The Sal Frelick to third base experiment is back on the table for the Brewers in 2025

The Milwaukee Brewers are not afraid to get creative when it comes to how they use their roster. For a small market team like Milwaukee to thrive in this league, they have to be. It's why they've been so successful for the last seven years.

One of those creative solutions the Brewers have come up with lately is moving Sal Frelick to the infield. It was a big story in spring training as Frelick worked in the offseason with Dustin Pedroia, his childhood idol, and he spent most of his playing time in the spring on the dirt in preparation to play there quite a bit during the season. The Brewers had so many outfielders, how would they get them all playing time? Moving Frelick to the infield was the solution.

Then Garrett Mitchell broke his finger, then Joey Wiemer forgot how to hit and next thing you know the plan to play Frelick in the infield was put away and collecting dust.

Now that the Brewers are into the offseason, Mitchell is back healthy and played well, Christian Yelich is going to be back healthy next spring, and the outfield looks a bit crowded again. Manager Pat Murphy, in talking with the media during his end of season press conference wouldn't go so far as to say that outfield is a "logjam" but there's a lot of guys for not as many spots.

Brewers entertaining moving Frelick to third base again in 2025

The Brewers infield is likely losing a key piece to free agency in Willy Adames. That means there's going to be an infield opening for someone to claim. The frontrunners to take over at shortstop are Joey Ortiz and Brice Turang, who are both capable at the position and currently occupy third base and second base respectively. Should one of them move positions, their previous spot becomes vacant.

"Frelick to third, he was making great progress. This kid might be able to pitch before it's all said and done. But yes, I mean, it's on the table for sure. Depending on if we acquire anyone, if we don't, if we lose somebody else, injuries, but to have that in our pocket, that versatility is crucial" Pat Murphy said.

The quick and easy way to see this play out is Ortiz sliding over to shortstop, then Frelick can move to third, leaving the combination of Yelich, Chourio, Mitchell, and Perkins for the outfield. If they had to build a lineup with just the hitters they have now following Adames' departure, that's likely how it would play out.

Still, there's a lot of offseason left to go and the caveat that Murphy mentioned was that it depends on if they acquire somebody for that spot. If the Brewers bring in a third baseman, let's just say Alex Bregman for example, even though it's extremely unlikely they actually sign a big name there. If they were to sign Bregman, it'd be quite clear the everyday third base job is going to be his and the Sal Frelick to third experiment once again goes back on the shelf to collect dust.

Murphy did specifically mention that Christian Yelich to first base is not in the cards and Jackson Chourio would not be moving back to the infield. When it came to Frelick moving to the dirt, it was abundantly clear that that remained on the table.

The offseason may yet bring an external third base addition. If they don't get one from elsewhere, then Brewers fans could very well see Frelick manning the hot corner in 2025.