In 2025, Jackson Chourio will enter his second full season within the league. He’s already made waves round baseball along with his debut, ending third in final season’s NL Rookie of the 12 months vote. That leaves us questioning what Chourio could have in retailer for his encore in his second season.
To get an early take a look at that, let’s look again at some trendy high-profile Brewers and the way they did between their rookie and sophomore seasons. Whereas there are many examples that we will take a look at, we’ll give attention to among the larger names in franchise historical past. These are (for probably the most half) gamers that spent their first two seasons with the Brewers. How did they begin, and what did they do of their second yr? (This can even give attention to place gamers, as there are a number of extra gamers we might take a look at if we included pitchers.)
Keston Hiura
2019: .303/.368/.570, 138 OPS+, 19 HR, 49 RBI, 1.9 bWAR in 84 Games2020: .212/.297/.410, 87 OPS+, 13 HR, 32 RBI, -0.4 bWAR in 59 Video games
If you’d like an instance of a prime prospect truly fizzling out rapidly, you sadly don’t should go too far again to see it. When Hiura debuted in 2019, he was considered the Brewers’ prime prospect. It was a very good debut season as nicely. He was an element immediately within the Brewers’ lineup, placing up 19 residence runs and an OPS+ of 138 in his first season. The knock in opposition to him was his strikeout complete, although. He had 107 in his first season throughout simply 84 video games.
That strikeout downside by no means went away, and it received worse as his profession went on. Within the shortened 2020 season, he led the workforce in strikeouts with 85 (regardless of it being a 60-game season). His outcomes continued to drop, with him solely recording a 51 OPS+ in 2021 as he bounced between the majors and minors. The Brewers tried transferring him to first base in 2022, and he did see an enchancment there. He had a optimistic worth once more, however barely (0.8 bWAR, 113 OPS+). That wasn’t sufficient to maintain him round, and after he spent the 2023 season utterly within the minors, he was granted free company.
Hiura spent final season between the Tigers and Angels minor league programs and appeared in 10 video games with the Angels in 2024. Sadly, his main league struggles continued with a -0.6 bWAR in these 10 video games.
Orlando Arcia
2016: .219/.273/.358, 66 OPS+, 4 HR, 17 RBI, 0.3 bWAR in 55 Games2017: .277/.324/.407, 90 OPS+, 15 HR, 53 RBI, 2.3 bWAR in 153 Video games
Whereas Hiura was the highest prospect within the Brewers’ system at his debut, Arcia was one of many prime prospects in all of baseball when he debuted. The rising pains had been there in his first yr, because the batting line was very weak. Nevertheless, he was strong on protection and did present sufficient for the Brewers to provide him extra time.
His second season was a a lot better step in the appropriate path. The batting line jumped, and he maintained a protection that was ok for some optimistic worth. He posted his highest single-season bWAR complete in his sophomore marketing campaign at 2.3. Sadly, that’s the place it maxed out for him. His subsequent few seasons had been full of struggles as he simply couldn’t keep the hype he had as a prospect. The Brewers lastly moved on, buying and selling him to the Braves only a few video games into the 2021 season. That was a precursor for what was to return, as simply six weeks later the Brewers acquired Willy Adames in a commerce with the Rays.
To his credit score, Arcia has constructed a strong profession for himself since his time in Milwaukee. Although he’s by no means lived as much as the hype he had as a prospect, he’s been an everyday for the Braves prior to now few seasons. After spending most of 2021 within the Braves minor league system, he earned his means again onto the key league roster. He even earned himself an All-Star look in 2023. He nonetheless must get by means of about two and a half extra seasons to get to 10 years of service time, however he has a shot to do it.
Jonathan Lucroy
2010: .253/.300/.329, 70 OPS+, 4 HR, 26 RBI, 0.5 bWAR in 75 Games2011: .265/.313/.391, 90 OPS+, 12 HR, 59 RBI 1.0 bWAR in 136 Video games
Lucroy had a very good quantity of hype constructed round him coming into his MLB debut, however he wanted a little bit time to get going. His first two seasons had been respectable, however his third MLB season was the place it actually received going for him. Despite the fact that he performed simply 96 video games in 2012, he posted a 3.3 bWAR with a 132 OPS+ that season. His finest season was 2014 when he had a 6.4 bWAR and completed fourth within the NL MVP vote. Over his seven seasons in Milwaukee, he had a 17.3 bWAR, which ranks twenty second in Brewers franchise historical past.
Lucroy bounced round a number of groups over his final 5 seasons and was part of just a few extra postseason groups. Nevertheless, he slowly light out after that, and his final MLB motion got here in 2021.
Ryan Braun
2007: .324/.370/.634, 154 OPS+, 34 HR, 97 RBI, 2.0 bWAR in 113 Games2008: .285/.335/.553, 130 OPS+, 37 HR, 106 RBI, 4.6 bWAR in 151 Video games
As a place participant, Braun might be the newest participant for the Brewers who got here in with loads of hype and lived as much as each little bit of it. In his first season, he got here proper out of the gates with 34 homers, which earned him Rookie of the 12 months honors and even some MVP votes. The one knock on Braun in his first season was his protection, the place he posted a -32 DRS (Defensive Runs Saved) at third base, recording 26 errors.
To alleviate that one weak point, the Brewers moved Braun to the outfield, and the legal responsibility was gone. Over the subsequent 5 seasons, Braun was a star within the league, hitting no less than 25 residence runs a yr. His lowest bWAR over that stretch was in his second season at 4.6. He earned 5 straight All-Star choices and was within the MVP vote in every of his first six seasons. This led to him incomes the NL MVP award in 2011 and ending second in 2012.
Sadly, after the 2012 season, the accidents started to pile up for Braun. Along with that, his half within the Biogenesis scandal ended up tarnishing his general popularity. Braun ended up serving a suspension for a lot of the 2013 season. He did bounce again with two extra sturdy seasons in 2015 (3.3 bWAR) and 2016 (4.3 bWAR) however started to fizzle out after that. As soon as his contract went into its possibility years in 2021, the Brewers purchased it out. He wouldn’t signal with one other workforce and finally introduced his retirement. He presently sits in third place in Brewers franchise historical past with a 47.1 bWAR.
Prince Fielder
2005: .288/.306/.456, 97 OPS+, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 0.0 bWAR in 39 Games2006: .271/.347/.483, 110 OPS+, 28 HR, 81 RBI, -0.7 bWAR in 157 Games2007: .288/.395/.618, 157 OPS+, 50 HR, 119 RBI, 3.6 bWAR in 158 Video games
Although Fielder made his debut in 2005, his official rookie season didn’t come till 2006. Whereas his bat confirmed up immediately, his protection stored his general worth down in his first season. Regardless of hitting 28 residence runs, a -22 DRS actually introduced down his worth. It didn’t cease voters from giving him some votes in that yr’s Rookie of the 12 months vote, the place he completed seventh.
That may all change in his second full season. Whereas he nonetheless had -15 DRS that yr, his bat was so good that it greater than made up for it. He posted a career-high 50 residence runs that season and earned a third-place end in that yr’s NL MVP vote. Whereas he wouldn’t win an MVP as a Brewer, he was a mainstay at first base for the remainder of his Brewers profession. He would end with a 16.8 bWAR as a Brewer, placing him twenty third in franchise historical past.
Fielder performed 5 extra seasons within the league, spending two seasons with the Tigers and three with the Rangers. He made it to 1 World Sequence in 2012 with the Tigers. Nevertheless, his profession led to 2016 when a neck harm made it too harmful for him to play baseball once more, and he needed to retire early.
Rickie Weeks
2005: .239/.333/.394, 90 OPS+, 13 HR, 42 RBI, 0.1 bWAR in 96 Games2006: .279/.363/.404, 96 OPS+, 8 HR, 34 RBI, 0.8 bWAR in 95 Video games
Weeks was one of many hottest prospects as he got here up by means of the Brewers system. Although he formally debuted in 2003, he solely performed seven video games earlier than not reappearing with the Brewers till 2005. That ended up being his first official season, and it wasn’t something too particular. He was proper round alternative stage, however nonetheless drew a little bit little bit of consideration. He truly obtained just a few factors in that yr’s Rookie of the 12 months vote as he completed sixth.
Weeks’ second season was a step ahead general. The batting line received higher regardless of a drop in residence run complete. Over the subsequent few seasons, his worth continued to enhance. He had a bWAR of no less than 1.9 in his subsequent 5 seasons, and his low level was in 2009, which was largely misplaced on account of harm. He topped out with a 3.6 bWAR in 2010 and earned his solely All-Star Recreation choice in 2011.
Sadly, Weeks dropped off moderately rapidly after that. He had just one extra season with a optimistic bWAR, and that was a 0.2 bWAR in 2014. When his contract was completed after that season, he went on to play just a few extra seasons with different groups. None of these went nicely for him, and his enjoying profession completed in 2017. He’s now again in a Brewers’ uniform because the workforce’s affiliate supervisor.
Geoff Jenkins
1998: .229/.288/.385, 76 OPS+, 9 HR, 28 RBI, -0.4 bWAR in 84 Games1999: .313/.371/.564, 135 OPS+, 21 HR, 82 RBI, 4.6 bWAR in 135 Video games
For a few years, Geoff Jenkins was a mainstay within the Brewers lineup. His profession didn’t begin very nicely, although. In his first season, he labored by means of many struggles on the plate and had a adverse bWAR yr. Nevertheless, the Brewers caught with him and he bounced again the subsequent season. His 4.6 bWAR in 1999 was second on the workforce, behind Jeff Cirillo. That was the beginning of a protracted profession with the Brewers. He was a dependable fixture within the outfield for 10 seasons, posting a profession complete of twenty-two.1 bWAR. That places him twelfth general in franchise historical past.
Sadly, Jenkins didn’t get the complete stage of respect that he deserved whereas a Brewer. He solely made one All-Star workforce, which was within the 2003 season. He additionally simply missed out on being with the Brewers once they broke their postseason drought, ending his Brewers tenure in 2007. He did no less than earn himself a World Sequence ring in his profession, as his remaining season in 2008 was with the Phillies, who would go on to win the title.
