The Milwaukee Brewers will play their first regular season game of the 2024 MLB season in two weeks when they fly into New York, and face the New York Mets at Citi Field. Milwaukee certainly has some concerns heading into this season. Their rivals in the NL Central division have bolstered their roster as they’re all ready to compete for the division title and a postseason spot.
The team will be playing in the MLB’s first-ever Spring Breakout game this Sunday against the Kansas City Royals. Although the Brewers’ Spring Breakout roster is rated second within the league, that just shows the potential greatness in Milwaukee’s farm system and future.
2024 will be an absolute dogfight for the NL Central division. The Milwaukee Brewers need all hands on deck, and they need players who did not perform well last season to step their game up. These three 2024 Brewers are projected to perform at a much higher level than in 2023.
Three Milwaukee Brewers That Will Make An Extraordinary Leap This 2024 Season
Janson Junk
After spending his first two major league seasons with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Janson Junk, and three other players were traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for Hunter Renfroe. Even though it was reported Junk was seeking a contract with a team from Nippon Professional Baseball, he’s back with the Brewers for the 2024 regular season and will look to be a huge part of the bottom half of the Brewers starting pitching rotation.
During the start of the 2023 season, Janson was optioned to Triple-A. He only appeared on the mound twice last season. In seven and one-third innings pitched, he recorded a 0-1 record, a 4.91 ERA with five strikeouts. ZiPS Projections believes that Junk will have a positive 2024 season.
They are predicting that in 22 starts and 25 total appearances on the mound, the ex-Angel will put up a 7-7 record through 119 innings pitched with a 4.59 ERA and 80 strikeouts. While those numbers aren’t jaw-dropping they’re certainly an improvement from his stats from back when he played with Los Angeles.
Gary Sánchez
Last month, the Milwaukee Brewers signed catcher Gary Sánchez to a one-year contract. During the 2023 season, he originally signed a minor league deal with the New York Mets. After being designated for assignment on May 25th, the San Diego Padres picked him off waivers four days later. Before signing with the Brewers, Sánchez sustained another injury, the Brewers were careful when to start the 31-year-old catcher. So far, he’s played in three of Milwaukee’s Spring Training games.
In 75 total games with the Padres, and Mets last season, Sánchez recorded 52 hits, 19 home runs, and 47 RBIs with a .217 batting average. ZiPS predicts Gary will make a leap from his 2023 season. In 346 at-bats, ZiPS believes Sánchez will have 73 hits, 19 home runs, and 53 RBIs. If he can contribute to helping the Brewers attain some wins this season, look for his confidence at the plate to skyrocket.
Brice Turang
The 24-year-old second baseman had an excellent rookie campaign with the Milwaukee Brewers. Early on during his rookie season, MLB Network compared Turang to star American League shortstop J.P. Crawford. Brice played 137 games last season and will look to play around the same if not more games during his sophomore season. Brice made the Brewers Opening Day roster last season but did experience a stint in Triple-A. Last season in 404 at-bats, Turang would rip 88 hits, six home runs, 34 RBIs, and 26 stolen bases with a .218 batting average.
ZiPS Projections believes that Brice will have an extraordinary leap during the 2024 season. In 485 projected at-bats, ZiPS has Turang putting up 117 hits, nine home runs, 51 RBIs, and 22 stolen bases. If Brice continues to improve his game, he will be a huge cornerstone franchise piece for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2024, and their future. His play can be a significant part of why the Brewers make or don’t appear in the 2024 postseason.
