The Milwaukee Brewers went through a revolving door of players this past offseason. Among the departures were former Cy Young winner, starting pitcher Corbin Burns, and fellow starter Adrian Houser. Also gone are outfielder Mark Canha, and first basemen Carlos Santana and Rowdy Tellez.
But the biggest loss may have been the defection of long-time manager Craig Counsell. And to rub salt into the wound further, he bolted to become manager of the rival Chicago Cubs.
Fortunately, the Brewers also added some key components. Included in this group is first baseman Rhys Hoskins, starting pitchers DL Hall and Jakob Junis, and catcher Gary Sanchez. So, let’s preview these new-look Brewers.
Catcher and Infield
The Brewers are in great shape behind the plate with starter William Contreras. In 2023, he posted career highs in batting average and OBP, while also hitting 17 homers. Never known as a great defensive catcher, Contreras improved dramatically on his pitch framing and blocking last season.
Hoskins was by far the Brewers biggest offseason addition. He did miss the entire 2023 season with a torn ACL injury. But in his six seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, he launched 148 home runs while driving in 405 runs. He will add some much-needed muscle to the middle of the Brewers batting order.
Second baseman Brice Turang will never make fans forget Brewers All-Star second baseman Jimmy Gantner at the plate. But he plays Gold Glove type defense, and the Brewers hope that he can improve his offensive numbers in 2024.
Newcomer Joey Ortiz and second year player Sal Frelick will split time at third base. Ortiz is a whiz in the field, but can he hit enough to stay in the lineup? Frelick has the talent but must develop more consistency in his game. Thankfully, both players are versatile and can play multiple positions.
The clock is ticking on shortstop Willy Adames. The free agent to be might not be long for the Brewers infield. He hit just .217 last season but will look at improving upon his production to pique the interest of other teams.
Outfield and DH
The Brewers outfield combines the young and the old. Veteran Christian Yelich will patrol left field this season for Milwaukee. No longer the bomber he used to be, he still hit well enough last season to post a .818 OPS.
Brewers Have a ROY Candidate
Yelich should also provide some leadership for new center fielder Jackson Chourio. The second ranked MLB prospect arrives with much fanfare and hype. Still challenged defensively. he is a five-tool guy who combines power with deceptive speed. The Brewers have a huge invest in this young ballplayer.
Starting right fielder Garrett Mitchell will start the year on the injured list with a fractured left hand. For the time being, Frelick will take over Mitchell’s duties until he returns to the lineup.
The DH position will be manned by a multitude of Brewers players. You may see Sanchez there one day. And the next day it might be Yelich or Contreras. Or perhaps Hoskins. It may depend on which everyday position player is taking a break from their fielding duties.
Starting Pitchers
The ace of the staff will be Freddy Peralta. He pitched like an All-Star in the second half of last season sporting a 2.81 ERA and a 0.88 Whip. The Brewers hope that he can develop more consistency because his first half 2023 numbers were dismal.
Brewers Pick up a Veteran Starter
The veteran Wade Miley will follow Peralta after a comeback 2023 season. But he will have to wait until he returns from the injured list. He is out due to shoulder and groin issues. For now, the newly arrived DL Hall leaps into the second rotation spot.
Colin Rea stepped nicely into the starting rotation last season to replace an injured Brandon Woodruff. The Brewers believe he is ready for an encore performance. Jakob Junis came over in the Hoskins trade and gives the team excellent flexibility as he can easily move between the starting rotation and the bullpen.
Joe Ross will fill in for Miley until he returns. This is a big test for him and the team because he hasn’t pitched in the majors since the 2021 season.
Bullpen
The Brewers closer Devin Williams ran into some back luck to start the season He will be out at least three months with two stress fractures in his back. Young fireballer Abner Uribe will pick up some of the slack. Consistent setup man Joel Payamps will also receive additional save opportunities with Willams out.
Hoby Miller is an innings eater coming out of the pen. Tall Trevor Megill has an intimidating mound presence. Bryse Wilson is versatile and can play fill many relief roles for the Brewers. And Elvis Peguero, a groundball specialist, has settled in nicely as the seventh inning guy.
Brewers Outlook
Time will tell if the Brewers again are a playoff caliber team. Some of it depends on their reconstituted starting rotation. Some of it is dependent on comeback seasons from guys like Wily Adames and Rhys Hoskins. And further development by young players like Jackson Chourio and Abner Uribe would certainly reduce the stress level of first year manager Pat Murphy.
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Greg Simbeck covers a variety of sports for Total Apex Sports. He specializes in MLB coverage. Greg has covered various sports for numerous other publications over the years.
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