Can Garrett Mitchell Hold Off the Challengers for His Job in Center Field?

Center field was a strength for the Brewers in 2025, with Jackson Chourio and Blake Perkins patrolling the position for most of the year. However, after another year riddled with injuries, Garrett Mitchell is healthy(ish) and slated for that spot for the beginning of the 2026 season, with Chourio on the injured list and Perkins demoted to the fringes of the roster. Given Mitchell’s injury and production history, as well as how his bat looked during spring training, the Brewers will need suitable backup options in center field who should be able to provide value. 

Mitchell's Cactus League numbers were hideous, but spring training stats don't count, and he's looked fairly good since the year began. He's showing great patience and still has exceptional bat speed. He's changed his setup in the batter's box, spreading out more to shorten his stride and put himself in a better position to make contact and avoid chasing pitches he can't handle well.

Nonetheless, Mitchell is whiffing often and striking out at a high rate. That threatens to make his profile collapse, as he gets greater exposure to the league. Fallback plans remain important.

The Brewers have numerous capable center fielders on the roster, but with Chourio in left (once he returns from his injury) and Sal Frelick in right, the next man up after Mitchell would seemingly be Brandon Lockridge. Acquired in a trade with the Padres at the deadline last year that sent Nestor Cortes to San Diego, Lockridge was solid for the Brewers in the 20 games he appeared in, hitting .261/.308/.370. Lockridge’s defense and speed were exceptional, though, ending 2025 with 5 Outs Above Average, according to Statcast, and showcasing even better speed than Mitchell has. The bat is certainly a question, but due to some “swing-hauling” over the offseason, he took full advantage of his opportunities in Phoenix this spring. The former fifth-round pick fared better against lefties than against righties, but that seems to make his fit onto the roster work better—especially with both Chourio and Andrew Vaughn sidelined.

With Mitchell as the left-handed hitting starting center fielder, Lockridge could provide value as a fill-in to give guys rest or a late-inning pinch-hitter for either Mitchell or Frelick if there is a southpaw on the mound. Pat Murphy seems to be excited about what Lockridge can do for the Brewers in 2026, and fans should be, as well. 

Besides Lockridge, the other immediate option would be Perkins, who has played in 242 games with the Brewers in multiple stints over the past three years. He hasn’t shown much with his bat, though, and doesn't seem to have the trust of the manager or the front office at the moment. The 29-year-old brought a career .232/.314/.348 line into 2026, and his skillset is like Lockridge's: defense and speed define his game.

Mitchell will certainly have his work cut out for him this year, and will need to prove that he belongs (and can physically stay) in the everyday lineup. Lockridge has been trending up for a while now, and if he starts the season strongly, the pressure will only build for Mitchell. The bottom line is that whoever is in center will need to provide offensive value. All three names listed are capable defenders and possess great speed, so the true battle to watch as the season unfolds will be in the batter’s box.

That also makes it worth mentioning one more player: Jett Williams. If neither Mitchell nor Lockridge establishes a sturdy claim to center by the middle of June or so, Williams could enter the equation in a hurry. He's as dynamic in terms of speed and glovework as the others, though he's spent more time on the infield and thus is much less experienced in the grass. Offensively, he might be the highest-ceiling player in the bunch, but he has to show he can hit in Triple-A, before the team will want to test whether he can do so in the big leagues.

Depth is a strength of the organization. They're extremely unlikely, this year, to end up giving playing time to a player like Steward Berroa or Akil Baddoo in center field, which is a testament to the front office's planning and proactivity. Mitchell remains the de facto starter, but behind him, a growing number of qualified candidates are queuing for the chance to move into the lineup if he falters.