The Milwaukee Brewers have an apparent alternative on the prime of their second-base depth chart, one which must be an enormous a part of, not less than, the following few years. After that, it’s rather less clear, however there are a bunch of potential choices, and so long as Brice Turang’s well being holds out, we shouldn’t really want to fret about that query.
In truth, the most important query surrounding second base might be whether or not there might be a shift to shortstop sooner or later. But Turang is already most likely the very best second baseman in Brewers’ historical past, he’s 26, and he has 4 extra years of staff management.
The emergence of Brice Turang has been fairly one thing to observe for Brewers followers over the previous three seasons. It’s not that Turang was unheralded as a prospect — he was a first-round decide, 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 troublesome to recollect all of these issues. He made regular enchancment as a hitter in 2024 and emerged as one in every of baseball’s finest defensive gamers and baserunners, and whereas his defensive and baserunning numbers took a step again in 2025, he made a big — one would possibly say “quantum” — leap on the plate.
From the start of the 2025 season by way of July, Turang was, once more, exhibiting regular enchancment. Through the primary 104 video games of the season, he hit .271/.339/.363; a modest however significant 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 practically matched the 13 homers he’d hit by way of his first two MLB seasons. Turang’s August batting line regarded like one thing Albert Belle would’ve completed 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 not less than 100 video games final season.
The step again in protection and baserunning prevented Turang from placing up a real famous person season in 2025, however that might be coming in case you imagine 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 could be the hitter he was in August of final 12 months (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, not likely — 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 way of July and the “monstrous” hitter he was in August and September, it doesn’t appear unreasonable to suppose he might 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 actually particular might be in retailer. I’ve talked about this earlier than, however we’re speaking MVP-level manufacturing in case you get the very best model of each a part of Turang’s recreation — the baserunning and protection of 2024 plus the hitting of 2025, even in case you’re utilizing the complete season numbers moderately than the last-two-months numbers. (I lined plenty of this in-depth last season.)
I’m not predicting an 8 WAR season for Turang. That could be foolish. But I’m not saying that it couldn’t occur.
Here is pretty much as good a spot as any to preview Williams, a super-utility kind participant who’s stuffed with promise (he’s on all the main prime 100 prospect lists) however doesn’t but have a transparent place. As a minor leaguer, Williams has performed most frequently at shortstop however has frolicked in heart area and at second base, and he was a well-liked alternative for “possible opening day third baseman” earlier than the Brewers signed Luis Rengifo.
Williams isn’t considered as a nasty shortstop, however he’s additionally not considered as a very good one, and the Brewers have choices there — Cooper Pratt and Jésus Made — who each doubtless venture higher defensively. That would possibly imply that, if Williams’ future isn’t within the outfield (which is definitely attainable, particularly if all of Made, Pratt, and Williams emerge as viable main leaguers whereas Turang remains to be within the group), second base would possibly take advantage of sense for him.
Either method, Williams will certainly begin at Triple-A Nashville. He completed in Triple-A final season within the Mets’ group, however he didn’t actually catch as much as the pitching on the increased stage 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 at all times walked loads: he has a 15.9% stroll charge in 294 minor league video games throughout 4 seasons.
The offensive profile for Williams is intriguing. He would possibly strike out form of loads and he won’t hit for a excessive common, however he has a .388 profession OBP and whereas he’s small, he swings very onerous and has stunning pop (17 homers in 130 video games in 2025). He’s additionally extraordinarily quick, which implies 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 anticipate to see Williams in Milwaukee in 2025 — probably fairly early. His versatility is a big plus, and he’s a bit of additional alongside than the Brewers’ different prime infield prospects. An damage to any outfielder or non-first-base infielder might lead to a promotion, offered it’s far sufficient into the season that the Brewers preserve that additional 12 months of service time.
I’m going to save lots of David Hamilton for the third base preview, however he’s prone to be the man who fills in at second when Turang will get off days. Rengifo has performed a bunch of second base in his profession, and relying on which defensive numbers you belief, he would possibly’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 12 months). But it looks as if Rengifo was acquired to be Milwaukee’s major third baseman, and the reps at second for a backup second basemen are going to be few and much between, anyway.
We’ve already lined Williams, who would most likely be the primary alternative to come back up if one thing occurred to Turang. Eddys Leonard additionally performed some second base final 12 months, so he might be within the combine if he stays within the group past spring coaching. Someday, the Brewers might want to make selections about who performs the place: their prime two prospects, Made and Luis Peña, are each listed at shortstops, as is Pratt. That’s essentially the most compelling cause why Williams’ long-term future might very nicely be within the outfield.
For now, although, these are largely questions for tomorrow, and Turang has the second base job on lockdown. A daring query for the 2026 season: might Turang grow to be the very best all-around second baseman within the league? I feel it’s in play.
