Has Brice Turang (Already!) Become the Best Second Baseman in Brewers History?

[Harold Hutchison]

Image courtesy of © Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

Over the last two seasons, Brice Turang has been a crucial asset for the Milwaukee Brewers. Whether it's his defense or a bat that has twice made quantum leaps in its potency, he’s become (arguably) the crucial component of the Brewers' infield.

A glance at his OPS+ progression speaks to his improvement. In 2023, it was 61, with Turang’s defense being all that made him a borderline starter and ninth-place hitter. After that, though, he posted an 86 OPS+ in 2024—while stealing 50 bases and securing a Gold Glove and Platinum Glove. It was a version of Turang a lot of Brewers fans could live with… but Turang had other ideas.

In 2025, he set career highs in batting average, hits, runs, doubles, homers, RBIs, walks, OBP and slugging percentage, on his way to a 120 OPS+. Meanwhile, his defense was still at a high level, even if some numbers might not say so. In fact, if he keeps playing like this, he may make a case as one of the best second basemen in Brewers history. He might even be the best.

First, let’s look at the top-five list, which was compiled prior to the 2023 season.

5.  Jim Gantner (.274/.319/.351, with 47 HR and 568 RBI in 17 seasons)

4. Ronnie Belliard (.263/.341./.396, with 30 HR and 170 RBI in 4 seasons)

3. Paul Molitor (.300/.349/.428, with 24 HR and 144 RBI in 3 seasons at 2B, .303/.367/.411 with 160 HR and 790 RBI in 15 seasons)

2. Fernando Vina (.286/.349/.389, with 22 HR and 164 RBI in 5 seasons)

1. Rickie Weeks (.249/.347/.424, with 161 HR and 474 RBI in 11 seasons)

Here is Turang’s line over three seasons: .257/.324/.368, with 31 homers and 171 RBI. Tack on an even 100 stolen bases, and his aforementioned hardware, and it appears he’s got a case for a spot in the top five. Offensively, he’s eclipsed Molitor, Belliard, and Vina in homers and RBI. In terms of defense, he’s got the hardware Gantner never got.

But where exactly does Turang go? As of the end of the 2025 regular season, it seems pretty clear that he’s at least fourth, going past Gantner and Belliard. This takes Gantner off the top five list and down to an honorable mention.

That leaves Molitor, Vina, and Weeks as the other contenders. Turang’s topped Molitor in the counting stats, and in hardware, so in terms of the three seasons Molitor was a primary second baseman, Turang has him beat there. Vina’s counting stats have been similarly eclipsed, and over a longer period of time.

That leaves Rickie Weeks. Turang has been clearly superior to Weeks in the field—not that Weeks wasn’t capable of some dazzling plays—as evidenced by not just the film, but the numbers and the awards.

On the other hand, Weeks was arguably the most dynamic offensive threat the Crew had at the position. Turang’s 2024 season was the floor for Weeks, who was a threat not just at the plate, but on the basepaths.

Turang has four more years of team control after 2025. During that time, if he maintains his 2025 production (or even a happy medium between his 2024 and 2025 totals), he could surpass Weeks. If the Crew can work out an extension for a generational defensive talent whose bat is improving, Turang could set the standard for Brewers second basemen for years to come.

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[jay87shot]

He has probably had 2 of the best seasons of Brewers 2B ever but he is going to need to do I for longer to be the best ever. Gantner and Rickie were good for a while and played on good teams. I would say Brice needs like 2-3 more years at the 4-5 WAR area to go against guys with 11 and 17 years. I do think that list is pretty flawed but will leave that for now. 

[Samurai Bucky]

I think he has earned a longer-termed contract.

[MattK]

2 hours ago, Samurai Bucky said:

I think he has earned a longer-termed contract.

He has, agreed.  The questions are what he thinks he is worth and - with the group of young middle infielders coming up in the system - what the front office would be willing to pay him.

[MattK]

11 hours ago, jay87shot said:

He has probably had 2 of the best seasons of Brewers 2B ever but he is going to need to do I for longer to be the best ever. Gantner and Rickie were good for a while and played on good teams. I would say Brice needs like 2-3 more years at the 4-5 WAR area to go against guys with 11 and 17 years. I do think that list is pretty flawed but will leave that for now. 

An interesting question to me is whether Weeks was ever the "best" second baseman in the majors.  It seemed fairly clearly this season that either Turang or Hoerner were, across the majors, and maybe Brice had a case for that last year due to his speed and D.  Unsure Rickie ever was, while playing in more offensive times.
And Brice just played his age 25 season.  He is just coming into his prime.  That is the biggest reason for the club to try to sign him to a deal through his arbitration years, plus a couple of more.

[gregmag]

Gantner had 4.3 bWAR in his career year, 1983. He never had another season above 2.6 bWAR, and he only topped 2 bWAR four other times.

Fernando Vina wasn’t even a poor man’s Jim Gantner, with a top Brewers bWAR of 3.1 and nothing else over 1.7.  Peaked at 3.2 with St. Louis in 2000.

Ronnie Belliard? Top two Brewers seasons of 3.5 and 2.4.  Had his best year with Cleveland at 4.5 in 2005.

Weeks, unlike the other three, actually put up two 3-WAR seasons as a Brewer: 3.6 and 3.0.

Turang, in just three seasons, already has two — 4.7 last year, 5.5 this year — that beat any season any of those four guys ever put up.  

He has already clearly eclipsed all of them, unless you want to argue that standing around for 17 years taking up space on mostly bad teams amounts to something other than mediocrity.

Molitor had the only Brewers 2b career better than Turang’s, barely — 12.1 bWAR to 11.7, both in three seasons.  I don’t know what to do about 1990, when Molitor put up 3.2 bWAR in 103 games, just 60 at 2b. Turang won’t be Paul Molitor, but if he has one or two more good years, he’ll be a greater Brewers 2b than Paul Molitor was.

(Shout out to Don Money — 5.1 bWAR in his only year as a primary 2b, 1977.)

 

 

[GasserFace]

I think these conversations should be broken into peak value and long term value.  Obviously, peak value would be just 1 season.  I would define long term value as 5+ seasons.  With that said, here are the peak seasons to consider:

• Weeks - 2010 - 6 fWAR - 127 wRC+
• Molitor - 1979 - 5.1 fAR - 127 wRC+
• Molitor - 1982 - 5.6 fWAR - 132 xRC+
• Turang - 2025 4.4 fWAR - 124 wRC+

I think Molitor wins the peak conversation.  Weeks wins the long term battle,.  If Brice plays close to his 2025 levels moving forward, he could take both titles in this conversation.

[Harold Hutchison]

2 hours ago, GasserFace said:

I think these conversations should be broken into peak value and long term value.  Obviously, peak value would be just 1 season.  I would define long term value as 5+ seasons.  With that said, here are the peak seasons to consider:

• Weeks - 2010 - 6 fWAR - 127 wRC+
• Molitor - 1979 - 5.1 fAR - 127 wRC+
• Molitor - 1982 - 5.6 fWAR - 132 xRC+
• Turang - 2025 4.4 fWAR - 124 wRC+

I think Molitor wins the peak conversation.  Weeks wins the long term battle,.  If Brice plays close to his 2025 levels moving forward, he could take both titles in this conversation.

But the 1982 season had Molitor at the hot corner, not second base.

[GasserFace]

That's fair.  I should have known that, so Weeks takes the peak and long term value award.