The Best Lineup Of Former Brewers Currently On Another Team

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.

• First Base: Daniel Vogelbach

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

• Second Base: Jean Segura 

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.

• Shortstop: Orlando Arcia 

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.

• Third Base: Eduardo Escobar 

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.

The best lineup of former Brewers players around the league

• Catcher: Martin Maldonado 

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.

• Right Field: Garrett Cooper

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.

• Center Field: Mitch Haniger

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.