The Milwaukee Brewers may be just 6-8 during Spring Training games this year, but they are starting to show fans that maybe, just maybe, they were correct in their belief that they would be able to answer a major roster question with players that they already have.
Last season, shortstop Willy Adames led Milwaukee with 32 home runs and 112 RBI. Now, however, he plays for the San Francisco Giants after inking a seven-year $182 million contract with them earlier this winter.
To replace this offensive production, the Brewers did, well, next to nothing. Sure, they brought back first baseman/outfielder Mark Canha on a minor league deal, and they did trade for infield prospect Caleb Durbin. But neither of these players project to hit 30+ home runs or have 100+ RBI’s.
Instead of making a major free agent signing, Milwaukee instead is relying on the players they already have to have improved offensive seasons in 2025.
The Milwaukee Brewers Lead MLB in Home Runs During Spring Training
Mark Hoffman
Per Tyler Koerth of Wisconsin Sports Heroics, the Brewers currently lead all of Major League Baseball in home runs and stolen bases this spring. They have 25 of each.
Milwaukee’s show of power has been highlighted by the spring performances of two players in particular: shortstop Vinny Capra and first baseman Rhys Hoskins. Capra is hitting .350/.381/1.000 this spring with four home runs and eight RBI in 20 at bats. He does not have any more minor league options left, so his case for making the Opening Day roster seems pretty strong at this point.
Hoskins, meanwhile, is hitting .385/.556/1.308 with four home runs and four RBI in just 13 at bats. He has also walked (five times) more than he has struck out (three times). No matter how he performed this spring, Hoskins was going to make the Opening Day roster based on his $18 million salary. However, such great numbers so far have fans excited for a bounce-back campaign from the first baseman.
Milwaukee Brewers Manager Pat Murphy Explains What Is Different Rhys Hoskins This Year
Hoskins signed with the Brewers last year after missing the entire 2023 MLB season with a torn ACL. In his first season with Milwaukee, he hit .214/.303/.419 with 26 home runs and 82 RBI. And while his power numbers were decent, his batting average and on-base percentage were well below his career averages.
His performance so far this spring, though, seems to indicate that he will have a much better year, which will go a long way in replacing Adames.
After he hit his fourth home run of the spring on Saturday, manager Pat Murphy explained what exactly has changed for Hoskins this year.
“He looks confident in his body,” Murphy said according to Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “He didn’t play for a year, so last spring was a little touch-and-go for him. The whole season, I don’t think he felt as healthy as he’d like to feel. But that’s coming off a year of not playing.”
This winter, Hoskins was able to have a normal offseason and do his usual workouts without having to worry about rehabbing his knee. If he is able to stay healthy, which history suggests he will (his torn ACL is the only major injury of his career), the Brewers may have the slugger they believed they were getting when Hoskins was first signed.
More Milwaukee Brewers News from Wisconsin Sports Heroics
- Brewers’ Star Christian Yelich Makes Encouraging Statement After 1st Home Run of Spring Training
- Brewers’ Opening Day Opponent Could Be Without 1 Key Starter
- “Can’t Put a Deadline on It;” Brewers’ Manager Pat Murphy Mum on 1 Opening Day Starting Job
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