Can an MVP come out of Milwaukee, a strong team with a different texture in Ohtani's era

Aug 19, 2025

Can an MVP come out of Milwaukee, a strong team with a different texture in Ohtani's era
Milwaukee Brewers Christian Yelich is being watered down by Andrew Vaughan after winning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on the 16th (Korea time). Yelich hit two home runs and five RBIs. ImagesYonhap News



Can an MVP come out of Milwaukee, a strong team with a different texture in Ohtani's era
Milwaukee outfielders, including Isaac Collins, Brandon Locridge and Sal Frelic, are celebrating after beating the Chicago Cubs 7-0 on the 19th (Korea Standard Time). ImagesYonhap News
After the Milwaukee Brewers lost to the Cincinnati Reds on the 18th (Korea time), Christian Yelich, the leader, urged the players in the away locker room, saying, "Let's forget all about it now and start again tomorrow." He ordered his juniors not to lose their composure because their 14th consecutive win was cut off.

Manager Pat Murphy said, `All of our players must have realized anew that every ball is precious and that baseball is not over until it is over. We've done something big this time, but we've also shown that we're people," he said.

Milwaukee won 7-0 away against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field a day later on the 19th. As Yelich vowed, Milwaukee players showed off their perfect harmony over the pitching.




Starter Freddie Peralta allowed one hit and six strikeouts in six innings to reach his 15th win of the season, and No. 1 Bryce Turang and No. 2 Caleb Durbin hit a home run side by side to lead the attack by combining four RBIs and two runs.

Can an MVP come out of Milwaukee, a strong team with a different texture in Ohtani's era
Milwaukee Brewers Caleb Durbin hits a home run in the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs on the 19th (Korea time) and high-fives with his teammates. ImagesYonhap News
Milwaukee, which marked 79 wins and 45 losses, ranks first in the winning rate between the two leagues. He is also seven games ahead of the Toronto Blue Jays (73 wins and 53 losses), who are ranked first in the AL. The FanGraphs suggested a 100.0% chance of Milwaukee's advance to the postseason. I bet 96.1% on winning the district championship and 8.8% on winning the World Series. The odds of winning the World Series are the third highest after the Los Angeles Dodgers (18.8%) and the Philadelphia Phillies (9.5%).

Milwaukee, which has never topped the list since its foundation in 1969, is seen as a World Series winner this year. The team work has never been so solid, and the motivation of the players under the leadership of Murphy is likely to soar.




Turang, who led the victory on the day, was a first-round draft player and this year is his fourth year in the Major League. He won the second baseman's Gold Glove last year, and this year he raised his offense to a new level with a batting average of 0.280 with 13 home runs, 60 RBIs, 74 runs, 21 steals, and 0.763 OPS. Durbin moved to Milwaukee through a trade with the New York Yankees in December last year and made his major league debut this year. He has a batting average of 0.255, seven home runs, 42 RBIs, 46 points, and an OPS of 0.712, helping the offense.

Milwaukee is drawing attention by creating a sensation this season by focusing on young players and players brought in through trade. Of the 26 roster, 13 players were acquired in trade. As can be seen from sending closer Devin Williams to the Yankees last winter, he is raising his team by sending out players who have grown in size and receiving players who have qualities but have not been able to perform. The rebuilding itself is team color.

Can an MVP come out of Milwaukee, a strong team with a different texture in Ohtani's era
Milwaukee Brewers coach Pat Murphy. AP Yonhap News
Milwaukee is a representative small market club. Payroll on the opening day of this year was ranked 23rd overall with $115 million. It is one-third of the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers, which cost more than $300 million. It's not a team that can buy a championship with money.




In a recent interview with CNN, Murphy said, `Average Joes play hard' and credited the entire team with running first.

If Milwaukee reaches the postseason with the highest winning rate, shouldn't the season MVP also be a Milwaukee player.

However, NL MVP votes are still being collected by Dodgers Shohei Ohtani this year. He returned as a pitcher in June and resumed his double work as a pitcher, and the bat is still hot in August. As of today, the two leagues are ranked No. 1 in scoring and No. 1 in NL home run-long hit-rate-OPS. Since he is increasing his innings as a starting pitcher, if he raises a few wins, he should be considered the MVP again this year.

Can an MVP come out of Milwaukee, a strong team with a different texture in Ohtani's era
LA Dodgers Shohei Ohtani hits a timely hit in the top of the second inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on the 19th (Korea time). AP Yonhap News
Since some time ago, MVP tends to be given when winning a few major titles or setting a historic record. Last year, Ohtani became the first home run-to-50 stealer and Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees became the home run-to-run king, becoming the unanimous MVP side by side. In 2023, Atlanta Braves Ronald Acuña Jr. achieved his first-ever 40-70 homers and 70 steals, along with Ohtani, who took the AL home run king and 10 wins of the season.

In 2022, Judge hit 62 home runs, the most in an AL season, beating Ohtani and becoming the AL MVP.

Since 1995 when the Division Series was introduced, only 10 MVP players have set the first milestone in history for ▶ home run, RBI, batting average, scoring, and at least one of the five OPS titles ▶ pitchers, including the Cy Young Award-winning ▶ pitching, or the ▶ WAR League No. 1. It is interesting that there is no one since 2014.

Before that, leadership and hustle play that cannot be counted also played a role in the votes of the BBWAA (National Baseball Journalists Association). Typical examples include the Pittsburgh Pirates Andrew McCutchen in 2013, Minnesota Twins Justin Moreno in 2006, San Francisco Giants Jeff Kent in 2000, San Diego Padres Ken Caminiti in 1996, and Cincinnati Barry Larkin in 1995.

Can an MVP come out of Milwaukee, a strong team with a different texture in Ohtani's era
Milwaukee Brewers starter Freddie Peralta takes the mound against the Chicago Cubs on the 19th (Korea time) and sprays the ball vigorously. AFP Yonhap News
There is no player who will win a title in Milwaukee this season. Among pitchers, Peralta, who is the most wins, may be able to challenge for the NL Cy Young Award, but the competitors are too strong. In the era of Otani and Judge, it is true that he will be the MVP.

Milwaukee is a strong team that is different from the Dodgers, Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, and Toronto in that it has increased its power in a rare way these days. It is a strong team as a collection of extraordinary performances of ordinary players.





This article was translated by Naver AI translator.