The Milwaukee Brewers went into the 2025 season thinking they had their outfield pretty well figured out. With top prospect Jackson Chourio, the dynamic Garrett Mitchell, and the steady Sal Frelick penciled in as everyday starters, and Blake Perkins expected to serve as a platoon option and defensive sub, the depth chart looked solid.
But as baseball often reminds us, plans are just that-plans. And reality tends to throw a few curveballs.
Things started to unravel before the season even began. During Spring Training, Perkins fouled a ball off his right shin during batting practice, fracturing a bone and sidelining him for the first half of the year.
That injury opened the door for Isaac Collins, who earned a surprise spot on the Opening Day roster. Still, the expectation was that Chourio, Mitchell, and Frelick would carry most of the load.
That held up-for about a month.
Then came another blow: Garrett Mitchell went down with an oblique strain, and during his rehab, he suffered a shoulder injury that ultimately ended his season. Suddenly, the Brewers were scrambling, and Collins found himself thrust into an everyday role in left field.
To his credit, Collins didn’t just hold his own-he thrived. Once the 27-year-old rookie settled in, he became one of the more consistent bats in the lineup during the early summer months. His performance in July earned him National League Rookie of the Month honors, a testament to how quickly he adapted to the big-league stage.
But even with Collins’ emergence, the Brewers’ outfield depth continued to be tested. Throughout the year, they had to dip into their Triple-A reserves, calling up Daz Cameron, Drew Avans, and Steward Berroa at various points. And just behind that group on the depth chart was a name that never got the call-but might’ve, if not for a key trade deadline move.
That name? Jared Oliva.
Oliva, a former Pittsburgh Pirate, spent the 2025 season with the Brewers’ Triple-A affiliate in Nashville. He quietly put together a solid campaign for the Sounds, showing off the tools that once made him a promising prospect in Pittsburgh’s system.
In 95 games, Oliva hit 11 home runs and slashed .252/.335/.413-good for a .748 OPS. He also flashed his trademark speed and defensive versatility, traits that have long made him an intriguing depth piece.
Had the Brewers not acquired Brandon Lockridge at the trade deadline, there’s a decent chance Oliva would’ve gotten his shot in Milwaukee, especially during the stretch when Chourio was sidelined with a hamstring issue in August. But the opportunity never came.
Now, Oliva is headed west, signing a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants for 2026. And while it’s not a guaranteed ticket to the majors, the fit makes sense.
The Giants have some outfield certainty with Jung Hoo Lee and Heliot Ramos locked into starting roles, but right field remains a question mark heading into spring. That opens the door for a player like Oliva-fast, defensively sound, and with enough pop to keep pitchers honest-to make an impression in big-league camp.
At 30 years old, Oliva’s window to carve out a role in the majors isn’t wide, but it’s still open. And if his 2025 performance in Nashville is any indication, he’s not done making his case.