The Brewers’ season did not end the way they had hoped in 2022. However, a very strong start to the season is enough reason to have optimism moving forward. One of the bright spots of the season was Willy Adames in his second season with the Brewers. The Brewers traded for Adames in the 2021 season and he quickly became a fan favorite and a star player. In 2022 he was a huge contributor to the team’s success and will look to lead the Brewers back to the postseason in 2023.
Offensive Grade: B
Willy Adames appeared in 139 games for the Crew and logged 617 plate appearances in that span. He slashed .238/.298/.458 in 2022 with an OPS of .756. Adames had a historic season at the plate for a Brewers shortstop. In 2022 Willy Adames broke the long-standing record of home runs in a single season by a shortstop, set by Robin Yount in 1982. Adames went deep 31 times in 2022, finishing second on the team in home runs.
Adames finished near the top of the Brewers’ lineup in nearly every major offensive statistic. Among Brewers’ Adames finished:
- 1st in RBI (98)
- 2nd in runs (83)
- 2nd in hits (134)
- 2nd in home runs (31)
- 3rd in slugging (.458)
- 4th in OPS (.756)
- 5th in BA (.238)
Although Adames had a good offensive season, it’s safe to say he also had his faults. Adames led the team in strikeouts and was third on the team in double plays grounded into. Adames had a great season by the standards set by Brewers’ hitters. However, his numbers were down from last year after many expected him to post similar numbers, and maybe even take a step up.
Fielding Grade: A
It’s hard to find many faults in Adames’ game defensively. Adames led the team in innings played so it’s understandable that he is going to commit an error occasionally. He had 14 errors on the season which gave him a fielding percentage of .973. He finished tied for 14th among shortstops for errors. Willy constantly showed off his athleticism and exceptional arm strength in the field to make highlight plays.
Kolten Wong and Willy Adames.
Name a more iconic duo, we’ll wait. #ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/E4JR7XOyAb
— Bally Sports Wisconsin (@BallySportWI) August 18, 2022
Overall Grade: B+
Although Adames was not at the same level he was in 2021 he was still a great player in 2022. Despite dealing with injuries he continued to play at a high level offensively and defensively. However, his team-leading 4.4 WAR does not tell the entire story. Any fan who watches and keeps tabs on the Brewers knows that Willy Adames is the heart and soul of the squad. The energy he brings to the team is simply something that the Brewers cannot afford to be without. Even through losing streaks and injuries, Willy always brought unmatchable energy to the team.
As Always
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