Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    What's Hot

    Packers Invite UW Whitewater Wide Receiver to Rookie Camp

    May 1, 2022

    Corbin Burnes Makes Team History in Brewers 2-0 Loss to Cubs

    May 1, 2022

    Notebook: Lewis declares for NBA Draft; NAIA POY transfers to Marquette

    May 1, 2022
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Trending
    • Packers Invite UW Whitewater Wide Receiver to Rookie Camp
    • Corbin Burnes Makes Team History in Brewers 2-0 Loss to Cubs
    • Notebook: Lewis declares for NBA Draft; NAIA POY transfers to Marquette
    • Marquette recruiting: Shaka Smart lands talented 2023 recruit
    • Brewers Option Two Players to Triple-A Nashville
    • Brewers Reliever Jake Cousins Heads To Injured List
    • Everything You Need to Know about the Bucks 101-89 Win over Celtics
    • Wisconsin Badgers Taken in 2022 NFL Draft
    Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest VKontakte
    WI Sports Heroics
    • About Us
      • Privacy Policy
    • Sports
      • Packers
        • Green Bay Packers News
        • Green Bay Packers Rumors
      • Bucks
        • Milwaukee Bucks News
        • Milwaukee Bucks Rumors
      • Brewers
        • Milwaukee Brewers News
        • Milwaukee Brewers Rumors
      • Milkmen
        • Milkmen News
        • Milkmen Rumors
      • Badgers
        • Badgers Basketball
        • Badgers Football
      • Marquette
        • Marquette News
        • Marquette Rumors
      • Fantasy Sports
      • Outdoor Sports
    • Podcasts
      • Wickett On Wisconsin
      • Packers Podcast
      • Bucks Podcast
      • Brewers Podcast
      • Badgers Podcast
    • Business/Event Reviews
    • Sponsors
    • Mark Mayfield Booking Agent
    • Contact Us
    WI Sports Heroics
    Home»Sports»Brewers»Brewers Past and Present: Jeff Cirillo
    Brewers

    Brewers Past and Present: Jeff Cirillo

    Robin AdamsBy Robin AdamsJune 4, 2020Updated:November 18, 2021No Comments5 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    Do you know who holds the Brewers’ record for career batting average with the team? It is not Robin Yount. Nor is it Paul Molitor. It isn’t even Cecil Cooper, who hit over .300 seven years in a row. With a .307 career average as a Brewer, Jeff Cirillo has the highest batting average in team history. In this edition of Brewers Past and Present, we will look at the career of one of the most underrated players in team history: Jeff Cirillo.

    Cirillo’s Minor League Career

    Jeff Cirillo was originally drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 37th round of the 1987 amateur draft. He, however did not sign with the organization. Later in 1991, Cirillo was drafted by the Brewers in the 11th round of the amateur draft. One thing was clear from the beginning: the man could hit.

    Cirillo played 70 games with rookie-level Helena in 1991. He finished the season with an even 100 hits and a .350/.418/.524 slash line. He added 10 home runs and 51 RBI as well. In 1992, Cirillo hit .299/.412/.429 with nine home runs and 76 RBI between A and A+ ball. 1993 saw Cirillo splitting time between AA and AAA. As always, Cirillo kept hitting. He had a slash line of .319/.398/.476 with 12 home runs and 73 RBI between the two levels. He was quickly becoming a top prospect in baseball, not just in the Brewers organization.

    1994 would be Cirillo’s last season as a prospect. He hit .309/.386/.530 with 10 home runs and 46 RBI. He earned a call up to Milwaukee and played 39 games with the Brewers that season. There were growing pains, though, as there is with many new Major Leaguers. The new Brewer hit just .238/.309/.381 with three home runs and 12 RBI. However, he was in the Majors to stay.

    Cirillo’s Career with the Brewers: Part 1

    Jeff Cirillo was a permanent fixture in the Brewers lineup for five solid seasons starting in 1995. In those five seasons, he hit over .320 three times. In 1995, Cirillo hit .277/.371/.422 and, amazingly, walked five more times than he struck out. Cirillo was named to his first All-Star team in 1997, a season in which he hit .288/..367/.426 with 10 home runs and 82 RBI. Perhaps his best hitting season, though, for the Brewers was 1999. In that season, Cirillo hit .326/.401/.461 with 15 home runs and 88 RBI.

    Unfortunately, the Brewers felt the need to trade Cirillo following the ’99 season. In trading him away, they lost a player who played at least 154 games in each of the past four seasons. In return, they got the forgettable pitching talents of Jamey Wright and Jimmy Haynes.

    Colorado, Seattle, and San Diego

    It is just as obvious now as it was back then that the Rockies were the winners for the Cirillo trade. During his first year in Colorado, Cirillo made his second All-Star team. He finished the 2000 season with a slashline of .326/.392/.477 with 11 home runs and 115 RBI. He had another good season in 2001, hitting .313/.364/.473 with 17 home runs and 83 RBI.

    Colorado traded Cirillo to the Seattle Mariners following the 2001 season. Unfortunately for Cirillo, his career took a downward turn. In 2002, Cirillo only hit .249/.301/.328. 2003 was even worse and Cirillo faced injury challenges for the first time in his career. He only hit .205 in 87 games in his last season in Seattle.

    The San Deigo Padres traded for Cirillo ahead of the 2004 season. Cirillo, though, continued with his struggles at the plate and with injuries. He only played in 33 games for the Padres, hitting just .213. The Padres released him before the season ended.

    Cirillo’s Career with the Brewers: Part 2

    Prior to the 2005 season, the Brewers decided to take a flyer on the former fan favorite. Cirillo responded by returning to the version of his earlier playing days. Older and limited by some injuries, he only played in 77 games. However, his batting improved and he finished with .281/.373/.427 with four home runs and 23 RBI. Once again, Cirillo walked more than he struck out, with 23 free passes against 22 strikeouts.

    Cirillo’s play was good enough for the Brewers to offer him another one-year deal for the following season. In 2006, he was healthier and played in 112 games. He finished that season with a slash line of .319/.369/.414 with three home runs and 23 RBI. It also marked the first time in his career that he appeared at all four infield positions during game play.

    The End

    Despite his great production in 2006, Cirillo was not brought back by the Brewers in 2007. He started that season with the Minnesota Twins. In 50 games, he was hitting .261/.327/.386, but was released by the club in late summer. He was claimed off waivers by the Arizona Diamondbacks, with whom he hit .200/.273/.300 in 28 games. Jeff Cirillo retired after the 2007 season.

    While not flashy with power numbers or a flair for the dramatic, Cirillo was endearing to the blue collar fans of Milwaukee. He was gritty, did whatever it took to help the team, and always got the job done. He may not be on many fans’ favorite Brewers lists, but he should be. Few have embodied Milwaukee baseball better than Jeff Cirillo.

    More Brewers Past and Present

    • Cecil Cooper
    • Paul Molitor
    • Justin Smoak
    • Ben Sheets
    • Bob Uecker
    • Keston Hiura
    • Josh Hader
    • Ted Simmons
    • Gorman Thomas
    • Pete Vuckovich
    • Rollie Fingers

    Follow me on Twitter at @MrAdams88 and follow us @OTHWisconsin for more great content. Also, be sure to check out the Overtime Heroics Forums page to join in on the discussion.To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here!

    Ben Sheets Bob Uecker Gorman Thomas Jeff Cirillo Josh Hader Justin Smoak Keston Hiura Paul Molitor Pete Vuckovich Rollie Fingers Ted Simmons
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Robin Adams

    Robin Adams is the co-owner of Wisconsin Sports Heroics. He has been with the site for over two years, working his way up as a Bucks beat writer to covering all of Wisconsin's teams.

    Related Posts

    Corbin Burnes Makes Team History in Brewers 2-0 Loss to Cubs

    May 1, 2022
    Brewers Brosseau

    Brewers Option Two Players to Triple-A Nashville

    May 1, 2022

    Brewers Reliever Jake Cousins Heads To Injured List

    May 1, 2022

    Brewers: Pitching And Hitting Rankings After First Month Of The Season

    May 1, 2022
    Add A Comment

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Editors Picks

    Brewers: The Ideal Playoff Roster

    September 20, 2021

    MVP Spotlight: Christian Yelich

    April 10, 2020
    Top Reviews
    Advertisement
    Demo
    WI Sports Heroics
    Facebook Twitter
    • Disclaimer
    • Privacy
    • Advertisement
    • Contact us
    © 2022 WISportsHeroics All Rights Reserved.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.