Depth Check: What Milwaukee Brewers Have at Shortstop in 2026

[Michael Trzinski]

Image courtesy of © Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Much was expected of Joey Ortiz coming into the 2025 campaign. After spending most of the previous season at third base, Ortiz moved to shortstop to make up for the departure of Willy Adames to the San Francisco Giants. Ortiz played nearly 84% of all shortstop innings for Milwaukee, but was removed for a pinch-hitter 34 times during the season, spotlighting his less-than-stellar bat. Andruw Monasterio made 21 starts at the ‘6,’ while Brice Turang and Caleb Durbin moved over to short three times each to finish games.

(Stats are from 2025, while age is as of the start of the 2026 season.)
PRIMARY STARTER
Joey Ortiz
AB: 470, H: 108, 2B: 18, 3B: 1, HR: 7, RBI: 45, .230/.276/.317; K: 74, BB: 27, SB: 14
DRS: -2, OAA: +12
Age: 27
Ortiz saw most of his offensive numbers decline from the previous season. His home-run total dropped from 11 to 7, and his walk rate was cut in half. The only thing that showed improvement was his strikeout rate, which dropped from 20.2% to 14.6%. Ortiz’s average exit velocity dropped from 87.8 mph to 84.9; his barrel percentage dropped from 4.6% to 3.0%; and his hard-hit percentage dropped from 38.4% to 32.8%. No wonder he only had 26 extra-base hits in 2025, compared to 42 the previous year.

Ortiz missed 10 games at the end of August due to a left hamstring injury, and after he returned, he collected only two extra-base hits among 15 base hits during September.  

Defensively, Ortiz is still an above-average defender, with plus hands and instincts and more than enough arm for shortstop. On the bases, Ortiz is a good runner, and after 25 steals in his first two years, he could become a 20-steal guy for the running Brewers.

Is the third time (season) the charm for Ortiz? A fast start to the season is a must for him, because he has at least two top prospects nipping at his heels. True, Brewer Fanatic top prospect Jesús Made and No. 3 Cooper Pratt are probably at least a year away, but the Brewers might consider calling Pratt up earlier—especially if Ortiz continues to fall short of his potential.  

BACK-UPS
Andruw Monasterio
AB: 126, H: 34, 2B: 9, 3B: 0, HR: 4, RBI: 16, .270/.319/.437; K: 32, BB: 7, SB: 6
DRS: -1, OAA: 0
Age: 28
Monasterio had perhaps his best year in 2025, his third campaign in the big leagues. His batting average, slugging average, and OPS+ (109) were career bests. His walk rate (5.2%) and strikeout rate (23.7%) are both worse than average, but he showed some pop and speed and played decent defense, which is all you really need from a backup player.

On defense, his numbers weren’t great, but they weren’t terrible. He has good speed on the bases and would probably steal at least 20 bags if he got 400 at-bats.

Monasterio started 21 games at short, eight at second base, and five at the hot corner, the latter being his main home in 2023 and 2024. He can also play first base or left field in a pinch. In other words, he is a valuable, versatile player.

Others
Brice Turang, Caleb Durbin

MINOR LEAGUE PROSPECTS/DEPTH
Cooper Pratt
AB: 437, H: 104, 2B: 22, 3B: 1, HR: 8, RBI: 62, .238/.343/.348; K: 80, BB: 67, SB: 31
(Stats from Double-A Biloxi)
Age: 21
Pratt was a sixth-round pick in 2023 and has moved up the ladder nicely in his first three years as a pro. Although his slash numbers all dropped off last season, he set career highs with 22 doubles, 62 RBIs, and 67 bases on balls. Both his walk rate (12.7%) and his strikeout rate (15.2%) are solidly above-average. His 6-foot-4 frame should fill out, and he should show 15-20-homer power.

He won a minor league Gold Glove in 2024 and has good instincts and a good arm. Although given only a 50 grade for running, he has stolen 62 of 70 bases in his pro career, an impressive 88% success rate.

Depending on what the Brewers choose to do with him and Jesús Made, it appears that Pratt will start at Triple-A Nashville while Made gets more experience at Biloxi.

Jesús Made
AB: 453, H: 129, 2B: 28, 3B: 6, HR: 6, RBI: 61, .285/.379/.413; K: 108, BB: 67, SB: 47
(Stats combined from Low-A Carolina, High-A Wisconsin, and Double-A Biloxi)
Age: 18
Made has done everything the Brewers had hoped for when they signed him as an international free agent in 2024. He hits for average, shows some in-game power, plays solid defense, and steals bases at an 81% success rate, with 75 stolen bases in just 166 games as a professional.

His 2025 strikeout rate was about average, at 20.6%, while his walk rate was a robust 12.8%. He had 40 extra-base hits and 47 steals over three levels during the season.

Again, he and Pratt are two top prospects fighting for one spot, but it is possible that one of them will move to third base while the other stays at shortstop. Next season will tell us a lot.

Other Minor League Depth
Freddy Zamora, Nashville
Raynel Delgado, Nashville
Ethan Murray, Biloxi/Nashville

These three guys are organizational depth, rather than prospects, but any of the three could fill in for a short period in an emergency for the Brewers.

Conclusion
Shortstop is in good hands for the foreseeable future, with Ortiz, Made, and Pratt. The best-case scenario would be if Ortiz steps up his game and allows the other two to ripen at Nashville and Biloxi. The worst case will be if Ortiz falls apart offensively and either Made or Pratt need to make an earlier-than-expected trip to Uecker Field.

But even that wouldn’t be so bad.

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[ClosetBrewerFan]

Ray Delgado was a free agent and signed with the Rays on a minor league contract yesterday.  You can cross him off the list. https://www.rotowire.com/baseball/headlines/raynel-delgado-news-signs-with-rays-989484.

I feel like the Brewers will sign a vet (likely a minor league contract) to push Ortiz in the spring. We need some insurance if there is an injury or poor production early as Pratt wont likely be ready by then

[Trax]

I do not believe Ortiz will ever be more at the plate than what we have seen.  On a deep team he is a defensive replacement.  It may be hard to add a quality vet at SS with none on our farm clubs ready.  It may be much easier to add a vet at 2nd or 3rd and move Turang to short.

[KCBrewerfan34]

Did something happen to Pena? 

[sveumrules]

11 minutes ago, KCBrewerfan34 said:

Did something happen to Pena? 

Struggled both offensively and defensively in Wisco.

I'd guess he starts 2026 back in Appleton playing primarily SS since he's still young, but it's sounding like his glove is probably destined for 2B/3B/OF down the road even if Pratt and Made weren't ahead of him in the SS pecking order.

[ClosetBrewerFan]

50 minutes ago, Trax said:

I do not believe Ortiz will ever be more at the plate than what we have seen.  On a deep team he is a defensive replacement.  It may be hard to add a quality vet at SS with none on our farm clubs ready.  It may be much easier to add a vet at 2nd or 3rd and move Turang to short.

You dont believe Ortiz could repeat his 2024 season? A 726 OPS with a good glove is definitely playable. He certainly regressed last year, but it would not be the first time a player regressed in his sophomore season and then rebounded the next year. I'm willing to give him another chance, particularly since most every other option I have heard is unlikely to result in a guy with the potential of 726 OPS and a good glove.

[Trax]

20 minutes ago, ClosetBrewerFan said:

You dont believe Ortiz could repeat his 2024 season? A 726 OPS with a good glove is definitely playable. He certainly regressed last year, but it would not be the first time a player regressed in his sophomore season and then rebounded the next year. I'm willing to give him another chance, particularly since most every other option I have heard is unlikely to result in a guy with the potential of 726 OPS and a good glove.

I believe if either year was a fluke, it was the earlier one.  I hope I'm wrong and he'll get opportunity.  I just don't see it.  He looked lost at the plate most of last year with a brief good stint.  we have to improve at the plate at that position by leaps and bounds and I do not think he is the answer short or long term.

[rafa79]

"we have to improve at the plate at that position by leaps and bounds and I do not think he is the answer short or long term."

While I do not think Ortiz is the answer at SS long term because of Pratt, I couldn't DISAGREE with you more about needing to "improve at the plate by leaps and bounds."  

For one, it's just not the Brewer way if you've been watching the last 5-6 years, we're a run prevention team.  Besides my opinion, Matt Arnold is ecstatic with Ortiz's defense.

Thirdly, if the Brewers get an outfielder who can rake, the need for offense at the SS position goes down significantly. Ortiz might give up some playing time to a veteran this year, maybe starting 65% and the veteran 35% but no way is he NOT going to play a lot of SS this year.

[dsid74]

Ortiz would be most valuable as a utility guy.  He runs well and plays well above average defense at multiple positions.  Utilize him as a defensive replacement and occasional starter/platoon player against LHP. 

They should have Turang working out at SS this winter to acclimate his arm/shoulder to avoid  what happened last spring when they wanted to see how he looked there.

Offensive production from the SS is the area that the Brewers can make their biggest improvement going into next season.  Based on what is available moving Turang and looking at 2/3B makes the most sense.

Joey has value.  They just need to put him in a position to succeed.  That mean limiting his PT and utilizing him more for defense and ability to hit LHP.

[sveumrules]

19 minutes ago, rafa79 said:

"we have to improve at the plate at that position by leaps and bounds and I do not think he is the answer short or long term."

While I do not think Ortiz is the answer at SS long term because of Pratt, I couldn't DISAGREE with you more about needing to "improve at the plate by leaps and bounds."  

For one, it's just not the Brewer way if you've been watching the last 5-6 years, we're a run prevention team.  Besides my opinion, Matt Arnold is ecstatic with Ortiz's defense.

Thirdly, if the Brewers get an outfielder who can rake, the need for offense at the SS position goes down significantly. Ortiz might give up some playing time to a veteran this year, maybe starting 65% and the veteran 35% but no way is he NOT going to play a lot of SS this year.

Welcome to the site.

[Brock Beauchamp]

46 minutes ago, rafa79 said:

"we have to improve at the plate at that position by leaps and bounds and I do not think he is the answer short or long term."

While I do not think Ortiz is the answer at SS long term because of Pratt, I couldn't DISAGREE with you more about needing to "improve at the plate by leaps and bounds."  

For one, it's just not the Brewer way if you've been watching the last 5-6 years, we're a run prevention team.  Besides my opinion, Matt Arnold is ecstatic with Ortiz's defense.

Thirdly, if the Brewers get an outfielder who can rake, the need for offense at the SS position goes down significantly. Ortiz might give up some playing time to a veteran this year, maybe starting 65% and the veteran 35% but no way is he NOT going to play a lot of SS this year.

I understand your point, but I think you're ignoring just how bad Ortiz was with the bat. He was the third-worst qualified hitter in baseball by wRC+.

That's not a little bad, that's unplayable. He definitely needs to improve, and by a lot, to be a functional starter in this league.

[Jim French Stepstool]

20 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

I understand your point, but I think you're ignoring just how bad Ortiz was with the bat. He was the third-worst qualified hitter in baseball by wRC+.

That's not a little bad, that's unplayable. He definitely needs to improve, and by a lot, to be a functional starter in this league.

If he had #s like he put up in '24 would that make him a functional starter in your opinion?

[rafa79]

My previous comment on Ortiz was a combination of my feeling that he will be better next year and the Brewers Brass clearly stating that Ortiz is a valuable commodity.

 

Of course, the Brewers are not going to show their hand but this is consistent with the organization - whether fans like it or not, the Brewers have ALWAYS emphasized defense.  

After Turang's rookie season, people everywhere on the Brewer blogs were talking about how he's only a utility player and maybe better used at AAA and on the Brewers. 

Ortiz is of course a different player without Turang's ceiling but people here are acting like this is the only way to get better offensively and the team could very easily focus on an impact bat in the outfield to go along with Chourio and Frelick. 

In short, fans are NOT thinking the Brewer way.

[Brock Beauchamp]

1 hour ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

If he had #s like he put up in '24 would that make him a functional starter in your opinion?

Absolutely, he was close to league average in 2024.

[long ball]

The Brewers should explore improving the offense at short stop. I just think doing so will be quite challenging. 
 

Very limited viable free agent targets. 
 

With Pratt and/or Made likely being he future of the position as soon as 2027, it doesn’t make sense to sink a lot of trade capitol or financial investment into adding a player at SS. 
 

I suppose it’s possible the if Freddy is traded, part of the return could include a short stop option. Similar to a Caleb Durbin- low ceiling, highish floor, older prospect that a team would be willing to part with in a Freddy trade. 
 

Really the only feasible way I see an upgrade at SS is if they shuffle the infield alignment and move Turang to SS and add a player at either second or third to improve the offense. I have no idea what the appetite is for this within the org. 
 

Ultimately, Ortiz likely starts 2026 as the primary starter at SS. We just have to hope he hits more like 2024 than he did in 2025. 

[Frisbee Slider]

Brewers signed Eddys Leonard to minor league deal.. He used to play SS? 🤷‍♂️

186 innings at SS in 2024. I assume there is a reason he moved to being a utility player.

[TURBO]

On 11/20/2025 at 2:00 PM, Brock Beauchamp said:

I understand your point, but I think you're ignoring just how bad Ortiz was with the bat. He was the third-worst qualified hitter in baseball by wRC+.

That's not a little bad, that's unplayable. He definitely needs to improve, and by a lot, to be a functional starter in this league.

Enter Sveumrules to refute everything you just said with other stats.   ;)

[Brock Beauchamp]

11 hours ago, TURBO said:

Enter Sveumrules to refute everything you just said with other stats.   ;)

I'd love to see his counterargument!