The Milwaukee Brewers 2023 season hasn’t even started yet and the fanbase feels split. You have those still upset about the moves, or lack there of, last season. They desperately wanted some combination of Burnes, Woodruff and Adames extended during the offseason to to avail.
Then you have the fans that sees this team still has talent and like some of the under the radar moves the front office has made. They also see the young potential either on the roster currently or ready to make the jump from AAA. I think the vast majority of fans understand the frustrations with last season, but there is still plenty to be excited about with the Milwaukee Brewers.
The N.L. Central is very gettable this season. The Reds and Pirates expected to be in full rebuild mode, the Cubs are still building up their roster and the Cardinals enter the spring with some question marks. I think the Crew will be competing for the division title no matter what, but if these 3 things happen, they should be a lock for a home playoff game.
1. Starting Pitching Health
There’s no question that the starting rotation is the strength of this team. With Burnes, Woodruff and Peralta leading the way, the Brewers have at least 3 games a week where they have a good to great chance to win. Burnes and Woodruff are proven aces that are at or near the top of the N.L. in ERA and WHIP. With healthy seasons from all three, the Brewers could have 3 Cy Young Award finalists.
Health, however, has been an issue. Burnes has been a fixture in the rotation, but Freddy has struggled to stay healthy over an entire season. Even Woodruff doesn’t have the inning numbers that Burnes does. The nice thing is the rotation is deeper this season with Lauer and Miley in the mix while still having Houser on the roster. The floor with the rotation is high either way but a healthy big three makes the ceiling the highest in the league.
2. Unsung Hero’s
As expected, the Brewers didn’t make any flashy moves during the off-season. The Crew have rarely ever been a team to go after big name players, and this year will be much of the same. With that said, this organization has historically done a great job of finding diamonds in the rough that fill a role on the team, and at a relatively high level. This year has potential to take that to a new level as the moves the Brewers did make could upgrade multiple positions.
Let’s start with the catching position and the trade that will give the lineup a major boost. Acquiring William Contreras was an absolute steal for the Brewers. Amongst baseball analysts, it was a home run move but wasn’t talked about a ton by the fan base. He is a young player (25) that hit 20 home runs in his first run as a full time player last year. Not only is a he a source of power, but he hit almost .280. He is a great addition in the middle of the batting order.
We also can’t over look the signing of third baseman Brian Anderson. This could end up being a great move for a couple of reasons. First off, it likely moves Luis Urias to second base where his bat will play up and is an upgrade over Kolton Wong. Secondly, Anderson knows how to get on base. He had some solid power years in Miami but battled injuries over the last 2 seasons. So far this spring, he’s hitting .421 while getting on base at a .577 clip. Those numbers aren’t sustainable but show what he’s capable in short spurts while healthy.
Finally, the addition of Jesse Winker should have a large impact on the offense. Like Anderson, Winker has battled injuries but has historically tore up Am Fam Field. He was a solid bat while with the Reds but will have the chance to play every day with the Brewers and should be able to stay healthy as the DH.
3. Youth Movement
A big reason why Milwaukee didn’t need to sign many players in free agency is because of the amount of players in the farm system ready to contribute at the big league level. They brought up outfielder Garrett Mitchell last season and he did not disappoint. He likely won’t be the only rookie in the outfield this season as Sal Frelick will but up quickly, if not for opening day.
The injection of young talent doesn’t stop there as infield prospect Brice Turang proved he is ready for a promotion with a rock solid 2022. We’ll also likely see a young pitcher or two make an appearance in the bullpen over the course of the season. The Brewers have consistently developed bullpen arms by converting them from starters to high leverage relievers.
The Brewers have some exciting pieces, but it’s the young players that raise the ceiling of this team. If Mitchell and Frelick cement themselves as big league starters, the offense becomes that much harder to navigate. Turang likely starts the season in the minors but if he forces the hand of the front office, that creates even more flexibility.
There should be optimism heading into the 2023 season. For the first time in a while, the offense has exciting young talent ready to break through. The pitching staff is loaded as key positions and the upgrades, albeit on the quiet side, could make a huge difference over the course of the season.
Follow me on twitter at DrewEsports and us at WiSportsHeroics. To read more of our articles and to stay up to date with the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here.
