The Milwaukee Brewers starting rotation is going to look different in 2024. For the first time since 2018, it won’t be anchored by Brandon Woodruff or Corbin Burnes. The only returning starting pitchers from last season are Freddy Peralta, Wade Miley, and Colin Rea. Peralta and Miley are the only pitchers with a guaranteed rotation spot. Most of the other starting spots are up for grabs. When camp opens this week in Arizona, the competition for a spot in the rotation will be fierce. How the starting rotation turns out will be one of the most intriguing storylines to follow this spring. New Brewers manager Pat Murphy and his coaching staff will have some tough decisions on their hands.
The Rotation Won’t Feature Corbin Burnes Or Brandon Woodruff
This has been an offseason of change for the Milwaukee Brewers. Corbin Burnes was traded to the Baltimore Orioles and Brandon Woodruff was non-tendered making him a free agent. It’ll be the first time since 2016 that the Brewers won’t have either of them in the rotation. The only returning starters from last season are Freddy Peralta, Wade Miley, and Collin Rea. With Burnes and Woodruff now gone, this means that Freddy Peralta will be the new ace. However, aside from Peralta, most of the rotation is unsettled. This will mean that there will be open competition for starting jobs.
The idea of having multiple fresh faces in a starting rotation is exciting yet nerve-racking. It’s exciting because a new name is on the mound and people want to see what he can do. Heck, Brewer fans might be seeing the next stars of their rotation. At the same time, people are naturally nervous because that pitcher is so new and has never pitched at the big-league level. This leads to a level of uncertainty with the fans and team not knowing what’s going to happen. While the team has scouting reports, pitching in the bigs is much different than in the farm system.
Many New Faces Are Competing For A Starting Rotation Spot
Heading into Spring Training, the only pitchers who have a rotation spot are new ace Freddy Peralta and Wade Miley. Every other spot in the rotation will have to be earned. Aaron Ashby, DL Hall, Collin Rea, Robert Gasser, Jacob Misiorowski, Joe Ross, Jakob Junis, and others will be competing for rotation spots. All of them will have from February until later in March to make an impression on the Brewers coaching staff.
Aaron Ashby
Embed from Getty ImagesBesides Colin Rea, the only other pitcher competing fans will recognize is Aaron Ashby. The homegrown pitcher has been with the team since 2021. Milwaukee signed him to a five-year extension in 2022 with the expectation that he’d crack the starting rotation. However, Ashby has made just 23 starts in two seasons, going 2-8 with an ERA of 4.81. He was supposed to be a part of the starting rotation plans last season, but he missed all of 2023 due to shoulder surgery. Given his experience, Ashby will have plenty of opportunities to earn a rotation spot this spring.
Collin Rea
Embed from Getty ImagesColin Rea saw a lot more action than the team initially planned last season. This was due in part to injuries to Wade Miley, Brandon Woodruff, and Adrian Houser. Rea started 22 games last season going 6-6 with an ERA of 4.55 and 110 strikeouts to just 38 walks. Rea also set new career marks for strikeouts (11), innings pitched (124.2), walks (38), appearances (26) and starts (22). Last season, Rea gave the Brewers much more than they initially expected. However, last season, Rea was susceptible to the long ball as he gave up 23 home runs. Given last year’s performance, Rea now has opportunities to solidify a more permanent starting rotation spot.
DL Hall
Embed from Getty ImagesDL Hall was one of the players who came over from the Baltimore Orioles in the Corbin Burnes trade. Hall was used mostly as a relief pitcher making only one start over two seasons with the Orioles. He’s only 25 years old and Baltimore was trying to develop him as a starting pitcher. The Brewers expect that Hall will be one of their starters in 2024. Hall will have ample opportunities to break camp as one of Milwaukee’s starting pitchers.
Robert Gasser
Embed from Getty ImagesRobert Gasser was one of the players who was acquired in the Josh Hader trade two seasons ago. Gasser is currently ranked as the ninth-best prospect in the Brewers system. He was invited to spring training as a non-roster player. Gasser has had success at every level of the Brewers system over the last season and a half. A season ago, Gasser put up solid statistics for the Triple-A Nashville Sounds. Despite his success in the minors, Gasser has yet to make his big-league debut.
Gasser figures to be a part of the Brewers rotation plans this season. It is time for the Milwaukee Brewers to see what Robert Gasser can do at the big-league level. Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, and Adrian Houser are no longer there to block him from making his big-league debut. He has nothing left to prove in Triple-A. The Brewers coaching staff will be keeping a strong eye on him and Gasser will have plenty of opportunities to impress.
Jakob Junis
Embed from Getty ImagesJakob Junis was signed as a free agent this offseason after spending the past two seasons with the San Francisco Giants. During his time with the Giants, Junis was mostly used as a reliever, however, he did make 21 starts as well. In his seven-year career, Junis is 38-45 with an ERA of 4.64. However, Junis does have some upside.
In two seasons with the Giants, he was able to put together a WHIP of 1.293. He also had a FIP of 3.69 with how bad the Giants’ defense was behind him. Milwaukee is expecting Junis to be a starter in 2024. The Brewers have been known for taking struggling pitchers and turning them into productive arms. If pitching coach Chris Hook can work his magic and Junis breaks camp as a starter, then he could be another one of Milwaukee’s success stories.
Joe Ross
Embed from Getty ImagesJoe Ross was originally a first-round pick by the San Diego Padres. However, he spent the first seven seasons of his MLB career with the Washington Nationals. Ross even started a game during the 2019 World Series and even earned a championship ring for his efforts. However, injuries have badly derailed his career. He hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since 2021. Ross spent last season in the Giants’ minor league system not making any appearances for San Francisco.
Milwaukee does have a reputation for turning previously discarded pitchers into productive players. However, two years of not pitching in the big leagues is almost a big-league career death sentence. I believe Ross has an uphill battle if he wants to break into the starting rotation with the big club.
Jacob Misiorowski
Embed from Getty ImagesJacob Misiorowski is one of the many non-roster invitees to Spring Training. It’ll be his first spring with the big club. Misiorowski is currently ranked as the Brewers’ best pitching prospect overall. He’s also ranked as the organization’s third-best prospect overall behind only Jefferson Quero and Jackson Choiro. Misiorowski has struck out a third of batters he’s faced across three levels of the Brewers farm system. However, the 21-year-old has also walked 13% of the batters he’s as well. The other thing working against Misiorowski has barely had any Double-A experience. While the righty will have opportunities to break camp with the big club, he’ll more than likely be back in the minors.
A New Era Of Starting Pitching In Milwaukee Has Begun
Embed from Getty ImagesThis spring, the Brewers have an interesting mix of young players and veterans vying for a rotation spot. One thing for certain is Milwaukee’s starting rotation is going to be full of new faces. It is a time of excitement and anxiety for the Brewers and their fans. With Burnes and Woodruff now gone, a new era has begun for Milwaukee’s starting rotation. The next Brewers pitching stars could be seen this upcoming season.
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