Because the 2025 season will get nearer and spring coaching is lower than a month away, we’re beginning to see what the Brewers lineup might be. There may be nonetheless time for an addition or two, however it’s been quiet for offseason rumors. With spring coaching getting nearer, let’s take an early have a look at the Brewers batting order for the upcoming season.
Beginning on the high of the lineup, Brice Turang and Jackson Chourio are the early decisions to stay the place they did final season. For almost all of the season, it was an ordinary components for these two gamers. In opposition to right-handed pitchers, Brice Turang took the leadoff spot, and Jackson Chourio was proper behind him. When it was a left-handed pitcher, the strategy was related however shifted. To assist scale back the variety of plate appearances Turang acquired towards LHP, he was moved to the underside of the lineup with Chourio on the high. This allowed the 2 to stay subsequent to one another within the lineup but additionally scale back Turang’s plate appearances. It labored effectively final season, so it seemingly will stick round to begin the season. This leaves a spot at quantity two within the lineup towards LHP, however we’ll return to that in a minute.
One other extra apparent spot within the lineup comes within the third and fourth spots. These spots had been primarily reserved for Christian Yelich and William Contreras final season, and it needs to be the identical coming into 2025. They’re the Brewers’ finest hitters and will preserve these positions. Whereas there’s concern about Yelich after his again surgical procedure, reviews are optimistic about his restoration. We are going to be taught extra about how he appears to be like in spring coaching, however he’s staying in the identical place within the lineup for now. That places Yelich within the third spot with Contreras following him within the fourth spot.
The subsequent query for the lineup is the way to defend Contreras within the fifth spot. Willy Adames was the primary safety for Contreras final season, however his departure leaves the largest gap within the lineup. One participant that got here round within the second half of the season was Garrett Mitchell, and he performed a vital position within the lineup as he returned from the injured listing. He’s proven some energy and general bat within the lineup, however he does have a priority along with his batting splits. Listed here are his splits from final season:
vs. RHP: .252/.348/.491, 132 wRC+ in 187 PA
vs. LHP: .273/.314/.364, 90 wRC+ in 37 PA
In terms of batting common and on-base share, it’s nonetheless good towards each. He sees a rise in OBP towards RHP, whereas his batting common will increase towards LHP. Nonetheless, the primary concern is his slugging share and general energy numbers. They drop fully when dealing with a LHP. All eight of his dwelling runs final season got here towards RHP, in addition to 9 of his 12 doubles and all three of his triples.
To fight this final season, the Brewers began Blake Perkins in most video games when a left-handed pitcher was on the mound. Total, Mitchell solely began in seven video games towards left-handed pitchers final season. This helped Perkins get common taking part in time; it gave him a beginning spot towards LHPs and he might nonetheless slot in decrease within the lineup when a RHP was on the mound. Nonetheless, Perkins isn’t the identical energy menace within the lineup as Mitchell.
For the beginning lineup, that places Mitchell within the fifth spot, offering some energy safety for Contreras batting fourth towards RHP. As for LHP, Perkins slots effectively into the second spot with OBP earlier than the ability hitters in Yelich and Contreras. Mitchell might additionally slot into the second spot towards LHP when essential. He doesn’t have the identical energy, however his batting common and OBP nonetheless match effectively towards LHP.
That leaves 4 spots remaining within the lineup: 6-9 towards RHP, and 5-8 towards LHP. For the following spot within the lineup, it nonetheless goes to Rhys Hoskins. Whereas we hoped to see a bounce-back 12 months for Hoskins, it didn’t go in addition to we had hoped. He was barely above substitute stage in keeping with FanGraphs as he posted a 0.1 fWAR in 2024. The batting line was tough at .214/.303/.419 with a 100 wRC+. Regardless of all of that, Hoskins nonetheless was an influence menace. He hit 26 dwelling runs and had 82 RBI. It’s sufficient to offer some safety for the hitters above him. He can be sixth towards RHP and fifth towards LHP.
Three spots stay within the lineup after that, with three gamers left to think about: Sal Frelick, Joey Ortiz, and doubtlessly Caleb Durbin (or one other starter at third base). For now, they fill out the final three spots within the lineup. Between Frelick and Ortiz, it’ll come all the way down to how they play in spring coaching. Ortiz was higher at the beginning of the season however struggled down the stretch. Frelick was extra constant all through the season, although he additionally had a tough month on the finish of the season (31 wRC+ in September). As for Caleb Durbin, he has to show himself in spring coaching.
That finally ends up an early have a look at the lineups for 2025. There’s nonetheless room for change in spring coaching, however it’ll seemingly look much like the way it seemed final season.
vs. RHP
Brice Turang (2B)
Jackson Chourio (LF)
Christian Yelich (DH)
William Contreras (C)
Garrett Mitchell (CF)
Rhys Hoskins (1B)
Sal Frelick (RF)
Joey Ortiz (SS)
Caleb Durbin (3B)
vs. LHP
Jackson Chourio (LF)
Blake Perkins (CF)
Christian Yelich (DH)
William Contreras (C)
Rhys Hoskins (1B)
Sal Frelick (RF)
Joey Ortiz (SS)
Caleb Durbin (3B)
Brice Turang (2B)
