After a challenging offseason, the Milwaukee Brewers face a critical decision as they enter the 2025 season: who will step into the shortstop role? The departure of Willy Adames to the San Francisco Giants left a substantial void in both the lineup and the clubhouse, as Adames was both their best hitter but also a key leader. MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy outlines the dilemma Milwaukee faces as they weigh their options.
“The Brewers lost 32 home runs from 2024 along with a popular team leader when Willy Adames signed with the Giants, leaving a big hole at shortstop. Fortunately, Milwaukee has two capable, young options for that position in Brice Turang and Joey Ortiz, but so far club officials haven’t offered any indications of who will get the job. Turang not only won the NL Gold Glove at second base last season, he took home the Platinum Glove Award as the league’s top overall defender. On one hand, that sounds like the kind of defender a team would want at shortstop. On the other hand, why mess with something that’s working?”
Rather than make a low-cost acquisition to bring in a proven shortstop, the Brewers are heading into spring training seeking to determine if Turang or Ortiz will take over at shortstop. Manager Pat Murphy clarified that outfielder Sal Frelick will not be an option for the position in 2025, although he could get some looks at third base this season after impressing during spring training last year.
Brewers Eye Shortstop Solution: Turang’s Glove vs. Ortiz’s Potential
The starting shortstop job will come down to Turang and Ortiz, but Murphy remained tight-lipped on which player has the upper hand going into spring training. Turang, who earned 6 Outs Above Average and a +22 Defensive Runs Saved grade at second base, has shown his defensive prowess. Ortiz, meanwhile, tied for the league lead in Outs Above Average at third base with 11 and earned a +8 DRS, proving he can handle the hot corner as well.
Brice Turang with some defensive wizardry on back-to-back plays
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— MLB (@MLB) July 28, 2024
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Last season, the Brewers fielded a lineup with three shortstops: Adames, Ortiz, and Turang. Ortiz was named the NL’s Rookie of the Month in May after posting a .308/.391/.587 slash line, but his second half was a struggle with a .211/.283/.362 line. Similarly, Turang started strong with a .312/.375/.441 line in March and April but finished the season with a .665 OPS after posting just a .551 OPS from July 1 onward.
Both players have experience at shortstop, though they spent the majority of 2024 at second and third base. Turang, who was originally a shortstop in the Brewers’ minor league system, won the NL’s Gold and Platinum Glove awards, becoming the first Brewers second baseman to do so and only the second middle infielder in MLB history. Ortiz, acquired from the Baltimore Orioles, ranked second in FanGraphs’ defensive metrics at third base and third in Defensive Runs Saved.
This hot corner defense from Joey Ortiz
— MLB (@MLB) September 22, 2024
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If either Turang or Ortiz wins the job, then there will be a vacancy at their former spots that will need to be filled.
Main Photo: © Orlando Ramirez-Imagn Images
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