
Best Newcomer: Willy Adames
By now, everyone knows May 22nd, 2021 as Willy Adames day. Since acquiring him from the Rays in a mid season trade, the Brewers have gone 27-10! Since then, that is the best record in MLB and the team is starting to get an increased buzz around their play.
Along with the team winning, Adames has seen a drastic improvement in his season stats as well. As a member of the Rays, Adames was hitting under .200 and possessed a .625 OPS. As a Brewer, he is hitting .277 with an .868 OPS!
Over these 38 games he has hit 11 doubles, seven home runs, and driven in 28 runs. His strikeout percentage has decreased significantly and his walk percentage is on the rise. Adames’ splits at Tropicana Field vs away stadiums is well documented and may play a factor in his improved play as well.
Adames also brings a ton of intangible traits to the clubhouse and ball diamond. Since joining the Brewers the team has been doing “Tiger Claws” when they get a hit and jumping high fives when he hits a home run.
The energy he provides is infectious and overall you can tell this team having more fun. His ability to join a team mid-season essentially as a stranger and completely turn a clubhouse around is quite incredible.
In case that was not enough, Adames also has the ability to come up with clutch hits late in games. He has had clutch home runs against the Padres, Rockies twice, and most recently against the Cubs in which an epic bat flip followed that really got American Family Field rocking.
All of this put together makes me believe that he has been the biggest addition so far. Kolten Wong was also a newcomer this last off-season, but right now it’s hard to argue against what Adames has done.
Perhaps the most exciting part is that we have only seen Adames for 37 games. With an entire second half of the season to go and the Brewers expected to make a push for the playoffs, there will be a lot more moments to come yet.
Be sure to stay tuned to Reviewing the Brew as we continue to cover the Milwaukee Brewers. It is an exciting time to be a Brewers fan and you certainly do not want to miss out on any of the action or news stories.