Back in 2023, the Milwaukee Brewers unveiled a promising trio of young talents from their farm system, including second baseman Brice Turang and outfielders Sal Frelick and Joey Wiemer. These players were expected to be the bedrock of the franchise for years to come.
Fast forward to today, Turang and Frelick have indeed solidified their roles as key players for the Brewers. Wiemer, however, took a different path, being traded in 2024 and experiencing a whirlwind journey across Major League Baseball.
Now, it seems Joey Wiemer has finally found his groove and might have secured a long-term spot in the league.
Former Brewers outfielder Joey Wiemer is making waves in 2026
Wiemer’s rookie season in 2023 saw him hit .204/.283/.362, with 13 homers, 42 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases over 132 games. His sophomore year began with struggles, hitting just .154/.214/.154 for Milwaukee in 28 games before being traded to the Cincinnati Reds for Frankie Montas.
His time with the Reds was brief, playing only two games and spending most of the season in the minors. In the offseason, he was traded to the Kansas City Royals but never appeared in a Major League game for them. After being waived in August 2025, he was picked up by the Miami Marlins, where he played 27 games, hitting .236/.279/.436 with three homers and 12 RBIs.
The journey continued in November 2025 when Wiemer was traded to the San Francisco Giants for cash. A few months later, he was waived and claimed by the Washington Nationals.
Despite a challenging Spring Training, hitting .150/.261/.350 with two home runs and six RBIs, the Nationals took a chance on Wiemer, adding him to their Opening Day roster.
And what a decision that turned out to be.
Wiemer reached base in each of his first 10 plate appearances this season. Over the first six games of 2026, he’s been on fire, hitting .588/.682/1.059 with two home runs and four RBIs. He’s also leading the league with seven runs scored.
What stands out most is his plate discipline, drawing five walks while striking out only four times. While his batting numbers are likely to dip as the season progresses, maintaining this level of discipline could make Wiemer one of baseball’s breakout stars this year.