8 players you forgot contributed to the Brewers' record-breaking 2026 season

The 2026 Milwaukee Brewers have already made history. With six games left to play in the regular season, this year's Brew Crew has won more regular season games than any other team in franchise history. Breaking last year's record of 97 regular season wins with their 98th victory of the season on Sunday night, the Brewers once again have their sights set on securing the top overall seed in the postseason just as they did a season ago.

Regardless of how many more wins the Brewers add to their regular season total over their final six games, it's undoubtedly been a season to remember in Milwaukee. However, while Brewers fans are unlikely to forget the 2026 season any time soon, they would impress by remembering all 58 players that contributed to this year's record-breaking win total.

After his team's Sunday night win in Baltimore, manager Pat Murphy made sure to acknowledge the fact that 58 players, not just the 28 currently on the roster or the 26 that will make up the postseason roster, contributed the Brewers' success in 2026. MLB.com Brewers beat writer Adam McCalvy captured the following quote from Murphy's postgame presser, and reported Murphy's acknowledgement of all of the players who contributed to Milwaukee's unprecedented 2026 season with the following post on X.

With Murphy's appreciation of the many unsung heroes of Milwaukee's 2026 season in mind, let's take a look at eight players who fans may have forgotten played for the Brewers this season and highlight the necessary roles they played in the team's success.

8 overlooked contributors to the Milwaukee Brewers' 2026 success

1. INF Braden Shewmake

In early July, the Brewers placed infielder David Hamilton on the IL with a hamstring injury and were reportedly prepared to call up prospect Jett Williams, whom they acquired from the New York Mets in the Freddy Peralta deal, to replace him. However, after Williams suffered an untimely wrist injury, the Brewers instead turned to the trade market to fill Hamilton's temporary absence. Milwaukee acquired former first-round pick Braden Shewmake from the Houston Astros for cash considerations and immediately added him to their big-league squad.

Shewmake ended up appearing in just four games for the Brew Crew before being designated for assignment. However, during his brief stint in Milwaukee, Shewmake turned in a multi-hit performance with a double and an RBI against the Miami Marlins on July 18. Shewmake re-signed with the Astros on a minor league deal after being DFA'd by the Brewers and competed for Houston's Triple-A squad during the final two months of the 2026 season.

2. RHP Jake Woodford

Jake Woodford's tenure in Milwaukee feels like years ago, but it ended in early June. The Brewers traded for Woodford two days before Opening Day in a deal that sent pitching prospect K.C. Hunt to the Tampa Bay Rays. The 29-year-old Woodford, who was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals with the 39th overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft, immediately stepped into a low-leverage, multi-inning role with the Brewers, which lasted for just over two months.

Woodford ended up posting a 6.94 ERA in 23.1 innings with the Brewers this year, but showed flashes of effectiveness throughout his time in Milwaukee. Regardless of the results, Woodford saved the Brewers' bullpen on a number of occasions while playing the difficult, but necessary role as the team's "mop-up reliever." Woodford spent some time with the Nashville Sounds after his DFA, but was later released and joined the Chicago Cubs' organization. He was eventually DFA'd by the Cubs as well and has since re-joined the Rays' organization.

3. OF Luis Matos

During the first month of the season, the Brewers were struggling with a lack of right-handed hitting position players. Both Jackson Chourio and Andrew Vaughn spent essentially the first six weeks of the season on the IL, and as a result, the Brewers brought in former top prospect Luis Matos to bolster their right-handed hitting corps.

Matos, who was acquired from the San Francisco Giants for cash considerations, appeared in just nine games for the Brewers, during which he logged only 20 at-bats. He collected just four hits during that stretch, all of which were singles, before being DFA'd in late April. Matos cleared waivers, elected to remain with the Brewers, and ended up playing 67 games for the Triple-A Nashville Sounds before foot surgery in August cut his season short.

4. INF Jihwan Bae

In mid-August, with Cooper Pratt on the IL and Joey Ortiz dealing with an upper back injury, the Brewers signed former Pittsburgh Pirates utility man Jihwan Bae and immediately added him to their major-league roster. Bae, who appeared in 163 total games for the Pirates across the last four seasons, played four games for the Brewers this year, but collected just four plate appearances during that stretch.

Bae's best game with the Brewers was his first, during which he posted a bunt single as well as a sacrifice bunt. He didn't collect another hit with the Brewers and made a costly error against the San Diego Padres before Milwaukee DFA'd him on August 15. Bae cleared waivers and played one game with the Nashville Sounds before landing on the injured list.

5. INF/OF Greg Jones

The Brewers agreed to a minor league deal with the versatile Greg Jones during the offseason and his combination of speed and defensive skills had some encouraged about his arrival to Milwaukee. Jones got an early opportunity to prove his value with the Brewers, joining the big-league squad on April 14, but his bat held him back during his 12 games with the big-league club.

Jones ended up collecting 24 plate appearances with the Brewers this year, more than he had during his first two seasons in MLB combined, but posted just two hits, both singles, in that small sample size. Jones remained with the Brewers after his first DFA of the season, but when he was DFA'd again in mid-July, he elected free agency and signed a minor league deal with the Cubs.

6. LHP Thomas Pannone

The Brewers were in need of innings in late July when they called upon 32-year-old southpaw Thomas Pannone to make a start against the San Francisco Giants. Pannone covered three innings and allowed two earned runs in what was his first big-league action since the 2023 season when he made one appearance out of the Brewers' bullpen.

Pannone was DFA'd after his spot start with the Brewers, but cleared waivers and remained with Milwaukee's Triple-A squad. On Labor Day, Pannone tossed a rare minor league perfect game for the Nashville Sounds, and has covered nearly 100 innings for the Brewers' Triple-A squad throughout the 2026 campaign.

7. INF Jonathan Ornelas

When Jihwan Bae's brief tenure came to an end, the Brewers replaced him with infielder Jonathan Ornelas, whom they acquired from the Athletics in a rare post-deadline trade. Ornelas, aka "Johnny Rockets," played against Pat Murphy's oldest son, Kai, growing up and put together a breakout season with the Athletics' Triple-A squad this year before joining the Brew Crew.

Ornelas ended up playing just three games for the Brewers, but collected two hits and an RBI in nine at-bats. With their injured players back to full health, the Brewers DFA'd Ornelas on August 25. However, after clearing waivers and electing free agency, the 26-year-old Ornelas opted to sign a minor league deal with the Brewers and has since played 14 games with the Nashville Sounds.

8. RHP Lyon Richardson

On June 10, the Brewers signed former Cincinnati Reds reliever Lyon Richardson to a minor league deal. The 26-year-old Richardson, who possesses an intriguing arsenal of pitches, struggled with his command in Cincinnati, but showed flashes of excellence during the 2025 season with the Reds.

Richardson made just one appearance for the Brewers back on August 10, but covered 1.2 scoreless innings in the Brewers' narrow defeat at the hands of the San Diego Padres. He was DFA'd by the Brewers shortly thereafter, but re-signed with Milwaukee on a minor league deal after clearing waivers and electing free agency. Richardson has made nine appearances for the Brewers' Triple-A squad in the time since.

It takes far more than the 26 players (or 28 in September) on an active roster at any given time to have the success that the Brewers have had in 2026. This list is a reminder of just how many players contributed to Milwaukee's success this year, but it is by no means exhaustive. Other overlooked contributors like Drew Rom, Easton McGee, Lance McCullers Jr., Tyler Black, Jeferson Quero, Blake Perkins, Luis Rengifo, Joel Kuhnel, and Brian Fitzpatrick deserve recognition as well. Every one of those names played a necessary part in Milwaukee's record-breaking 2026 season.

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