MILWAUKEE — The Brewers' starting rotation is a “work in progress,” manager Pat Murphy said before Tuesday's home opener. Outside of veterans Christian Yelich and Reece Hoskins, the group of position players is young, young and the youngest. But expectations are the same for Yelich, who is entering his seventh season in Milwaukee.
So far, that's all they've done. Yelich hits a home run against the Twins at American Family Field, and rookie Jackson Cholio hits a home run in his debut at-bat, pushing the Brewers to a perfect 4-0 for the fourth time in franchise history, 3-2 over the Twins. won.
“Each season, we always hear the buzz of what the Brewers are going to be. What's the season going to be like? Are they rebuilding or are they competing?” Yelich said. “I think we're always looking to win. I think that's something that's been established over the years.”
Of the National League's 15 teams, only the Dodgers, Braves and Cardinals have won more regular-season games than the Brewers in the 20 seasons since Mark Attanasio bought the team. The Brewers have reached the postseason five of the past six years and will look to continue that winning streak while adding to their talented bullpen and transitioning to young hitters led by Chourio.
It's been a winning formula so far. Brewers starting pitcher Jacob Junis was delayed due to a shoulder injury suffered in spring training, but in his debut game in Milwaukee, he started short (47 pitches) as planned, allowing only one run in four innings, and was able to win the Cholios. He was supported by the second-year RBI. first baseman Bryce Turan; Four relief pitchers went the final five innings without allowing an earned run, and 23-year-old closer Abner Uribe earned his third save with an electric fastball and athletic defense after a double play.
“Right now, I think baseball is for young people,” Uribe said. “You see young people everywhere.”
The Brewers are producing young players. Turan hit .218 as a rookie last season, with seven hits and a major league-leading six stolen bases in his first 14 at-bats. Chourio has six hits in his first 16 at-bats as a major leaguer, including a cue-shot single off the end of his bat with the bases loaded in the second inning on Tuesday.
Third baseman Oliver Dunn has only played in seven games north of Double-A until this year, but he has been very active so far with three hits in 10 at bats, and on Tuesday he jumped to the left and aimed for the snare. made one of his defensive plays. Line drive in the 8th inning. Dunn was the last player to return to the team from spring training and said of the past week, “It's been a total whirlwind, but it's been great.”
“It was fun to start 4-0 and win a close game,” he said.
And while winning these games is critical for the Brewers to move on to the next wave of talent without going into a rebuild, Attanasio said he prides himself on avoiding that. That's why the Brewers traded ace right-hander Corbin Burnes when the Orioles reached their asking price, while retaining shortstop Willie Adams, who is entering a contract year, even though no club made an attractive offer. I kept doing it. That decision is paying off in indirect ways. Chourio, MLB's youngest player this season, on Tuesday cited Adames as his most impactful player thus far.
“Overall, the athleticism within the group is really remarkable,” first baseman/designated hitter Reece Hoskins said. “I'm definitely starting to get to know them as baseball players, and nobody's rooting for someone to fail, but when they go through a little bit of failure like any other player, it's a big test. I can't wait to see what happens for the rest of this year.”
The same goes for Yelich, a mainstay for the Brewers.
“This is a really young group, so it’s a little different than in the past where we had a core,” Yelich said. “Now we're starting to get young players to participate in the next competition. It's about establishing the culture and the right way to do it. They're going to be a big part of our success going forward. .”
He added, “I think I've played well so far. I also think there's a lot of room for improvement, which is also very good.''
