Here’s why the Brewers should trust their young core during the 2025 season

Major League Baseball is experiencing a golden age of young talent. These players are emerging at a staggering rate, flashing elite tools that once felt like anomalies. What’s even more intriguing is how front offices are responding, adapting their strategies to secure rising stars before they even establish themselves.

The Milwaukee Brewers made one of the boldest moves in this new era, inking Jackson Chourio to a long-term extension before he had even taken a single big-league at-bat. It was a statement, an all-in wager on raw talent rather than a traditional, wait-and-see approach. The days of waiting until arbitration seems to be slowly fading, teams are betting big on potential, locking down their future cornerstones before they reach their prime.

The A’s have since followed suit, recently signing outfielder Lawrence Butler to a team-friendly deal that rewards his promise while keeping the organization financially flexible. Moves like these aren’t trends; they represent a fundamental shift in how teams are valuing and retaining young talent. The priority is clear, secure control over your player’s best years rather than risk losing them to free agency later.

Can the Brewers' young core keep them in contention?

For the Brewers, this strategy opens up a wealth of opportunity. Their roster is in the middle of an intriguing transition, blending youth with proven veterans. While Chourio is undoubtedly a focal point, let’s shift the attention to the next wave players like Tyler Black, Caleb Durbin, Sal Frelick, and Abner Uribe. Frelick, an outfielder still refining his game, is poised to remain a reliable fixture in the lineup. Black, Uribe, and Durbin, while not locks for the Opening Day roster, have the upside to make an impact and will almost certainly contribute at the major league level this season.

This is an exciting moment for the Brewers, not just to evaluate their young talent but to let them take meaningful reps alongside seasoned veterans like Rhys Hoskins, William Contreras, and Christian Yelich. Losing an offensive force like Willy Adames this offseason was a gut punch, and with elite closer Devin Williams also gone, it would have been easy to expect a step back. But instead, Milwaukee has embraced a resilient, "next man up" mentality that they

Despite these losses, the Brewers remain contenders in an increasingly competitive NL Central. If someone had told you they’d lose an MVP-caliber shortstop and their bullpen ace in the same offseason yet still be in the race to win the division, it would sound absurd. But here they are, proving once again that their ability to develop, adapt, and compete isn’t just sustainable. It’s just who they are.

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