Another Look at the Internal Options at Third Base for Brewers

[Harold Hutchison]

Much talk has centered around the Brewers filling the hole at third base created by the likely move of Joey Ortiz to shortstop to replace the departed Willy Adames. While the Crew could get a good third baseman via trade or free agency, looking at some internal options instead may not hurt.

Image courtesy of © Curt Hogg / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

Internal options—players already in the farm system or on the roster—offer several benefits to an organization, relative to external additions. Firstly, the team knows the background on these players, so there is a better idea of what they can get. Second, they come without any additional cost, either in money or in players, international bonus slots, or draft picks. For the Brewers, that second consideration is huge. Let’s look at three options.

The Previous Regular
In 2023, Andruw Monasterio took over at third base after Brian Anderson faded into a dugout phantom. He held the position down well defensively, while providing a below-average 86 OPS+. Monasterio did make contact at an excellent rate, and was an asset against left-handed pitching, both of which were weaknesses of the 2023 team.

One advantage of bringing him back is that the Crew knows what he can provide when given regular playing time. He still provided 1.3 Wins Above Replacement in about a half-season, according to Baseball Reference. That is a solid starter or excellent bench player. In 2024, with less regular playing time and some trips on the Milwaukee-Nashville shuttle, Monasterio’s offense cratered, with only a 62 OPS+, but his walk rate improved slightly. 

Meanwhile, Oliver Dunn showed glimpses of the same caliber of play last spring, but as a power-over-hit, left-handed bat. He and Monasterio could form a credible (if uninspiring) platoon at the hot corner.

The Gold Glove Outfielder
During spring training, Sal Frelick saw time in the infield, re-learning how to play second and third base as the Brewers faced a logjam in the outfield and some questions about the infield. There’s still a logjam in the outfield, despite the trade of Joey Wiemer, due to the rapid rise of Jackson Chourio and the potential move of Tyler Black to left field. There are still questions about third base. (Second base was the big question mark at this time last year.)

Could Frelick be the answer to the two-fold question in 2025? He played infield in the Future Collegiate Baseball League before being drafted as an outfielder by the Brewers in 2021.

Frelick’s offensive profile is well-known: he has excellent OBP skills, makes contact, and has the speed to be a menace on the basepaths. That said, he provided 2.1 WAR per Baseball Reference, and his 83 OPS+ over the full 2024 season is actually slightly below Monasterio’s. It also pulls a Gold Glove outfielder away from where his defense wins games.

Frelick is an option at third base, but the Brewers would have to be desperate to play him there.

The Top Prospect
Tyler Black was on the Milwaukee-Nashville shuttle in 2024, but in 2023, he had a breakout season wherein he held down third base for a good chunk of the season. He moved to first base in 2024, but still saw (limited) action at the hot corner in Nashville.

His defense at the position is dubious, with 17 errors in 127 games throughout his minor-league career. His bat has never been a question, though. While it lacks the punch that Chourio provides, he puts bat to ball and makes sound swing decisions. If the Brewers want someone who could hold down third base for 2025, then move across the diamond should one of Brock Wilken or Mike Boeve prove themselves ready for MLB, Tyler Black could be the best choice.

Overview
It might be tempting to look to a trade or free agency to fill the hole at third base now that Willy Adames is with the Giants, but the Brewers are not locked into those options. They have a handful candidates who could be serviceable at third base—at least until a number of young prospects, including Wilken, Boeve, Eric Bitonti, Luke Adams, Juan Baez, and/or Cooper Pratt force their way to the majors.

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[Rick Daltons Flamethrower]

Third base seems more like Turd base from reading this article.

[Playing Catch]

Isaac Collins is also on the 40-man. He played 10 games at 3rd last season. According to @Joseph Zarr, he was cromulent defensively.

[eddiemathews]

I guess it depends on whether they want to contend or not.

[Joseph Zarr]

2 hours ago, Playing Catch said:

Isaac Collins is also on the 40-man. He played 10 games at 3rd last season. According to @Joseph Zarr, he was cromulent defensively.

He can handle it in a pinch. It's not a super natural fit. He won't hurt you there because he's just a very good athlete but he really doesn't have the ideal arm to make it work over the long term. I think we have to be realistic here: Collins has played well over 400 games in the Minors. He has 13 starts at 3B. He could fill in for a game here and there, no doubt. But, is he a serious 3B candidate in the ongoing contemplations and lineup prognostications? I don't think so.

The topic being overlooked in general, however, is Collins can absolutely step in and play 2B should they move Turang to SS. It's his best position, defensively, by a pretty good amount. Throughout his Minor League career 2B and LF were near equals in terms of exposure and innings. In my humble opinion, 2B is his best position by a significant stretch. His athletic traits play well there. Is he Turang? Absolutely not. But, he's also not Tyler Black.

Collins has been my guy on this board since the summer of 2023. AND, this being said, I might be crazy, but I still live in a world where I allow myself to see Cooper Pratt surprise us all and make it to the Bigs by mid-summer. Obviously, this all depends on how the hands are dealt and what 'The River' card is when that deadline nears BUT that young man is 100% a manager's dream. He is 100% every inch of the 'steal of the draft' he was touted on draft day and by the organization's top development peeps. I'll continue to be comfortable envisioning a possibly more aggressive path than I originally did if I continue seeing what I did all of last year in his first full-season as a Brewer.

[GantnerRules]

I've noticed a distinct lack of discussion about another possible approach to the Brewers' infield vacancy. Namely, find a very good glove/arm to fill the shortstop position. We're certainly not going to find anyone with Adames power, but we need a solid defender there. Ortiz and Turang are excellent defensively at their current positions and perhaps should be kept there. JoeyO in particular mans the hot corner very well, something not many others can do. Good defensive shortstops might be more easily obtained. Surely another organizations must have good glove AAA level shortstops who are blocked from promotion and might be viable trade candidates that won't be cost prohibitive. This could give the Brewers some time to find other ways to complete the infield puzzle.  

[eddiemathews]

3 minutes ago, GantnerRules said:

I've noticed a distinct lack of discussion about another possible approach to the Brewers' infield vacancy. Namely, find a very good glove/arm to fill the shortstop position. We're certainly not going to find anyone with Adames power, but we need a solid defender there. Ortiz and Turang are excellent defensively at their current positions and perhaps should be kept there. JoeyO in particular mans the hot corner very well, something not many others can do. Good defensive shortstops might be more easily obtained. Surely another organizations must have good glove AAA level shortstops who are blocked from promotion and might be viable trade candidates that won't be cost prohibitive. This could give the Brewers some time to find other ways to complete the infield puzzle.  

They need a bat more. Ortiz can play short for a few years, and his bat could still return to ly first half (pre-injury) levels. With Turang getting regular ABs they need that bat. I can see Ortiz improving at the plate, but Brice has perhaps reached his peak.

[Harold Hutchison]

15 hours ago, GantnerRules said:

I've noticed a distinct lack of discussion about another possible approach to the Brewers' infield vacancy. Namely, find a very good glove/arm to fill the shortstop position. We're certainly not going to find anyone with Adames power, but we need a solid defender there. Ortiz and Turang are excellent defensively at their current positions and perhaps should be kept there. JoeyO in particular mans the hot corner very well, something not many others can do. Good defensive shortstops might be more easily obtained. Surely another organizations must have good glove AAA level shortstops who are blocked from promotion and might be viable trade candidates that won't be cost prohibitive. This could give the Brewers some time to find other ways to complete the infield puzzle.  

Cooper Pratt and Brock Wilken could be MLB-ready as early as Opening Day 2026 (more likely the former). Mike Boeve could be ready around the All-Star Break of 2025.

That's assuming that Dunn doesn't put it together OR Black gets traded or stays stuck on the Milwaukee-Nashville shuttle, or ends up at first base or left field instead of the hot corner.

[Jim French Stepstool]

I see Dunn getting a full season in Nashville, Black getting dealt, Monasterio & Collins fighting it out for one roster spot & someone starting at 2B or 3B on opening day that currently is not in the organization.

@Joseph Zarr, did you really use the word cromulent?

[Joseph Zarr]

Just now, Jim French Stepstool said:

I see Dunn getting a full season in Nashville, Black getting dealt, Monasterio & Collins fighting it out for one roster spot & someone starting at 2B or 3B on opening day that currently is not in the organization.

@Joseph Zarr, did you really use the word cromulent?

I did not, no. That is a word above my 'in the trenches' pay grade. 😅