Michael Trzinski

In a recent piece by Jack Stern, he mentioned eight relievers who played substantial roles in the Brewers bullpen last year. Six of them—Grant Anderson, Aaron Ashby, DL Hall, Jared Koenig, Trevor Megill, and Abner Uribe—have minor-league options left. Nick Mears and Rob Zastryzny do not. This octet will do much of the heavy lifting out of the pen in 2026, but Milwaukee faces a practical constraint: the guys they would most want to swap out to bring up fresh arms at times are the ones who can't be sent down. As with last year’s starting rotation, though, there's helpful depth that could alleviate those problems. Let’s check out some of the guys in the minors who haven't been celebrated or praised, but should get called up to Milwaukee sometime in 2026—and a few prospects who look like they will move up to the higher levels. Second-Chance Relievers Craig Yoho (BF #20 prospect) Yoho appeared in eight games for Milwaukee last year in three separate stints, and other than one bad outing, he allowed five hits and two runs in 7 2/3 innings, good for an ERA of 2.35. Of course, one can't just eliminate the worst outing in a small sample, but his handful of strong appearances loosely confirmed the upside scouts saw (and his stats reflected) before he matriculated to the majors. Yoho throws the Triple-A equivalent of the Devin Williams Airbender, but command of it is still a work in progress. His fastball sits in the 92-94 range, and he rounds out the mix with a curve and a change. He's also working on a cutter. His 31% strikeout rate at Triple A is a portent of good things to come in Milwaukee. Expect to see him at Uecker Field for a good portion of the 2026 season. Easton McGee The lanky (6-foot-7) righthander split time between Nashville and Milwaukee last season. Although he didn’t have the success in the majors that Yoho did, he pitched four outings of at least two innings, serving as a key bridge from the middle of the game to the team's higher-leverage guys. He threw a sinker and a curve about 30% of the time each, with his fastball topping out at 94-95. In his previous eight seasons in the minors, McGee made 100 starts, so in a pinch, he could be a spot starter for the Brewers, but it's more likely he will be a middle reliever. Sammy Peralta Selected off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels in late October, Peralta is a decent-sized (6-foot-2, 215 pounds) soft-tossing southpaw whose fastball sits at just over 89 mph. He throws a slider in the 78 range, along with a change that hits 82. Peralta was an 18th-round pick in the 2019 MLB Draft out of the University of Tampa, and bounced around in the White Sox and Mariners chains before pitching in the Mexican League to start the 2025 campaign. After a few subpar outings with the Angels in September, he caught on with Milwaukee. He is another candidate for a long relief job in Brew City. Triple-A and Double-A Relievers Blake Holub A 15th-round pick of the Detroit Tigers in the 2021 MLB Draft, the 6-foot-6, 230-pound Holub is another in the long line of towering Brewers pitchers. He has raw talent, but struggles to find the plate on a consistent basis, as his 11.8% walk rate shows. On the other hand, a ‘violent’ delivery helped him strike out batters at a rate of 28.5%. At 27, he is a tad old to be a prospect, so this might be his make-or-break year. Will Childers Matthew Wilkie Childers was a 30th-round pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2019 MLB Draft, but didn’t sign. He attended the University of Georgia and was an All-American his freshman year. But then disaster struck, in the form of two elbow surgeries, which led to his being picked up by Milwaukee after the 2022 MLB Draft as an undrafted free agent. Childers has had an up-and-down career, but his 2025 season (with a 25.5% strikeout rate) shows promise for the future. Justin Yeager Yeager was a 33rd-round draft pick in the 2019 MLB Draft out of Southern Illinois University. After three years in the Atlanta Braves organization, Yeager was a part of the trade in which the Brewers acquired William Contreras in 2022. Yeager has spent the better part of the last three years at Double-A Biloxi, but in 18 appearances and 21 innings at Nashville last year, Yeager allowed only 3.8 hits per nine innings. At age 28 at the start of the 2026 campaign, he is in the same ‘long-in-the-tooth’ prospect boat that Holub is in. Mark Manfredi Manfredi is one of the best left-handed options at the middle levels of the minors for the Crew, having pitched at Biloxi all season in 2025. The 6-foot-4, 210-pounder was drafted in the 9th round of the 2023 draft. During his first season at High-A Wisconsin, he made 12 starts among his 28 appearances. In 2025 at Double A, he was strictly a reliever, making 44 trips to the mound while striking out batters at a 29.8% rate. He needs to work on his control, as he posted a 14.9% walk rate. With a good season, the 25-year-old could possibly see some late-season action in Milwaukee this year. Tyler Bryant Bryant joined Yoho, Childers, and Holub on the 2025 Brewers Spring Breakout roster. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Texan was signed as a free agent by the Brewers in June 2024. After five seasons of small college ball and one year in the independent Frontier League, Bryant got his chance with Milwaukee. He showed enough last year in nine games with Carolina and 11 games with Wisconsin to move up to Biloxi in 2025. Bryant struck out batters at a rate of 31.2%, but also walked them at a rate of 12.7%. He was injured in July and missed the last couple months of the season. Bryant will turn 27 in January, so his clock is also rapidly ticking. Others of Note Anthony Flores, LH, Wisconsin J.D. Thompson, RH, DNP professional ball Ethan Dorchies, RH, ACL, Carolina Frank Cairone, LH, DNP professional ball What’s Next? The Brewers used 25 pitchers in relief last season, including position players Jake Bauers and Anthony Seigler. The 634 2/3 relief innings accounted for 44% of the team's innings pitched. Due to the heavy workload that relievers take on these days, a team will need to shuttle pitchers back and forth in the organization on a constant basis. It is also imperative that the relievers who are called up perform well, and the Brewers are hoping for that same result.

Much was expected of Joey Ortiz coming into the 2025 campaign. After spending most of the previous season at third base, Ortiz moved to shortstop to make up for the departure of Willy Adames to the San Francisco Giants. Ortiz played nearly 84% of all shortstop innings for Milwaukee, but was removed for a pinch-hitter 34 times during the season, spotlighting his less-than-stellar bat. Andruw Monasterio made 21 starts at the ‘6,’ while Brice Turang and Caleb Durbin moved over to short three times each to finish games. (Stats are from 2025, while age is as of the start of the 2026 season.) PRIMARY STARTER Joey Ortiz AB: 470, H: 108, 2B: 18, 3B: 1, HR: 7, RBI: 45, .230/.276/.317; K: 74, BB: 27, SB: 14 DRS: -2, OAA: +12 Age: 27 Ortiz saw most of his offensive numbers decline from the previous season. His home-run total dropped from 11 to 7, and his walk rate was cut in half. The only thing that showed improvement was his strikeout rate, which dropped from 20.2% to 14.6%. Ortiz’s average exit velocity dropped from 87.8 mph to 84.9; his barrel percentage dropped from 4.6% to 3.0%; and his hard-hit percentage dropped from 38.4% to 32.8%. No wonder he only had 26 extra-base hits in 2025, compared to 42 the previous year. Ortiz missed 10 games at the end of August due to a left hamstring injury, and after he returned, he collected only two extra-base hits among 15 base hits during September. Defensively, Ortiz is still an above-average defender, with plus hands and instincts and more than enough arm for shortstop. On the bases, Ortiz is a good runner, and after 25 steals in his first two years, he could become a 20-steal guy for the running Brewers. Is the third time (season) the charm for Ortiz? A fast start to the season is a must for him, because he has at least two top prospects nipping at his heels. True, Brewer Fanatic top prospect Jesús Made and No. 3 Cooper Pratt are probably at least a year away, but the Brewers might consider calling Pratt up earlier—especially if Ortiz continues to fall short of his potential. BACK-UPS Andruw Monasterio AB: 126, H: 34, 2B: 9, 3B: 0, HR: 4, RBI: 16, .270/.319/.437; K: 32, BB: 7, SB: 6 DRS: -1, OAA: 0 Age: 28 Monasterio had perhaps his best year in 2025, his third campaign in the big leagues. His batting average, slugging average, and OPS+ (109) were career bests. His walk rate (5.2%) and strikeout rate (23.7%) are both worse than average, but he showed some pop and speed and played decent defense, which is all you really need from a backup player. On defense, his numbers weren’t great, but they weren’t terrible. He has good speed on the bases and would probably steal at least 20 bags if he got 400 at-bats. Monasterio started 21 games at short, eight at second base, and five at the hot corner, the latter being his main home in 2023 and 2024. He can also play first base or left field in a pinch. In other words, he is a valuable, versatile player. Others Brice Turang, Caleb Durbin MINOR LEAGUE PROSPECTS/DEPTH Cooper Pratt AB: 437, H: 104, 2B: 22, 3B: 1, HR: 8, RBI: 62, .238/.343/.348; K: 80, BB: 67, SB: 31 (Stats from Double-A Biloxi) Age: 21 Pratt was a sixth-round pick in 2023 and has moved up the ladder nicely in his first three years as a pro. Although his slash numbers all dropped off last season, he set career highs with 22 doubles, 62 RBIs, and 67 bases on balls. Both his walk rate (12.7%) and his strikeout rate (15.2%) are solidly above-average. His 6-foot-4 frame should fill out, and he should show 15-20-homer power. He won a minor league Gold Glove in 2024 and has good instincts and a good arm. Although given only a 50 grade for running, he has stolen 62 of 70 bases in his pro career, an impressive 88% success rate. Depending on what the Brewers choose to do with him and Jesús Made, it appears that Pratt will start at Triple-A Nashville while Made gets more experience at Biloxi. Jesús Made AB: 453, H: 129, 2B: 28, 3B: 6, HR: 6, RBI: 61, .285/.379/.413; K: 108, BB: 67, SB: 47 (Stats combined from Low-A Carolina, High-A Wisconsin, and Double-A Biloxi) Age: 18 Made has done everything the Brewers had hoped for when they signed him as an international free agent in 2024. He hits for average, shows some in-game power, plays solid defense, and steals bases at an 81% success rate, with 75 stolen bases in just 166 games as a professional. His 2025 strikeout rate was about average, at 20.6%, while his walk rate was a robust 12.8%. He had 40 extra-base hits and 47 steals over three levels during the season. Again, he and Pratt are two top prospects fighting for one spot, but it is possible that one of them will move to third base while the other stays at shortstop. Next season will tell us a lot. Other Minor League Depth Freddy Zamora, Nashville Raynel Delgado, Nashville Ethan Murray, Biloxi/Nashville These three guys are organizational depth, rather than prospects, but any of the three could fill in for a short period in an emergency for the Brewers. Conclusion Shortstop is in good hands for the foreseeable future, with Ortiz, Made, and Pratt. The best-case scenario would be if Ortiz steps up his game and allows the other two to ripen at Nashville and Biloxi. The worst case will be if Ortiz falls apart offensively and either Made or Pratt need to make an earlier-than-expected trip to Uecker Field. But even that wouldn’t be so bad.

The Milwaukee Brewers began play in 1970, but the team originated in 1969, when the Seattle Pilots became an American League expansion team. After one year, the Pilots' owners declared bankruptcy and, in the spring of 1970, the Pilots became the Milwaukee Brewers. Including Pilots manager Joe Schultz, the Pilots/Brewers have employed 20 managers. Let’s meet them! Joe Schultz (1969 Seattle Pilots) Managerial Record: 64-98 Schultz was a coach for the St. Louis Cardinals before being named manager of the newly formed Seattle team. The Pilots won their first game and three out of the first four and were tied for first with fellow expansion team Kansas City and the California Angels at that early juncture. Things went downhill after that, and the Pilots finished sixth (last) in the AL West with a record of 64-98. Fun Fact: Schultz was notorious for his cussing and saying, “Let’s go pound some Budweiser.” Schultz, with his German heritage and love for beer, would have been a perfect fit in the Brew City. Dave Bristol (1970-72) Managerial Record: 144-209 Bristol was named the Pilots' manager after the 1969 season and managed the team during spring training in 1970. After Major League Baseball, lawyers, and owners straightened out the Pilots' bankruptcy in late March/early April, the team became the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers won 65 games in their inaugural season and 69 times in the second year. Bristol only lasted 30 games in his third season before being dismissed. Fun Fact: In 1957, the 23-year-old Bristol began his managing career with the Class D Hornell (NY) Redlegs in the New York-Pennsylvania League. After nine years in the minors, he became the Cincinnati Reds skipper in 1966. Roy McMillan (1972) Managerial Record: 1-1 McMillan was one of Bristol’s coaches in 1972, and when Bristol got fired, McMillan took over as the interim manager for two games. The Brewers split the pair of contests before Del Crandall took over in late May. Fun Fact: McMillan attended the same high school (Bonham, TX) as ex-Brewer pitcher Danny Darwin (1985-86). McMillan was a two-time All-Star and Gold Glove shortstop for the Cincinnati Reds in the late 1950s. He also played for the Milwaukee Braves from 1961-64. Del Crandall (1972-75) Managerial Record: 271-338 Crandall was another ex-Brave who also played for or managed the Brewers. The old catcher won 150 games in his first two full seasons as a manager for the Brewers, including Robin Yount’s rookie campaign in 1974. In his final season, he was fired before the final game of the year. Management kept quiet, but players suspected either injuries or lack of discipline and motivation were determining factors. Fun Fact: In 1949, he became the youngest starting catcher in baseball history at age 19 for the Boston Braves. Crandall was also named to 11 National League All-Star teams and won four NL Gold Gloves. Crandall also worked as a color commentator for the Brewers from 1992-94, and he filled in for Bob Uecker on the radio broadcasts in 1991. Harvey Kuenn (1975, 1982-83) Managerial Record: 160-118-1 Postseason Record: 6-6 Kuenn took over the last game of the season in 1975 after Crandall was dismissed. In 1982, he took over for Buck Rodgers, who was fired in early June. Kuenn was initially expected to be the interim manager until a replacement could be found. At some point, the ‘interim’ tag was removed as the Brewers went 72-43-1 the rest of the way. They beat the California Angels in the ALCS and went on to face the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series, their only Fall Classic appearance to date. The Brewers won 87 games in 1983 but finished only fifth in the AL East. He was fired after the season. Fun Fact: Kuenn and his wife, Audrey, owned Cesar’s Inn, a tavern in West Allis that was a gathering place for Brewer players in the early 80s. Kuenn was initially married to 1954 Miss Wisconsin, Dixie Ann Sarchet, but they divorced in 1971. The nickname for the 1982 team was ‘Harvey’s Wallbangers’ because of its home run prowess. Here is a photo taken in Cesar's Inn, moments after the Brewers' Game 7 loss. Alex Grammas (1976-77) Managerial Record: 133-190 Grammas, a longtime Cincinnati Reds coach, was tabbed as the Milwaukee manager in November 1975, replacing Del Crandall. Grammas was signed to a three-year contract by owner Bud Selig, who said, “We got the top man available.” Unfortunately, the Brewers won 66 and 67 games respectively in the two seasons under Grammas. Two years after he signed on as the manager, he was fired by the Brewers. Fun Fact: Grammas returned to Cincinnati as a coach in 1978, and after Reds manager Sparky Anderson became the Detroit Tigers manager in 1980, Grammas joined his coaching staff. After being released by the Tigers after the 1991 season, Grammas retired from baseball. George Bamberger (1978-80, 1985-86) Managerial Record: 377-351 ‘Bambi’ was the pitching coach for the Baltimore Orioles from 1968-77 and became the Brewers manager in January 1978. “Bambi’s Bombers’ won 93 games in 1978 and finished third in a tough AL East. The following year, the Brewers won 95 games and finished second. Bamberger suffered a heart attack in spring training before the 1980 season and underwent multiple bypasses. Buck Rodgers began the season as the interim Brewers manager, but Bamberger returned in early June and piloted the team to a mark of 47-45 before stepping down in early September. Bamberger returned to the Brewers' helm in 1985 and lasted through most of the 1986 season, resigning in late September. “I got tired of the travel and being away from my family,” said the 61-year-old Bamberger. Fun Fact: In 10 years as an Orioles pitching coach, Bamberger had 18 pitchers reach the 20-win mark, an important milestone back in the 60s and 70s. Buck Rodgers (1980-82) Managerial Record: 124-102 Postseason Record: 2-3 Bob ‘Buck’ Rogers had a unique stint as a Brewers manager. In 1980, he filled in for George Bamberger when ‘Bambi’ was on the shelf after multiple heart bypasses and finished the season after Bamberger resigned in September. In 1981, a baseball strike shortened the Brewers season to 109 games and ended with a loss to the New York Yankees in a five-game ALDS. The following season, the Brewers stumbled to a 23-24 record before Rodgers was dismissed in favor of Harvey Kuenn. Rodgers’ win percentage of .549 is the third-best in Brewers history for managers. Fun Fact: Rodgers spent four years as the California Angels manager and seven seasons with the Montreal Expos. Rodgers was a good pitcher at Prospect (OH) HS, throwing six no-hitters. Rene Lachemann (1984) Managerial Record: 67-94 Lachemann became the Brewers' skipper in October 1983 when Harvey Kuenn was let go by the Brewers. Lachemann had lost his job in Seattle four months earlier after the M’s had lost eight straight contests and 15 of their last 18. The following season wasn’t much better for ‘Latch,’ as the Brewers won only 67 and lost 94, finishing in seventh place in the AL East. Lachemann was fired at the end of the season and would be replaced by George Bamberger beginning in 1985. Fun Fact: Lachemann, whose career record showed 428 wins and 560 losses, was ejected only six times in that 988-game span. Tom Trebelhorn (1986-91) Managerial Record: 422-397 Trebelhorn had been a coach for Rene Lachemann in 1984 but was let go after the season, along with four other coaches. ‘Treb’ had managed Triple-A Vancouver in 1985 but was reassigned after the season. After third-base coach Tony Muser was burned badly in a clubhouse explosion in spring training, Trebelhorn filled in for him. When Muser returned, Trebelhorn stayed with the team as a third-base coach and took over for George Bamberger in late September when ‘Bambi’ resigned. Trebelhorn led the Brewers to a 6-3 mark and was named manager on October 1. The following season, the Brewers went 91-71 but finished third in the AL East, seven games back of Toronto. In the four seasons that followed, the Brewers never won more than 87 games, and Trebelhorn was dismissed in early October 1991 by new general manager Sal Bando. Fun Fact: Trebelhorn was the youngest manager in Brewer history in 1986 at just 38 years old. In 1987, he finished second in the AL Manager of the Year voting. Phil Garner (1992-99) Managerial Record: 563-617 Garner was hired after the 1991 season, following Tom Trebelhorn’s firing. GM Sal Bando and Garner played together in Oakland in the early 1970s. The Brewers won 92 games in ‘Scrap Iron’s’ first season, falling four games shy of Toronto in the AL East. Garner finished second in the AL Manager of the Year race. Unfortunately, his teams never won more than 80 games over the next eight seasons, and he was fired in mid-August by Bando, who then resigned and was reassigned as a special assistant to then-Brewer president Wendy Selig-Prieb. Fun Fact: Garner’s tenure of eight campaigns is second behind Craig Counsell’s nine seasons, and his win total of 563 is also second to Counsell’s 707 victories. Jim Lefebvre (1999) Managerial Record: 22-27 Lefebvre was the Brewers' hitting coach in 1999 and took over as manager on an interim basis after Phil Garner was let go. Although his record was dismal, the Brewers did win 13 of their last 20 games to end the season on an ‘up’ note. ‘Frenchy’ was replaced by former fellow Dodger Davey Lopes in November. Fun Fact: Lefebvre conducted hitting clinics in Europe in the early 2000s and served as manager of the China National baseball team in the 2006 World Baseball Classic and the 2008 Olympics. Davey Lopes (2000-02) Managerial Record: 144-195 Lopes managed the Brewers in their final season at Milwaukee County Stadium and the first year in Miller Park. Unfortunately, neither team was very good as they won 73 and 68 games respectively. After a 3-12 start in 2002, Lopes was relieved of his spot on the bench and was replaced by Jerry Royster. Fun Fact: Arguably the best second baseman in Los Angeles Dodgers history, Lopes was a four-time NL All-Star, won a Gold Glove award, and had two stolen base titles. He had a total of 557 steals in his 16-year career. Jerry Royster (2002) Managerial Record: 53-94 The 2002 Brewers, under Davey Lopes and Royster, were the worst team in franchise history, losing 106 games. An 8-19 record in September all but sealed Royster’s fate, and he was dismissed on October 2, one day after meeting with Brewers GM Doug Melvin. Royster had been criticized for his perceived ‘kid-glove’ treatment of outfielder Alex Sanchez. The manager stated that the rookie’s ego was too fragile to handle criticism. Fun Fact: Following Jim Lefebvre and Davey Lopes, Royster was the third straight former Los Angeles Dodgers infielder to be handed the reins of the Milwaukee manager’s job. Ned Yost (2003-08) Managerial Record: 457-502 Yost was named manager just before Halloween 2002 despite having no managerial experience. Yost, a former Brewers catcher, had been an Atlanta Braves coach for 11 seasons. The first two years under Yost were subpar, with 68 and 67 wins respectively, before the team won 81 games in 2005. In 2007, the Brewers won 83 games, finishing two games behind the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. The Brewers were battling for a playoff spot in September 2008, but amazingly, Yost was fired with 12 games left to play, despite a team record of 83-67. The Brewers had lost 11 of their last 14 games, and as GM Doug Melvin said, “We just felt a managerial change at least gives us a chance to see if we can turn it around.” Dale Sveum took over as interim manager, and the Brewers won seven of their final 12 games, squeaking into the postseason for the first time since 1982. Fun Fact: Yost was a backup catcher for Milwaukee from 1980 to 83. In Game 158 of the 1982 regular season with the AL East crown on the line, Yost hit a three-run homer in the top of the ninth at Fenway Park to send the Brewers past the Boston Red Sox, 6-3. It was his only HR of the season. Dale Sveum (2008) Managerial Record: 7-5 Postseason Record: 1-3 One day, he was a third-base coach. The next day, he was the interim manager. Sveum became manager when Ned Yost was surprisingly fired in mid-September. The team needed a win on the final day to earn a playoff spot and got it behind C.C. Sabathia’s 3-1 masterpiece over the Chicago Cubs. The Brewers fell to the Phillies, three games to one in a best-of-five NLDS. Ken Macha was named to manage the Brewers beginning in 2009, but Sveum stayed on as a hitting coach. Fun Fact: Sveum, who is a cousin of former All-Star first baseman John Olerud, hit one of the most memorable home runs in Brewers history. On Easter Sunday, 1987, Rob Deer hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to tie Texas 4-4 before Sveum hit the ultimate walk-off, a two-run homer to give Milwaukee their 12th straight win to begin the season. The Brewers won their 13th game the next day, and ‘Team Streak’ was born. Ken Macha (2009-10) Managerial Record: 157-167 After a successful four-year (2003-06) managing stint with the Oakland A’s in which they won a pair of AL West titles, Macha became Brewers manager before the 2009 season. The Brewers held the top spot in the NL Central for most of May and June, but after a sub-.500 last three months of the season, they ended in third, 11 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals. The Brewers finished with just 77 wins in 2010, and Macha was let go the day after the disappointing season. Fun Fact: Macha played for four years (1982-85) for Chunichi in the Japan Central League, hitting 82 home runs during that time span after hitting only one HR in 380 major-league at-bats. Ron Roenicke (2011-15) Managerial Record: 342-331 Postseason Record: 5-6 The Brewers set a then-franchise record of 96 victories in Roenicke’s first year in 2011 as the Brewers advanced to the league championship series for the first time since 1982. After defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks in the five-game NLDS, they lost in six games to St. Louis in the NLCS. The next three years were a different story as the Brewers never finished higher than third in the NL Central. The Brewers got off to a bad start in 2015, and after a 7-18 start, Roenicke was dismissed as manager in early May in favor of Craig Counsell. Fun Fact: Roenicke’s brother, Gary, was a long-time big leaguer, mostly with Baltimore, while Ron’s nephew, Josh Roenicke, was a big league pitcher from 2008-13 for four clubs. Craig Counsell (2015-23) Managerial Record: 707-625 Postseason Record: 7-12 Counsell took over for Ron Roenicke in early 2015, and his team went 61-76 in the last five months. After 73 and 86 wins the next two years, the Brewers won 96 games and won the NL Central in 2018. They made it as far as the NLCS, losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games after sweeping the Colorado Rockies in three games. From 2019-21, the Brewers made the playoffs each year but never made it past the NLDS. Milwaukee won the NL Central crown in 2021 for the third time. The Brewers won 86 games in 2022 and improved to 92 wins in 2023, winning the NL Central crown for the fourth time. The Brewers lost in two games to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLWC series. In November 2023, the Chicago Cubs lured Counsell away from Milwaukee with a five-year, $40 million contract. Since then, Counsell has been booed incessantly whenever he returns to Uecker Field. Fun Fact: Counsell is the franchise leader for Brewers managers in wins (707), years managed (9), games managed (1,332), postseason wins (7), postseason games (19), and ejections (28). Pat Murphy (2024-Present) Managerial Record: 190-134 Postseason Record: 4-8 The legendary Murphy took over the helm when Craig Counsell defected to Chicago. The Brewers won the NL Central both years that Murphy has been the bench boss. In 2024, the Brewers lost to the New York Mets in three games in the NLWC. In 2025, Milwaukee beat the Chicago Cubs in an exciting five-game NLDS series. The NLCS didn’t end as well as the Los Angeles Dodgers swept Milwaukee in four straight games. Murphy was named the NL Manager of the Year in 2024 and is a finalist for the 2025 award, expected to be announced on November 11. Fun Fact: Murphy guided the University of Notre Dame to a record of 318-116-1 across seven seasons from 1988-94. He began at Arizona State the next season and coached for 15 years (629-284-1) before resigning in November 2009.

Late bloomer, fan favorite, future big-league manager. Those all describe Stephen Vogt. Vogt (pronounced 'vote') made his major league debut at age 27 after six years in the Tampa Bay Rays minor league system. The catcher's first season was a disaster: 0-for-25 in a late-season stint. The following spring, Vogt was purchased by the Oakland Athletics. After splitting time between the minors and the bigs for Oakland, Vogt became a full-time starter behind the dish and earned All-Star status in both 2015 and 2016. Vogt was drafted in the 12th round of the 2007 MLB Amateur draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He only played 18 games for Tampa Bay before being sold to Oakland. After four and one-half seasons with the A's, he was selected off waivers by the Brewers in June 2017. He split time behind the plate with Manny Pina but was lost to a sprained MCL in his left knee in mid-July. Vogt missed a month but played well upon his return, batting .255/.271/.457 across 97 plate appearances in 33 games with seven doubles and four HRs. In the offseason before the 2018 campaign, Vogt worked on improving his game, but during spring training hurt his throwing shoulder. After a couple months of rehab, Vogt played three games in the minors as a warm-up for his return to Milwaukee. Unfortunately, he reinjured his shoulder on his last day of rehab, which resulted in season-ending surgery. Vogt traveled with the Brewers the last few months of the season, acting in a role that Vogt called 'a weird hybrid of player-coach.' The time spent in the dugout with the team was a learning experience, one that would be helpful in the future. Vogt was well-traveled his last four years in the majors, playing for San Francisco, Arizona, Atlanta, and for one final year (2022) in Oakland. After announcing his retirement on September 22, Vogt slammed a home run in his last major league at-bat on October 5 in a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. In early 2023, Vogt was hired by the Seattle Mariners to become their bullpen and quality control coach. Prior to the 2024 season, Vogt was tabbed by the Cleveland Guardians to become their manager. Vogt led the former Indians to a pair of American League Central titles. In 2024, the Guardians made it all the way to ALCS before falling to the New York Yankees in five games.

Returning this offseason is a series called 'Inside the Milwaukee Brewers Players Project.' Each week, we plan to roll out a piece featuring three new bios in the Milwaukee Brewers Players Project, with a summary for each player and links to the complete bios, including stats, baseball cards, and short bios. This week, we feature the 'Three Jonathans.' Infielders Jonathan Villar and Jonathan Schoop, along with catcher Jonathan Lucroy, now grace the Milwaukee Brewers Players Project. Enjoy! Jonathan Lucroy (2010-16) 'Luc' was a fan favorite, with his nickname being screamed by the faithful at Miller Park during his seven-year tenure in Milwaukee. The likable catcher was arguably one of the best catchers in Brewers history. He is tied for 10th best with a .284 career batting average, and his 53 doubles in 2014 are tied for the Brewers' lead in a single season with Lyle Overbay. Jonathan Villar (2016-18) Villar (pronounced Vee-YAR) played a speed game, and his 62 stolen bases in 2016 led the major leagues and rank second behind Scott Podsednik's 70 steals in 2004. Jonathan Schoop After coming to Milwaukee in a trade from Baltimore that included Villar, Schoop played only 46 games for Milwaukee and was a major disappointment. The Brewers were hoping to get the player that smacked 57 home runs the two prior seasons, but instead got a player who batted .202/.246/.331 in just 124 at-bats for the Brew Crew. Brewer Fanatic is proud to announce the release of the Milwaukee Brewers Players Project! This project is an endeavor to collect as much information about past and present Brewers as possible, giving fans a repository of high-quality data about their favorite players. This is a public, community-driven project… that means everyone is encouraged to participate! Want to write a bio? Here's how: https://brewerfanatic.com/help/all-help/how-to-use-the-milwaukee-brewers-players-project-r12/