25 Years of Miller Park/Am Fam Field: The All-Time Brewers Bullpen Staff

[Michael Trzinski]

This year is the 25th anniversary of play at Miller Park/Am Fam Field and the Brewers are going to celebrate that milestone this summer, including a special day at the ballpark on Friday, July 25.

Several players from each of the last 25 seasons will be at the ballyard in late July, signing autographs, working at concession stands, and working the cash registers at retail stores inside the stadium.

To help celebrate, Brewer Fanatic is presenting its All-Time Miller Park/Am Fam Field pitching staff and position player roster. Without further ado, here is Part Two of a three-part series, featuring the eight-man bullpen staff, based on Brewer stats only from 2001-2025.

It would be really easy to just throw the eight top closers on this team, but can you imagine the chaos with eight high-leverage guys in the pen, all vying to throw in only the eighth and ninth innings?

The first four pitchers listed will be the ‘spot starter/long relief/middle relief’ guys. Each of these players had at least one 10-save season as a Brewer (except for Will Smith), but were all used in a variety of roles by the Brewers.

Jeremy Jeffress (2010, 2014-16, 2017-19)
GR – 300, Sv – 43, ERA – 2.66, WAR – 7.3, ERA+ - 157, FIP – 3.25

‘Jay-Jay’ had three separate stints with Milwaukee adding up to seven campaigns in Brew City. All but one of those years resulted in an ERA+ of more than 122, including a high of 317 in his only All-Star year of 2018. Jeffress had a career-high of 27 saves in 2016 before being traded to Texas in early August.

The right hander ranks fifth overall on the all-time Brewers list by appearing in 301 games as a Brewer.

Check out the rocket back to the box in this video:

Tyler Thornburg (2012-16)
GR – 134, Sv – 13, ERA – 2.87, WAR – 4.1, ERA+ - 141, FIP – 3.83

‘Thorny’ split time between the minors and Milwaukee in three of his five seasons as a Brewer. Oddly enough, Thornburg was used solely as a starter in Nashville, Huntsville, and Colorado Springs, making 53 starts and zero relief appearances. As a Brewer, Thornburg started 10 games in 144 appearances.

Although never a star, the righty was a solid part of the Brewer bullpen, posting two seasons of better than a 190 ERA+, including a high of 199 in 2016. He notched a career-high of 13 games in 67 appearances that year.

Will Smith (2014-16)
GR – 181, Sv – 1, ERA – 3.28, WAR – 1.0, ERA+ - 120, FIP – 3.08

One of the two lefties in the bullpen crew, ‘Smitty’ led the National League with 78 appearances in 2014 and followed that up the next year with 76 games pitched, along with his Brewer best of an ERA+ of 1.47 and an outstanding 2.47 FIP. Those two seasons rank in the top 10 of single season Brewers games pitched list.

Corey Knebel (2015-18, 2020)
GR – 231, Sv – 57, ERA – 3.20, WAR – 4.5, ERA+ - 132, FIP – 3.37

The man known as ‘Bird Dog’ filled many roles as a Brewer, including closer during his best season in 2017 when he made the NL All-Star team, led the league with 76 appearances, and saved 39 games, tied for third best in the league. Knebel also posted career bests with a 248 ERA+ and a FIP of 2.53.

10K views · 599 reactions | Sophia with Corey Knebel | Corey Knebel...

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Corey Knebel thanks Milwaukee Brewers fans after a 4-3 win over the Reds!

 

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[biedergb]

I know his tenure was much shorter, but Francisco Cordero was the best closer the team had in the 2000s and in 2 years had 3.1 bWAR. But only 2 seasons so probably HM only.

But Corey Knebel (5 years, 4.5 bWAR and part of the beginning of the electric multi-arm bullpen set up that started in 2017 through today), deserves a spot, maybe over Thornburg?

And you also have to consider Brian Shouse who had an incredible 3 year run as the LOOGY from 20006-2008, and while that type of pitcher doesn't exist today, it did for a large proportion of the 2000-2025 time frame.

[keephopealive]

I think Turnbow should be on the honorable mention list.  His overall numbers weren't special, but he was the most exciting guy in the team in 2005.  They would pump that Metallica, and his hair would be flying around.  Pre-Hader, Turnbow was the long-haired guy.