3 Brewers who are striking out too often to start the season

As the Milwaukee Brewers navigate the early stretch of the 2025 season, their offense remains a work in progress — but one filled with intrigue. Anchoring the lineup is a trio that symbolizes the past, present, and future of the franchise, each quietly evolving in their own way. They’ve shown flashes of production, offering hope for what's to come, but also signs of concern. Chief among them? Strikeouts. And it’s that one glaring issue that could ultimately determine whether this lineup levels up — or stalls out.

Let’s break down how these strikeouts are shaping the seasons of these three players.

3 Brewers who are striking out too often to start the season

Christian Yelich

Even after his towering grand slam last night, the search continues for the version of Christian Yelich that tore through opposing pitchers to the tune of a .315/.406/.504 slash line in 2024 before a nagging back injury cut his resurgence short. That player looked like the closest we’ve seen to his MVP form in years — a disciplined and dynamic force at the plate. But through the early stretch of 2025, we’re still waiting for that version of Yelich to fully return.

To his credit, Yelich has flashed glimpses of production, tallying five home runs and swiping five bases while maintaining a respectable .337 on-base percentage. But the overall slash line of .222/.337/.444 underscores that he hasn’t quite settled in just yet. What stands out most is the jump in his strikeout rate — up to 25.3% from 18.4% last year, a concerning turn for a hitter who thrives on plate discipline and quality contact.

Still, there’s room for optimism. Yelich has long been a streaky hitter — when he gets hot, he can carry a lineup for weeks. And while early-season timing issues are common, especially for players returning from injury, history suggests that his strikeout rate should normalize as he finds his groove. Once that happens, expect the batting average to climb and for Milwaukee’s veteran spark plug to look more like the steady offensive producer fans came to rely on in the past.

Jackson Chourio

There’s no denying that Jackson Chourio is making a big impact in his second big-league season. The 21-year-old is already showcasing the kind of hitting that made him a consensus top-five prospect, slashing .260/.272/.510 with five home runs and 19 RBIs through his first 100 at-bats. The raw power and run production are real — and for a player still adjusting to major league pitching, that’s no small feat.

But for all the excitement, Chourio's early performance also comes with a clear caveat. He’s walked just twice all season, resulting in a 1.9% walk rate — ranking in the bottom 4% of all MLB hitters. Combine that with a rising strikeout rate (24.3%, up from 21.1% in 2024), and there’s a red flag waving over his on-base skills. Simply put, his approach at the plate hasn’t evolved yet to match the level of discipline required to thrive at the major league level.

That’s not to say Chourio isn’t holding his own — far from it. His bat-to-ball skills and explosive athleticism are already yielding results, and it’s remarkable that he’s producing at this clip despite the OBP concerns. But in a league that adjusts quickly, pitchers will continue to test his patience until he proves he can lay off and work deeper counts. For now, the talent is evident. The next step in Chourio’s evolution is developing a more refined plate approach that helps turn his raw tools into sustainable success.

Garrett Mitchell

Coming into the season, expectations were high for Garrett Mitchell, who seemingly just needed to stay healthy in order to achieve his full potential. However, despite avoiding the IL in the first four weeks of the season, Mitchell hasn't lived up to fans' expectations. He's slashing just .200/.279/.300 and striking out in nearly 32% of his plate appearances, while essentially being relegated to a left-handed platoon option in center field.

Going back to last season (and the season before that), Mitchell's kryptonite has been the strikeout. In the previous two years, he combated his high strikeout rate with an above-league-average walk rate and slugging percentage. However, in the early goings of the 2025 season, Mitchell's walk rate is down, and his power has all but disappeared, making his swing-and-miss tendency more concerning than it had been in years past.

However, while Mitchell is appearing in his fourth MLB season, he has yet to play 162 games. Injuries have prevented him from logging more than 69 games in a single season, so while his strikeout numbers are concerning, it should be remembered that Mitchell is still getting used to big-league pitching, and the fluctuations in his performance are typical for a player as inexperienced as him.

There’s no doubt the talent is there. Yelich’s veteran presence, Chourio’s ceiling, and Mitchell's toolsy skillset form a dangerous trio. If it clicks, it could carry the Brewers deep into October. But to get there, each will need to make key adjustments — whether it’s cutting down strikeouts, drawing more walks, or refining their plate approach. The upside is undeniable, and if they can find their rhythm together, Milwaukee’s offense will thrive.