Baseball has an uncanny way of keeping its participants humble, and this year, the Milwaukee Brewers have been a testament to that enduring truth. At the start of the season, skepticism loomed over the Brewers, with many expecting them to falter after significant offseason losses. The departure of manager Craig Counsell, top executive David Stearns, and ace pitcher Corbin Burnes seemed to signal a step back from their previous season's division crown.
Yet, under remarkable circumstances, the Brewers defied these predictions, demonstrating resilience and resourcefulness. By late August, Milwaukee astonishingly held the largest division lead in all of Major League Baseball, proving that collective strength could compensate for individual setbacks.
Strategic Additions and Emerging Talent
The Brewers bolstered their roster with additions like Rhys Hoskins and Gary Sánchez, while also benefitting from the emergence of younger hitters William Contreras, Joey Ortiz, Blake Perkins, and Garrett Mitchell. Particularly notable was Brice Turang, who has emerged as one of the league’s premier defensive second basemen, successfully swiping 37 bases on 42 attempts. Turang also demonstrated improved bat-to-ball skills, whiffing on just 13% of his swings and focusing more on grounders and line drives.
Jackson Chourio further exemplified the Brewers' knack for player development. Since June, the 20-year-old has flirted with a .900 OPS, reducing his swing rate and making consistent, quality contact. Chourio's performance justified the $82 million guaranteed to him before he even took a major league at-bat, with expectations of a 20-20 season adding to his accolades.
Pitching Mastery Amid Adversity
Despite losing key figures, Milwaukee's pitching remains among the best in the National League. The Brewers have managed to maintain stellar pitching performance without their star pitchers, an achievement attributed in part to the work of Cameron Castro, Milwaukee's vice president of player development. "The Brewers have excelled in getting the most from their pitchers in recent years -- some of our sources have talked up Cameron Castro as a key on that end," noted one source.
Key contributors included Bryan Hudson, who was acquired from the Dodgers and has since compiled a 1.65 ERA over 38 appearances. After signing as a minor-league free agent in November 2022, Tobias Myers has also impressed with a 2.81 ERA in 19 games (18 starts). Colin Rea, retained on a one-year deal with a club option, posted a 119 ERA+ and a 3.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 23 appearances. Additionally, Jared Koenig, picked up after his tenure with the 2022 Athletics, achieved a 2.09 ERA across 47 1/3 innings this season.
Triumph Through Challenges
Despite these developments, the Brewers faced a significant setback with Christian Yelich undergoing season-ending back surgery. Nevertheless, the team's depth and balanced contributions have enabled them to build a 72-52 record as of Tuesday. Their dominance is particularly evident within their division, boasting a 25-14 record against NL Central teams and outscoring them by 54 runs in head-to-head games. Against all other opponents, they maintain an impressive 47-38 mark.
With 13 more games to be played against divisional rivals before the season's end, the Brewers are well-positioned to secure consecutive NL Central crowns for the first time in franchise history. Their journey this season stands as a testament to the unpredictable nature of baseball and the resilience of a team that refused to be defined by its losses.