MLB's latest power rankings confirm what Brewers fans already know about Jake Bauers

Much like previous Milwaukee Brewers seasons, the 2026 team is having tremendous success while individual players aren't necessarily getting the attention they deserve. Yes, Jacob Misiorowski, who is having perhaps the greatest starting pitching season in franchise history, is the front-runner for the NL Cy Young award, but outside of Miz, deserving Brewers players aren't getting the attention they deserve from the national media. The biggest victim of this lack of respect is breakout slugger Jake Bauers, who has led the first-place Brewers' offense throughout the 2026 campaign.

In his age-30 season, Bauers is having a career year. He currently owns career-highs in games played (136), at-bats (449), hits (121), total bases (223), home runs (26), runs batted in (83), walks (90), batting average (.263), on-base percentage (.394), and slugging percentage (.497).

Bauers' on-base percentage is currently the best in the National League among qualified hitters, while his OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) ranks fourth. Additionally, Baseball Savant has him ranked in the upper echelon in several offensive advanced stats, including a 52.8% hard-hit rate (95th percentile), a 14.1% barrel rate (92nd percentile), and a 92.3 mph average exit velocity (91st percentile).

While he's been good all year long, Bauers' game has been even better following the All-Star Break, evidenced by a .273/.432/.474 slash line since the Midsummer Classic. Finally, with just over one week remaining in the regular season, Bauers is starting to receive some long-overdue recognition. Just this morning, after snubbing him from their power rankings all year, MLB declared Bauers the 10th best hitter in baseball.

Jake Bauers has a chance to further prove himself on a national stage during this year's postseason

Seeing Bauers’ name among the league’s best hitters right now is not only deserved respect, but also an encouraging sign for the Brewers with the postseason looming. In the Pat Murphy era, Milwaukee has been known for its disciplined team approach, willingness to pass the baton to the next hitter, and ability to manufacture runs by utilizing their speed.

While Bauers excels in all of those facets, as he has quietly swiped 11 bases this season and consistently shows the ability to go first to third with ease, his biggest impact has come in the moments when the Brewers need him most. That is reflected in his eight three-run home runs this season and a .974 OPS with runners in scoring position, highlighting his ability to capitalize when opportunities arise.

Having one of the league’s most reliable hitters at the plate heading in the postseason is something the Brewers arguably haven’t had since Christian Yelich’s MVP season in 2018. Bauers has already shown he can deliver on the October stage, coming through with clutch home runs (like the one seen above) in each of the last two postseasons. With that experience under his belt, and his resurgent season, Bauers has an opportunity to make an even bigger name for himself this October while showing the rest of baseball, and reminding Milwaukee fans, just how impactful he can be when the stakes are at their highest.

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