That unsightly production notwithstanding, Franklin is just one season removed from posting a much more palatable .270/.328/.443 batting line with six homers, 10 doubles and a triple in 191 PAs for the Rays. Though he’s never managed to consistently produce in the Majors, the switch-hitting Franklin has had a few stretches in which he’s displayed promise, and he’s also a .267/.352/.428 hitter in parts of six Triple-A seasons. Franklin has experience at all four infield positions (primarily the up-the-middle slots) as well as in the outfield corners. He’ll vie for a utility job this spring.