Photo: Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire

Part of a series of articles previewing the defensive performance of all 30 MLB teams by asking the question … are they good?

To see the full series, click here.

2024 Defensive Runs Saved Rank: 4th

Team Strengths

Brice Turang led second basemen in Runs Saved in 2024, and though he didn’t win a Fielding Bible Award, he won the Platinum Glove for the National League. Turang has a great highlight-reel collection of difficult plays, particularly those in which he went to his right to take away a base hit.

The Brewers have four very good defensive outfielders between Gold Glove winner Sal Frelick, Jackson Chourio, Garrett Mitchell, and Blake Perkins, though Perkins is out until May with a fractured shin. 

Brewers right fielders led the majors in Defensive Runs Saved last season and their center fielders finished 3rd. 

The team also knows what it’s getting from catcher William Contreras, who is a good pitch framer and saved 5 and 6 runs the last two seasons.

Notable Brewers Defensive Runs Saved Ranks – 2024

Team Weaknesses

Christian Yelich is the weak spot in the defense. Yelich has posted a negative Runs Saved in each of the last five seasons in left field, including last year when he played only 48 games. As the roster currently stands, he’s likely to DH, so his defense shouldn’t impact the team too much.

Defense has never really been Rhys Hoskins’ forte and he limited the damage to -3 Runs Saved last season. Hoskins has had seasons with a positive Runs Saved in the past so he’s not necessarily a huge liability.

Other Things To Know

The Brewers actually lost the weakest link in last year’s defense when Willy Adames, who plummeted to a positional worst -16 Runs Saved at shortstop, signed with the Giants. 

They’ll move Joey Ortiz from third base, where he was pretty good, to shortstop, which was his primary position in the minors. Ortiz had a minor league-best 14 Runs Saved at shortstop in 2022, though he dipped to -2 in 2023. Oliver Dunn replaces Ortiz at third base. He looked alright in 27 games there last year, with no errors and only 1 Defensive Misplay.

Are The Brewers A Good Defensive Team?

Yes, the Brewers have a good mix of athleticism and skill. They were the most skilled defensive team in the NL last season and though they might not rack up home run robberies like they did last season (when they had an MLB-best 10 and Perkins had 5 of them), if healthy, their Runs Saved total should be among the best in the majors.