What should the Brewers do with their struggling shortstop?

Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Joey Ortiz was never expected to be Willy Adames. But he was expected to be something. Through 71 games with the Brewers, he's been something else entirely — and that’s not a good thing.

Ortiz is slashing just .187/.255/.251, production levels that are brutal for an everyday shortstop on a contending team. The glove, however, is still solid. But the bat is a black hole. His -0.9 WAR tells the story best. He's actively hurting the Brewers' lineup every time he steps into the batter’s box. For a club that entered 2025 with ambitions of extending its reign atop the NL Central, Ortiz’s lack of offensive production has made him a growing liability.

Ortiz’s cold performance raising questions for Brewers at shortstop

Looking back at production in 2024, there were hopes that Ortiz could become more than just a glove-first infielder. Across 142 games with the Brewers in 2024, he tallied 11 home runs and 60 RBIs — respectable figures that hinted at untapped offensive potential. But context matters in this case. In a 2024 Brewers lineup that included Adames, Ortiz had the benefit of hitting in the shadows, protected by sluggers who consistently mashed. This season, the shadows are fewer. With a lineup that lacks the same top-to-bottom thump, Ortiz has been exposed.

Still, there are glimmers of hope. Over his last seven games, Ortiz is 5-for-20 with a couple of stolen bases and only three strikeouts. That translates to a .250/.250/.350 slash line — not exactly All-Star level, but certainly a step forward. He's showing better competitiveness at the plate and more multi-hit games in June. In other words, he might actually be heating up.

That’s why now is the time to be patient — but only for a little while. The Brewers should give Ortiz a defined 2–3 week runway to prove that these subtle improvements can lead to real momentum. If he continues to trend upward, you reward him. Give him confidence, and see if he can lock into a groove.

But if the bat continues to regress, the Brewers can't afford to keep waiting. A lineup chasing a postseason berth simply can't carry a .500 OPS shortstop. At that point, it’ll be time to explore the shortstop trade market, particularly short-term rentals who could hold down the position for the final stretch of the season.

And if the Brewers want to send Ortiz down to Triple-A, it shouldn’t be considered a punishment — it would be a recalibration. He may need at-bats in a lower-pressure environment, a chance to rediscover his swing. He’s still just 26 years old and under team control through 2030. There’s no reason to pull the plug entirely. But perhaps the best version of Ortiz isn’t going to be unlocked until 2026, when expectations aren’t smothering him and the Brewers can afford to let him breathe.

In the meantime, Milwaukee has to stay realistic. They’re in a playoff race. Ortiz has the tools — but tools mean little if they can’t be applied when it matters.