3 Brewers Players Who Exceeded Expectations in the First Half

While they were very much counted as part of the race, the Brewers didn't enter the 2024 season as favorites to win the NL Central. Yet, at the All-Star break, there they sit, four and a half games ahead of the Cardinals atop the division standings. To be so much outstripping their preseason projections, they needed to get some surprising performances. Here are three guys who have fit that bill.

LHP Bryan Hudson
For a player who was designated for assignment by the Dodgers in the last week of 2023, Hudson has already exceeded his anticipated value. He was acquired in exchange for Justin Chambers and a player to be named later, and has been outstanding since arriving in the great state of Wisconsin. His numbers are simply outlandish; absurd; mind-boggling.

Over 48 ⅓ innings, he’s pitched to a 1.49 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, and 9.9 K/9. Despite not throwing anything harder than the low 90s, his 29.3% strikeout rate bespeaks his dominance. His four-seam fastball averages 91.7 mph, while his sweeper and cutter both sit in the 80s. His fastball pairing is competitive, but his sweeper is where the rubber meets the road. Opposing batters are averaging just .039 on plate appearances that end with that pitch, while striking out 45.6% of the time.

The Brewers have been remarkably consistent at churning out top-tier arms, especially in the pen, and Hudson seems like the latest example on a long list of successful experiments. With a 6’8” frame and a crafty lefty delivery, Milwaukee may have found a real diamond in the rough with plenty of team control left.

OF Christian Yelich
As a Brewers fan, you’ve likely heard some version of “Christian Yelich is so back, I’m going to wager my child’s entire college fund on [insert gambling app] for him to win MVP” storyline, before every season since he wrapped up his superb 2019. In the years since, he’s struggled to be the same person he was when he first joined the Brewers, averaging just a .768 OPS from 2020-2023.

But this year’s different, I swear. This is the most first-half momentum he has had in a while, slashing .326/.412/.521 on the way to receiving his first All-Star nod in five years. He leads the National League in batting average, but also has 12 doubles, three triples, 11 home runs, and 21 stolen bases. His quality-of-contact numbers are mostly unchanged, but he’s striking out and whiffing considerably less. Specifically, he’s been able to cut down his strikeout rate against sliders by 10.1% and against sweepers by 19.1%.

His 2.5 rWAR has already matched the mark he reached in 671 plate appearances in 2022, and he’s on pace to eclipse the 3.6 he had last year. While haters (Cardinals fans) may bet on regression down the stretch, he’s dazzled in the first half.

2B Brice Turang
In 2023, the rookie Turang posted a .585 OPS and 60 OPS+ after nearly a full season of starting at second base. It was pretty rough, but after switching from whole milk to oat milk in the offseason (and accidentally adopting a new bat handle, and a few other crucial thing, Turang has evolved into one of the most impactful infielders in 2024. His OPS has jumped to .731, thanks to a boost in his batting average from .218 to .277. It's a meaningful jump. It’s even more meaningful when you realize that his top-tier speed has allowed him to steal 30 bases, four more than he did all of last season.

The biggest driver behind this offensive renaissance is his newfound ability to pound the four-seam fastball. Last year, he averaged .198 and slugged .267 against four-seamers, making him an easy out for many pitchers. This year, he’s averaging .362 and slugging .486 against the same pitch. Combined with his stellar defense, his 4.0 rWAR leads the team by a comfortable margin. 

If 2024 Turang is indeed the Turang of the future, Milwaukee may have their hands on a powerhouse middle infielder for the next several years. In the meantime, every game seems to bring them closer to getting their hands on a second straight division title.