Why the Brewers Keep Giving Anthony Seigler Opportunities Against Right-Handed Pitching

[Jack Stern]

Image courtesy of © Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

When the Brewers brought the winning run to the plate with two outs against San Francisco Giants reliever Ryan Walker on Sunday, Pat Murphy pinch-hit left-handed-hitting Anthony Seigler for Caleb Durbin—who had hit a go-ahead home run earlier in the game and has three walk-off plate appearances this year.

Seigler took four pitches outside the strike zone, but a high strike call on the first pitch contributed to an eventual strikeout. That dropped his season slash to .208/.317/.208. Yet, he has continued to receive key plate appearances against right-handed pitchers. While not in a straight platoon with Durbin at third base, Seigler has taken more of what were once his starts against righties.

The box score results have not been pretty, but it's been a small sample of 64 plate appearances, and the Brewers have been impressed by the process of his at-bats.

"I don't know about you," Murphy said at the start of the weekend, "but I look up at the board and I see his—what do you call it?—his [slash] line, and I'm like, 'Is that right?' Because it seems like it's been a lot more successful than his line is."

The metrics agree. Seigler's .335 xwOBA and 102 DRC+ are both a few ticks above the league averages, suggesting his plate appearances have been much better process-wise than his results. He is swinging at the right pitches and hitting plenty of solid line drives, skills that are typically conducive to big-league success.

His run value on swings is negative in the graphic below because of his poor results, but Seigler's swing decisions have been excellent. He is selective, but not passive. According to Statcast, he has chased just 16.3% of pitches outside the zone, while offering at pitches over the heart of the plate at an above-average rate. That discernment has fueled a strong 12.5% walk rate, against an 18.8% strikeout rate.

While he has not shown much pop, Seigler's combination of a league-average hard hit rate, above-average contact rate, and elite sweet spot rate (batted balls hit with a launch angle between 8 and 32 degrees) should lead to more success than he has experienced so far.

"We think that he's given us enough results, meaning we know what he's capable of," Murphy said. "He's capable of consistent contact. He's capable of ball-striking it. And the most important thing he's capable of is that he's not intimidated by the moment, and that's what always impressed me the most. Here's a guy that's never been in the big leagues, and he acts like he's been here. His presence at the dish, he acts like he's been here.

"It's just one of those things where I think he's proven to me that he's got a spot here."

Several of this season's role players, including Isaac Collins and Brice Turang, owe much of their success to swing decisions and hitting the ball at the right trajectory. Seigler features those same attributes. That's why he has usurped Durbin in certain spots against right-handers—including on Sunday against Walker, whose deceptive crossfire delivery has held righties to a .567 OPS this year.

"Seigler's got a knack for getting on base in big situations," Murphy said after the game. "Durbin is not a good matchup for that guy. The few weaknesses Durbin has, that's not a good matchup."

It may raise eyebrows, but the Brewers have valid reasons for believing in Seigler. If the results do not improve over time or his at-bats worsen, they will have to reevaluate. That time has not yet arrived, though. Nor should it do so for at least a few more weeks.

"I think he and Durbin kind of give us a nice combination there, and we want to stick to that," Murphy said.

View full article

[Ron750]

“If he’s such a good hitter, why can’t he hit?”  
I am a fan of letting young players develop like we did with Joey Ortiz, and Bryce Turang, but not in the middle of a pennant race. 

[Frisbee Slider]

Also Moneyball, ‘It’s a process’

Process is probably what the Brewers do better than any other team. If nothing else, Durbin getting a few days rest seems to have reenergized his bat.

 

[Brian]

The only thing I see in him is a player that can fill in at 4 different positions in a pinch.  Seigler’s ambidextrousness is what awed the scouts I am guessing. 

[JohnBriggs12]

He's 26, has played 442 games in the minors where he's hit .227.  His one offensive talent appears to be his ability to swing at strikes and lay off balls outside the zone.  He's an ideal leadoff hitter at the AAA level.

Seigler has some attributes that make him a decent last man on the bench.  But he should not be taking AB's from Durbin in critical games.

[Lathund]

There is no stronger force in the universe than the power of a small sample size in the mind of a Baseball fan. The average baseball fan will look at Seiglers (lack of) prospect status, they'll look at his minor league stats prior to the last year, and they'll look at the first few handfulls of plate appearances, and they'll deduce that he's terrible and that view won't change for a long time, not even if he does well. Swing decisions, Statcast "xstats", none of it will matter, the tiny sample size stat line will dominate the conversation. And the prevailing opinon on here has been wrong so, so many times. Usually because they make their mind up based on absolutely nothing. Or, statistical illiteracy in various forms. 

Now will Seigler turn out to be a good player? I don't know. But what he has done so far, such as what has been pointed out in the article, absolutely suggests he should get more chances. Brewers like their good swing profiles, and they seem to understand a thing or two about batted ball profiles. I like to do what I usually do, and trust that they know what they're doing. They won't always be right, but more often than not they will be. And I do think they're right about Seigler. 

[tmwiese55]

I'm far from a knee jerk person.  I get what they're trying to do with him and want to give him a good fair chance, and generally he'd been getting some better results until recently.   To me, the first time I started thinking enough is enough was the defensive F ups in saturday's games.  I know one wasn't technically an error but a good defender at least keeps it in the infield.   The other was a huge botch to cost them runs.   

I'm at the point that they should tone down the platoon a bit. Sure, some starts to keep giving him a try and to rest others.  But PH at clutch situation purely because of platoons I think can go away, maybe management has agreed too since they didn't do it last night and it ended up with Durbin hitting a big HR

[Joseph Zarr]

I will continue to trust the process with their greater roster depth. None of the Blue Chip prospects are ready for an opportunity. Not only is Seigler's process extremely sound (with  an over abundant amount of bad luck in the batted balls profile), he is absolutely beloved in the clubhouse. There is a reason he has a long leash and there is a reason his current manager has come out and clearly publicly supported him and his place on the roster and in the PT rotation. He's going to continue getting opportunities because he's earned them. It's as simple as that.

[sveumrules]

2 hours ago, JohnBriggs12 said:

He's 26, has played 442 games in the minors where he's hit .227. 

Over 1,210 PA with the Yankees organization from 2018 to 2024 Seigler hit 218/359/358 (108 wRC+). This includes all his time at the easiest / lowest levels of the minor leagues.

Over his 267 PA with the Brewers in AAA this year he hit 277/416/465 (140 wRC+). Could just be small sample noise, could be a player in his physical prime experiencing a change in his true talent level. Only way to find out is to run him out there at the MLB level to see what happens.

[Michael Trzinski]

3 hours ago, Joseph Zarr said:

,,,he is absolutely beloved in the clubhouse.

They're all jealous of his flow...lol.
 

[tmwiese55]

On 8/26/2025 at 12:11 PM, tmwiese55 said:

I'm far from a knee jerk person.  I get what they're trying to do with him and want to give him a good fair chance, and generally he'd been getting some better results until recently.   To me, the first time I started thinking enough is enough was the defensive F ups in saturday's games.  I know one wasn't technically an error but a good defender at least keeps it in the infield.   The other was a huge botch to cost them runs.   

I'm at the point that they should tone down the platoon a bit. Sure, some starts to keep giving him a try and to rest others.  But PH at clutch situation purely because of platoons I think can go away, maybe management has agreed too since they didn't do it last night and it ended up with Durbin hitting a big HR

Two more defensive botches tonight and really still not much to show for results at the plate lately either.  The way this team treats D its shocking the leash he's gotten just due to defense.  Probably have to keep tapering off the platoon more as the month goes on.  The way it is as of now you can't start him in a playoff game, might as well get Durbin abs against righties to prep for it as much as possible.    

But still, starts here and there to rest others and to keep him involved are fine. But the time has to be coming that enough is enough

[H-Factor]

   No reason why this guy is still on the best baseball team in MLB.  Can't hit and his defense is getting worse not better. I can see it already. Game 7 of the world series. It's the 9th inning the Brewers are down by 1 run with 2 out and the bases loaded. They send up lil Anthony to the plate to pinch hit for Durbin who was 3 for 3 and attempting to hit for the cycle.

   Afterwards in a devastated Brewer clubhouse Pat Murphy tells reporters that while he's disappointed  in the outcome he doesn't regret the decision because the metrics chart said it was the right move.