It is almost time for Spring Training to commence, and with it, I will be concluding the position previews for the Milwaukee Brewers ahead of pitchers and catchers reporting on Feb. 12.

I have taken the time to preview the depth at each position for the Brewers heading into the 2026 season, and all that remains is designated hitter. Let’s get started.

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Christian Yelich: After appearing in just 73 games during the 2024 season, workload management for chronic back issues relegated Yelich to the role of DH for most of the 2025 season. Out of the 150 games Yelich played last season, 130 came at designated hitter, the most across his decade-plus long career.

The move paid off for Yelich as he hit .264 with 29 home runs in his age 33 season. Yelich’s prime is behind him, and with a crowded outfield, his best days ahead of him may come primarily at the plate, but after producing a dismal slash line through nine postseason games last season (.182, .289, .212), Yelich will need to improve in big moments in 2026.

William Contreras: Contreras spent most of his time behind the plate as a backstop for the Brewers in 2025, but he did log 22 games at designated hitter. Despite hitting .260 with 17 home runs overall, Conteras’s numbers at DH were slightly less productive.

In 84 at-bats at the position, Contreras hit .238 with four home runs and a .752 OPS. Meanwhile, when playing catcher, he hit .264 with a .756 OPS. Going into 2026, it will be interesting to see if Contreras can improve when only at the plate instead of behind it.

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Jake Bauers: Bauers only played in 85 games in 2025, largely due to injury struggles with his left shoulder, and while most of his limited time came at first base or left field, he did hit .313 in with two home runs in 16 DH at-bats. It is a very small sample size, but it shows Bauers can play there when needed.

Andrew Vaughn: Upon arriving in Milwaukee from the Chicago White Sox via trade in June, Vaughn’s numbers at the plate jumped significantly. He went from hitting .189 with a .531 OPS through 48 games with the White Sox to .308 with an .869 OPS in 64 games with the Brewers.

Vaughn’s struggles in Chicago included a brutal stretch of 17 games at designated hitter, but maybe a change of scenery was all he needed to become productive at the plate.

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