Facing an Underwhelming Infield Market, Brewers Should Be Open to Moving Brice Turang to Shortstop

While Brice Turang progressed through the farm system as the Brewers’ homegrown shortstop, Joey Ortiz looks like the in-house favorite to take the reins at the position after Willy Adames’s departure in free agency.

The presence of Adames shifted Turang to second base when he reached the big leagues, where he quickly established himself as a world-class defender. In 271 games at the position, Turang has averaged 19 Defensive Runs Saved per 1,200 innings. He won the National League Platinum Glove Award for his excellence in the field in 2024.

Turang has more than enough range to handle shortstop. However, Ortiz also developed as a shortstop and was scouted as an even better defender, receiving as high as a 70 grade from FanGraphs for his glovework. He backed up that reputation in his rookie season, accruing 8 DRS in 1,098 ⅓ innings at third base.

Neither infielder has a great throwing arm, but Ortiz has showcased the slightly stronger one. While judging throws from second base against throws from third is hardly a fair comparison – the longer throw across the diamond always requires the defender to use more of his arm strength – there’s still a meaningful gap between the two.

Ortiz’s hardest throws of 2024 regularly exceeded 84 mph. Turang averaged 80 mph with max-effort throws on double-play turns. He matched Ortiz’s velocity a few times, but almost exclusively when given the chance to step into an over-the-top throw after receiving the ball as the cutoff man. The difference would be negligible for many plays at shortstop, but Ortiz is better equipped to fire a strong throw on plays where his momentum does not help him, particularly ones in the hole where he ranges toward third base.

Unless the Brewers sign a strong defensive shortstop, the best infield alignment has Ortiz sliding there and Turang remaining at the keystone. It’s seemingly the one Pat Murphy prefers.

“In my mind, if I’m being honest with you, I’m like, ‘Why take this guy off there?’” Murphy said last month of moving Turang off second base.

He repeated that sentiment a few days later, telling the hosts of Foul Territory that his “tendency is probably to leave Brice alone” due to his elite defense at second base.

Murphy acknowledged that Turang can play shortstop and left the possibility open. Even if it’s not the Brewers’ preferred choice, circumstances could force them to pivot in that direction.

The list of available infielders the Brewers can fit within a tight budget is underwhelming, especially if they prefer a right-handed bat with power potential to help replace Adames. Jorge Polanco and Brendan Rodgers are two of the very few who fit that description. Both are lackluster defenders, and neither has the arm strength to be a comfortable fit at third base.

Smart teams in small markets use all of their resources to get the best bang for their buck. The Brewers have often done so by approaching their roster as a dynamic puzzle, instead of focusing on a perceived need at any single position. They must operate under that same mindset as they fill out their infield.

To maximize leverage and opportunities, the Brewers must be willing to move Turang to shortstop and keep Ortiz at third. It may not be Plan A, but sometimes the market dictates that you settle for Plan B or C. That may mean scooping up Rodgers or Polanco to play second base instead of paying more for a third baseman with a lower offensive ceiling.

“I think you’ve got to have the discussion and then see where the other pieces are and see who you have,” Murphy said.

Ortiz looks like the preferred and most likely choice to assume Adames’s old post. Still, having Turang as another option is a luxury that affords the Brewers an opportunity to get more creative. They may have to take advantage of it.