Handing out player grades for the first half of the 2024 Milwaukee Brewers season

With the halfway point of the 2024 season at hand, it’s a good time to offer a mid-term assessment of the performance of the Milwaukee Brewers players.

Obviously that performance has been both generally and somewhat surprisingly good. The 2024 Brewers hit the season’s halfway point standing 48-33 and a solid six-game lead in the NL Central, not to mention two All-Star starters. The Brewers hold a season-long advantage over all of their NL Central opponents and are 20-10 within the division.

Here’s how the 2024 Brewers grade out on their mid-term report cards.

Milwaukee Brewers Position Player Lineup Regulars

William Contreras - Contreras is probably the National League’s best catcher, at least on the offensive side. He’s batting .296 with an .806 OPS and a solid +1.34 Win Probability Added. That makes it easy to overlook his pedestrian defensive numbers. Grade: A+.

Christian Yelich - Yelich is back to his MVP form; a .323 first half with an .892 OPS  and stunning +2.78 Win Probability Added. Of 566 MLB hitters, only 11 have a higher WPA. Grade: A+.

Brice Turang - Turang has been one of the surprises of the season. He’s hitting in the solid .280s with solid defensive stats. The only dark mark is a nearly flat -0.21 WPA. Grade: B+.

Rhys Hoskins - Signed as a free agent, Hoskins was supposed to be the power infusion. He’s been just OK in that respect, with 11 homers and a .724 OPS. His +0.27 WPA says Hoskins has hit in the clutch. Grade: B-.

Willy Adames - It’s been a slow first half for Adames, whose average is down to .235, albeit with a decent .735 OPS. Adames' defensive numbers have also been lukewarm, which matches his 0.07 WPA. Grade: B.

Joey Ortiz - Ortiz was the prize in the off-season trade of Corbin Burnes to Baltimore. With a .269 average, .817 OPS and decent defensive numbers, he’s lived up to expectations. The downside: a lukewarm -0.38 WPA. Grade: B.

Jake Bauers - With a .221 average and .727 OPS, Bauers has basically been only average at an offensive-first position. But his slightly positive (+0.17) WPA suggests he’s had a tendency to come through in the clutch. Grade: C+.

Jackson Chourio -The highly paid rookie may be picking it up. He hit .315 in June, 100 points above his average for the first two months. His .244 average and .680 OPS to date still rate a poor grade, but that mid-term assessment is subject to change on short notice. Grade: C.

Blake Perkins - In his second big league season, Perkins has blossomed defensively. His .246 average, .678 OPS and -0.98 WPA, however, all rate below average. Grade: C-.

Milwaukee Brewers Starting Pitchers

Bryse Wilson. Alternating between the rotation and pen, Wilson has given up just 75 hits in 81 innings with acceptable control. His +0.62 WPA suggests that Wilson’s numbers under-value his contributions. Grade: A-.

Freddy Peralta. With Burnes and Brandon Woodruff both out of the picture, Peralta inherited the role of staff ace. His 6-4 record and 3.95 ERA are both acceptable, and his +0.10 WPA had recently been on the uptick. Grade: B.

Tobias Myers. In the first half of his rookie season, Myers has been another nice surprise. He’s 5-3 with a 3.52 ERA and a positive Win Probability Added in 12 starts. Grade: B.

Colin Rea. The Brewers rotation is loaded with surprises, Rea among them. At 8-2 with a 3.34 ERA in 15 starts, he’s enjoying the best season of a six-year journeyman’s career. Grade: B-.

Milwaukee Brewers Relief Pitchers

Trevor Megill, closer. Entering his first season at closer with exactly zero saves, Megill has rung up 18 of them with a 1.53 ERA in 29.1 innings. Grade: A+.

Bryan Hudson. The Brewers stole Hudson in a January deal with the Dodgers that cost Milwaukee a minor leaguer. In 32 appearances, Hudson has a 1.54 ERA, and his +2.12 Win Probability Added is bettered by just two pitchers – Seth Lugo and Emmanuel Clase – in all of MLB. Grade: A+.

Hoby Milner. The 4.73 ERA is unimpressive but Milner’s positive +0.16 WPA speaks to his value. Grade: B.

Elvis Peguero. He has a 5-3 record, a 3.50 ERA and +0.16 WPA. Overall solid. Grade: B-.

Joel Payamps. The 3.98 ERA in 37 appearances tell the tale of a pretty ordinary first half. Grade: C. 

Other/injured Milwaukee Brewers

Jared Koenig, pitcher, injured. Grade: A+ when healthy.

Enoli Paredes, pitcher. Grade: A-.

Andruw Monasterio, infield. Grade: B+.

Sal Frelick, outfield. Grade: B.

Jacob Junis, pitcher. Grade: B.

Tyler Black, first base. Grade: C.