Milwaukee Brewers: 5 Lessons Learned From Spring Training

With Spring Training 2017 almost done and over with, the Milwaukee Brewers have learned five key lessons after the last two months in Arizona.

5. Corey Knebel needs to be closing by May

It’s great that the Milwaukee Brewers brought in Neftali Feliz to add a veteran presence to the back-end of their bullpen, but Corey Knebel has been the closer in waiting for the last year, and needs to work his way into the ninth inning.

He has the big fastball and an equally dynamic curve. He has the temperament to succeed in the late innings. He owns a 13:1 K:BB ratio in 7 1/3 spring innings. He just needs to grow a badass beard and get an opportunity.

4. Wily Peralta seems poised for a legit breakout

You really could have just copy-pasted this paragraph from articles written each of the last two seasons, but it’s happening again. Wily Peralta owns a 0.71 ERA in 12 2/3 innings so far this spring.

He’s yet to allow a homer and has been mowing through Major League-level offenses with ease. He does have a 7:5 K:BB ratio, which isn’t ideal, but he gave up 19 homers in 23 starts last year. Keeping the ball in the park has to be an improvement, right?

3. Neither Jett Bandy or Andew Susac will be the answer behind the plate

After dealing longtime mainstay Jonathan Lucroy, the Milwaukee Brewers needed to find someone to fill the massive void behind the plate. It’s unlikely that Andrew Susac or Jett Bandy are the long term answer.

Both have struggled at the plate, and Susac has lost enough time with a neck injury that he’s unlikely to make the trip north in April. The Brewers would be wise to search for a true long term answer behind the dish at the trade deadline.

2. It’s time for Matt Garza to start selling insurance or investing in real estate

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To say that Matt Garza’s time in a Brewers uniform has been uneven…is accurate. After signing a 4-year, $50 million deal in 2014, Garza enjoyed a solid, unspectacular 2014, a rough 2015, and a rougher 2016.

It’s 2017 now, and Garza is set to end Spring Training 2017 with an ERA close to 9.00 and a WHIP over 2.00 in six spring starts. Thankfully, his contract is over after 2017. The Brewers do hold an a $5 million team option for 2018 which has virtually no chance of being picked up.

The best case scenario here is that Garza puts together a solid month and gets flipped to a contender in need of an innings eater. The Brewers simply have younger, better options on the way and Garza needs to move on yesterday.

1. Keon Broxton is set to become this year’s must own shirsey

Center fielder Keon Broxton made a big impression in his first half season at the Major League level. In 75 games played he clubbed nine homers and swiped 23 bags. He’s picked up right where he left off this spring, and currently owns a 1.039 OPS in 52 spring at bats.

He’s going to play 150 games if he stays healthy, and Broxton appears set to enjoy a 20/40 season in center field for the 2017 Milwaukee Brewers. His breakout will have a lot of fans lining up to add his shirsey this summer.

Next: The Milwaukee Brewers Unexpected First Base Battle

I hope you enjoyed my take on the five lessons learned from Spring Training. Perhaps you have a different take. If so, feel free to use the comments section below to let us know your thoughts. Opening Day is right around the corner, and I hope you are as excited as I am for the start of a new season.