Milwaukee Brewers 2026 preview by position: second base

The Milwaukee Brewers have an apparent selection on the prime of their second-base depth chart, one which needs to be a giant a part of, no less than, the following few years. After that, it is rather less clear, however there are a bunch of potential choices, and so long as Brice Turang’s well being holds out, we should not really want to fret about that query.

In reality, the largest query surrounding second base might be whether or not there may very well be a shift to shortstop sooner or later. But Turang is already in all probability the perfect second baseman in Brewers’ historical past, he is 26, and he has 4 extra years of crew management.

The emergence of Brice Turang has been fairly one thing to look at for Brewers followers over the previous three seasons. It’s not that Turang was unheralded as a prospect — he was a first-round choose, he was a prime 100 prospect previous to the 2021 season, and he hit fairly nicely at Triple-A Nashville in his final full minor league season in 2022. But Turang struggled so badly on the plate in 2023, it was tough to recollect all of these issues. He made regular enchancment as a hitter in 2024 and emerged as considered one of baseball’s greatest defensive gamers and baserunners, and whereas his defensive and baserunning numbers took a step again in 2025, he made a big — one may say “quantum” — leap on the plate.

From the start of the 2025 season by means of July, Turang was, once more, displaying regular enchancment. Through the primary 104 video games of the season, he hit .271/.339/.363; a modest however vital enchancment of 38 factors of OPS over his 2024 numbers (after his OPS jumped from .585 to .665 from 2023 to 2024). Then August occurred. Turang hit 10 homers in August and one other on September 1; In 29 video games, he almost matched the 13 homers he’d hit by means of his first two MLB seasons. Turang’s August batting line regarded like one thing Albert Belle would’ve executed within the mid-90s: .343/.398/.694.

Turang completed the season as a .288/.359/.435 hitter, giving him a 121 OPS+, behind solely Ketel Marte and Jazz Chisholm Jr. amongst second baseman who appeared in no less than 100 video games final season.

The step again in protection and baserunning prevented Turang from placing up a real celebrity season in 2025, however that may very well be coming when you consider two issues: first, that the protection and baserunning are nonetheless in there, and second, that Turang can replicate the season he had on the plate in 2025.

Do I’ve any perception that Turang may be the hitter he was in August of final yr (and even August and September, when he hit a barely extra modest however nonetheless absurd .321/.399/.580) over the course of a full season? No, probably not — the .979 OPS Turang had over the season’s final two months would’ve been fourth within the league, behind two of the best hitters of all time (Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani) and a man who had a rookie season for the ages (Nick Kurtz).

But might Turang replicate the .794 OPS he had over the complete season? Sure! If we think about that the true Turang is someplace between the “perfectly fine” hitter he was from March by means of July and the “monstrous” hitter he was in August and September, it would not appear unreasonable to suppose he may very well be a man who hits 20 homers with a excessive batting common and fairly good on-base expertise.

If he can replicate an OPS close to .800 and add in 2024’s baserunning and protection, then one thing really particular may very well be in retailer. I’ve talked about this earlier than, however we’re speaking MVP-level manufacturing when you get the perfect model of each a part of Turang’s recreation — the baserunning and protection of 2024 plus the hitting of 2025, even when you’re utilizing the complete season numbers reasonably than the last-two-months numbers. (I coated plenty of this in-depth last season.)

I’m not predicting an 8 WAR season for Turang. That can be foolish. But I’m not saying that it could not occur.

Here is nearly as good a spot as anybody to preview Williams, a super-utility kind participant who’s stuffed with promise (he’s on all the main prime 100 prospect lists) however would not but have a transparent place. As a minor leaguer, Williams has performed most frequently at shortstop however has hung out in middle area and at second base, and he was a well-liked selection for “possible opening day third baseman” earlier than the Brewers signed Luis Rengifo.

Williams is not seen as a nasty shortstop, however he is additionally not seen as a very good one, and the Brewers have choices there — Cooper Pratt and Jésus Made — who each doubtless undertaking higher defensively. That may imply that, if Williams’ future is not within the outfield (which is actually attainable, particularly if all of Made, Pratt, and Williams emerge as viable main leaguers whereas Turang continues to be within the group), second base may take advantage of sense for him.

Either manner, Williams will certainly begin at Triple-A Nashville. He completed in Triple-A final season within the Mets’ group, however he did not actually catch as much as the pitching on the greater degree within the 34 video games he spent there: Williams slugged (seven homers, 5 doubles, two triples in simply 151 plate appearances) however hit solely .209 with a .285 on-base share. Encouragingly, there wasn’t a lot of a change in Williams’ strikeout share at Triple-A, and whereas he walked barely much less in these 34 video games, Williams has all the time walked rather a lot: he has a 15.9% stroll charge in 294 minor league video games throughout 4 seasons.

The offensive profile for Williams is intriguing. He may strike out type of rather a lot and he won’t hit for a excessive common, however he has a .388 profession OBP and whereas he’s small, he swings very exhausting and has stunning pop (17 homers in 130 video games in 2025). He’s additionally extraordinarily quick, which suggests he’ll steal bases (34 in 2025) and boosts his extra-base hit numbers: along with his 17 homers in 2025, Williams had 34 doubles and 7 triples.

Assuming issues go nicely in Nashville, I’d count on to see Williams in Milwaukee in 2025 — probably fairly early. His versatility is a big plus, and he is a little bit additional alongside than the Brewers’ different prime infield prospects. An harm to any outfielder or non-first-base infielder might lead to a promotion, offered it’s miles sufficient into the season that the Brewers preserve that additional yr of service time.

I’m going to save lots of David Hamilton for the third base preview, however he is more likely to be the man who fills in at a second when Turang will get off days. Rengifo you could have performed a bunch of second base in his profession, and relying on which defensive numbers you belief, he may’ve been higher at second than at third in 2025 (Total Zone and Defensive Runs Saved each peg him as a greater second baseman than third baseman final yr). But it looks like Rengifo was acquired to be Milwaukee’s main third baseman, and the reps at second for a backup second basemen are going to be few and much between, anyway.

We’ve already coated Williams, who would in all probability be the primary selection to come back up if one thing occurred to Turang. Eddys Leonard He additionally performed some second base final yr, so he may very well be within the combine if he stays within the group past spring coaching. Someday, the Brewers might want to make decisions about who performs the place: their prime two prospects, Made and Luis Peña, are each listed at shortstops, as is Pratt. That’s probably the most compelling motive why Williams’ long-term future could very nicely be within the outfield.

For now, although, these are principally questions for tomorrow, and Turang has the second base job on lockdown. A daring query for the 2026 season: Could Turang turn into the perfect all-around second baseman within the league? I feel it is in play.