Luke Voit Looks To Prove Himself With the Brewers

The Brewers are vying for a playoff spot in 2023, and rightfully so. Regardless of developing quick final season, their roster is sort of proficient. Their playoff odds sit at 57% and their division odds at 37.6%, trailing solely the Cardinals within the latter amongst NL Central squads. They’re led by a powerful beginning rotation, however the offense has at a least a couple of query marks. After buying and selling for a possible bounceback candidate earlier this winter in Jesse Winker, they’re hoping for a similar in Luke Voit, who’s becoming a member of Milwaukee this spring as a non-roster invite. After the worst offensive season in his skilled profession, Voit couldn’t land a assured roster spot anyplace and can as an alternative try to make a Brewers staff in want of some offensive pop.

Voit is an efficient hitter. His latest monitor document would possibly paint him as common, however accidents have restricted his efficiency in consecutive years. Although final season wasn’t almost as productive as any of his years in New York, he nonetheless completed it with a 102 wRC+ in 568 plate appearances. And whereas it’s now not sensible to imagine good well being from Voit, if he can maintain even semi-consistent well being, he may be an offensive increase for the Brew Crew.

Because it stands, the Brewers have a couple of choices who will rotate between first base and designated hitter on a non-permanent foundation, and none have the potential juice that Voit has. Let’s have a look at these choices and the way their ZiPS projection compares with Voit’s:

Assuming well being, Tellez and Winker are the one hitters assured to be within the lineup virtually each recreation. Tellez carried out effectively final 12 months and has the advantageous platoon break up; Milwaukee’s offense is extremely depending on him repeating his 2022 season. Winker is anticipated to be the most efficient of the opposite choices. He’ll possible transfer between the outfield and designated hitter (and possibly spend extra time doing the latter than enjoying the previous), but when he hits something like he did in Cincinnati and as ZiPS expects him to, the at-bats for Voit might be restricted. Regardless of this, Winker and Tellez are each left-handed, leaving some room for Voit to get first rate enjoying time.

That’s the place Hiura and Brosseau come into play. With a profession wRC+ of 65 in opposition to southpaws, the previous is unplayable in opposition to them. Voit has a demonstrated historical past of reverse splits as effectively, however his 110 mark in his profession far exceeds Hiura’s. Then there’s Brosseau, whose bread and butter ability is mashing lefties. With a profession 127 wRC+ in opposition to them and first rate positional flexibility, he’s possible probably the most versatile possibility for Craig Counsell. And whereas Brosseau has solely appeared at first base a dozen or so occasions in his profession, if I’m being fully candid, he’s in all probability extra viable on the place than Voit or Hiura. These two are within the backside decile of fielders in MLB; they’re the place they’re for his or her bats. If their hitting can’t make up for the poor fielding, there isn’t incentive to play them.

I feel that Voit may very well be the one to interrupt out of this pack. In contrast to his competitors in Milwaukee, he already has earlier huge league efficiency that he can look again to as a blueprint. Listed below are his swing charges in several areas of the strike zone since 2018:

There won’t be any evident variations, however the one I discover probably the most attention-grabbing is Voit’s shadow zone swing price in his first two seasons. He’s a particularly aggressive hitter; his swing price within the coronary heart of the zone is all the time 10 or so share factors above league common. No person ought to attempt to change that, however his shadow zone swing price has moved from common to above common by virtually 10 share factors because the years have gone on. That isn’t conducive for him to get to the most effective model of himself. His hitting type is all about rhythm, as he makes use of what I name a leg hover as an alternative of the normal leg kick or toe faucet. If his leg hover timing is out of whack and he’s swinging at a a lot larger price on the perimeters of the strike zone, then he’s more likely to induce extra mis-hits.

On the floor, Voit’s Barrel% has held regular, if not improved, regardless of his down 12 months. However the share of pitches he will get beneath has jumped up considerably:

On prime of Voit having the best Below% of his profession, he’s hitting extra fly balls than ever. So what does that find yourself wanting like total? Extra can of corn fly balls. That’s not very best for a hitter who wants his fly balls to transform into doubles and residential runs. That mentioned, American Household Discipline is a top-10 park for residence runs. It’s potential this profile might be extra giving to Voit, however both method, he ought to try for staying away from pitches he can’t get his barrel to.

Voit might have struggled to discover a assured huge league spot this offseason, however he might have a path to enjoying time in Milwaukee. Whereas the staff’s dedication to him is nearly non-existent, he’s greater than able to convincing the Brewers to provide him a shot if he’s wholesome. They want hitters, and Voit wants a chance. Let’s see the way it performs out.