Where Brice Turang's power surge ranks among history's craziest Brewers hot streaks

The Milwaukee Brewers have not only been steamrolling their way through the NL Central, they’re also getting production in unexpected ways from unlikely sources. Newly-minted NL Player of the Month, Brice Turang, long known as a slick-fielding, contact-first middle infielder, is suddenly bashing baseballs into orbit. He’s on such a ridiculous tear that it demands placement alongside some of the most memorable hot streaks in Brewers history.

Let’s start with the gold standard. Paul Molitor’s 39-game hitting streak in 1987 remains one of the most iconic in MLB history. It only ended because Rick Manning hit a walk-off single, stranding Molitor on deck. The Brewers won, but fans actually booed Manning — not out of malice, but because he robbed Molitor of one more chance to extend his streak. To this day, it’s remembered as both one of the greatest and most bittersweet moments in franchise history.

NL Player of the Month Brice Turang’s home run binge puts him alongside Brewers’ most surprising sluggers

Jeromy Burnitz in 1997, Eric Thames in 2017, and Willy Adames in 2024 all joined a quirky but impressive club: Brewers who homered in five consecutive games. Burnitz did it in peak steroid-era fashion so we often ignore that one, Thames’ streak felt like watching a cartoon superhero, and Adames’ run last year came during a season where his power was thought to be the driving factor keeping the offense afloat.

It’s not exactly a “streak,” but Ben Sheets’ entire 2004 season deserves mention. He posted a 2.70 ERA, struck out 264 hitters in 237 innings, and famously fanned 18 Braves in one game. His record? Just 12-14, because baseball is cruel. That line would win him a Cy Young today. Back then? It was only good for eighth place.

Which brings us back to Turang. He opened the year with three homers in his first 11 games, a nice surprise for a player who’d never hit more than seven in a season. But nobody predicted what came next. He’s sitting at 17 homers, with ten of them coming in August alone.

The numbers behind the breakout are just as jarring as the results. His strikeout rate has jumped from 17 percent to 22.3 percent, but it’s a trade-off he’ll gladly take: his hard-hit rate has skyrocketed from 29.7 percent to 46.7 percent. In plain English, he’s hitting the ball harder and farther than ever before. Even with the swing changes, he’s raised his batting average to .291, up from .254 last season.

Turang’s outburst probably won’t go down as the greatest streak in Brewers history, but it may be one of the most unexpected. No one circled his name as a potential slugger entering 2025. Yet his run certainly belongs in the conversation when comparing him to Burnitz, Thames, and Adames.

The real question is whether this is just a magical run or the new normal for Turang. Either way, fans would be wise to enjoy it.