Jake Bauers has a chance to match career-best streak amid torrid stretch at the plate

One under-the-radar offseason decision from the Milwaukee Brewers' front office is already paying immense dividends through the first two months of the 2026 campaign. Back in mid-November, with the non-tender deadline approaching, there was no guarantee that the Brewers would bring back first baseman and corner outfielder Jake Bauers, who was projected, by MLB Trade Rumors, to make $2 million in his final year of arbitration.

Bauers, who joined the Brewers' organization via trade back in November of 2023, had an inconsistent 2025 season during which he went through unproductive streaks at the plate as well as runs where he showcased the talent that initially made Milwaukee's front office interested in him. During the final month of the regular season, however, Bauers slashed .360/.458/.560 with two homers, four doubles, and nine RBI in 50 at-bats. That momentum carried into the postseason during which Bauers slashed .308/.357/.615 with a homer, good for a .972 OPS.

His late-season surge ultimately led to the Brewers avoiding the arbitration process altogether, and signing him to a $2.7 million contract that was well above MLBTR's predicted Bauers to make in 2026. The Brewers finally saw Bauers live up to his full potential at the end of the 2025 season, and that gave them enough confidence to hand him a sizable raise ahead of the 2026 campaign.

Bauers was expected to form a platoon at first base with Andrew Vaughn in 2026, while also filling in at each of the two corner outfield spots now and again, but after Vaughn broke the hamate bone in his left hand on Opening Day, Bauers' role on the team immediately became far more important. He essentially earned everyday opportunities through the first six weeks of the season, and it's safe to say he made the most of them.

The 30-year-old Bauers got off to such a hot start at the plate that even now, after Vaughn has returned to the lineup, he's continued to see consistent at-bats in the Brewers' lineup. With Bauers currently enjoying one of the hottest stretches of his career, there's no way Pat Murphy can pull him from the batting order now.

Jake Bauers is one game short of matching a career-high 10-game hitting streak

Thanks to his RBI single in the fourth inning of last night's game against the Chicago Cubs, Bauers extended two impressive streaks at the plate: a 19-game on-base streak and a nine-game hitting streak. The on-base streak is already a career-best for Bauers, but he's also just one game shy of his longest career hitting streak, which he put together as a member of the Seattle Mariners back in 2021.

During his nine-game hitting streak, Bauers is slashing a ridiculous .438/.500/.781 for a 1.281 OPS. His three-run homer in last night's game, which gave the Brew Crew an 8-0 lead at the time, was his second longball of the streak and gave him eight RBI during the stretch.

Meanwhile, Bauers' defensive versatility came into play last night as well. For the first time since Opening Day, he started the game in left field, which allowed Christian Yelich, who also homered last night, to assume the DH duties while Andrew Vaughn, who was 2-for-3 with a double last night and is sporting now a .314 batting average, manned first base. Having Bauers, Vaughn, and Yelich in the lineup is a huge advantage for the Brewers, who lack power outside of that trio of hitters, and it's all thanks to Bauers' ability to cover a corner outfield spot.

On the season, Bauers is maintaining an .872 OPS and an impressive .511 slugging percentage. He already has a team-leading seven homers and is tied with Brice Turang for the most doubles (10) on the squad. Additionally, Bauers, Turang, and William Contreras enter play on May 19 tied for the most RBI (27) among Brewers hitters. It's safe to say the Brewers' decision to give Bauers a $2.7 million contract last fall is paying off.

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