Pre Draft Report - Brewers
- Jim Santora
- Mar 9, 2025
- 2 min read
Last season, the Brewers finished the season with a 27-61 record. For an expansion team, it was understandable. For a team starting late-era Anthony Rizzo, it was expected. Now the Brewers' new manager hopes to at least finish 28-60, or, preferably, anywhere north.
What the Brewers hope to capitalize on this season is the rookie season of Jackson Chourio, the wunderkind right field bopper of lore. Chourio, far and away the best card in play, looks to revitalize an aging, struggling team, consisting of once-great veterans like Xander Bogaerts, J.P. Crawford, Michael Conforto and Kris Bryant, all of whom are saddled with mediocre numbers. Defensively the Brewers will be above average, thanks to gold glovers Carlos Santana and Jared Triolo, as well as professional defenders Michael Taylor and Blake Perkins. Offensively, the team simply doesn't accomplish much; against right handers the team averages 15.4 chances for a hit, and 18 chances against left handers. Even with the addition of professional power bat Jeimer 'The Candy Man' Candelario, the lineup errs on the side of efficiency rather than intimidation. Which, again, in a rebuilding year from an expansion team, is understandable. And though the plan is to get through the season with three catchers stuffed into a trenchcoat, finding innings at most positions doesn't seem to be the most difficult task.
Where the Brewers hope to find an edge is in its pitching. With solid, if imperfect, campaigns expected from Jameson Taillon, Bailey Falter and Ben Lively, and partial seasons of quality material expected from Graham Ashcraft and Yu Darvish, the rotation hopes to draft not only a new ace, but a new perennial hurler for the next generation of Brewers teams. Also looking to grow in numbers following the draft is the bullpen, though A.J. Puk, Sam Moll and closer Kyle Finnegan look to provide a strong enough base.
With seven picks in the first five rounds, and four in the first two, the Brewers plan to rebuild, revitalize and repopulate their struggling, fleabitten roster. As the White Sox can tell you this season, there's only one way to go following a poor season, and it's sure as hell not 'down'.
