Milwaukee Brewers reliever Jared Koenig, a 31-year-old Aptos native, has enjoyed an eventful, productive and successful season.

The 6-foot-5, 248-pound left-hander shined while making a career-high 72 appearances during the regular season. He posted a 6-1 record, with 27 holds and two saves, and finished with a 2.86 ERA and 1.17 WHIP, both above average totals. He didn’t allow a run the entire month of September.

Along the way, he helped the Brewers (97-65) win a franchise record 14 straight games, claim their third straight National League Central Division crown, and post the best record in MLB. In doing so, the small-market franchise outperformed some of its large-market foes, like the Dodgers, Yankees, Mets, and Phillies, despite operating with roughly one-third of their payrolls.

Oh, and he and his wife, Samantha, enjoyed their midseason marriage in Santa Barbara during the All-Star Break. Their honeymoon to Antigua and Saint Lucia is forthcoming.

First, there’s some unfinished business — like 57 years in the making. He wants to help the Brewers, the No. 1 seed in the NL playoffs, win their first World Series.

“I think it would be really cool to have a team that hasn’t won it before win it,” Koenig said. “I think that would be good for baseball. And, for us, fantastic. It would be great for Milwaukee. The city deserves it; they’re great fans, give great support. I think it would be really cool.”

The Brewers are already one step closer to their goal than a year ago, when they secured the No. 3 seed but were ousted by the No. 6 Mets in the wild-card series.

The Brewers open the NL Division Series against the wild-card series winner between the No. 4 Chicago Cubs and No. 5 San Diego Padres on Saturday in Milwaukee.

“Obviously, it’s one less stressful thing, because we didn’t have to play a three-game wild card,” Koenig said. “That’s, obviously, a positive. We guarantee ourselves a five-game series, which is nice. Other than that, I think the stress is pretty constant. You’re trying to do your very best and do everything in your power to be better for the team.”

Eleven total wins — spanning three series — stand between the Brewers and MLB history.

Win or lose, Koenig knows he has accomplished a lot. He didn’t wait until season’s end to take inventory. He often reflects on his long, winding uphill road and vows to keep working to ensure that he doesn’t regress. Each summer, he returns to his old stomping grounds to train.

“I think I kinda do that reflecting often; I don’t think its just end of season,” he said. “I think I’m doing that pretty regularly, because of where I was at and how difficult it was in terms of everything. So there’s a lot of promise with everything and positivity that comes with what’s happened.”

The Aptos High alum, seemingly, bounced around more four-year schools than College GameDay, played independent ball after exhausting his eligibility, and, traveled halfway around the globe, to Australia, in an attempt to open pro scouts’ eyes.

He got a shot with the Oakland A’s and spent two seasons in the minors before making his big-league debut in 2022. He was nontendered following the season, though, and after signing a minor-league deal with the San Diego Padres, spent the ’23 season in Double-A and Triple-A. He elected free agency and signed a minor-league deal with Milwaukee on Nov. 10, 2023. His success and stock have risen ever since.

He’s in a good spot. In a good clubhouse, too. Earlier this year, he and several of his teammates took advantage of an off day, not by going their own direction, but staying together, goose hunting in Wisconsin. They had a field day.

“It’s nice. The teams have been fun,” said Koenig, of his two seasons in Milwaukee. “When we play together, we enjoy it. We’re there for everyone. It’s kinda what you hope and dream of when you play baseball.

“Obviously, we as a team, and everyone individually wants to make it the ultimate goal and finish out on top. And, hopefully, we’re able to accomplish that.”