Concerning early-season Blake Perkins statistic should have Brewers fans worried

Following a breakout season in 2024, during which Milwaukee Brewers' outfielder Blake Perkins proved he was among the best defensive center fielders in all of baseball, expectations were understandably high for the switch-hitter heading into the 2025 campaign.

Unfortunately, during Spring Training of last year, Perkins suffered a freak injury, fouling a pitch off of his shin during batting practice, which fractured a bone and landed the Brewers' outfielder on the injured list, where he remained for the first half of the 2025 season. The late start, paired with lingering concerns from the untimely injury, made it difficult for Perkins to find his rhythm during the 2025 campaign. Despite raising his slugging percentage slightly, the then-28-year-old Perkins saw dips in his batting average and on-base numbers during his shortened 2025 season.

However, perhaps more concerning than the minor step back at the plate was the more significant step back that Perkins took defensively. After posting some of the best defensive numbers in 2023 and 2024, Perkins' value in the field was zapped in 2025. He recorded 10 and eight Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) in 2023 and 2024, respectively, but zero throughout his 54 games in 2025. Likewise, Perkins impressed with seven and 10 Outs Above Average (OAA) in 2023 and 2024, but compiled just one in 2025.

Concerningly, that trend appears to have carried into the 2026 season. It's still very early in the season, but Perkins' metrics and one very telling defensive alignment decision from the Brewers' coaching staff seemingly reveal that the now 29-year-old outfielder may not possess the elite glove that he once did.

Blake Perkins' once-elite defensive metrics have taken a turn for the worse in 2026

Through his first 10 games of the 2026 regular season, Perkins has 0 DRS and -2 OAA. The latter is the more concerning statistic, and not only because it means Perkins has been a below-league-average defender in the outfield this year. OAA is a range-based metric, meaning it derives value from how much ground a player covers, making it an excellent statistic to evaluate outfielders, where good range is among the most important skills a player can have. The fact that Perkins, who once compiled as many as 10 OAA, is currently sitting at -2, seemingly confirms he's lost a step in the outfield.

Defensive metrics, however, are not a perfect science, but a dip in his OAA or DRS isn't the only indication that Perkins' once-elite defensive skills may not be what they once were.

On Friday night, in the eighth inning the Brewers' loss to the Washington Nationals, Brandon Lockridge entered the game as a pinch hitter, leaving Milwaukee with an outfield group of Lockridge, Perkins, and Frelick for the final frame. When the Brewers ran out to the field for the ninth inning, Lockridge headed to center while Perkins to the turn to left field.

Lockridge is an elite fielder in his own right -- the Brewers tend to only acquire outfielders who are above-average defenders -- so it's not as if this was a crazy move from Milwaukee's coaching staff. However, two seasons ago, there weren't many players in the entire league who would have been picked over Perkins to play center field, and now, not only Lockridge, but also Garrett Mitchell (another elite center fielder) are consistently chosen to play the position over him.

Perkins' glove is a very important part of his overall profile as a baseball player, so the hope, from him, the Brewers, and the fanbase, is that he can return to his elite abilities and continue to be an important part of the roster. As he continues to move farther and farther away from his 2025 shin injury, it's likely his speed improves and therefore his impressive range in the outfield grass is restored. For now, with the Brewers down two outfielders, Jackson Chourio and likely Christian Yelich, Perkins should continue to receive opportunities to prove his value.