The Milwaukee Brewers have had some unexpected names take the mound for their home openers in recent years-names that probably wouldn’t top most fans’ lists when thinking of marquee moments. While Freddy Peralta has held down the role of Opening Day starter for two straight seasons, the pitcher who gets the nod for the first game at American Family Field still carries weight. It’s a symbolic moment, and for the players who get that call, it’s a big deal-even if it doesn’t always go the way fans expect.
Take 2023, for instance. The Brewers handed the ball to Elvin Rodríguez, a fresh offseason pickup, to open the home slate against the Royals.
He didn’t stick around long-Rodríguez was designated for assignment before the All-Star break. That makes his brief moment in the spotlight feel more like a footnote than a chapter.
But the 2024 home opener might’ve been even more surprising.
On April 2, with a packed house in Milwaukee, Jakob Junis got the start against the Twins. The veteran right-hander delivered a solid outing, giving the Brewers four innings of one-run ball in a 3-2 win-Milwaukee’s fourth straight to open the season. It was a strong showing and a good moment for Junis, but things took a turn not long after.
Following that start, Junis was sidelined with a shoulder impingement. And during his rehab, things got worse. While shagging fly balls during batting practice, Junis was hit in the neck by a ball-an injury serious enough to send him to the hospital and push his return back to late June.
When he did come back, Junis transitioned to the bullpen and made nine appearances over four weeks. He was sharp, posting a 2.42 ERA and showing the kind of consistency that teams crave in middle relief.
But the Brewers had a bigger need: starting pitching. With Junis now a full-time reliever and Milwaukee sitting on a surplus of bullpen arms, GM Matt Arnold made a move at the trade deadline-sending Junis and outfielder Joey Weimer to Cincinnati in exchange for veteran starter Frankie Montas.
That deal closed the book on Junis’ brief stint in Milwaukee-just 10 appearances in all-but it didn’t slow down his career.
The now-33-year-old righty signed with the Cleveland Guardians for the 2025 season and quietly put together another strong campaign. That made him a hot commodity this offseason, and now he’s off the market, having signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Texas Rangers.
Junis may not be overpowering-his fastball sits in the low 90s-but he leans heavily on a slider that’s been a real weapon. He keeps walks down, limits hard contact, and simply knows how to pitch.
He’s not flashy, but he’s effective. And when you pair that kind of profile with a strong defense, like the one Milwaukee boasts, it’s easy to see why he would’ve been a logical fit for the Brewers once again.
In fact, the Brewers had already shown they valued him, giving him a $7 million deal back in 2024. So why didn’t they circle back this time around, especially with bullpen depth looking a little lopsided?
Right now, Milwaukee’s projected 2026 bullpen is heavy on left-handers-five, to be exact-and light on righties. That’s not necessarily a problem, but it does limit manager Pat Murphy’s options in late-game matchups. A veteran right-handed arm like Junis would’ve helped balance things out.
But there are reasons for hesitation. Despite back-to-back seasons with a sub-3.00 ERA, Junis’ expected ERA in both years was more than a full run higher.
That suggests he may have benefited from some good fortune. And while his fastball isn’t the centerpiece of his game, he did lose a tick on it in 2025.
Combine that with the shoulder issues from the previous year, and it’s understandable why the Brewers may have passed this time around.
So now, with Junis officially off the board, Milwaukee will have to look elsewhere if they want to add a right-handed reliever before Opening Day. But before they make that move, there’s a bigger decision looming: Freddy Peralta’s future with the team. Whether or not the Brewers decide to keep their ace could have a ripple effect on the rest of the roster-bullpen included.
For now, Junis heads to Texas, looking to keep his late-career resurgence going. And the Brewers? They’ll keep searching for the right pieces to round out a bullpen that, while talented, still needs a little fine-tuning before the 2026 season kicks off.