Brewers: Top “One Year Wonders” In Franchise History

CINCINNATI, OH – SEPTEMBER 18: Casey McGehee #14 of the Milwaukee Brewers makes the throw to first base for an out against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on September 18, 2011 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

4. Casey McGehee – 2010

Although his Brewers career really began in 2009, it was 2010 where Casey McGehee made his mark. Originally a 10th-round draft pick by the Chicago Cubs in 2003, McGehee was let go by them in 2008 and Milwaukee claimed him off of waivers and he was on the Opening Day roster the following year.

In 2009, McGehee was in a platoon with Bill Hall at third base, playing in 116 games total. McGehee posted a .301/.360/.499 slash line with 16 home runs and 66 RBI’s. He finished the 2009 season in fifth place for the NL Rookie of the Year voting.

2010 was when Casey McGehee became the full-time third baseman. As the season progressed, he continued to put up numbers that would put his name on the team’s leaderboards. McGehee put up a .285/.337/.464 slash line with an .801 OPS, 23 home runs, 104 RBIs, in 157 games. His numbers put him second behind Ryan Braun in batting average and doubles that year, fifth with his 23 homers, and then his 104 RBI’s led the entire team and was a career-high for McGehee.

Unfortunately, McGehee started to struggle in 2011. He only managed to hit 13 home runs and drive in 68 runs while his slash line dropped drastically compared to his 2010 season (.223/.280/.346). At the conclusion of the 2011 season, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates and he continued to bounce around Major League teams with a couple stints in Japan as well, last playing in 2018 with Yomiuri.

3. Jesus Aguilar- 2018

Arguably one of the best seasons by a first basemen the Brewers had seen since Prince Fielder, Jesus Aguilar had a breakout year in 2018. He made an All-Star appearance and hit .274/.352/.539/.890 with 35 home runs, 108 RBIs, and a 135 OPS+ in 149 games played.

He was a part of the 2018 Brewers postseason team that was just one game shy of a World Series appearance. Once 2019 rolled around, Aguilar wasn’t really seen much in the Brewers lineup after struggling to start the season and Eric Thames had been seeing more time at first base and more time at the plate. After only playing in 94 games, the Brewers ended up trading Aguilar to the Tampa Bay Rays, ending his time in Milwaukee.

There’s still a chance for a career turnaround for Aguilar, but after struggling to gain traction in Cleveland for years and not being able to sustain his 2018 success, it looks like that might end up the best season of his career.