Even with the Milwaukee Brewers making the sixth seed in the National League playoff picture last season, they still only had 696 runs batted in, which is behind division rivals such as the St.Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, and the Chicago Cubs. This Brewers team needs to deliver clutch hits or home runs during tough or late-game situations if they want to continue to enjoy playoff action.
Using Fangraphs ZiPS Projections, we’ll be looking at the three guys who could possibly lead Milwaukee this season in RBIs. Although this team has some prospects that could make noise in 2024, we’ll see some of the veteran guys on top of this list. Last season, Willy Adames led the Brewers with 80 RBIs. Will he do it again in 2024?
Milwaukee Brewers Potential 2024 Leaders in RBIs
-
1. Willy Adames
Adames has the chance to be the Brewers’ top guy in 2024. Milwaukee has patiently waited for someone on the roster to be a cornerstone piece, and the 28-year-old shortstop has that opportunity to lead this team back into the playoff hunt. In 2023, he led the Brews with 24 home runs and 80 RBIs.
This season ZiPS Projection has Willy leading the team once again in both of these statistical categories. Through 553 potential at-bats, Adames could record 133 hits, 28 home runs, and 89 RBIs. This Milwaukee Brewers team needs some sort of identity moving forward after trading away ace Corbin Burnes over a month ago. Willy Adames simply needs to have a productive season in order for the Brewers to maintain any level of success.
2. Jackson Chourio
This past offseason, the Brewers and 19-year-old outfielder Jackson Chourio agreed on an eight-year, 82-million-dollar extension. Milwaukee’s Senior Vice President, and General Manager Matt Arnold said this in a statement after the deal was official.
“Jackson has proven to be one of the elite young prospects in all of baseball,” Brewers senior vice president and general manager Matt Arnold said in a statement. “We are extremely excited to make this unprecedented commitment to a player we believe to be a generational talent who has all the tools to be the face of our franchise. We are thrilled to have Jackson in a Brewers uniform for many years to come.”
The 2024 rookie is expected to rank second for the Brewers in RBIs. Through 571 at-bats, Chourio is expected to have 150 hits, which would lead the team, 17 home runs, and 76 RBIs. With this type of performance, the 19-year-old outfielder has a chance to put himself in the National League Rookie of the Year race. Even though some may say, Chourio became a little impatient and signed an extension, even though he had a chance to earn more money in the next year, Jackson should make an immediate impact with this Milwaukee Brewers franchise.
3. William Contreras
The impact catcher William Contreras had on the Brewers during the 2023 season was huge, and uplifting to the entire franchise. He led the team with 150 hits and ranked second with 76 RBIs. Contreras has a chance to maintain his level of productiveness this upcoming season. It will be interesting to see if William can continue his level of success, and earn a second all-star nod in 2024. Through 483 at-bats, ZiPS projections predicts Contreras will put up 129 hits, 19 home runs, and 69 RBIs. This past season, Contreras won the Milwaukee Brewers’ first Silver Slugger Award as a catcher. Can he repeat his awesome 2023 season?
