From Turang and Ortiz to young prospects, will it be enough to win the division in 2025?
The Brewers might not have achieved their goals in 2024, but they still stand to fight for another division crown next year.
If shortstop Willy Adames leaves in free agency, that could leave the infield with some question marks. How will the players be deployed? And will there be enough offensive firepower to carry the team?
This question predominantly revolves around Brice Turang and Joey Ortiz. Both players showcased their defensive acumen, playing a large role in forming the team’s identity. If Adames leaves, will either player move over to shortstop to fill that role?
It would be fascinating to see Turang take over. It’s not hard to believe he would make an excellent shortstop. Perhaps a Gold Glove winner this year at second, and another one at shortstop? That would make for a fun story. But anyway, this is an interesting discussion because it gives the Brewers options. Every team loves flexibility, especially if they aren’t looking to crack open the piggy bank in several high-profile moves.
If either Turang or Ortiz is capable of playing shortstop, that gives the team the ability to pursue whoever they want in free agency. A shortstop, third baseman, or second baseman equally could fit into the club with Turang and Ortiz filling in the empty spots.
This also leaves the Brewers with the potential to call up any of their infield prospects without worrying about booting out one of their regulars. According to MLB.com, third baseman/first baseman Tyler Black (No. 5 Brewers prospect) could easily make the Opening Day roster, and third baseman Brock Wilken (No. 8 Brewers prospect, 2025 ETA) has a chance to crack the roster at some point next season. Black only played first base in his stint with the Brewers this year, but he also played third base, left field, and center field at Triple-A.
If Black or Wilken ends up as the third baseman, Ortiz could slide to shortstop and Turang remain at second base. Any of these options seems tempting, allowing the hype of a young core to take over. But the offensive production would need to follow.
Turang will be entering his third season. His style is full of flair and excitement, but his production tailed off in the second half. He hit .277 in the first half with a 106 wRC+. In the latter half of the year, that dipped to .220 with a 58 wRC+. If Turang finds that early-season form, he will once again be one of the most vital players in the lineup. That’s a large leap, though, from much of what he accomplished in the final few months of the year. If he kept up his postseason form all year long, that might make for one wild season.
There’s a similar narrative for Ortiz, although this was his first full year in the majors. It might be expected that he will be more likely to find that next level in his game as he gains more experience, but already 26 years old, he’s older for a “young” player just off his rookie campaign. Ortiz’s batted ball quality was rather poor in the second half. He rarely whiffs and doesn’t chase, which gives him an excellent foundation, but the contact quality hasn’t yet caught up to the rest of his profile.
Pre-All-Star break: .432 SLG, 6.0%-barrel rate, 39.1% hard-hit rate
Post-All-Star break: .362 SLG, 3.1%-barrel rate, 37% hard-hit rate
Turang and Ortiz could be excellent options in this batting order. We saw that performance during the first half. So, it’s not even a matter of asking these players to do something they’ve never done. But maintaining their performance over the course of a full season is a critical factor in the team’s success. They both have the plate skills that hint at the hitters they could be, so it’s sure to be another entertaining group for the Brewers infield.
Stats courtey of FanGraphs.