When a team notches four division titles in five years, you would expect that they have the key positions locked down by long-term options. The Brewers, though, have had different players as their primary starter in center field in each of the last five seasons.

Jackie Bradley Jr., Tyrone Taylor, Joey Wiemer, Blake Perkins, and Jackson Chourio have each been primary starters at the position since Opening Day 2021. That’s a lot of turnover, but there’s been a lot of quality there. Bradley was the only flop, and the Brewers turned him into Hunter Renfroe, and Renfroe became some pitching help. Taylor and Wiemer also were dealt for new assets by the Crew. In each of the last three years, the eventual regular was not the one they planned for: Garrett Mitchell‘s injuries forced them to pivot.

Could yet another player be the primary starter in 2026? In one sense, the Brewers hope so. Chourio starting the bulk of the games in center field was never the plan. While he’s athletically sufficient for center, he fits a bit better as a left fielder, where he spent most of his time in 2024. The move this year was due to a rash of injuries (Mitchell, Perkins) and the limitations on what Christian Yelich can do after undergoing back surgery in 2024.

The organization would like to see Mitchell handle the bulk of the starts in center. In his 141 total games, he’s racked up 3.6 WAR with a 112 OPS+, according to Baseball Reference. Mitchell has 30/30 potential and could be a left-handed version of Carlos Gómez at his 2013-2014 peak. Of course, that hinges on him addressing the holes in his swing, learning to lift the ball, and staying on the field. He hasn’t been exposed enough to test whether he can do the first two; he’s been stunningly unable to check the third and most crucial box.

Perkins was the primary center fielder in 2024 and was a Gold Glove finalist. He missed a lot of 2025 due to an injury suffered in spring training, and he wasn’t his best self even after he returned. Given the nature of that injury and the difficulty of losing his mother during the season, though, he more than deserves a mulligan. It’s just that a mulligan doesn’t mean guaranteed playing time, on a roster this strong.

Chourio has posted two 20/20 seasons to start his major-league career and is seen as the franchise player for the late 2020s and the 2030s. Ideally, perhaps, he’s a corner outfielder, but they could do much worse than having him find his playing time in center again in any of the next few seasons, while his elite speed still covers for some subpar reads on balls off the bat.

Mitchell, Perkins, and Chourio are the best three center fielders on the 40-man roster, but there are now others. Sal Frelick, who’s primarily played right field, is a viable center fielder, and he has a Gold Glove from 2024. His bat’s taken a step up, although he arguably ran out of gas late in the season. Even more than Chourio, his best defensive spot is in a corner, but his bat will never have Chourio’s thunder, so letting him stretch to use his speed and cover center would be fine.

Behind those four, the Brewers have Brandon Lockridge and Steward Berroa, mid-season acquisitions in 2025 due to the injuries that hit the outfield. Akil Baddoo, signed to a deal that grants him a 40-man roster spot (though not a place on the Opening Day roster), played a fair amount in center as a rookie in 2021. He hasn’t spent meaningful time there since 2022, and is strictly an emergency option, but he gives the team even more insurance.

It doesn’t stop there. Minor-league prospect Luis Lara will likely be in Triple-A Nashville, while Braylon Payne will patrol center for High-A Wisconsin. The Brewers could also move prospects like Jesús Made and Luis Peña to center to accommodate other prospects, although at the moment, that seems very unlikely.

In short, center field could be in flux for a long time in Milwaukee, but in this case, it’s a sign of the immense depth and drafting success the team has had. Mitchell or Chourio could seize the gig on a more lasting basis, but that seems unlikely at this juncture.

Who should be in center field for the Brewers in 2026? Let us know in the comments below!