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The Best Lineup Of Former Brewers Currently On Another Team

By Joey Peterson |
Sep 5, 2021; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Daniel Vogelbach (20) reacts after hitting a grand slam home run in the ninth inning to beat the St. Louis Cardinals at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 5, 2021; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Daniel Vogelbach (20) reacts after hitting a grand slam home run in the ninth inning to beat the St. Louis Cardinals at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
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The Brewers have seen a number of hitters come and go over the past few years. As the current version of the offense has its frustrations, let’s look at some of the hitters who are now succeeding on other teams.

I attempted to create the best lineup comprised of former Brewers players who are currently playing for another team. I based my selections off of 2022 performance, and only had to stretch the rules with a few selections. Let’s have some fun before the crucial matchup with the St. Louis Cardinals this weekend.

The Best Lineup of Former Brewers Players Around The League

Here is the best lineup of former Brewers that I selected, along with some honorable mentions who didn’t quite make the cut.

Big Vogey has a knack at becoming a fan favorite on whatever team he joins, and most recently it has been with the New York Mets. One of the best hitters in the league against RHP, his overall numbers on the season have been solid as well. Slashing .246/.360/.452 with two teams this season and rocking a wRC+ of 130, Vogey was the easy choice at first base

I gave Segura the nod at second base due to his solid performance at the plate the past two seasons. This year Segura has battled an injury to his right index finger, but in 49 games he is hitting .284 with an OPS+ of 109 and a wRC+ of 108. While his numbers are good but not great, Segura provides strong bat to ball skills in the Philadelphia Phillies lineup.

  • Honorable Mention: Johnathan Schoop. Schoop has performed extremely poorly at the plate in 2022, but he ranks in the 100th percentile in Outs Above Average- which is worthy enough to warrant an honorable mention.

I cheated a little bit with this selection in moving Arcia to shortstop. Predominantly playing second base for the Atlanta Braves, he was the exciting young shortstop coming up in the Brewers system. Arcia has majorly struggled with his performance at the plate in his career, but has shown improvements this season after being optioned to Triple-A a handful of times in 2021. In 56 games in 2022 he is posting an OPS+ of 99 and a wRC+ of 102, which are both career highs.

This selection was more by default, as there were a lack of quality candidates. As you may remember, Escobar made an appearance in my article a few weeks ago highlighting three former Brewers who are struggling elsewhere.

He has not really improved since the time that article was posted, but considering he is the starting third baseman for one of the best teams in the National League in the New York Mets, I will give him the benefit of the doubt that something clicks in the final third of the season.

HOUSTON, TEXAS – AUGUST 10: Martin Maldonado #15 of the Houston Astros looks on against the Texas Rangers at Minute Maid Park on August 10, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – AUGUST 10: Martin Maldonado #15 of the Houston Astros looks on against the Texas Rangers at Minute Maid Park on August 10, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images) /

The best lineup of former Brewers players around the league

Maldonado was an interesting selection, and slightly beat out the honorable mention. His offensive performance is pretty subpar with an OPS+ of 72 and a wRC+ of 75. However, he has been one of the better defensive catchers in baseball, which explains why he held down the starting catcher role for the Houston Astros for some time.

  • Honorable Mention: Yasmani Grandal. He has been hurt for a good portion of 2022 with the White Sox, and he has not been great at the plate when healthy. However, he put together a stellar offensive performance in 2021, so I assume better days are ahead for Grandal earning himself an honorable mention.
  • Left Field: Ben Gamel 

I have to admit, this might be skewed due how Gamel always seems to play against the Brewers. He has the most home runs against the Brewers than any other opposing team in his career (4), and has a career slash line of .280/.379/.520 for an OPS of .899 against the Crew. With that being said, he is still putting up decent numbers on the year, rocking an OPS+ of 99 and a wRC+ of 102 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Ben Gamel, The Brewers Killer.

Full disclosure, these next two positions are where I bend the rules a little bit. There were some qualifying candidates for the outfield, but none that I thought should make the “Best Former Brewers of 2022” team. Avisail Garcia has been completely dreadful at the plate, Jackie Bradley Jr. got DFA’d by the Boston Red Sox, and while Trent Grisham has been performing better in the last month, I chose to keep him off the list.

2022 All-Star Garrett Cooper takes the right field spot. While he never played an MLB game with the Brewers, Milwaukee did actually draft him in the 6th round back in 2013. That counts for something, right? Cooper has had a good season with the Miami Marlins, slashing .276/.349/.426 with an OPS+ of 118 and a wRC+ of 122. The 31 year old has had a couple of solid offensive seasons with Miami, and he can also bounce between first base and the outfield as needed.

Similar story to Cooper, Haniger never played for Milwaukee, but was drafted by the Brewers in the 1st round of the 2013 MLB draft and traded for Gerardo Parra in 2014. Haniger has spent most of the 2022 season on the injured list but has looked good for the Seattle Mariners when healthy this season. In 14 games he has an OPS of .859 and a wRC+ of 148.

Haniger has performed well in his career with the Mariners. He was an All-Star in the 2018 season, and in 2021 he hit 39 home runs and had 100 runs batted in. With how good Haniger has looked since being activated off the injured list, I expect him to have an impactful final third of the season.

DETROIT, MI – AUGUST 07: Ji-Man Choi #26 of the Tampa Bay Rays bats against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning at Comerica Park on August 7, 2022, in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – AUGUST 07: Ji-Man Choi #26 of the Tampa Bay Rays bats against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning at Comerica Park on August 7, 2022, in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

The best lineup of former Brewers players around the league

Brewers legend Ji-Man Choi made 12 appearances for the Brew Crew back in 2018, so I’m counting him as an eligible candidate. Choi has had a pretty consistent MLB career, and has turned in a respectable 2022 performance. While he has a wRC+ and OPS+ of 121 on the year, he is also in the 96th percentile in walk rate (13.9) and 92nd percentile in average exit velocity (92.1) per Baseball Savant.

Let me tell you, picking the starting pitcher easily gave me the most trouble. I will admit that Greinke has not been good in 2022. However, neither have many other former Brewers starting pitchers.

I was going to select Wade Miley as he has been statistically probably the best pitcher in the past two seasons, but he has only started 4 games this season as he has battled injuries.

Jordan Lyles was one of the only truly qualified starting pitchers, but he has the 9th highest ERA in the entire MLB among qualified pitchers.

Zach Davies was another that was in consideration, but I chose to go in a different direction. I ultimately I elected to weigh career success with this pick and go with the 6-time all star and 2009 AL Cy Young winner in Zack Greinke.

It is too soon to even think about Josh Hader being in a “former Brewer” conversation, so I omitted him from consideration out of denial. Jorge Lopez has been fantastic this season. The 2022 All-Star has a 1.75 ERA and 0.99 WHIP on the year to go along with 20 saves. Probably the best relief pitcher to get traded at the deadline, Lopez has put together an impressive 2022 campaign.

  • Honorable Mention: Drew Pomeranz. He has put together a great 2022 season as an eighth inning specialist for the Padres and is more than worthy for consideration for this selection.

Next. 3 Brewers Who Will Play Crucial Role In Final Third Of Season. dark

Feel free to let me know who I might have missed or who you would have chosen instead on twitter! It was a blast putting this together as the Brewers gear up for a weekend battle in Saint Louis with their arch rivals.

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