Brewers' big questions and players to watch in '24

This story was excerpted from Adam McCalvy’s Brewers Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

MILWAUKEE -- The Brewers’ youthful energy was one of their most endearing traits in 2023, and it looks like there’s more of that coming.

With top prospect Jackson Chourio in the mix even though he won’t turn 20 until the middle of Spring Training, the Brewers are a young club. Catcher William Contreras, the team’s MVP in 2023, just turned 26 on Christmas Eve. Outfielders Sal Frelick and Joey Wiemer and second baseman Brice Turang all got their first taste of the big leagues in ‘23 and will aim for more consistency now that they have a foothold, while Garrett Mitchell aims for better health. Abner Uribe, with his triple-digit fastball, has a chance to take on an even more prominent role in his first full season.

And it’s not just Chourio in the next wave. Tyler Black (Brewers’ No. 4 prospect) could be the starter at first or third base, depending on Milwaukee’s offseason moves. Starting pitching prospects Jacob Misiorowski (No. 3), Robert Gasser (No. 5) and Carlos F. Rodriguez (No. 6) are poised to debut if needed. Ditto for catcher Jeferson Quero (No. 2), who just turned 21 but could start the year in Triple-A. And Brock Wilken, the Brewers’ first-round Draft pick in July, already touched Double-A, so it’s not impossible to imagine a rapid ascent.

“It's about the players,” said manager Pat Murphy after being promoted to the top spot. “You don't necessarily win championships with resources, you win championships with people. We want to get the players to play at the high end of their value. That creates a culture of responsibility. That creates a culture of, 'Hey, the expectation is to win.’ That's what we've tried to do and I think that's what we've had here, regardless of the roster turning over and regardless of moves or whatever.”

BIGGEST QUESTION TO ANSWER BEFORE SPRING TRAINING

Which direction are they going?

On one hand, the Brewers bill themselves as contenders, saying the aim is to mount a successful defense of their NL Central title. On the other hand, they signaled a willingness to go young when they signed Chourio, the No. 2 overall prospect per MLB Pipeline, to a record-setting contract that paved his way to the Opening Day roster, and they parted with two of their longest-tenured players in Adrian Houser and Tyrone Taylor via a trade with the Mets. Maybe the Brewers can do both -- cutting payroll and continuing to win. Maybe they’ll take a step back in 2024.

ONE PLAYER POISED TO HAVE A BREAKOUT SEASON

RHP Abner Uribe

Perhaps 2023 was the flamethrowing reliever’s breakout season, but it was just a partial season. Called up right before the All-Star break, Uribe didn’t allow an earned run in 27 of his 32 Major League appearances, held opponents to a .154 average with a 1.76 ERA and threw the 11 hardest pitches in Brewers history as tracked by Statcast, which has data back to 2008. The hardest was a 103.3 mph heater for a called strike 3 on Sept. 18, the sort of heat that makes Uribe look like Milwaukee’s eventual successor to All-Star Devin Williams. For now, Uribe’s role has grown into a bona fide late-inning weapon.

PROSPECT TO WATCH IN 2024

OF Jackson Chourio

When they signed him to an eight-year, $82 million contract, the Brewers set a record for a player with zero Major League experience while clearing a runway for Chourio to make Milwaukee’s Opening Day roster -- barely two weeks after what will be his 20th birthday. If he’s a regular at that age, it would put Chourio in rare company. In the Wild Card era (since 1995), only 11 players have logged 500 plate appearances in a season at age 20 or younger: Alex Rodríguez, Edgar Renteria, Adrián Beltré, Elvis Andrus, Jason Heyward, Starlin Castro, Bryce Harper (the only 19-year-old on this list), Mike Trout, Manny Machado, Juan Soto and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

ONE PREDICTION FOR THE NEW YEAR

Freddy Peralta will win the NL Cy Young Award

Peralta had a 2.81 ERA while making the All-Star team in 2021, only to see ‘22 ruined by a shoulder injury. Last season, he was healthy again and had a 2.81 ERA after the All-Star break as he found confidence in his health and rounded into form. A full season of that level of output would be huge for the Brewers, who cut loose longtime ace Brandon Woodruff this offseason and may trade Corbin Burnes sometime before next year’s Trade Deadline, lest they lose him via free agency for only a Draft pick. Peralta is poised to step to the front of a Milwaukee rotation that has been the strength of the team.