Blake Perkins Has a Plan to Be Better in 2025—as a Hitter, and as a Teammate

[Matthew Trueblood]

The injured Brewers outfielder has been oft-spotted in the team's dugout during Cactus League games, a sign of his commitment to the people around him. He's also committed to making more contact and being more of a force on offense when he returns.

Image courtesy of © Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

In the past, when Blake Perkins was injured, he might have withdrawn into himself a bit. That was only natural, and in most organizations, it's certainly permissible.

"The only expectation I have [for injured players] is their commitment to getting healthy and keeping their attitude right—doing whatever they can to get ready, and to participate when the team is right," manager Pat Murphy said. "Influence others in a good way, speak about things in a good way, not a negative way, don’t become a dark cloud over people, and Perk is all of that."

Being more honest with himself than anyone else asked him to be (and admitting to something no one had even accused him of), though, Perkins said he hasn't always met that standard in his heart.

"Staying engaged is big—especially right now, when I can’t do anything," Perkins said Friday. "I can’t hit, I can’t do anything baseball-wise, so that’s what I get to do instead, is to support the guys around me. I love all these guys, so I enjoy watching them play. In the past when I’ve had injuries, I don’t think I’ve done the best job being the best supportive teammate, so this go-around, I’m really trying to make sure that’s a point of emphasis. Stay engaged, see what’s going on, and how the game’s moving."

In that spirit, Perkins has been in the dugout for at least the first handful of innings of most of the Brewers' games this Cactus League season. It's a small thing, but it's noticeable—and noticed, not just by Murphy but by other coaches and teammates. Since signing as a minor-league free agent with the team late in 2022, Perkins has become an indispensable part of the Crew's clubhouse—and, of course, their outfield defense. He doesn't want to lose either place, or let down those who rely on him in either respect.

Right now, of course, he can't take reps in the outfield, any more than he can take batting practice. He has to wait until (at least) this weekend to start getting back to work; he has to allow the fracture in his shin (suffered on a foul ball in live batting practice) to heal. He's confident, though, that he'll be able to get right back to his accustomed level, at least in the field.

"The good thing is that I’ll have time to get my feet back under me, and I would like to believe that I’ve been doing this long enough that it won’t take a long time to get back into game shape, outfield-wise," he said. "I love playing out there. I’m really happy that I’ve been able to showcase what I can do. I don’t personally think that this will affect any of that, but I will make sure I do the work necessary to get back ready."

The more frustrating thing, for him, is that the injury is stealing valuable preseason looks from him. Over the winter, his focus was on ways to reduce his strikeout rate—but that comes far more from changes he needs to make to his approach than from adjustments to his swing.

"I think always with me, it’s just working on the hitting side, working on getting stronger," said Perkins. "It’s kind of hard to work on cutting down strikeouts during the offseason, because I’m not facing live pitching every day, but that was a goal coming into this year. Just being more aggressive early in counts."

Indeed, making good swing decisions sometimes has to mean swinging more often, not less, and Perkins said more of his adjustments will be mental and centered on his approach within at-bats, rather than physical tweaks. That's hard to practice, though, when swinging is forbidden behavior.

The consensus seems to be that Perkins got lucky; his injury could have been worse. It should heal quickly. and he might be back on the field (at least in a minor-league rehab setting) by the end of April. In the meantime, he can take some mental reps, but the surest sign of his maturation and his dedication might be the way he's taken the setback in stride—looking beyond himself and trying to help his teammates, even if be from behind the scenes.

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[jesusoftheapes]

I see James Woods level player in Perkins just waiting to get out.   I DO NOT hold it against him that he inverts and does not let himself get attached to teammates given he has been hurt by roster moves in his past and it left an impression on Blake.   

Some people are loud teammates and some like Blake are to busy working on bettering themselves to be that type of player right now.    I imagine Blake will hone in that part of himself when he gets himself hitting where he wants to.     Blake is very much focused on being a pro baseball player and his hitting ability is not matching his output just yet.   That alone can separate a player from teammates because those players feel they are not holding up their end of the work.   Blake IS holding up his end while he makes himself better and Pat did a great job of making Blake know this last season and it helped him become a full time MLB Star last year who almost took home a Gold Glove .   

 

Blake is like many on this roster .  A guy you want to cheer for.  The guy brings more speed to the fastest team in baseball than anyone on the roster and is the best outfielder in all of baseball ALL STOP.   His hitting is not bad by any means.   He hit .240 and handled Lefties at a top of the league level as a versatile Switchitter holding a over .400 average for most of 2024 against them.   So the reports of him being  "Bad on offense" are ridiculous .   League average ranged about where Perkins hit last year and we all saw he has way more to offer in that department .    So when you hear people complaining about Blake with a bat in hand tell them to  "SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP!" because Blake could turn it on and stay on for the rest of his career.  It is only a matter of time.    Blake can bat big for this franchise if he is not pushed out for Chourio in Center before he accomplishes those big things.    I hope it happens when he is a Brewer but he has a lot of talent in front of him here and with Chourio a natural Centerfielder who has been playing the wings while he waits for an opening there I fear Blakes time here is not for the long term.    So the best possible thing for both parties would be for Blake to light it up in his opportunities this season ..   Giving the Brewers a missile in Trade Value they can make a hall on if outfield needy teams come calling at a trade deadline in the future .    

 

Make no mistake Blake Perkins is a SUPERSTAR who is waiting for that moment when baseball stops being a struggle and he plays as natural with a bat in his hand as he does with a glove.       Blake will be super sometime and I do not believe he is that far off.      Right now I am just glad he is one of us and love watching him play baseball !   I think he gets way too much heat from fans who seem to never give the guy a break but for me he is one of my favorites .    Easy to say when you love everyone on this roster who is not  pitcher Carlos Rodriguez.    

[wiguy94]

1 hour ago, jesusoftheapes said:

I see James Woods level player in Perkins just waiting to get out.   I DO NOT hold it against him that he inverts and does not let himself get attached to teammates given he has been hurt by roster moves in his past and it left an impression on Blake.   

Some people are loud teammates and some like Blake are to busy working on bettering themselves to be that type of player right now.    I imagine Blake will hone in that part of himself when he gets himself hitting where he wants to.     Blake is very much focused on being a pro baseball player and his hitting ability is not matching his output just yet.   That alone can separate a player from teammates because those players feel they are not holding up their end of the work.   Blake IS holding up his end while he makes himself better and Pat did a great job of making Blake know this last season and it helped him become a full time MLB Star last year who almost took home a Gold Glove .   

 

Blake is like many on this roster .  A guy you want to cheer for.  The guy brings more speed to the fastest team in baseball than anyone on the roster and is the best outfielder in all of baseball ALL STOP.   His hitting is not bad by any means.   He hit .240 and handled Lefties at a top of the league level as a versatile Switchitter holding a over .400 average for most of 2024 against them.   So the reports of him being  "Bad on offense" are ridiculous .   League average ranged about where Perkins hit last year and we all saw he has way more to offer in that department .    So when you hear people complaining about Blake with a bat in hand tell them to  "SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP!" because Blake could turn it on and stay on for the rest of his career.  It is only a matter of time.    Blake can bat big for this franchise if he is not pushed out for Chourio in Center before he accomplishes those big things.    I hope it happens when he is a Brewer but he has a lot of talent in front of him here and with Chourio a natural Centerfielder who has been playing the wings while he waits for an opening there I fear Blakes time here is not for the long term.    So the best possible thing for both parties would be for Blake to light it up in his opportunities this season ..   Giving the Brewers a missile in Trade Value they can make a hall on if outfield needy teams come calling at a trade deadline in the future .    

 

Make no mistake Blake Perkins is a SUPERSTAR who is waiting for that moment when baseball stops being a struggle and he plays as natural with a bat in his hand as he does with a glove.       Blake will be super sometime and I do not believe he is that far off.      Right now I am just glad he is one of us and love watching him play baseball !   I think he gets way too much heat from fans who seem to never give the guy a break but for me he is one of my favorites .    Easy to say when you love everyone on this roster who is not  pitcher Carlos Rodriguez.    

Blake Perkins is literally nothing like James Wood and not in the same stratosphere as a Wood level player.

[wallus]

43 minutes ago, wiguy94 said:

Blake Perkins is literally nothing like James Wood and not in the same stratosphere as a Wood level player.

Well they are both... nevermind. 

[Jason Wang]

4 hours ago, wallus said:

Well they are both... nevermind. 

[Michael Trzinski]

Tough crowd...lol