The Milwaukee Brewers are coming off a three-peat as NL Central champs - a run that speaks to their consistency and resilience. But as spring approaches, it’s hard to ignore the shifting winds in the division.
The Chicago Cubs have made it clear they’re not content playing second fiddle anymore. They’ve been aggressive this offseason, stacking up moves that, at least on paper, give them a real shot at taking the crown.
Meanwhile, Milwaukee is staring down a season of transition - and potentially turbulence - especially on the mound. The loss of Freddy Peralta is a gut punch.
He wasn't just their ace; he was the heartbeat of their rotation. We're talking about the team leader in virtually every major pitching category: strikeouts, ERA, wins, innings, WHIP - you name it, Peralta was at the top of the list.
Trading him, along with Tobias Myers, to the Mets in exchange for prospects Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat signals a shift in direction - one that leans on youth and upside over proven dominance.
So where does that leave the Brewers' rotation? Enter Jacob Misiorowski.
The 23-year-old right-hander has the kind of raw stuff that turns heads - a fastball that explodes out of his hand and a slider that can buckle knees. He’s not just a promising arm; he’s a flamethrower with frontline potential. And now, with Peralta gone, the Brewers are counting on him to step into a much bigger role, possibly as high as the No. 2 spot in the rotation alongside veteran Brandon Woodruff.
That’s a big leap for a guy with just 66 innings of big-league experience under his belt. His rookie season had its ups and downs - flashes of brilliance mixed with the expected growing pains - but the tools are undeniable. The Brewers aren’t just hoping he develops; they need him to.
MLB.com's Thomas Harrigan summed it up well: with Peralta out of the picture, the spotlight shifts to Misiorowski. And while that might seem like a lot to ask from a young pitcher still finding his footing, it’s also an opportunity. If Misiorowski can harness his electric arsenal and show more consistency, he could be the key to keeping Milwaukee’s rotation competitive in a division that’s suddenly looking a lot more crowded at the top.
The Brewers have built their recent success on pitching depth and development. This year, that system will be tested more than ever. Misiorowski’s emergence isn’t just a storyline - it might be the storyline for a team trying to hold onto its division dominance while retooling on the fly.