Why opposing pitchers hate facing Andrew Vaughn right now

Andrew Vaughn has quickly become a nightmare for opposing pitchers. Since joining the Milwaukee Brewers, the former first-round pick from the Chicago White Sox has found his stride at the plate, delivering consistent, clutch, and often game-changing at-bats.

Prior to arriving in Milwaukee, Vaughn was off to a slow start, posting a .189/.218/.314 slash over 48 games. With the Brewers, his numbers are off the chart, jumping to .347/.413/.642. His 32 RBI since debuting with the Brew Crew on July 7 are the second most in the league.

So, what changed? You might assume the Brewers spotted something mechanical, sent him to the hitting lab, or made a major adjustment. But according to Adam McCalvy, the Brewers beat reporter for MLB.com, it’s much simpler than that. The key to Vaughn's turnaround since joining Milwaukee? Swinging at strikes and laying off pitches outside the zone. That fundamental mindset has resulted in him being one of the top players in pitches per at-bat.

Why opposing pitchers hate facing Andrew Vaughn right now

In the month of August, Vaughn has seen 235 pitches from opposing pitchers, the fifth most among any MLB player. Over 52 plate appearances, this equates to an average of seeing 4.52 pitches per at-bat. For reference, the MLB average is 3.86 pitches per at-bat, and Isaac Parades is the season leader at 4.40 pitches per at-bat.

In March and April with the White Sox, Andrew Vaughn saw 449 pitches over 118 plate appearances, averaging just 3.81 pitches per at-bat. Since joining the Brewers, however, his approach has shifted dramatically, aligning perfectly with Milwaukee’s offensive philosophy. The Brewers emphasize grinding out at-bats and driving up opposing starters’ pitch counts early, an area where they rank among the league’s best.

Alongside his improved plate discipline and ability to do damage on strikes, Andrew Vaughn’s strikeout rate has taken a significant step in the right direction since joining the Brewers. While he struck out at a respectable 22% clip with the White Sox, that number has dropped to just 14% in Milwaukee, a reflection of his sharper approach and increased confidence at the plate.

Thanks to his refined approach, built simply on swinging at strikes and laying off balls, Vaughn has transformed into one of the toughest outs in the Brewers’ lineup. The results are starting to catch the attention of pitchers and managers across the league.