PHOENIX -- The Brewers' top prospect was told Wednesday evening that he will not make the Opening Day roster, but that didn't erase the wide smile across Alcides Escobar's face.

"I'm happy that I got all of Spring Training with the team," said Escobar, who was optioned to Triple-A Nashville after an 8-7 Brewers win over the D-backs. "I'm going to be ready if something happens to a [Brewers] player.

"They're sending me to Triple-A to play every day and work on my strike-zone [judgment], and I'm going to do that. I'm ready to play in the big leagues. I'm ready. But right now, J.J. Hardy is the shortstop."

Escobar, nipping at the heels of Hardy, one of his good friends, was 0-for-1 on Wednesday and batted .231 in 30 Cactus League games. He showed flashes of his extraordinary defensive skills, including one up-the-middle stop in a game against the Angels that saved the Brewers from a loss, in a game the teams instead tied at 4. That play was his favorite of the spring, according to Escobar.

He will be Nashville's starting shortstop alongside third-base prospect Mat Gamel. Escobar, rated baseball's eighth-best prospect by MiLB.com, just ahead of No. 23 Gamel, said he would also take ground balls at second base, just to stay sharp.

"I can play any position," he said.

Escobar hit .328 last season at Double-A Huntsville with eight home runs, 76 RBIs and a Southern League-best 179 hits in 131 games. The roster move Wednesday left only 29 active players in camp, three of whom -- catcher Carlos Corporan and pitchers Lindsay Gulin and Wes Littleton -- have been told they will not make the team, but will travel with the team to Los Angeles on Thursday night for two exhibitions against the Dodgers. Escobar will not make that trip.

The only roster spots yet to be cemented are in the outfield, where Chris Duffy, Tony Gwynn Jr. and Brad Nelson are vying for two spots. Manager Ken Macha intends to inform those three players of the decisions before departing Arizona. The Brewers play their final game at Maryvale Baseball Park against the White Sox at 2:05 p.m. CT on Thursday.