The Milwaukee Brewers have had a dominant run within the Nationwide League Central, however they aren’t projected to retain their crown.
In keeping with FanGraphs’ projections, the Brewers are anticipated to complete with 81 wins—solely three video games forward of the Pirates and Reds, who’re projected to complete on the backside of the division.
If the Brewers need to keep away from a brawl like that with the remainder of the division and return to the playoffs, they are going to want these three gamers to excel in 2025.
Garrett Mitchell
Garrett Mitchell is probably essentially the most mercurial participant on the roster. Nonetheless simply 26 years previous, there hasn’t been an prolonged alternative for Mitchell to show his value as an integral a part of the lineup. He’s been streaky with tantalizing moments of offensive firepower combined with underwhelming slumps — and it doesn’t assist that he hasn’t stayed wholesome for a full season.
Mitchell completed the common season with a 30-game run posting a 164 wRC+. That got here with a .282 batting common, a wild .624 slugging share, however most notably, a 31.3% strikeout price.
These strikeouts is likely to be the limiting issue for Mitchell, however simply how a lot will they hamper his progress?
Mitchell is a profession 123 wRC+ hitter within the majors, but FanGraphs tasks him to complete 2025 with a 105 wRC+. His sky-high strikeout price makes it complicated to foretell his output this season. Add on prime of that his platoon splits, and he turns into one of the crucial fascinating gamers to observe this season.
Will he lastly have his breakout 12 months? He’s actually able to being greater than only a league-average bat. His power-speed combo can be a weapon in the course of the Brewers lineup, nevertheless it would possibly include a whole lot of highs and lows.
Nestor Cortes
Lately, the Brewers have been recognized for pitching — however this 12 months’s group is brief on elite expertise. Even together with Freddy Peralta, no starter is projected for an ERA under 3.75. A number of strong pitchers may type a aggressive rotation, however identical to Tobias Myers final 12 months, the Brewers would possibly want an sudden efficiency in an effort to retain their division crown.
That’s the place Cortes is available in. Whereas he isn’t a gaudy strikeout pitcher, he can nonetheless rack up high quality innings. The previous few years have seen a few of Cortes’ skillsets decline, however there’s nonetheless a case to be made that he will probably be a stalwart within the rotation.
For instance, Cortes’ hard-hit price has continued to climb. As lately as 2022, that quantity was at 34.5%. That has jumped to 40.9% and 43.4% prior to now two seasons, respectively.
Whereas the standard of contact allowed has worsened, he nonetheless has an incredible strategy on the mound. His 17.3% strikeout-to-walk ratio would have been second on the group final 12 months amongst all pitchers with at the least 70 innings.
A pitcher that enables balls into play isn’t inherently worrisome with the Brewers’ elite protection behind him. After utilizing so many pitchers final 12 months, an prolonged workload from Cortes may assist ease the burden on the bullpen on as properly.
Sal Frelick
Sal Frelick, at 24 years previous, has already confirmed his value along with his glove alone. However is it attainable he takes a step ahead with the bat in 2025?
Frelick is a pleasure to observe along with his selective strategy and pace on the basepaths, however his statistical output up to now has been mediocre. Due to his elite protection, it’s not as a lot of a fear that he’s been a below-average bat, however his enchancment may give a jolt to the lineup deeper within the order.
Frelick hit .259 final 12 months and solely struck out 14.9% of the time. That’s a promising basis, however his lackluster energy metrics go away lots to be desired. He ranks among the many league’s worst in barrel price, hard-hit price, and bat pace.
But when Frelick’s profile coalesces right into a constant line drive strategy, he may have his breakout offensive season.
He noticed a slight uptick between 2023 and 2024 in line drive price, bettering from 16% to 18.7%. Due to Frelick’s contact skill and pace, he doesn’t must hammer the ball to take advantage of out of his at-bats. However driving extra balls within the air will enable him to make the most of that pace extra successfully in gathering extra-base hits and utilizing his all-fields strategy.
If Frelick can ally his contact expertise with a larger tendency for line drives, he may change into one of many key cogs within the backside of the order. He already has the pace to be a risk for stolen bases. If he may collect some extra extra-base hits this 12 months, that can arrange much more RBI alternatives for teammates.
All stats courtesy of FanGraphs until in any other case famous.
