Why Brewers fans should have confidence in Luis Rengifo’s defense at third base

In the late stages of the offseason, the Milwaukee Brewers made a switch at the starting third base position. Throughout most of the winter, Brewers fans had Caleb Durbin rightfully slotted in as the team's Opening Day third baseman. Coming off a debut season in which Durbin finished the year as a finalist for the National League's Rookie of the Year Award, the centerpiece last offseason's Devin Williams trade with the New York Yankees looked primed to man the hot corner for the Brew Crew once again in 2026.

However, just before pitchers and catchers reported down to Arizona for Spring Training, the Brewers' front office swung a surprising late-offseason trade with the Boston Red Sox that sent Durbin to the East Coast in exchange for two controllable left-handed starters in Kyle Harrison and Shane Drohan. Milwaukee then went on to backfill the position with just their third major league free agent signing of the offseason, agreeing to a one-year, $3.5 million contract with seven-year MLB veteran Luis Rengifo.

As a result, as things stand on February 20, the Brewers' 2026 Opening Day third baseman projects to be the 29-year-old Rengifo who has spent his entire career up to this point with the Los Angeles Angels. Rengifo adds an excitingly versatile profile to the Brewers' lineup -- one that includes an ability to switch-hit and play anywhere on the infield dirt.

However, while Rengifo's versatility impresses, the main concern with him serving as Milwaukee's everyday third baseman in 2026 is his ability to man third base defensively. Though Rengifo is a 2x Gold Glove Award finalist (at second base and as a utility infielder), his defensive metrics start to look a little more shaky when you narrow it down to just his performance at third base. But there's reason to believe that his defense at the hot corner could improve considerably in Milwaukee.

Brewers' excellent infield coach, other infielders should help Luis Rengifo improve his third base defense in Milwaukee

There are two main reasons Brewers fans should have confidence in Rengifo's glove at third base as he joins his fourth MLB organization. First, is the presence of infield coach (and new third base coach) Matt Erickson. A former manager of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, Erickson is frequently cited as a reason why the Brewers have such great infield defense. Certainly, the talents of Brice Turang and Joey Ortiz have something to do with it as well, but Erickson showed his excellence last year through the improvements that Durbin made defensively throughout the season.

In fact, in one of his first interviews in Boston, Durbin shouted out Erickson when asked about how he improved so much as a defensive third baseman in 2025. Durbin showed impressive improvements throughout the season as a defender, and there's reason to believe the same can happen with Rengifo, especially since he has the tools of an effective defender, as evidenced by his two Gold Glove nominations.

Additionally, not only will the supporting cast of Brewers' coaches help out Rengifo's defense, but the players he will be surrounded by in Milwaukee's infield should have an impact as well. In Los Angeles, Rengifo was often sharing the left side of the infield with shortstop Zach Neto, who has an odd defensive profile. Neto grades out well when it comes to Defensive Runs Saved (DRS), but the range-based metric Outs Above Average (OAA) is less bullish on his skills as a defender. Meanwhile, Ortiz is the opposite; he grades out well in OAA, but not in DRS.

When thinking about what can have an impact on a third baseman's defensive output, a shortstop with limited range could certainly make a difference. Rengifo will be asked to cover less ground in Milwaukee and therefore won't go for as many balls as he was going for in Los Angeles. This could lead to an improvement in his defensive outcomes and make his below-league-average defense at the hot corner look more like league-average or even better as a member of the Brewers.

Overall, Rengifo has the tools to be a very effective defender in MLB, and under the right guidance, while surrounded by excellent defenders like Ortiz and Turang, his defensive numbers should see an uptick as a result of his decision to join the Brewers.