The Top 5 Roster Moves The Milwaukee Brewers Made In 2021

Brewers #2 Best Move of 2021: Signing Kolten Wong

With Keston Hiura seemingly entrenched at second base but with suspect defense, David Stearns decided to sign two-time defending Gold Glove winning second baseman Kolten Wong. Shoring up the infield defense was a priority for Stearns and he accomplished that with the addition of Wong.

But defense isn’t all Kolten Wong brought to the table.

After a 2020 season in which the Brewers were desperately searching for a table-setter in the leadoff spot of the lineup, they found one in 2021 with Wong. He hit .272/.335/.447 with career highs in doubles (32) and homers (14). His 32 doubles also was the top mark for the team in 2021.

Seven of his 14 homers were leadoff shots as well, quickly putting the Brewers on the board in the first inning. Given the Crew’s struggles scoring in the first inning in 2020, this was a much needed addition.

His 12 stolen bases were second on the team as well, behind only Lorenzo Cain.

Wong was everything the Brewers could’ve hoped for and more. He was a veteran mentor to young infielders Keston Hiura and Luis Urias. He was a spark at the top of the lineup, an anchor of that Run Prevention Unit, and a leader in the clubhouse.

His two year, $18MM contract is looking like an absolute bargain. The only thing that could’ve been better in Wong’s first season with the Crew would be his health. He did have a couple of IL stints with a nagging oblique issue, but it’s tough to hold anything like that against Wong, and he did battle through those issues and played through injury throughout the season.

Wong had terrorized the Brewers for years as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals, and now he gets to terrorize the Cardinals for a few years as a member of the Brewers.