Harold Hutchison

Mejia has enough service time to decline an option - if his options hadn't been burned up already. May be a good choice as a #2 behind Contreras... if the Crew didn't already have Haase. Navarreto may be a minor-league free agent, again, with Quero getting a lot of time at Triple-A, dunno if he is the best choice to keep around (he's six years older than Miller, and his OPS was 120+ points lower than Miller's).

The coming offseason will have some tough decisions for the Brewers. Whom do they keep from a team that won the NL Central Division title, despite long odds? From whom do they need to move on? Image courtesy of © Mike De Sisti / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The 40-man roster is the defining constraint of roster-building in MLB. At times this season, the Brewers had to cut loose some talented options, like Enoli Paredes (now with the Cubs), Janson Junk (with the Astros), James Meeker and Taylor Clarke. We’re likely to see some more painful departures this offseason, too. Let’s look at who the Brewers should keep and who should go, after a little bit of roster math. The Brewers have a full 40-man roster, plus seven players (JB Bukauskas, Robert Gasser, Wade Miley, Brandon Woodruff, Rob Zastryzny, Oliver Dunn, and Christian Yelich) on the 60-day injured list. Miley, Willy Adames, Joe Ross, Frankie Montas, and Gary Sánchez are either pending free agents or have options that won’t be exercised. So, the Brewers have to drop two players to hit the 40-man limit. It gets a little more complicated from there, because there are players eligible for the Rule 5 draft and potential minor-league free agents—including Shane Smith, Logan Henderson, Russell Smith, Ernesto Martinez, and Chad Patrick—who have to be added to the 40-man roster in order not to be made freely available to the other 29 teams. So, who stays and who goes? Drop: SS Vinny Capra Capra isn’t a bad player, but is he really going to break past Joey Ortiz, Brice Turang, and Andruw Monasterio? The Crew might shake up their infield mix after Willy Adames departs this winter, but Turang and Ortiz, alone, make Capra somewhat redundant. Add To 40-Man: 1B/OF Ernesto Martinez Martinez has had a long, laborious path through the minors, but he had a breakout in 2024 with Biloxi. He not only plays excellent defense at first base, but his offensive profile looks like an excellent fit for American Family Field. He can also chip in as an outfielder, making him an intriguing fit for a spot currently taken up by... Drop: 1B/OF Jake Bauers Bauers had some hot streaks that helped carry the Brewers when injuries hit in 2024. He’s got good OBP skills, some pop, can steal a few bases, and provides good defense at first base or in an outfield corner. The problem is, his batting average didn’t quite crack the Uecker line. Between Tyler Black (already on the 40-man) and Martinez, he’s really the third-best option to complement Rhys Hoskins. Add To 40-Man: RHP Logan Henderson Henderson’s stuff is just too good to leave exposed in the Rule 5 draft. He’s a candidate to take the path Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff followed in 2018, and although that's always a longshot, the Brewers should shield him from being plucked away and see how things play out in 2025. Drop: OF Brewer Hicklen If you’re adding Martinez, then Hicklen isn’t someone who can stick around. Even if you aren't, he did relatively little to force his way into the conversation in his cup of coffee last year. Milwaukee just has too much outfield depth for Hicklen to take up a valuable slot throughout the winter. Add To 40-Man: RHP Shane Smith Smith has pitched well in the minors as both a reliever (becoming Brewer Fanatic’s 2023 Minor-League Reliever of the Year) and as a starter. He offers the potential to become a superb multi-inning reliever, perhaps joining Bryse Wilson and Bryan Hudson in that role. Trade: RHP Devin Williams The Brewers will probably trade Williams this winter, rather than pay him as much as $8 million in his final year of arbitration eligibility. The surest way to maximize value for a player like Williams is to be open to taking back a player already on the 40-man as part of the package; teams will force a discount if you force them to send you players you don't have to roster. Besides, proximity to the big leagues will matter, and most close-to-ready prospects are already on the 40-man. That said, if they can get a dazzling pair of young players who aren't yet taking up spots, it would give them some welcome and unexpected options. Add To 40-Man: LHP Russell Smith Smith has blossomed as a late-inning relief option, and some teams could try to take him in the Rule 5 draft to bolster their bullpens. He issues too many walks and doesn't yet evince elite stuff, but he's a 6-foot-7 lefty who had good numbers in Double A this season. He might come in handy as Hudson insurance. Drop: RHP Kevin Herget It’s not that Herget is a bad pitcher, but he will be 34 in 2025, and the Brewers have pitchers who can provide more over the long term than Herget can. However, he can still be optioned to the minor leagues, which makes him a more modular piece than some other fringy relievers and might keep him around a while. Add To 40-Man: C Darrien Miller Miller has superb OBP skills and bats left-handed. This makes him an excellent complement to William Contreras and Jeferson Quero over the long term, even if it's in a purely up-and-down capacity. Every team needs a viable third catcher on their 40-man roster. Drop: IF Oliver Dunn There was a lot of hope for Dunn back in the spring, but his offensive profile just isn’t working out for him. His swing-and-miss was calamitous in MLB this year, and his injury casts doubt on the viability of his defense anywhere but first base. Perhaps a change of scenery could help. Add To 40-Man: RHP Chad Patrick Patrick didn’t seem like much when the Brewers acquired him for Abraham Toro, but he blossomed into a superb starter almost out of nowhere in 2024. His stuff doesn't suggest a high big-league ceiling, but he could be useful depth and pitch in the big leagues as soon as next April or May. Trade: RHP Elvis Peguero For some time now, it has seemed like Peguero might have more value to some other team than to the Brewers. They have so much depth, and so many pitchers they're more comfortable using against lefties—against whom Peguero finds most of his success. He wouldn't be high-end trade bait, but they should be able to swap him out for some lesser version of himself, perhaps with a skill set the team needs more. Drop: LHP Rob Zastryzny Zastryzny comes pretty near the modern ideal of the replaceable left-handed reliever. He's not terrible, but there's nothing he does exceptionally well, either—and he can't be sent to the minors, which nukes his utility on a roster that already features a surfeit of southpaws. Whom do you think the Brewers should add to the 40-man roster, and whom should the Crew cut ties with? Let us know in the comments below! View full article

With the hot stove league not so far into the future, questions about what the Brewers should do in the offseason are already swirling. There is a strong case for them to steer clear of one typical offseason course of action for a team that made an early playoff exit. Image courtesy of © Benny Sieu-Imagn Images The Brewers do not need to enter the free-agent market for external options in the 2024-2025 offseason. Forget pursuing a third baseman via free agency, bolstering the rotation, or bullpen. If fans look at potential needs, they can all be filled in-house. Let’s look over the positions where they might need help. Third Base Should Willy Adames depart Milwaukee, the Brewers will likely slide Joey Ortiz over from third base to fill the gap. So, someone will end up taking over at the hot corner. There are plenty of choices for the Brewers on the 40-man roster or likely to be on it; the most likely options include Tyler Black, Oliver Dunn, and Andruw Monasterio. Black is a pure hitter who performed well at third base in 2023 but saw limited action at the hot corner in 2024 and who likely will adjust to MLB pitching in about the same timeframe it took Jackson Chourio. His big issue has been the lack of a defensive “home,” but he’s been okay during stints at second base, third base, first base, and the outfield. Monasterio, the Brewer Fanatic Rookie of the Year for 2023, held down third base in 2023 for the Brewers when Brian Anderson faded after a hot start. Monasterio’s OPS isn’t the highest on the team, but he’s also a player whose offensive profile complements many everyday players on the Brewers – think Ortiz with less pop. Dunn flashed power and solid defense in limited action in 2024 but struggled to make contact at the MLB level. He did have back problems, and it remains to be seen if a fully healthy Dunn can be part of the answer. Isaac Collins and Sal Frelick could also be options at the hot corner. Both have seen limited action at the hot corner in their professional careers, but neither have been horrid. Catcher Whether or not the Brewers go with three catchers, the team looks to be set behind the plate on the 40-man roster with William Contreras, Eric Haase, and Jeferson Quero. The real question is how long it will take Quero to show he’s fully recovered from the shoulder injury that wrecked his 2024 season. Arguably, the Brewers try to retain Francisco Mejia, but the team has other options in the minors, like Darrien Miller. Wes Clarke saw little action behind the plate in 2024 (only six games), but he was the primary backup catcher at multiple stops during the 2022 and 2023 campaigns. Starting Rotation Here, the Brewers’ depth is almost embarrassing. For 2025, their current 40-man options returning from the 2024 season include Freddy Peralta, Colin Rea, Tobias Myers, and Aaron Civale as mainstays, Brandon Woodruff and Robert Gasser on the comeback trail from injuries, Carlos F. Rodriguez as a potential reinforcement from the minors, DL Hall and Aaron Ashby as potential reinforcements from the bullpen, and Bryse Wilson as a viable emergency option. Then, down at Triple-A Nashville, the Brewers only have Chad Patrick (a likely addition to the 40-man over the offseason), Jacob Misiorowski, Logan Henderson, and 2023 Minor-League Reliever of the Year Shane Smith. If you want to consider potential promotions from Double-A Biloxi, there’s 2024 Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Year KC Hunt, Brett Wichrowski, and Tate Kuehner. First Base Rhys Hoskins had a good enough season after missing all of 2023, so exercising his player option is not a total disaster for the Brewers. The real question is, who is his backup/complement off the bench? Two major contenders exist on the 40-man roster: Jake Bauers and Tyler Black. Bauers brings a three-true-outcomes offensive profile and has some speed, but his batting average ended up just below the Uecker line. Black has a more well-rounded offensive profile, arguably reminiscent of the skillset Paul Molitor displayed from 1987 to 1992 with the Brewers. In the minors, though, Wes Clarke could be an option to take over. He brings his own three-true-outcome profile and offers the capability to be a third catcher (at least on an emergency basis). The real intriguing option is Ernesto Martinez, who provides outstanding defense, a superb offensive skillset, and some surprising positional versatility. Bullpen Let’s assume the Brewers flip Devin Williams and Hoby Milner before their final pre-free agency year and that DL Hall and Aaron Ashby end up with the starting pitchers. Here’s who the Brewers would have for their bullpen as likely returnees – just on the 40-man roster: Trevor Megill, Abner Uribe, Joel Payamps, Jared Koenig, Bryan Hudson, Elvis Peguero, Nick Mears, Bryse Wilson, JB Bukauskas, Rob Zastryzny, Kevin Herget, and Tyler Jay. In Triple-A Nashville, the Brewers have Craig Yoho and Blake Holub among those waiting in the wings. Justin Yeager, Russell Smith, San Gardiner, and Nick Merkel will likely join them after excelling at Double-A Biloxi. The Brewers' bullpen was so deep that they released James Meeker, who posted dominating numbers—although a reunion may not be a bad idea in this case. Overview The Brewers have built a superb farm system that churns out prospects. One benefit is that it makes the Brewers less dependent on the free-agent market. That means a big free-agent splurge isn’t necessary this offseason, with the shift to a new local broadcast option adding uncertainty. The Brewers have done well by often finding gems among minor-league free agents - see Blake Perkins, Tobias Myers, and Andruw Monasterio as cases in point. That should continue for obvious reasons. But when it comes to a big deal for an external option, that is probably not the best use of the Brewers' money at this time. The Crew would be better served by putting the big bucks towards retaining a key asset or reinvesting it into the farm to make it even better. View full article

Many Brewers fans dread Willy Adames's pending free agency, thinking his departure is inevitable. But the Brewers could, and should, do what it takes to keep Adames in Milwaukee. Image courtesy of © Jovanny Hernandez / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Spotrac predicts Willy Adames could land a six-year, $152.2 million deal in free agency. It’s a lot of cash, but it’s not impossible for the Brewers to keep the heart and soul of their team in 2025. Adames has said he wants to return, and Mark Attanasio has said the Brewers will make the best offer they can to keep Adames in Milwaukee. So, it isn’t a situation like that of Corbin Burnes, who would chase a big paycheck no matter what and for whom Milwaukee was already in the rear-view mirror. The big question isn’t if the two sides want a deal; it’s about how to make the money work. In this case, the Brewers can take inspiration from the Mets. To wit, their celebration of Bobby Bonilla Day. Every July 1, the Mets get mocked for paying Bonilla slightly more than $1 million a year, even though he last played in 2001. Burnes had the talent that made this an option to consider for the Brewers, but the mutual desire for Burnes to have a long-term stay in Milwaukee wasn’t there, at least on Burnes’ part. However, with Adames, it appears that there is a mutual desire. The question is how to make it work. By copying the Mets’ tradition, keeping Adames in Milwaukee for the rest of his career becomes much less of a long shot. But is Willy Adames worth it? To date, his on-field performance has been well worth it, and he earned Brewer Fanatic co-MVP honors with William Contreras. Since his acquisition for two talented but injury-prone but talented pitchers, he has posted a .780 OPS with 107 home runs, while adding excellent defense. The figures dropped some in 2024, but Gold Glove-level defenders flanked him in Joey Ortiz and Brice Turang – and both will be around for a few years as well. But on-field performance is only part of what Adames brings to the table. He has not just been good on the field; he’s also been an excellent clubhouse presence and leader who received a lot of credit for helping Jackson Chourio adjust to the major leagues. Since the Brewers are relying on the farm system to provide a lot of prospects, it is a safe bet that there will be other prospects who may need that help. Adames has been the heart and soul of the team, and that sort of loss cannot be readily replaced on the free-agent market. Sure, the Brewers can hope that a free agent like Ha-Seong Kim could provide some sort of leadership to fill that void, but the team knows that Willy Adames has and can. Given the known quantity that Adames is in the clubhouse when you consider that his presence could help prospects Cooper Pratt, Mike Boeve, Yophery Rodriguez, Jesus Made, and Jeferson Quero make the adjustment to MLB that much quicker, and the example he will provide, he adds even more value than the just the numbers on the field. The Brewers will obviously be giving Willy Adames the qualifying offer when free agency starts. If Adames rejects the deal, which he probably will, he’d likely head elsewhere. There is the chance he could sign the deal, giving the Brewers at least one more year of his services, but it could be time to iron out the extension as well. So, how do the Brewers pull this off? It’s straightforward in one sense: They offer Adames a six-year, $150 million deal with a team option for a seventh year that has a decent buyout (say, $10 million, like the contract Brandon Woodruff signed this past offseason). Then they defer $60 million of the money ($10 million per year), to be paid out over 30 years at $2 million each home opener if they wanted to copy the Mets, but the point would be to have Adames around in Milwaukee. Adames will be in his age 34 season when the contract ends (assuming it’s done before the qualifying offer is made). But to date, that still gives the Brewers 3-4 years of peak performance, and the last two to three seasons will still be very solid. The deferred money itself wouldn’t be back-breaking for the team. MLB’s minimum salary continues to creep upwards, and it’s just a little less than what the Crew paid Chourio in 2024. Willy Adames has been the heart and soul of the Brewers for three-plus seasons. His production has already had to be replaced, but what he does in the clubhouse may be irreplaceable. He’s worth breaking the bank for. View full article

Tyler BlackJesus MadeK.C. HuntJacob MisiorowskiCraig YohoErnesto MartinezCooper PrattMike BoeveBrock WilkenCarlos F RodriguezJadher AreinamoYophery RodriguezLogan HendersonEric BitontiLuke AdamsLuis LaraWes ClarkeJuan BaezShane SmithJose Anderson 1. 3B Tyler Black 2. RHP KC Hunt 3. SS Jesus Made 4. RHP Jacob Misiorowski 5. RHP Craig Yoho 6. 1B Ernesto Martinez 7. SS Cooper Pratt 8. 3B Mike Boeve 9. 3B/1B Brock Wilken 10. RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez 11. IF Jadher Areinamo 12. OF Yophery Rodriguez 13. RHP Logan Henderson 14. 3B/1B Eric Bitonti 15. 3B/1B Luke Adams 16. OF Luis Lara 17. 1B/C Wes Clarke 18. IF Juan Baez 19. RHP Shane Smith 20. OF Jose Anderson

The Brewers had some rookies really step up for the team in 2024. Some had been eagerly anticipated for years. Others came out of nowhere to be crucial contributors. Without further ado, let’s look over the contenders for Rookie of the Year. 4. LHP Bryan Hudson 43 G, 1 GF, 62.1 IP, 6-1, 1.73 ERA, 0.722 WHIP, 28 H, 17 BB, 62 K with Milwaukee The acquisition of Hudson was barely a blip on the radar, with the Brewers sending over 2023 20th-round pick Justin Chambers to the Dodgers, who had signed Hudson as a minor-league free agent in November 2022. With Milwaukee, Hudson became a crucial multi-inning relief option, especially early in the season when the Brewers had multiple members of their starting rotation on the injured list. Hudson’s heavy workload may have cost him a bit in the second half of the season, as he went to Nashville. That said, Hudson’s contributions were a key reason that the 2024 Brewers had a successful season. He stands ready to fill in and/or complement Hoby Milner and/or Bryse Wilson in the 2025 Brewers bullpen. 3. 3B/SS Joey Ortiz 142 G, 440 AB, .239/.329/.398, 105 H, 25 2B, six 3B, 11 HR, 60 RBI, 11 SB, 56 BB, 105 K Ortiz was one of two young prospects who came to the Brewers as part of the Corbin Burnes trade back in February (the Brewers also got Baltimore’s Competitive Balance A pick, which turned into Blake Burke). Settling in at third base and beating out fellow Top 100 prospect Tyler Black in spring training, Ortiz helped spark the team in the first two months of the season, and displayed outstanding defense, not to mention some special skills at the plate. With the future of Willy Adames uncertain as he enters free agency, Ortiz may be the next Brewers shortstop, albeit with big shoes to fill. Or, if Adames returns by some miracle, he’ll hold down third base again. 2. RHP Tobias Myers 27 G, 25 GS, 138 IP, 9-6, 3.00 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 126 H, 36 BB, 127 K with Milwaukee Myers was the first signing of Matt Arnold following the departure of David Stearns, less than two months after the White Sox released him. In 2024, he cemented himself as a top-of-the-rotation starter with his performance after several starters the Brewers were counting on went o the injured list. Myers had some initial struggles, but after June 1, he was lights out, and that included an excellent performance in Game 3 of the National League Wild Card Series. Most years, he would be the rookie of the year, but this year, he’s a very strong runner-up. For 2025, Myers looks to be a lock for a rotation spot, most likely near the top, with only Freddy Peralta ahead of him. Brewer Fanatic Rookie of the Year: OF Jackson Chourio 148 G, 528 AB, .275/.327/.464, 145 H, 29 2B, 3-3B, 21 HR, 79 RBI, 22 SB, 39 BB, 121 K Chourio came into 2024 with huge expectations, signing a record contract for a player who had not even had his first major-league plate appearance and only 21 at-bats in Triple-A. He struggled for the first two months of the season, with a .210/.254/.327 line after May 31. Since June 1, though, he hit .303/.354/.525, and helped carry the team after Christian Yelich was out for the season with a back injury that eventually required surgery. Then there were his heroics in Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series. He was the first Brewers rookie to notch a 20-20 season, something icons like Ryan Braun, Rickie Weeks, Paul Molitor, and Robin Yount never achieved. His contributions also came on defense. Where he played errorless ball in left field and right field over 144 games, while snuffing out four baserunners. Congratulations to Jackson Chourio, the 2024 Brewer Fanatic Rookie of the Year! View full article

It’s easy to focus on the failures after the Brewers didn’t get past the first round of postseason play for their fifth straight time since reaching Game Seven of the 2018 NLCS. But that would be selling the 2024 Brewers short. Image courtesy of © Benny Sieu-Imagn Images It’s easy to forget that according to various preseason projections, the Brewers weren’t even supposed to have their season end in a heartbreaking Game Three of a Wild Card Series in 2024, but to instead watch the playoffs after finishing below .500 on the year. Instead, the 2024 Milwaukee Brewers finished the regular season far above the projections by PECOTA, Sportsbook, and FanGraphs despite a ton of obstacles. Don’t get me wrong; it’s okay to be heartbroken about another playoff series ending with the other team celebrating. It’s okay to be frustrated that Brewers pitchers had mental lapses when covering first base twice in the series. It’s okay to feel sad that this may have been the last game that Willy Adames, the heart and soul of this team since 2021, plays in American Family Field as a Brewer. It’s even okay to feel let down by Devin Williams (but not to direct any abuse towards him, although that should not need to be said). It’s okay to wonder how things might have been different if Christian Yelich hadn’t needed back surgery or if the team could have notched a first-round bye by landing another veteran starter by the trade deadline, if Tyler Black could have made a difference had he been given a long enough leash in MLB, or if Jacob Misiorowski and Craig Yoho could have made a difference had they been called up. We’re all going to wonder what could have been – just like fans of 28 other major league teams are doing or will be doing by the end of October. The team lost arguably the best manager in its history to a division rival that broke the banks to pry him away from Milwaukee – yet the guy who replaced him kept the team together through adversity as it posted 93 wins in his first season, despite appearing to be held together by duct tape and a prayer, given the frequency of injured list visits. Starting pitchers Wade Miley, DL Hall, Joe Ross, Jakob Junis, and Robert Gasser, all end up with unexpected stays on the 60-day injured list – yet the Brewers still put together a rotation good enough to help propel the team to a National League Central Division crown, thanks in no small part to excellent scouting through the years, including finding a potential top-of-the-rotation starter in Tobias Myers. The bullpen saw lights-out closer Devin Williams start the season on the 60-day injured list. At the same time, potential successor Abner Uribe struggled and then got injured in the minors – yet the team still managed to come up with a potential replacement in Trevor Megill. There are other amazing pitchers in the farm system. The offense saw key players go down with injury, including Christian Yelich, who was returning to something close to his MVP form of 2018-2019; Garrett Mitchell, who looks to have a potent bat; and big-time free-agent signee Rhys Hoskins, who wasn’t too bad considering he missed all of 2023 with a knee injury – yet it also has a bright future with Jackson Chourio and Joey Ortiz developing very well, and hopes for continued improvement from Brice Turang, Blake Perkins, and Sal Frelick. Yes, 2024 ended on a downer note, but the fact of the matter is that the 2024 Brewers didn’t fold when the experts predicted a sub-.500 season. They didn’t fold when injuries decimated the starting rotation. They kept winning and improving on offense when their best hitter was lost for the rest of the season. Ultimately, this team could have folded long ago with the injuries and slumps. But they didn't, taking the division by ten games. Then, after a Game One loss, they fought their way back from the brink and didn't quit. That, if you ask me, makes for a successful season, even if we ended up with a downer ending. View full article

Montgomery won't pass up the player option, but the Crew is in the same spot with Rhys Hoskins. Maybe they could deal Hoskins to the D-Backs for Montgomery and Adrian Del Castillo?

I'd think the Royals might be a good match. They get Devin Williams. The Brewers get: RHP Lucas Erceg LHP Noah Cameron LHP Oscar Rayo

It's quite possible the solution could be in-house for the Brewers. Bats from the starting lineup likely to leave as free agents: Willy Adames (Shortstop) Gary Sanchez (DH) Bats the Crew could trade or who may opt-out: Rhys Hoskins (1B) Potential Lineup Bat moved to bench: Sal Frelick (RF) Figure the Brewers move Ortiz to short to replace Adames. That opens up third base. Tyler Black and Oliver Dunn could be options, with Andruw Monasterio also having been a decent starter in 2023. It would be best for the Brewers if Black took the job at the hot corner. Yelich replaces Sanchez as primary DH, Garrett Mitchell in for Sal Frelick in RF. The question is, does Hoskins opt out, does he get dealt in a Jackie Bradley Jr.-type deal (say with Eric Brown Jr., or does he stay? Of course, there could be a miracle, and the Crew could secure an extension with Adames... in which case, one way to pay for it would be to deal Hoskins for a DSL/ACL/GCL lottery ticket or two, and try to replicate the luck of the Adam Lind trade.

The 2018 Brewers came within one game of securing the franchise’s second pennant, falling just short in Game 7 of the NLCS against the Dodgers. The 2018 team had a very potent offense, with a lot of powerful sluggers, and it had a great run. But, looking back, that offense was fatally flawed. Not this one. Image courtesy of © Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images How could one call the 2018 Brewers offense fatally flawed? The best example would be the top of the seventh inning in Game 4 of that series with the Dodgers. The Brewers were up two games to one, and it was tied 1-1. Manny Pina led off with a double and got to third on a one-out fly ball to center, but was stranded when Lorenzo Cain grounded out to second. The 2018 Brewers had some fast players, but most of the position players were one-dimensional in terms of their offensive production, primarily getting it from power. Many of them had good OBP skills, but when they were on the basepaths, the ability to play “small ball” when necessary wasn’t there. The 2024 Brewers offense is a much more versatile team. Yes, there are power threats like Willy Adames, Rhys Hoskins, Jackson Chourio, Garrett Mitchell, Gary Sánchez, Jake Bauers, and William Contreras, but the team also has several players who can play “small ball” very well. Brice Turang, Sal Frelick, Blake Perkins, and Joey Ortiz come to mind. But between these two skill sets, there is overlap. Ortiz and Perkins have some sneaky power, while Adames, Chourio, Mitchell, and Bauers are also threats on the basepaths. Christian Yelich, when healthy, was another two-way threat for both power and speed. In fact, here’s a piece of trivia for you: The 2024 Brewers have outscored the 2018 team – with the current year’s Crew plating 777 runs, compared to 754 for the 2018 team. With the DH in place, this Brewers team has 15 sacrifice hits – compared to six by non-pitchers from the 2018 team. But how would this multi-dimensional offense make a difference? Let’s take a look at that crucial top of the seventh inning in Game 4 of the 2018 NLCS. In that frame, the Brewers had their seventh, eighth, and ninth hitters in the lineup due to hit. For the 2024 Brewers, the players most often in those holes are Frelick, Ortiz, and Perkins. Assuming Frelick hits a leadoff double (he hits one double every 21.6 at-bats, compared to one every 23.5 for Pina), we can now see how it shakes out differently. Frelick’s speed (18 stolen bases in 21 attempts) means that he could very likely steal third base. Dodgers catchers did have a rough time of it defensively during that NLCS, and the 2024 Brewers team is build to capitalize on those difficulties. Even without a Frelick steal, though, he could tag up and move to third on a fly ball (which Orlando Arcia hit in the top of the seventh in Game 4, but on which Pina remained at second). A fly ball to left with a runner on third is probably a sac fly with Frelick’s speed, and Ortiz is a much more capable hitter than the 2018 version of Orlando Arcia. Now, with a runner on third and one out in the worst-case scenario, the Brewers are in a very good spot, whether it was Curtis Granderson, the historical ninth hitter (who hit a fly ball to center that allowed Pina to tag up to third) or Blake Perkins. Perkins, though, brings multiple ways to hurt an opposing team at the plate. He tied with Joey Ortiz and Rhys Hoskins with six sacrifice flies on the season, but he also has been a capable bunter. The fact is, the Brewers likely push Frelick in to score on in that frame, following which the bullpen’s late-inning guys would shut down the Dodgers in the last three innings. The Brewers would have come out of Game 4 of the 2018 NLCS with a commanding three games to one advantage. Even if they lose Game 5, they win Game 6 and go to the World Series. We don't even have to play fanciful what-if games, though. As a whole, and as a team, the Brewers were below-average in advancing the runner from second to third with no outs, and in bringing them home from third with less than two outs. The subset of the team we already mentioned, though, is a different story. In Wednesday night's Game 2, Turang doubled against Sean Manaea to lead off the bottom of the fifth, with the Crew down 3-1. Chourio moved him over, and Perkins broke that tie for the team lead in sac flies (if only unofficially) and brought Turang home. It was easy to overlook that at the time, or even to feel crestfallen. A leadoff double only begat one run, when the team trailed by two. That small-ball run was big, though. As their own bullpen mowed down the Mets, the Brewers kept getting chances in which every batter who stepped to the plate was already the tying run. Shrinking and chipping away at deficits is a hallmark of great teams, giving them opportunities to erase those deficits altogether at the end of the game. Wednesday night was a perfect illustration of it. They succeeded where the 2018 team failed once, already. In other words, the 2024 Brewers have maintained some of the strengths of the 2018 team in having big-time sluggers, but this team has also added the ability to reliably manufacture runs in certain stretches of the batting order, which gives it a capability the 2018 team didn’t have when it needed it the most. Thursday night, we'll find out whether they get to keep marching toward the marker left behind by the last Brewers team to go deep into October. View full article

Down on the farm, the Brewers boasted a cornucopia of starting pitching prospects. Some came highly touted, others came from almost out of nowhere, the way Brent Suter and Tobias Myers did. Which was which? Without further ado, let’s see who was the Brewer Fanatic 2024 Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Year. Image courtesy of Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Honorable Mentions Josh Knoth, Carolina Mudcats, Carolina League 21 G, 21 GS, 84.1 IP, 4-6, 4.48 ERA, 1.399 WHIP, 78 H, 40 BB, 96 K Carlos F. Rodriguez, Nashville Sounds/Milwaukee Brewers, International League/MLB 28 G, 25 GS, 142 IP, 9-12, 4.75 ERA, 1.289 WHIP, 119 H, 64 BB, 138 K (total) 25 G, 22 GS, 129.2 IP, 9-9, 4.51 ERA, 1.242 WHIP, 100 H, 61 BB, 119 K (Nashville) Manuel Rodriguez, Carolina Mudcats, Carolina League 18 G, 18 GS, 94.2 IP, 4-6, 3.23 ERA, 0.972 WHIP, 82 H, 10 BB, 77 K Tate Kuehner, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers/Biloxi Shuckers, Midwest League/Southern League 23 G, 19 GS, 104.1 IP, 8-3, 3.19 ERA, 1.275 WHIP, 79 H, 54 BB, 115 K (total) 7 G, 6 GS, 35.2 IP, 3-1, 4.04 ERA, 1.346 WHIP, 27 H, 21 BB, 33 K (Biloxi) 16 G, 13 GS, 68.2 IP, 2.75 ERA, 1.238 WHIP, 52 H, 33 BB, 82 K (Wisconsin) Top Five Minor League Starting Pitchers Of 2024 5. Jacob Misiorowski, Biloxi Shuckers/Nashville Sounds, Southern League/International League 33 G, 21 GS, 4 GF, 97.1 IP, 3-5, 1 SV, 3.79 ERA, 1.202 WHIP, 57 H, 60 BB, 127 K (total) 14 G, 2 GS, 4 GF, 17.2 IP, 0-1, 1 SV, 2.55 ERA, 0.849 WHIP, 5 H, 10 BB, 22 K (Nashville) 19 G, 19 GS, 79.2 IP, 3-4, 3.50 ERA, 1.280 WHIP, 52 H, 50 BB, 105 K (Biloxi) Misiorowski continued a rapid rise through the Brewers’ farm system, where the biggest question would be whether he could stick in the rotation as a potential ace, or if he would be a dominant reliever. His 2024 season provided good arguments for either outcome. In Biloxi, he continued to make strides in the rotation, but when he went to Nashville, he primarily worked out of the bullpen and shut hitters down. The team did not call him up for the 2024 stretch run, though, as he had pitched 26 innings more than he did in 2023. He is likely to end up on the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft over the 2024-2025 offseason, and it will be interesting to see if the team puts him in the major-league bullpen for 2025 or continues to develop him as a starting pitcher in Nashville. 4. Shane Smith, Biloxi Shuckers/Nashville Sounds, Southern League/International League 32 G, 16 GS, 7 GF, 94.1 IP, 6-3, 1 SV, 3.05 ERA, 1.049 WHIP, 70 H, 29 BB, 113 K (total) 5 G, 3 GF, 6.2 IP, 1-0, 2.70 ERA, 1.050 WHIP, 4 H, 3 BB, 7 K (Nashville) 27 G, 16 GS, 4 GF, 87.2 IP, 5-3, 1 SV, 3.08 ERA, 1.049 WHIP, 66 H, 26 BB, 106 K (Biloxi) Shane Smith didn’t even get drafted in 2021 – the Brewers signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Wake Forest University that year, and his 2022 season was marred by a lot of time on the injured list. He could be a big-time steal for the team for the 2021 draft class, and this is a draft that includes a prominent contributor on two NL Central Division Championship teams in Sal Frelick, a top hitting prospect in Tyler Black, and other top prospects, including another pitcher on this list. Smith mostly worked out of the bullpen in 2023, where he dominated to the point he was Brewer Fanatic’s Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Year that season. In 2024, he found himself pressed into duty as a starter, and posted a 2-3 record with a 2.96 ERA and 1.000 WHIP in 67.1 IP when opening games for the Shuckers, with the ERA and WHIP actually being improvements over his time in the bullpen. 3. Chad Patrick, Nashville Sounds, International League 26 G, 24 GS, 1 GF, 136.1 IP, 14-1, 2.90 ERA, 1.086 WHIP, 109 H, 39 BB, 145 K Patrick was arguably the ace of the Sounds rotation in 2024, delivering superb numbers after he was acquired from the Athletics for utility player Abraham Toro (who came to the Brewers with Jesse Winker for Kolten Wong). Patrick did not appear on either MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 or Brewer Fanatic’s Top 20 list. Like Misiorowski, Patrick is Rule 5-eligible, and the Brewers will likely protect him on the 40-man roster based on his performance. In a bit of trivia, Patrick was acquired by the Athletics in a trade with the Diamondbacks for Jace Peterson, a contributor to two Brewers teams that made the post-season. 2. Logan Henderson, ACL Brewers/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers/Biloxi Shuckers/Nashville Sounds, Arizona Complex League/Midwest League/Southern League/International League 19 G, 19 GS, 81.1 IP, 7-6, 3.32 ERA, 0.910 WHIP, 59 H, 15 BB, 104 K (total) 6 G, 6 GS, 23.2 IP, 1-3, 4.56 ERA, 1.056 WHIP, 19 H, 6 BB, 26 K (Nashville) 9 G, 9 GS, 46.1 IP, 6-2, 3.30 ERA, 0.855 WHIP, 34 H, 7 BB, 58 K (Biloxi) 2 G, 2 GS, 6.2 IP, 0-1, 1.35 ERA, 0.900 WHIP, 4 H, 2 BB, 10 K (Wisconsin) 2 G, 2 GS, 4.2 IP, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.429 WHIP, 2 H, 0 BB, 10 K (ACL Brewers) Henderson had a rapid rise through the system, despite a stint on the injured list that required a rehab assignment to the Arizona Complex League. Still, at the same age as fellow Nashville Sounds starting prospects Carlos F. Rodriguez and Jacob Misiorowski, he has completed his recovery from elbow surgery in 2022 to be at the cusp of the majors. Per MLB Pipeline, his fastball-changeup combination is a one-two punch that could work well out of the bullpen, but Henderson also works in an occasional slider, which could keep him in the starting rotation. Like Patrick and Misiorowski, Henderson will need to be on the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. Brewer Fanatic Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Year for 2024 K.C. Hunt, Carolina Mudcats/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers/Biloxi Shuckers, Carolina League/Midwest League/Southern League 25 G, 14 GS, 4 GF, 102 IP, 8-3, 1 SV, 2.03 ERA, 0.931 WHIP, 70 H, 25 BB, 139 K (total) 6 G, 6 GS, 32.2 IP, 1-2, 2.20 ERA, 1.010 WHIP, 24 H, 9 BB, 39 K (Biloxi) 11 G, 8 GS, 1 GF, 50.1 IP, 4-1, 2.15 ERA, 0.974 WHIP, 37 H, 12 BB, 68 K (Wisconsin) 8 G, 3 GF, 10 IP, 3-0, 1 SV, 1.42 ERA, 0.684 WHIP, 9 H, 4 BB, 32 K (Carolina) If there was a steal of the highly impressive 2023 draft class for the Brewers, his name might be K.C. Hunt. Hunt wasn’t even drafted after he returned to Mississippi State for his senior year, declining a pro career with the Pirates, who picked him in the 12th round of the 2022 amateur draft. Hunt started off in the bullpen but moved to the rotation while with the Timber Rattlers. No matter where he was, though, he dominated, despite a lack of eye-popping “stuff” (a fastball that tops out at 93 miles per hour, per MLB Pipeline), usually because he has three other solid pitches to use. Hunt rose from the Mudcats to the Shuckers, and still has a year before he needs to go on the 40-man but could be in Nashville to start 2025. But the rapid rise and his sheer dominance makes K.C. Hunt the 2024 Brewer Fanatic Minor League Starting Pitcher of 2024. KC Hunt had a tremendous season. It's interesting to see pitchers like Hunt and Shane Smith move from the bullpen to the rotation and continuing to find success. For Logan Henderson, being healthy is the key to unlocking his talent. Speaking of immense talent, it will be interesting to see how Jacob Misiorowski will move forward as he approaches the big leagues. What are your thoughts on Hunt and all of these starting pitching prospects? How would you rank their 2024 seasons? Leave some comments below. View full article

In the Arizona Complex League and the Dominican Summer League, Brewers position player prospects stood out big time at the plate, showing impressive offensive tools. Without further ado, let’s go through the Brewer Fanatic Minor League Hitters of the Year for 2024, as voted for by our writers. Image courtesy of Juan Berson Before we get to our Top 3 short-season minor-league hitters, let's take a quick look at some other DSL and ACL hitters who deserve mention. Honorable Mentions Edgardo Ordonez – C/1B/DH Ordonez finished second on the Maryvale squad in home runs, despite playing in only half the games, while also displaying excellent OBP skills. Juan Ortuno – IF/OF Ortuno displayed superb plate discipline (29 walks to 27 strikeouts) and flashed both speed (22 steals) and some pop (12 extra base hits) for the DSL Brewers 1 squad. Josh Adamczewski – 2B Adamczewski displayed pure hitting prowess while with the ACL Brewers, posting a .950 OPS with 26 walks and 26 strikeouts. His OBP skills remained very solid when he got a late-season promotion to Carolina. Jose Anderson – OF Just how good was Anderson’s season with the DSL Brewers 1? He posted an OPS of .916, hit 8 home runs, had 34 RBIs, and stole 14 bases. By comparison, in the DSL, some guy named Jackson Chourio posted an .833 OPS, had five homers, 25 RBI and seven steals. The Verdict 3. Luis Pena, SS - .393/.457/.583 Pena nearly reached the .400 mark in batting average, fueled by incredible bat-to-ball skills (pitchers only notched 15 strikeouts in 44 games played). He drew only 15 walks, but much of his offensive game was from speed and just making contact. He also flashed serious potential as a threat on the base paths, stealing 39 bases in 43 attempts. He also drove in 36 runs, leading all Brewers prospects in the DSL, despite only hitting one home run. He’ll turn 18 over the offseason, but he could be looking at starting next year in Zebulon with the Mudcats, like Chourio. 2. Eric Bitonti, 3B/1B - .320/.451/.580 with the ACL Brewers Bitonti, a member of the Crew’s already outstanding 2023 draft class, just dominated during his time with the Maryvale squad. He led the team in hits, doubles, triples, home runs, RBI, and walks while splitting time at both corner infield positions. Bitonti’s left-handed power bat is the type of profile that can prosper a lot in the confines of American Family Field, as we have seen in cases like Christian Yelich and Prince Fielder. He also spent 28 games with the Mudcats in 2024, where he matched his ACL home run total (eight), good enough to finish second on the team behind Luis Castillo, where his bat took on a three-true-outcomes profile. Short-Season Minor League Hitter Of The Year: Jesus Made, SS - .331/.458/.554 What didn’t Jesus Made do during the 2024 DSL season? The switch-hitting shortstop who was one of the highlights of the Crew’s 2024 international signing class, led the DSL Brewers 1 in home runs and walks, tied with two others to lead the team in triples, and finished second in doubles, stolen bases, hits, and OPS. Made, who got the second-biggest bonus of the 2024 international class ($950,000), made the investment look very good for the Crew. He spent most of his time at shortstop, where he profiles as potentially a bat-first player at that position, but he also got plenty of looks at second base and the hot corner. While the power was projected in scouting reports, Made surprised by drawing far more walks (39) than strikeouts (28), a very promising sign for a young player early on. By comparison, Jackson Chourio had 23 walks to 28 strikeouts in his DSL season. For Made, there is a ton of potential here – perhaps even a rise as rapid as Chourio’s. I, for one, cannot wait to see what his bat can do stateside, especially with a full offseason of conditioning. Congratulations to Jesus Made for being named the Brewer Fanatic Short-Season Minor League Player of the Year! Do you agree with the choice, or might your 'ballot' look a little different? Share your thoughts below. Previous Brewer Fanatic Short-Season Hitter of the Year winners: 2023: IF Juan Baez 2022: OF Jace Avina View full article

Jackson Chourio has made history for the Brewers, as the first rookie to notch a 20-20 season for them--a milestone that eluded Ryan Braun, Paul Molitor, Rickie Weeks, and Robin Yount, among other luminaries. But could the Brewers be making a big mistake with this incredible talent? Image courtesy of © Jovanny Hernandez / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Jackson Chourio has become arguably the most potent threat in the Brewers lineup in the second half of 2024, and he’s been nothing short of dominant since the beginning of June. However, on 31 occasions, the Brewers have put Chourio in the “wrong” slot of the lineup, often against left-handed starters. We discussed how the Brewers lineup would look for a healthy team earlier, and Chourio is pretty high up, but there was a reason that he was slotted for the second spot in the lineup – at least with a healthy Christian Yelich. The likely leadoff options, absent Yelich and eschewing Chourio, are either Brice Turang or Sal Frelick. Against righties, Turang, Frelick, and Yelich all hit left-handed, so batting Chourio second would be logical to break up the lefties in the lineup. However, Turang and Frelick struggle against left-handed starters. So, the Brewers are using Chourio as their leadoff hitter against lefties. But with Yelich out, Chourio is arguably the best hitter on the team, and while he is solid at getting on base (.328 OBP) and possesses the speed to be a legitimate threat on the basepaths (21 stolen bases, tied with Yelich for third on the team), two of the most important tools for a leadoff hitter, there’s a number that makes the case against his use in the leadoff spot very rock-solid: 53. That is the number of extra-base hits Chourio has. A bat as dynamic as Chourio’s needs not just protection from other bats (so teams don’t intentionally walk him), but to have people who can get on base ahead of him in the lineup. If Chourio’s going to do damage, the Brewers benefit more if the big hit comes with men on base. Chourio leading off the game just doesn’t make sense, on that front. It wastes his extra-base power. Leadoff homers are nice, and with this pitching staff, jumping to an early lead doesn’t hurt, but the Crew can do better. It would be one thing if there weren’t other legitimate options to lead off. In 2017 and 2018, the Crew gave Eric Thames 39 games in the leadoff spot. To be honest, Thames was even less suited for leadoff than Chourio, posting only 11 stolen bases over those two years, even though he had superb OBP skills. Back then, though, the Brewers probably didn’t have much of an option. Even in 2018, when Lorenzo Cain primarily handled leadoff, there wasn't an obvious alternative when he needed a day off. In 2024, the Crew can choose other paths. Frelick and Turang are solid options against right-handed pitchers. But the Brewers also have other options when facing lefties like Chris Sale, Clayton Kershaw, and Sean Manaea. Joey Ortiz and Blake Perkins both boast OBPs within 10 points (plus or minus) of Chourio’s, and would arguably be comparably viable as leadoff hitters. Perkins has a .328 OBP against lefties and walks at a solid rate. He also brings speed to the table, with 22 steals on the campaign. Ortiz could even bat second on such occasions, nudging Chourio down to third and letting William Contreras, Willy Adames, Garrett Mitchell and Rhys Hoskins pile up behind him. Jackson Chourio’s bat is arguably the most dynamic one the 2024 Brewers have on their active roster, and the Brewers need that bat in the heart of the order. Against lefties, there's a case for sliding him up to the top, but it makes just as much sense to trust some less powerful players with similar on-base skills to get on in front of him and set the table. View full article

To me it's not a hard call. Martinez replaces Bauers on the 40-man. More positional versatility (he adds CF to the corner OF positions Bauer can play) and a sub-Uecker batting average just won't cut it, IMO. Bauers was a decent stopgap, but the cost in two outfield prospects could be a bitter pill down the road.