As the Brewers shift their focus from Cactus League play to Opening Day, it’s time to see what this year’s Brewers team can do in the National League Central. Last year they sat atop the division after 162 games, this year team has a lot of familiar faces, but will be missing two key pieces from the rotation and one from the backend of the bullpen for at least two months. The Lineup still has young talent, but what did we learn this spring?
Starting Rotation
No Corbin Burnes and no Brandon Woodruff, Burnes traded this offseason to the Orioles, and Woodruff resigned, but is out most likely for the year after arm surgery. So the Rotation will have a different feel to it this year, but here it is Freddy Peralta, DL Hall, Colin Rea, Jakob Junis, and Joe Ross to start the year. Wade Miley is starting the year on the IL and will most likely return to the rotation once healthy.
Freddy Peralta
This spring started four games going 0-1 through 15 innings of work. He struck out 18 batters, and walked four, with a 7.20 ERA, and a 1.67 WHIP this spring.
DL Hall
Hall appeared in four games starting three of those four. He ended the spring with a 2-0 record through 12.1 innings of work. He struck out 11, and walked five, with a 4.38 ERA, and a 1.54 WHIP.
Jakob Junis
Junis started three games this spring going 1-0 through 10.2 innings. He struck out 10, and walked three, with a 5.91 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP in the spring.
Colin Rea
Rea started five games this spring going 1-0 through 18.1 innings of work. He struck out 19, and walked five, with a 3.44 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP during the Cactus League games.
Joe Ross
Ross appeared in four games starting just one this spring, but had a 1-1 record through 12 innings of work. He struck out 17 batters, walked seven, and had a 4.50 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP in the spring.
This group besides Peralta isn’t very exciting, but if Rea and Junis can hold their own to start the year and DL Hall can get his control dialed in perhaps the team can surprise some people in regards to their pitching staff. The question mark will be Miley and what he brings to the table once back from injury. He only threw two innings this spring and didn’t allow a run or walk during those innings. He struck out two and only gave up one hit. If he can remain healthy and give the Brewers 25 starts the team will be in much better shape with its rotation than it currently appears as Opening Day nears.
Bats to watch
SS – Willy Adames
struggled with strikeouts last season and took a step back, but this spring in 45 at-bats we saw him slash .333/.400/.778 with a 1.178 OPS on the spring. He also has one triple, six home runs, and 15 RBIs, while striking out 14 times. A bounce-back season for Adames could make a huge difference for the Brewers as they look to contend in a very talented NL Central this year.
DH – Gary Sanchez
Sanchez has bounced around lately trying to figure things out at the plate, if this spring is any indication of what’s to come the Brewers might have a steal on their hands. Sanchez in 42 at-bats in 11 games this spring slashed .262/.279/.476 with a 7.55 OPS. He had two home runs, three doubles, five RBIs, one walk and 15 strikeouts.
OF – Jackson Chourio
Chourio is a top prospect who will be fun to watch all season long in the outfield for the Brewers. This spring in 18 games played he led the team in runs scored with 13 and in hits with 20. In 18 games he also had three doubles, one triple, four RBIs, two steals, and slashed .323/.373/.403 with a .776 OPS on the spring.
Surprise Breakout Candidate
2B – Brice Turang
Turang struggled at the plate last year with consistency, this spring his average didn’t show much in signs of big improvements, but he did walk seven times while only striking out six times. This to me was more impressive for a guy who was putting the ball in play this spring. Eventually, that bat-to-ball contact will turn into more hits. This spring Turang had one double, one triple, four RBIs, six runs scored, and seven stolen bases. I think we see a kid who hits 20 doubles and steals 30-plus bags this year while having a batting average of around .245-.256.
Summary
The Brewers still have the talent within the lineup to put up runs, the pitching will be the deciding factor this season for how far the Brewers can go. They start the year without Devin Williams which will sting, but as long as they can make do in the meantime with Trevor Megill and Joel Payamps filling in then they should have a solid bullpen once Williams returns. If Gary Sanchez and Rhys Hoskins can provide 20-plus home runs a piece, this team will be all right. They kick the season off against the New York Mets, who have a weak pitching staff, so perhaps the Brewers luck out and get the bats off to a hot start. Regardless Brewers baseball is back for the 2024 season and it will be fun to watch how the season unfolds!!
