10 Players You Might Have Forgotten Were Milwaukee Brewers

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MILWAUKEE – APRIL 22: Pinch hitter Brooks Kieschnick #55 of the Milwaukee Brewers is congratulated by teammate Gary Bennett after hitting a two-run home run in the ninth inning tying the Arizona Diamondbacks April 22, 2004 at Miller Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Diamondbacks defeated the Brewers 11-9 in 15 innings. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Brewers players you might have forgotten: Joakim Soria

The 37-year-old reliever appeared in 773 games since his debut in 2007. Soria was only a Brewer for half a season, but it was an important one.

Joakim Soria was added as bullpen depth during the 2018 season right before the trade deadline. He was sent over from the White Sox in exchange for Kodi Medeiros and Wilber Perez. Unfortunately, Soria’s time with the Crew wasn’t his best. He appeared in 26 games, and ended with a 4.06 ERA. He did have 11 holds, but also two blown save opportunities.

Soria would decline his mutual option for the 2019 season and became a free agent. Since then, he’s been on the Oakland Athletics, Arizona Diamondbacks and Toronto Blue Jays. He announced his retirement after the 2021 season.

Brewers players you might have forgotten: Mark Kotsay

If Mark Kotsay sounds familiar, it’s because he was just promoted and will be the Oakland Athletics’ manager next year. Kotsay started as a special assistant in the Padres organization and was eventually a hitting coach. He’s been with the A’s since 2015, and been a bench and quality control coach.

The former outfielder was also a Brewer. He signed a one-year contract in February of 2011, and would appear in 104 games that season as a utility player. Over 233 at-bats, he had a .270 average with three home runs and 31 RBIs.

Yes, Mark Kotsay was a part of the 2011 Brewers team that won the NL Central and lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLCS. Everyone remembers “Beast Mode” with Nyjer Morgan along with Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun. But Mark Kotsay was also there, and was a useful utility man throughout the season.

Brewers players you might have forgotten: Brooks Kieschnick

If you were a fan of the Brewers in early 2000s, you know who Brooks Kieschnick is. In fact, one of my friends still has his jersey. I’ve never been more jealous of a person.

Kieschnick was in Milwaukee during the 2003 and 2004 seasons. The reason he is a legend is because he was the first player in MLB history to hit a home run as a pitcher, designated hitter and pinch hitter in the same season. That happened during the 2003 season. Besides being a pitcher, Brooks played three full games as a left fielder, making him somewhat of a two-way player. Kieschnick walked so Shohei Ohtani could run.

Kieschnick appeared in 74 games a Brewer, and ended with a 2-2 record and ERA of 4.59. As a hitter, he batted .300 in 2003 and .270 in 2004. He had eight home runs, 19 RBIs and 38 hits in Milwaukee. The former first round draft pick retired in 2006, and will turn 50 this year.

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