Newcomer Brandon Sproat reminds Brewers fans why Pat Murphy is the best

When Pat Murphy took over as the Milwaukee Brewers' manager shortly after the completion of the 2023 season, fans were unsure what to think. Having served as the team's bench coach since the start of the 2016 campaign, most fans didn't know much about "Murph" despite his integral role in turning the Brewers' franchise into a perennial contender.

However, the second he took over as the head man in the Brewers' dugout, his true personality shone through, and the Milwaukee faithful immediately grew fond of their new manager. What was instantly apparent was Murphy's honesty, which some might rightfully call bluntness. He doesn't beat around the bush or try to find excuses during periods when the team is struggling to find success. Rather, he tells it as it is, acknowledges the strengths of his opponents, and understands that his team needs to perform better.

As a result, high expectations are a part of Murphy's managing style, but not in an unfair way. He knows what his players are capable of and instills a confidence in each of them that allows them to reach their goals. It's a large reason why the Brewers consistently out-perform their preseason projections; while the rest of the league doubts his players' abilities, Murphy lifts them up. He has an unparalleled ability to keep the environment in the dugout lighthearted, while maintaining an expectation of excellence. It's a combination of teaching his players to be aware, feeding their hunger to improve as ballplayers, and allowing them to be the players that they've always been rather than a player who their previous teams or the league want them to be.

It's easiest to see Murphy's brilliance in the way players change once they join the Brewers organization from a different team. Last year, both Quinn Priester and Andrew Vaughn had hit a crossroads in their major-league careers, and rather than try to completely remake them as players, Murph told them to be themselves, stop overthinking, and just play the game they love. The confidence that resulted for both Priester and Vaughn was a large reason for their elevated success in a Brewers uniform.

Now, Murphy's guidance is once again on display as the Brewers recently added two new players to their organization, and the advice that Milwaukee's skipper offered one of them should remind Brewers fans why they have the best manager in baseball.

Pat Murphy offers the perfect advice to newcomer Brandon Sproat, reminding Brewers fans why their skipper is the best in the business

Brandon Sproat, one of two top prospects that the Brewers received in exchange for Freddy Peralta last week, appeared on MLB Network yesterday to discuss the trade and his transition from the New York Mets to the Brew Crew. The following clip from MLB Network's X account captures the highlights of Sproat's interview with Harold Reynolds and Matt Vasgersian.

The quote that MLB Network's social media team pulled from the interview perfectly encapsulates Murphy's managing style: "don't try to be anything that you're not. There's a reason you're here, just be yourself." It's the type of advice that instills confidence in players who have worked incredibly hard throughout their lives to reach the major leagues. Telling them to continue leaning into the skillset and talent that got them to this point rather than trying to re-invent the wheel now that they've reached MLB is exactly the type of advice an MLB manager should be giving his players and it's a large reason why Murphy has had so much success in his two seasons as the Brewers' skipper.

With two NL Manager of the Year Awards in two seasons as the Brewers manager, no one is doubting the value that Pat Murphy offers to his consistently underrated team. What people do wonder is how Murphy seemingly always gets the most out of his players. Staying positive, instilling confidence, and not asking his players to be anything they aren't seems to be a good recipe for success.