{"id":95350,"date":"2025-02-10T14:16:22","date_gmt":"2025-02-10T19:16:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=95350"},"modified":"2025-02-10T14:16:52","modified_gmt":"2025-02-10T19:16:52","slug":"brewers-shortstop-battle-turang-ortiz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/02\/10\/brewers-shortstop-battle-turang-ortiz\/","title":{"rendered":"Brewers Could Face Major Shortstop Decision After Adames Departure"},"content":{"rendered":"

After a challenging offseason, the Milwaukee Brewers face a critical decision as they enter the 2025 season: who will step into the shortstop role? The departure of Willy Adames to the San Francisco Giants<\/a> left a substantial void in both the lineup and the clubhouse, as Adames was both their best hitter but also a key leader. MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy<\/a> outlines the dilemma Milwaukee faces as they weigh their options.<\/p>\n

“The Brewers lost 32 home runs from 2024 along with a popular team leader when Willy Adames signed with the Giants, leaving a big hole at shortstop. Fortunately, Milwaukee has two capable, young options for that position in Brice Turang and Joey Ortiz, but so far club officials haven\u2019t offered any indications of who will get the job. Turang not only won the NL Gold Glove at second base last season, he took home the Platinum Glove Award as the league\u2019s top overall defender. On one hand, that sounds like the kind of defender a team would want at shortstop. On the other hand, why mess with something that\u2019s working?”<\/p>\n

Rather than make a low-cost acquisition to bring in a proven shortstop, the Brewers are heading into spring training seeking to determine if Turang or Ortiz will take over at shortstop. Manager Pat Murphy clarified that outfielder Sal Frelick will not be an option for the position in 2025, although he could get some looks at third base this season after impressing during spring training last year.<\/p>\n

Brewers Eye Shortstop Solution: Turang\u2019s Glove vs. Ortiz\u2019s Potential<\/h2>\n

The starting shortstop job will come down to Turang and Ortiz, but Murphy remained tight-lipped on which player has the upper hand going into spring training. Turang, who earned 6 Outs Above Average and a +22 Defensive Runs Saved grade at second base, has shown his defensive prowess. Ortiz, meanwhile, tied for the league lead in Outs Above Average at third base with 11 and earned a +8 DRS, proving he can handle the hot corner as well.<\/p>\n

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Brice Turang with some defensive wizardry on back-to-back plays \ud83e\udd2f pic.twitter.com\/1utD6TMrXt<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 MLB (@MLB) July 28, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n