The Milwaukee Brewers’ lackluster offense could be the unraveling of their season if things don’t turn around, but are there reasons for optimism?
The Brewers rank 14th in runs scored, but things could be much worse. They rank 23rd in team batting average and 21st in home runs. They aren’t hitting for average or power, yet they’ve remained competitive, even if it’s been an underwhelming performance.
The importance of the big three can’t be overlooked.
But will the rest of the offense be enough to help lift the Brewers into true contender status?
Joey Ortiz was one player who could have been labeled as a potential breakout, but it’s been a disaster for the shortstop. He is hitting .176 with a 31 wRC+. He only recently hit his first home run of the season.
That one feels very very good https://t.co/hzKuv3LFx8 pic.twitter.com/2wMCaKVNrd
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) May 10, 2025
Likewise, Brice Turang and Sal Frelick aren’t going to carry the team as power sources.
If the Brewers are going to rely on batting average and a more depth-reliant offense, players like Turang and Frelick will need to maintain their excellent batting averages throughout the entire season if the rest of the team doesn’t fill in the holes.
It’s not just that the Brewers have lacked the pop to win games through home runs. They rank 24th in doubles, so they haven’t established consistent threats through extra-base hits either. Players like Ortiz and Christian Yelich have underperformed their xWOBA, but it will take more than that to make up the gap. It will require several players rebounding to make this roster a playoff threat.
Players like Rhys Hoskins give hope of what this roster could be should the rest of the lineup turn around. His 127 wRC+ with both power and patience at the plate has turned him into the impact bat the Brewers were looking for when he signed.
There are players around the fringes who have contributed, like Jake Bauers, who has a 148 wRC+. But as a part-time player, it’s not a resounding success to have him as the standout statistical figure. Will there be other role players capable of building up the edges?
The most substantial improvements will likely come from the established stars and then the budding players capable of getting on the field every day. It would require Ortiz to take the next step despite his disappointing start. Garrett Mitchell could return later this season to help revive the offense. While the Brewers need players like Chourio, Yelich, and William Contreras to lead the team, it will be just as important for the rest of the roster to blend the lineup together into its most lethal form.
