Only these three Brewers hitters have been better in May than April

There's no denying that the Milwaukee Brewers offense has taken a step backwards in the month of May. Despite a stronger last eight games, following a week in which they were shut out four times, the numbers still indicate that the lineup is not as strong as it was in the opening month of the season. In fact, outside of three players, the entire position player group has posted worse offensive numbers in May than they did in April.

It feels like the inflection point is right around the corner, or perhaps it just entered the rearview mirror, but while Brewers fans wait for the offense to reach the level of consistency required to maintain a winning record, the following players deserve recognition for stepping up during the team's current slump.

1. Rhys Hoskins

April stats: .860 OPS, 3 HR, 2 2B, 12 RBI

May stats: .892 OPS, 4 HR, 7 2B, 16 RBI

Rhys Hoskins has not only improved his OPS from April to May, but he's also emerged as a leader during a time when the Brewers needed one most. From answering questions after closed-door meetings to offering advice to the younger players on the team, Hoskins has done it all and deserves much of the credit for keeping this ball club afloat during a rough stretch.

At the plate, Hoskins has really turned things on since the calendar flipped to May. He already has 11 extra-base hits this month, after having just five in April, and despite his batting average slipping just a hair, his slugging percentage is up nearly 80 points.

The one tradeoff is that his strikeout numbers are up significantly in May compared to April. He's struck out 29 times in May compared to just 17 in April. However, the high slug, high swing-and-miss profile is more in line with what the Brewers thought they were getting when they signed Hoskins last offseason. On a team filled with contact-first profiles, the Brewers would gladly trade a few more strikeouts for the power that Hoskins has displayed this month.

2. Jake Bauers

April stats: .668 OPS, 1 HR, 1 2B, 5 RBI

May stats: .708 OPS, 1 HR, 2 2B, 5 RBI

It's unfortunate that two of the three Brewers hitters who have had better months in May than April play the same position. However, Jake Bauers has demonstrated his sneaky defensive versatility this month, stepping in to occasionally man a corner outfield spot while the Brewers wait for Garrett Mitchell and Blake Perkins to return from their respective injuries. And while it might be a modest improvement, Bauers has made the most of his slight increase in playing time this month.

Like Hoskins, Bauers is expected to add some pop to the Brewers’ lineup, and so far this season, he has delivered when his number has been called. Though he's cooled slightly off as of late, Bauers held a season slugging percentage north of .500 on May 14. Additionally, Bauers has the highest barrel rate and the lowest ground ball to fly ball ratio on the team, according to FanGraphs, meaning he's squaring the ball up and hitting it in the air, which is exactly what the Brewers are looking for him to do.

Bauers is certainly deserving of more playing time, and with him continuing to demonstrate that he can cover a corner outfield position, there's no reason why he shouldn't be in the lineup if the Brewers are facing a right-handed pitcher.

3. Joey Ortiz

April stats: .508 OPS, 0 HR, 3 2B, 15 SO

May stats: .533 OPS, 2 HR, 2 2B, 12 SO

Joey Ortiz's improvement has less to do with how well he's playing in May, and more to do with how poorly he played in April. That being said, while it's just a slight improvement to his OPS, it's an improvement nonetheless, and at this point, the Brewers need everything they can get.

May was Ortiz's best month a season ago. He posted a .988 OPS, which included a ridiculous .587 slugging percentage. His 12 extra-base hits and 12 RBIs ultimately earned him a Rookie of the Month award last May, and his name even appeared in All-Star talks.

It's been a different story for Ortiz this year, but his struggles are certainly not out of a lack of effort. During Monday afternoon's win against the Boston Red Sox, Ortiz legged out a hustle double on a base-hit that no one anticipated would turn into a two-bagger. The next batter, Andruw Monasterio, drove him in, giving the Brewers their second run of the game, which would end up being a crucial run in their 3-2 win. Hopefully, Ortiz can continue to build upon his slight improvement in May and string together a few weeks of productive offense.