3 under-the-radar Brewers players off to a good start in 2023

The Milwaukee Brewers are off to a good start to begin the 2023 season. Milwaukee wasn't the overwhelming pick to win the National League Central Division, but more of an under-the-radar type of team.

Well, the early-season success is in large part due to the under-the-radar performance of some of Milwaukee's overlooked players.

While Corbin Burnes, Freddy Peralta, and Devin Williams have certainly had a hand in the Brewers' hot start, those undervalued players have helped set this year's team up for what the Milwaukee faithful hope is a playoff-bound campaign. Who are three under-the-radar players that have helped the Brewers get off the blocks quickly in 2023?

1. Mike Brosseau has been an under-the-radar performer for the Brewers.

When a player like Mike Brosseau has a career-OPS below .775, he's going to be looked at as a bench bat, and at best, a spot starter. But Brosseau has embraced his under-the-radar role with this year's Milwaukee Brewers team and is currently leading the squad in OPS.

Brosseau's 1.014 OPS is tops among all Brewers hitters. The 29-year-old is 6-for-20 with two round trippers and five runs batted in thus far in 2023. Brosseau has started six games this season and has a base hit in all but one.

Brosseau has the defensive versatility to play all over the infield dirt, and in the outfield in a pinch, but all six starts have come at the hot corner this season. Defensively, Brosseau has had a couple miscues at third base, but his bat has more than made up for his mistakes in the field.

With Luis Urias currently on the IL, Mike Brosseau has done a fine job of holding down the fort. Once Urias returns, it's likely that Brosseau will still wiggle his way into increased playing time after such a hot start to the 2023 season.

3. Wade Miley has been an under-the-radar performer for the Brewers.

Wade Miley is back in Milwaukee, and while most Brewers fans tend to focus on the success of their top three starters, the veteran lefty has gotten off to nice start in 2023.

Of course the Milwaukee Brewers starting rotation starts and ends with former Cy Young Award-winner Corbin Burnes. Once he returns from the IL, Brandon Woodruff will continue to be slotted behind Burnes, and Freddy Peralta will occupy the No. 3 spot in the Brewers rotation.

But with Aaron Ashby now shifted to the 60-day IL with shoulder surgery, it's quite likely the left-hander will be sidelined for most of, if not all, the 2023 season. It's a good thing the Brew Crew have a veteran lefty like Miley in the rotation.

Miley is off to a solid start. While you're never going to get those eye-popping strikeout numbers from the southpaw, Miley will pitch to contact and oftentimes have a lot of success. The 36-year-old is 1-1 to begin the season and owns a measly 2.45 ERA.

Wade Miley works fast, so the pitch clock won't affect him at all. With Ashby and Woodruff currently on the IL, having a veteran like Miley who can step in and provide an under-the-radar performance every fifth day will be key for the Milwaukee Brewers this season.