Surprising Shane Drohan stat proves rookie southpaw has been Brewers’ pitching staff’s unsung hero

If you were asked "Who leads the Milwaukee Brewers in innings pitched this season?" I'd sincerely hope you wouldn't hesitate to answer. Not only is Jacob Misiorowski basically lapping the field in that regard, he's actually the only qualified pitcher on the roster for the season-long leaderboards.

It speaks to both his dominance and the outrageous depth of the Brewers' pitching staff that Miz has a near-50-inning lead over any of his other teammates, but it's also a reminder that, save for Kyle Harrison's dazzling first half, there haven't really been any other starters that have consistently taken over games in Milwaukee in 2026.

But that begs another interesting question: Who has handled the second-most innings on the team? Okay, yes, the headline here didn't do a great job of burying the lede, but the answer remains fascinating nonetheless.

Shane Drohan hasn't joined Misiorowski in wunderkind status this season -- his 4.26 ERA ranks 10th among all Brewers with 50+ IP -- but he has been an incredible source of stability both in the bullpen and rotation.

Shane Drohan is no longer just a "throw-in" from the Kyle Harrison trade

Beyond the 120 1/3 frames he's tossed, a big part of Drohan's value has been that versatility. He's made 18 starts and 13 relief appearances, averaging more than five innings per outing in the former role and more than two innings per outing in the latter one.

It's true that he's been far better as a reliever (1.55 ERA vs. 5.12 as a starter), but to have someone capable of filling any duty that the team needs is immensely valuable, especially for a manager who likes to ride his bullpen as hard as Pat Murphy does. Given all the injuries that the Crew have had to deal with this year (namely to Brandon Woodruff and Quinn Priester), Drohan has been nothing short of a godsend.

And remember, he's still just a rookie. Yes, he's on the older side for someone using that nomenclature, but his debut campaign in the big leagues has been impressive all the same. That his ERA indicators like xERA (3.84) and FIP (3.77) are significantly better than the actual result is yet another promising sign for what he can bring to this team for years to come.

There are still flaws to clean up, like how he's getting mauled the second time he faces an order (.917 OPS allowed). Fixes will take time to deploy, whether they require a change in his arsenal or in how he attacks hitters.

But in a year in which just four pitchers on the team have exceeded even 100 innings thrown, the importance having a versatile, effective weapon like Drohan cannot be overstated.

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