Hunter Renfroe came to the Brewers on December 1, 2021, as part of a trade with the Boston Red Sox. Less than a year later, Renfroe was traded to the California Angels. His year in Milwaukee, however, was productive, and he performed well in his “one-and-done” stay in the Brew City.
Renfroe, a seven-year MLB veteran, last season had 29 home runs for the Brew Crew, scored 62 runs and drove in 72. He also batted a team-high .255.
With his short stay in Milwaukee, Renfroe became another in an increasingly common trend in Milwaukee baseball… that of the team picking up power-hitting, run producers for one season and one season only.
One-and-done power hitters in a Brewers’ uniform since 2014
For the fifth time in the last nine years the Brewers last season had a “one-and-done” player who hit 20 or more home runs (Renfroe) for the team and then was either traded or left the team via free agency.
In 2014, Mark Reynolds signed a free agent contract with the Brewers, hit 22 home runs, and then left the team to sign with the Cardinals…
In 2015, Adam Lind, who the Brewers had acquired from Toronto, hit 20 homers, and drove in 87 runs for the Brewers. That off-season he was traded to the Seattle Mariners…
In 2016, Chris Carter signed a free agent deal with the Brewers. He hit 41 home runs and had 94 RBI with Milwaukee. After that season he signed as a free agent with the Yankees…
In 2019, the Brewers signed free agent Yasmani Grandal to be their everyday catcher. He hit 28 home runs and drove in 77 runs before leaving after that one season to sign a free agency deal with the White Sox…
In 2022, Milwaukee traded for Hunter Renfroe from the Red Sox. He had 29 home runs in ’22 before being traded to California.
Renfroe’s 29 home runs by a one-and-done player is the second most, topped only by Chris Carter’s 41 home runs in his only season in Milwaukee in 2016.
Most home runs by Brewers’ one-and-done players
Here are the players who hit the most home runs for the Brewers in the only season they played in Milwaukee:
41-Chris Carter, 2016
29-Hunter Renfroe, 2022
28-Yasmani Grandal, 2019
25-Don Mincher, 1969 (with the Seattle Pilots)
22-Mark Reynolds, 2014
21-Dave Parker, 1990
20-Adam Lind, 2015
17-Andrew McCutchen, 2022 *
16-Matt Stairs, 2002
- McCutchen is listed above on the list, but as of November 24, he has not decided on if and where he might play in 2023. If he does not return to Milwaukee in ‘23, he would be another one-and-done home run hitter on the list.
For More Great Wisconsin Sports Content
Follow me on Twitter at @Statsontapp and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content.