When the Milwaukee Brewers traded Corbin Burnes during this past offseason, many did not believe that they would be very competitive in 2024. With Brandon Woodruff out for the season, the starting rotation lacks any star power behind 2021 All-Star Freddy Peralta. Of course, the departure of Craig Counsell to the Chicago Cubs also was viewed as a hit to the team’s chances at competing.
Yet, despite the annual notion that small market Milwaukee has no business being competitive in the National League Central Division, the Brewers are 6-2, second only to the 8-2 Pittsburgh Pirates.
While it has only been eight games out of 162, the excitement surrounding the young Brewers team is palpable. Additionally, the success they have had in the first three series of the season is sustainable as long as these three pleasant surprises continue to produce.
3 Pleasant Surprises for the Milwaukee Brewers Through Their First 3 Series
1. Christian Yelich Appears to Be Back to His MVP Form
In his first three seasons with the Brewers, Christian Yelich .327/.415/.631 with 80 home runs and 207 RBI. He made two All-Star teams, won the 2018 NL MVP Award, and came in second in MVP voting in 2019. Additionally, Yelich won the NL batting title in each of those two seasons.
After his injury in late 2019, however, the star left fielder was a shell of his former self at the plate. From 2020-2022, Yelich hit just .243/.358/.388 with 35 home runs and 130 RBI.
Last season, primarily batting leadoff, Yelich started to turn the corner in his quest to return to his 2018 and 2019 form. He hit .278/.370/.447 with 19 home runs and 76 RBI, his highest single season totals since his injury.
Now, new manager Pat Murphy has Yelich batting third, and the former MVP seems to be thriving with a spot outside of leadoff in the batting order. Through seven games, he is hitting .308/.379/.654 with three home runs and four RBI (all of his home runs have been solo shots).
If Yelich continues to hit like this throughout the course of the season, there is no reason to believe that he will not put up similar numbers to those he did prior to his knee injury.
2. Brice Turang Seems to Have Taken a Leap
Prior to the beginning of the 2024 season, Murphy said that he expected second baseman Brice Turang to take a huge leap. According to Curt Hogg of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Murphy’s exact words were, “I’m expecting this kid to take a quantum leap.”
While Turang was considered a defensive wizard at second base even during his rookie season last year, his bat left a lot to be desired. He finished the 2023 season hitting just .218/.285/.300 with six home runs and 34 RBI. He also stole 26 bases while being caught just four times.
This year, Turang is off to a hot start both offensively and defensively. His catch in Sunday’s victory over the Seattle Mariners was one of the best plays any second baseman will make all season:
Brice Turang covered some ground for this incredible catch!
Via @BallySportWI
— Tyler Koerth (@TylerKoerth) April 7, 2024
While the Gold Glove talks have started early for Turang, his bat has also been scorching. Having appeared in all eight games thus far, he is hitting .360/.414/.440 with three RBI and a MLB leading seven stolen bases.
While it is not reasonable to expect Turang to continue batting .360 throughout the entirety of the season, the fact that he is off to such a big start proves what Murphy said will be true: he is taking a quantum leap. If he can continue to get on base at a high rate, he will help the Brewers win a lot of games.
3. Oliver Dunn Has Been on Fire as a Rookie Infielder
Oliver Dunn was acquired by the Brewers from the Philadelphia Phillies in November of 2023 prior to the Rule 5 Draft. His acquisition was overshadowed by the signing of former Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins later in the offseason, plus the expectation that fellow rookie Jackson Chourio would begin the year with the Major League club.
After the injury to Garrett Mitchell, it was determined that Dunn, who had been optioned to Triple-A Nashville late in Spring Training, would also make his Major League debut with the Brewers on Opening Day. He has taken advantage of his opportunity by playing stellar defense and having a consistent approach to the plate.
So far this season, Dunn is hitting .318/.400/.545 with a home run, triple, four RBI, and two stolen bases.
Of course, it is yet to be seen what Milwaukee can expect from Dunn over the course of a 162-game season, but early returns are certainly promising.
3 Disappointments for the Milwaukee Brewers Through Their First 3 Series
Of course, not everything has been perfect for the Brewers thus far this year. If they are going to remain competitive through all 162 games of the season, the above three surprises need to continue producing, and these three players need to start performing better.
1. Rhys Hoskins Disappeared After the New York Mets Series
It is a long season, so no one is sounding the alarm bells on Rhys Hoskins yet. However, it is disappointing that he seemed to disappear after a dramatic first series on the road in New York.
All told, in eight games this season, Hoskins is hitting .208/.333/.458 with two home runs and six RBI. A career .242 hitter, no one is expecting Hoskins to hit for an unreasonably high average. However, he went 0-7 in the Mariners series, which hopefully won’t lead to a prolonged early slump.
2. Sal Frelick Might Be the Weakest Link in the Outfield
Last season, there were some who believed that Sal Frelick may turn out to be even better than Jackson Chourio, and certainly could be better than his fellow prospects Garrett Mitchell and Joey Wiemer. The Brewers opted to give Frelick the Opening Day roster spot over Wiemer, who was optioned to Triple-A Nashville.
Frelick, however, has struggled at the plate so far this season (though he did go 2-4 in Sunday’s win over the Mariners). So far this year, he is hitting just .222/.276/.254 with two RBI and two stolen bases.
Of course, it is early, and Frelick can certainly turn it around. However, not many predicted that he would be the rookie, of all the rookies on their roster, that would struggle the most.
3. Gary Sanchez Has Yet to Record a Hit for the Milwaukee Brewers
One of the biggest offseason signing was that of designated hitter and backup catcher Gary Sanchez. His deal, which took a while to finalize due to concerns surrounding a past wrist injury, was eventually signed. He joined Spring Training late, and despite not hitting as well as Eric Haase, was given an Opening Day roster spot.
Haase is currently hitting .278/.385/.455 through the Sounds’ first three games in Nashville. Sanchez, on the other hand, has not recorded a hit in 12 at bats for the Brewers.
With so many young players hitting well, it will be harder and harder for Sanchez to find consistent at-bats if he does not start producing soon.
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