Daring Predictions
Paul Dietrich: DL Corridor is a severe NL Rookie of the 12 months candidate
Oops. Corridor was solely briefly wholesome in 2024, and much more briefly efficient. He confirmed flashes towards the tip of the season, however it was not an particularly encouraging season for one of many huge prizes within the Corbin Burnes commerce. He might nonetheless make good in 2025, however we’ll see.
Harrison Freuck: Tyler Black finishes the season as a left-handed choice at first base
Black didn’t capitalize on his robust 2023 season (.284/.417/.513 with 18 homers, 73 RBIs, 105 runs, and 55 steals throughout 123 video games between Double-A and Triple-A), and so he didn’t get a lot of a chance with the key league squad (18 video games, .204/.316/.245 with 10 hits, seven walks, two RBIs, 4 runs, and three steals). Plus, Jake Bauers made it by your entire 2024 season as Milwaukee’s main left-handed choice at first. Hopefully I used to be only a yr early.
Matt Gerrity: Sal Frelick hits .300
Properly, Frelick solely hit .259, so this prediction fell quick by a good margin. However there have been a number of fascinating developments in Frelick’s method this yr. He had a very good strikeout fee in his 2023 stint, and he lowered that much more to 14.9% in 2024. He didn’t stroll as a lot, however for somebody as speedy as Frelick, I don’t assume it’s a nasty factor that he is perhaps extra reliant on getting balls in play subsequent yr.
Jason Paczkowski: DL Corridor solidifies himself because the No. 2 starter within the rotation
This didn’t actually pan out for DL Corridor in 2024. He spent a very good a part of the season on the IL, and when he returned he hung out within the minors. In the meantime, Tobias Myers emerged from the minors to take this spot within the Brewers rotation. Corridor nonetheless confirmed some promise this season. A seven-inning scoreless begin to finish August impressed many, and he had a robust displaying in September. That units him up for an additional alternative within the rotation in 2025.
Storylines to Watch
Paul Dietrich: How does the rotation maintain up?
It seems this was, certainly, an enormous storyline all through the season and the reply was: not very properly! The Brewers, to their credit score, did a pleasant job of patching issues collectively, squeezing each ounce of juice out of fellows like Colin Rea and commerce pickups Frankie Montas and Aaron Civale. So, on one hand, the rotation didn’t maintain up in any respect, as they labored by what felt like 1,200 completely different beginning pitchers. However then again, they miraculously discovered a technique to make it work.
Harrison Freuck: Which Willy Adames reveals up in 2024?
The reply to this: the 2021/2022 Adames. After compiling 7.9 bWAR throughout 238 video games between 2021/2022, Adames declined considerably with solely 3.0 WAR and a .217/.310/.407 line (94 OPS+) throughout 149 video games in 2023. Whereas his 3.1 WAR in 2024 wasn’t significantly better, he appeared nearer to his 2022 type on the plate, hitting .251/.331/.462 (118 OPS+) with a career-high 33 homers and 112 RBIs, additionally stealing a career-high 21 baggage. Discuss a very good “stroll” season.
Matt Gerrity: What occurs at shortstop?
With Willy Adames sticking round because the Brewers confirmed they have been contenders, there was no dramatic commerce deadline to fret about. Adames had his finest season since 2021 with a 119 wRC+, so this storyline may simply carry over into this offseason. I anticipate Ortiz to slip over for shortstop. Which may depart the Brewers with out some key energy within the lineup, however I can’t wait to see what Ortiz does defensively if that’s the case.
Jason Paczkowski: Can the Brewers discover a full-time participant for third base?
The Brewers did find yourself discovering their third baseman. Joey Ortiz acquired the beginning job initially of the season and held it all through the season. He began 124 of the Brewers’ 162 video games at third. The primary two months of the season have been robust as he posted a .288/.388/.504 batting line. He cooled off from there however nonetheless held the place with good protection. Nevertheless, going into 2025, the Brewers are again to sq. one right here. With Ortiz predicted to slip over to shortstop, the Brewers will probably be on the lookout for a possible third baseman this offseason.
Group MVP
Paul Dietrich: Freddy Peralta
For me, this was form of a “wishful” choose—I felt that the Brewers’ finest probability of getting an enormous yr have been if Peralta was pretty much as good as he’d been in 2021. It didn’t actually work out that method—Freddy was advantageous, however he was very inconsistent and never the ace that I hoped he can be.
Harrison Freuck: Freddy Peralta
As Paul stated above, Peralta wasn’t very constant in 2024. Even so, he was one of many anchors of the rotation, making a career-high 32 begins and pitching to a 3.68 ERA and 4.16 WHIP with 200 strikeouts for the second straight season. Whereas he actually wasn’t the staff MVP, he was nonetheless a cornerstone in an oft-injured rotation.
Matt Gerrity: Christian Yelich
Yelich performed his ultimate sport on July 23. Up till that time, he was the staff’s finest hitter with a 153 wRC+. I believe which means I get some credit score, proper? He had 11 dwelling runs and 21 stolen bases at that time, nonetheless walked over 12% of the time, and had a .315 batting common. If Yelich returns to well being after his again surgical procedure with no issues, I don’t assume it’s a loopy stretch to say he may very well be on this dialogue once more.
Jason Paczkowski: William Contreras
By WAR (each on FanGraphs and Baseball Reference), Contreras led the staff. He had a 5.4 fWAR and 4.9 bWAR. He led the staff in batting common, on-base share, and slugging share amongst certified gamers (Yelich did end greater when counting all gamers). Statistically, Contreras was the perfect participant on the staff this season.
Most Improved Participant
Paul Dietrich: Sal Frelick
I actually thought Frelick was going to take a step ahead offensively. There’s part of me that’s type of at all times going to consider that Frelick will take a step ahead offensively, even when he’s 47 years previous and solely taking part in beer-league softball someplace in Massachusetts. It might nonetheless occur! Frelick did find yourself profitable a Gold Glove, however his offense was dangerous sufficient that I might say this was a miss.
Harrison Freuck: Sal Frelick
Frelick wasn’t probably the most improved participant by any stretch, however he nonetheless offered strong protection as he received a Gold Glove, and he minimize down his strikeout fee (as talked about by Matt earlier). I’d say this was a miss however not an terrible one.
Matt Gerrity: Brice Turang
For a lot of the season, I used to be feeling fairly good about this one. In 2023, Turang hit .218. He was off to an unimaginable begin this yr, even pushing for an All-Star bid. On July 5, Turang was hitting .290 with 28 stolen bases, an improved strikeout fee, and was placing collectively a Gold Glove resume. His efficiency on the plate fell dramatically, all the way down to a .209 batting common the remainder of the best way. I really like Turang’s fashion, although, and I don’t assume he’ll be a low-.200s hitter subsequent yr.
Jason Paczkowski: Garrett Mitchell
A day after the unique predictions got here out, Mitchell went on the IL with a fractured finger and missed three months. That will have stopped him from being probably the most improved participant, however he nonetheless made a very good run at it after returning. In simply 69 video games from July ahead, he posted a 2.0 bWAR. With a full season of taking part in time, he could have had a 4-plus WAR season. Mitchell lastly gave us a very good take a look at what sort of participant he’s, now he simply wants to remain wholesome and do it for a full season.
Newcomer of the 12 months
Paul Dietrich: Rhys Hoskins
This was form of an inexpensive selection initially of the yr, however regardless of 26 homers, Hoskins was a disappointment in 2024. I talked a bunch about Chourio, I ought to have simply made the daring selection, I assume!
Harrison Freuck: Jackson Chourio
This was simply my finest choose. As everybody has heard 1,000,000 occasions by now, Chourio had a gradual begin however picked it up because the season went on. The end result was a strong .275/.327/.464 line (117 OPS+) with 21 homers, 79 RBIs, 80 runs, and 22 steals throughout 148 video games. He additionally put his identify into competition for NL Rookie of the 12 months and he’s a finalist for the Silver Slugger Award within the outfield.
Matt Gerrity: DL Corridor
DL Corridor’s 5.02 ERA seems to be ugly on face worth, however I’m nonetheless hopeful about his potential transferring ahead. As for this yr, although, it was undoubtedly an underwhelming efficiency. He walked too many batters, gave up too many dwelling runs, and didn’t have unimaginable strikeout numbers. Corridor hasn’t had an enormous pattern within the majors, however his Stuff+ numbers present there’s nonetheless some changes to be made if he’s going to turn into a strong starter. His fastball rated at 72 in Stuff+, which doesn’t appear tenable in a starter’s position.
Jason Paczkowski: Jackson Chourio
It was onerous to beat Chourio as Newcomer of the 12 months this season. It could have taken him two months to get going, however as soon as he did, he was onerous to cease. He completed the season with the third-best WAR on the staff and has set himself as much as be a celebrity for years.
