On June 13, the Milwaukee Brewers sent starter Aaron Civale to the White Sox in exchange for first baseman Andrew Vaughn, and the struggling hitter got the big league callup three weeks later. Little did they know they had acquired the next Barry Bonds.
Somehow, it’s only been a month since Vaughn-sanity erupted in Milwaukee, but his bat has been driving the offense. In 21 games, he’s batting .370/.435/.671 with six homeruns and 26 RBIs. Aided by Vaughn bombs, the scrappy offense continues to fork runs across the plate.
For the former White Sock, it’s a stark turnaround from being demoted to the minors by the American League’s worst team. Instead, he’s a middle of the order threat for the best team in baseball. Asked whether he foresaw the Brewers’ run, Vaughn told reporters after Tuesday’s game that he isn’t too surprised.
Andrew Vaughn’s unexpected success story mirrors Milwaukee Brewers’ team arc
Vaughn contributed again in the 7-2 win over Atlanta, smacking a two-run single in the third inning to give Milwaukee a 4-0 lead. Just business as usual for the Brewers slugger. With the victory, his team extended a four-game margin over Chicago in the NL Central, a shocking reversal after the Brewers trailed by 6.5 games earlier this season.
“Yeah, it’s a lot of fun,” Vaughn said of his time in Milwaukee. “Great group. Can’t beat it.”
Can’t beat having Vaughn terrorizing opposing pitchers, either. In the White Sox order, he mustered just a .531 OPS. What were they doing to him?
Pundits and rival fans can’t figure out what makes this team tick. Playoff ball club? Sure. Juggernaut? Pure sorcery.
No marquee names? Bottom third in homeruns? Rookies and reclamation projects leading the way? How does the “Power of Friendship” squad have MLB’s best record?
Even in seasons past, playing for a team in the opposite league, Vaughn discerned the core character that has defined recent Milwaukee rosters.
“I mean, from the outside looking in, last couple years, you can always tell. Gritty ball club. … Great group. Great guys. Great staff. Just excited.”
Scrappers. Grit-and-grinders. The energetic, unlikely underdogs.
The Brewers have been quite good for a while now. Throwing out the Covid-shortened campaign, they have won a least 86 games every season. They claimed the division crown each of the past two years.
The postseason, of course, has been a different story, as those 90-win teams failed to escape the Wild Card Round both times. 2018 marks the last time the Brewers won a series.
Similarly, Vaughn has been productive in prior years, but nothing like the dude he has been for Milwaukee. Despite skeptical World Series odds, this year’s team has a chance for a deep run. There’s still a long way to go in the regular season alone, but with any luck, Vaughn’s power swing will help propel them to the finish line.
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