We’re asking fans to weigh in on which of five Brewers is having the best (surprising) start
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 week of Brewers Reacts! In this week’s survey, we’re asking fans to weigh in on which of five Brewers is having the most surprising start. Those players are: Nick Mears, Brice Turang, Sal Frelick, Chad Patrick, and Abner Uribe.
Obviously, players like Jackson Chourio are Freddy Peralta are “expected” to have hot starts, but players like those listed above may not be on everyone’s radar. That’s why we’re asking which of the surprising starts is most impressive.
Mears, 28, was brought over at the trade deadline last season from the Rockies. He didn’t have a great second half with Milwaukee — 7.30 ERA, 6.25 FIP, 18 strikeouts over 12 1⁄3 innings — but he’s been lights out in five appearances since coming off the IL this season. Across 4 2⁄3 innings, he’s allowed no baserunners, striking out six with a 0.00 ERA and 0.45 FIP. It’s a small sample size, but far and away his best stretch in a couple years (arguably since his early career with the Pirates three-plus seasons ago).
Turang, 25, got out to a hot start in 2024 before cooling down a bit in the summer. He’s off to an even better start in 2025, picking up a hit in all but one of Milwaukee’s 18 games this year. He’s hitting .329/.267/.466 with three homers, 10 RBIs, 17 runs, and four steals while providing plus-plus defense so far. Read more about his hot start in Adam’s column from yesterday.
Frelick, 25 on Saturday, hasn’t been quite as impressive as Turang, but his offensive step forward from last year is arguably larger. Through 18 games, he’s hitting .306/.403/.403 with two doubles, two triples, five RBIs, nine runs, 19 hits, and five steals while also providing plus-plus defense.
Patrick, 26, is a rookie who’s looked great through four appearances (three starts). After a semi-rough outing against the Yankees to begin the season — two runs allowed via a home run over one inning of work in relief — he’s allowed just one run (also a homer) over 14 1⁄3 innings from the rotation. While he doesn’t have super flashy stuff, he’s done his job filling in for a depleted rotation, as he’s struck out 13 with a 1.76 ERA this year, looking like the 2025 version of Tobias Myers.
Uribe, 24, had an extremely promising rookie season in 2023, with a 1.76 ERA, 2.77 FIP, and 39 strikeouts in 30 2⁄3 innings. He entered 2024 as the closer with Devin Williams on the IL, but he didn’t make the most of his opportunity, with a 6.91 ERA and 4.63 FIP over 14 1⁄3 innings. He then was suspended for his role in a brawl with the Rays, was demoted to Triple-A, and missed the rest of the year with a knee injury. After serving his four-game suspension to begin this season, he’s looked fantastic, allowing two runs (one earned) with nine strikeouts over 8 1⁄3 innings, sporting a 1.08 ERA and 1.94 FIP through eight appearances.
Which of these player’s hot start is the most surprising to you? Answer the poll below and stay tuned for results later this week!