Brewers' Biggest Winners and Losers After First Week of 2026 Season

It's been a week of highs, but not everyone is thriving

Apr 1, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Joey Ortiz (3) runs to third base against the Tampa Bay Rays in the eighth inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images | Michael McLoone-Imagn Images

Who has been driving the bus for the 5-1 Milwaukee Brewers, one week into the marathon that will be the 2026 Major League Baseball season?

Clearly, the Brewers have been successful in this small sample, and a lot of players on the roster have to be classified as winners so far. But a few have risen to the top, and not everyone is shining just yet.

We'll exclude those who the Brewers are missing in action, namely Jackson Chourio and Andrew Vaughn. The only losers here are those who have had the chance to get things done and haven't come through -- and there frankly aren't too many of those.

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Winner: Brice Turang

Apr 1, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang (2) rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the Tampa Bay Rays in the third inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images | Michael McLoone-Imagn Images

It feels silly to call Turang "underrated" when he has a Platinum Glove and a Team USA appearance to his name, but if he keeps up his current pace, he'll be in the conversation for "Best Second Baseman in the World" honors.

With a 1.227 OPS and a major league-best 0.8 bWAR through six games, Turang is sending hints that the world still hasn't seen the very best of him after back-to-back great seasons.

Loser: Luis Rengifo

Mar 30, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Luis Rengifo (13) reaches first base on a fielder’s choice during the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images | Mark Hoffman/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

Rengifo is one of only two Brewers position players with negative bWAR so far, and his 2-for-13 batting line isn't going to help him win or keep a starting job. The saving grace is that David Hamilton also hasn't been very good at the plate, but unlike Hamilton, Rengifo doesn't have game-changing speed.

Winner: Gary Sánchez

Yes, we're only talking about six at-bats here. But when two of those were home runs, we've got to give Sánchez credit for making an elite first impression in his second stint as a Brewer.

If Sánchez can be a reliable lefty-masher and play a little first base here and there, he'll be more than worth the minuscule $1.5 million guarantee the Brewers gave him.

Loser: Brandon Sproat

Mar 29, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Brandon Sproat (23) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

Now we're just nitpicking, because judging a pitcher on one start, especially his first with a new team and the fifth of his major league career, feels premature and mean. But Sproat got shelled by the Chicago White Sox, and has given up more than double the earned runs (seven) of any other pitcher on the staff thus far.

Winner: The entire bullpen

Mar 31, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Abner Uribe (45) delivers a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays in the eighth inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images | Michael McLoone-Imagn Images

Brewers relievers have given up three runs (yes, THREE) in 25 2/3 innings of work so far this season. Counting on them to keep up that torrid pace is aggressive, but it's clear that Pat Murphy has a plethora of weapons to unleash at any given time, and whoever takes the mound is probably going to rack up strikeouts.