Brewers acquire former first-round pick from Astros to bolster current infield group

The Milwaukee Brewers will play their final game of the first half of the 2026 season this afternoon, but that isn't stopping the front office from trying to improve their roster before the All-Star Break. With infielder David Hamilton currently on the IL with a hamstring injury, the Brewers are bolstering their current infield group by acquiring 2019 first-round pick Braden Shewmake from the Houston Astros for cash considerations.

Shewmake was recently designated for assignment by the Astros, but before he could clear waivers, the Brewers offered cash to acquire the utility infielder. The 28-year-old Shewmake will immediately join the Brewers in Pittsburgh and is starting at third base in their series finale against the Pirates today. In the corresponding roster move, the Brewers have designated Greg Jones for assignment.

Brewers acquire infielder Braden Shewmake from the Houston Astros for cash considerations

Shewmake was drafted by the Atlanta Braves with the 21st overall pick in the 2019 draft out of Texas A&M. However, up until this point, the left-handed hitting infielder has yet to live up to his first-round potential. After losing his first minor league season to the COVID-19 pandemic and being limited to less than 85 games in each of his next two campaigns due to injuries, it took a while for Shewmake to find his footing in Atlanta's farm system.

Shewmake's best season in the minors was the 2023 campaign, during which he slashed .234/.298/.407 with 16 homers, 28 doubles, and 27 stolen bases, in 122 games for Atlanta's Triple-A club. That was also the season that Shewmake made his MLB debut, but he earned just four at-bats in the big leagues.

After the 2023 campaign, Shewmake was traded to the Chicago White Sox as part of the five-player trade package that brought left-hander Aaron Bummer to Atlanta. Though he did appear in 29 games for the White Sox, and posted a lackluster .337 OPS, injuries once again cut Shewmake's 2024 campaign short. He landed in the New York Yankees' organization for the 2025 season, but never made an appearance for their big-league club, and in April of this year was traded to the Astros.

In 78 at-bats with the Astros this year, Shewmake posted a decent .256/.272/.423 slash line with three homers, four doubles, and nine RBI, but Houston DFA'd the utility infielder to make room on their roster for the return of starting shortstop Jeremy Peña.

Though he's unlikely to stick around on the roster for long, as Hamilton isn't expected to miss too much time with his minor hamstring strain, Shewmake is a very "Brewersy" player. He has good contact skills, can play multiple positions, was considered one of the best defensive shortstops in the minor leagues a few years back, and can impact the game on the basepaths. He has yet to develop the power that the Astros were hoping he would, but at 6'3", Shewmake is an impressive athlete who could certainly find more slug with the right approach at the plate.

Brewers fans will get their first look at Shewmake this afternoon, as the recent trade acquisition is welcomed into the NL Central with a matchup against reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes.

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