2024 Brewers Positional Preview: Second Base

Last spring, the Brewers seemed to have some certainty at second base. Luis Urías was the incumbent, and showed well in the World Baseball Classic, for México. After an Opening Day injury and subsequent struggles, though, Urías was shipped to Boston, and Tur

The Starter: Brice Turang
2023 Stats: .218/.285/.300 with 9 2B, 6 HR, 1.6 WAR, 62 OPS+
2024 Projection: .236/.306/.357 with 13 2B, 9 HR (Baseball-Reference.com)

Turang was one of several Brewers rookies to play a key part in the Crew’s 2023 run to the NL Central title, finishing third in Top Rookie balloting among Brewer Fanatic’s writers. He finished second on the team in stolen bases with 26.

Turang’s primary contributions came from outstanding defense that is Gold Glove-level. He posted 1.7 Defensive Wins Above Replacement as the team’s primary starter at the keystone, and he also was the team’s shortstop in 22 error-free games.

Offensively, in the minors, Turang combined superb OBP skills with a decent contact bat and speed to be quite productive. In the majors, though, he seemed to be overwhelmed after a hot streak. Turang probably needs to adjust his approach at the plate and refine his swing to remain viable, because the Brewers have a lot of depth (read: competition).

Other Options
Andruw Monasterio took over for Turang late in the season, when it was clear that his fellow rookie’s bat was just not carrying the load. Monasterio, who went from unheralded prospect to cult hero and Top Rookie for 2023, brings a competent bat and very solid defense to the table.

Oliver Dunn came the Brewers in a deal that saw Robert Moore Jr. and Hendry Mendez go to the Phillies system. Dunn’s left-handed bat promises to be more powerful than Turang’s, but his defense isn’t at Turang’s level (whose is?). Manager Pat Murphy also increasingly sees Dunn as a third baseman, which might lessen the likelihood of the older rookie usurping the sophomore and former first-round pick.

Joey Ortiz came to the Crew in the Corbin Burnes trade – and while he’s primarily a shortstop, he could move to the right side of second base for as long as Willy Adames is in Milwaukee. Ortiz hits the ball hard and provides excellent defense, and is arguably a direct competitor to Turang.

Sal Frelick has played outfield throughout his professional career but saw some infield action at the Futures Collegiate League in 2018 and 2020. He could become a factor in the event of a Turang slump, or simply due to a crowded outfield.

The Big Questions
Each option, including the incumbent from 2023, has a major question to answer in spring training. Can Brice Turang figure things out at the plate at the major-league level? Turang’s defense is such that if he can push himself to an average OPS+, he would be one of the best second basemen in MLB. Failing to figure it out, though, will have him as a bench option for his career – not that defense and speed aren’t needed.

Monasterio emerged last year as a cult hero lefty-killer who was solid at second, third, and shortstop – a modern-day Mark Loretta – and who provided the ability to hit for average, something the Brewers struggled at in 2023. He showed no power down the stretch, though. Carrying some extra muscle at the start of camp, can he fight through the newly-acquired infield talent?

Is Dunn MLB ready? He has power, speed, and a good offensive profile to go with versatility (he plays second, third, left field), but he only had 14 at-bats at any level above Double-A. Whether he can handle MLB pitching is a very open question.

Will Ortiz even be available to play second? If the Brewers get an offer they can’t refuse for Willy Adames, he could be on the left side of the bag instead.

Where will Frelick play? Frelick could end up at any number of positions for the Brewers in 2024. He could be in center field. He could be in right field. He could be at third base. He could be at second base. He could even end up as part of a trade.

What do you think about second base for the Brewers? Who will emerge as the starter in this free-for-all?