We also ask who fans expect to be Milwaukee’s primary shortstop out of spring training
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Milwaukee Brewers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Welcome back to another spring training with the Brewers! With the full roster now in Arizona and the team’s first game scheduled for Saturday, February 22, we’re ready to look to the season ahead rather than the winter (nearly) in the rearview.
In our first two polls of 2025, we’re asking fans where they expect Milwaukee to finish in the NL Central and who they expect to be Milwaukee’s primary shortstop come March 31.
Coming off another NL Central title, the Brewers didn’t do much over the winter outside of losing Willy Adames (Giants) and Devin Williams (Yankees). Still, there’s no reason to believe those losses should push them out of first. They lost Corbin Burnes (Orioles) and Brandon Woodruff (injury) for 2024 and still managed to improve from 2023, winning 93 games after winning 92 in 2023.
On top of that, most of Milwaukee’s competition didn’t do much either. The Cubs probably remain the biggest competition, especially after adding Kyle Tucker via trade. The Cardinals and Pirates did virtually nothing, and the Reds might’ve gotten slightly better as they added Gavin Lux, Austin Hays, and Brady Singer while losing Jonathan India.
FWIW, I’d still take the Brewers and Cubs as the 1-2 punch at the top of the division, though I think it’ll be closer than it was in 2023 (92 wins for Milwaukee vs. 83 wins for Chicago) or 2024 (93 wins for Milwaukee vs. 83 wins for Chicago).
The other key question — and arguably more important to Brewers fans — is who will be the team’s primary shortstop to begin the season? With Adames gone, the leading candidate is probably Brice Turang, who rose through the minors as a shortstop. Adam McCalvy lists Turang as the shortstop in his current projections.
Joey Ortiz is the next top option, and beyond those two, Andruw Monasterio or Caleb Durbin could also be candidates. With three infield spots to split between those four players (plus Oliver Dunn, Vinny Capra, and Isaac Collins, depending on who makes the roster), I’d currently put Ortiz at 3B, Turang at SS, and some sort of platoon between Monasterio, Durbin, and Dunn at 2B.
What’s your take? Answer the poll below and stay tuned for results later this week!
Check out DraftKings Sportsbook, the official sportsbook partner of SB Nation.