Dynasty! Milwaukee Brewers Clinch the 2024 NL Central Championship.
Despite a Cubs loss officially securing their win on Wednesday, the Milwaukee Brewers carried the weight of their success throughout the season, overcoming significant challenges with remarkable ease.
Losing their longtime hometown manager to their biggest rival wasn’t easy, especially after he had led them to consistent dominance in the division for nearly a decade. Nor was rebuilding a starting rotation after one ace suffered a career-altering injury, trading another late in the offseason, and losing both a beloved veteran and a promising rookie to Tommy John surgery early on. The team also faced challenges, like a 20-year-old rookie under immense pressure, a first half without their star closer, and a second half without their best all-around player.
In spite of all that, winning the division seemed easy. With almost two weeks left in the season, the Brewers secured their spot, poised to finish with over 90 wins. They turned a young rookie into a superstar, replaced their injured players, and even swapped out their irreplaceable manager for his former mentor, leading to even greater success.
Jackson Chourio became a fixture in the lineup as expected, but Joey Ortiz’s rise was a pleasant surprise. Even though their draft strategy didn’t quite pan out, the Brewers’ farm system remains solid, and they’ll have plenty of draft capital next summer, despite finishing near the top of the league.
The decision to keep Willy Adames over Corbin Burnes proved to be the right one, despite Adames’s defensive struggles. His chemistry with William Contreras helped the team through the season. Trading Burnes brought in key players like Ortiz and DL Hall, and Tobias Myers has outperformed Burnes down the stretch.
New manager Pat Murphy brought a fresh approach to the coaching staff, emphasizing collaboration while maintaining the elements that made Craig Counsell successful. The front office, led by Matt Arnold, continued to find small advantages, combining star talent, depth, youth, and experience. This balance has helped them emerge as a true dynasty.
Though the Brewers were expected to be contenders in preseason predictions, few could have foreseen how the season would unfold. Now, with David Stearns and Counsell gone, and Arnold and Murphy in charge, the Brewers have solidified their dominance in the NL Central.
As Wade Miley noted earlier in the season, this division feels like it belongs to the Brewers. Winning it back-to-back for the first time, despite so many changes, solidifies that claim. From top to bottom, this organization continues to outshine its competition. Now, with October approaching, the Brewers have a chance to further enhance their national reputation.
