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 gifted. 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 wherever and can as a substitute try to make a Brewers group in want of some offensive pop.

Voit is an effective hitter. His current observe document would possibly paint him as common, however accidents have restricted his efficiency in consecutive years. Although final season wasn’t practically 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 practical to imagine good well being from Voit, if he can maintain even semi-consistent well being, he could 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 nearly each recreation. Tellez carried out nicely final yr 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 seemingly transfer between the outfield and designated hitter (and doubtless 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 will likely be restricted. Regardless of this, Winker and Tellez are each left-handed, leaving some room for Voit to get respectable 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 nicely, 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 respectable positional flexibility, he’s seemingly essentially 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 utterly 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 believe 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 massive league efficiency that he can look again to as a blueprint. Listed here are his swing charges in several areas of the strike zone since 2018:

There won’t be any obvious variations, however the one I discover essentially the most attention-grabbing is Voit’s shadow zone swing charge in his first two seasons. He’s a particularly aggressive hitter; his swing charge within the coronary heart of the zone is at all times 10 or so proportion factors above league common. No one ought to attempt to change that, however his shadow zone swing charge has moved from common to above common by nearly 10 proportion factors because the years have gone on. That isn’t conducive for him to get to the perfect model of himself. His hitting fashion is all about rhythm, as he makes use of what I name a leg hover as a substitute of the standard leg kick or toe faucet. If his leg hover timing is out of whack and he’s swinging at a a lot greater charge on the sides of the strike zone, then he’s prone to induce extra mis-hits.

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

On prime of Voit having the very best Below% of his profession, he’s hitting extra fly balls than ever. So what does that find yourself wanting like general? Extra can of corn fly balls. That’s not preferrred for a hitter who wants his fly balls to transform into doubles and residential runs. That stated, American Household Subject is a top-10 park for house runs. It’s doable this profile will likely be extra giving to Voit, however both manner, he ought to attempt for staying away from pitches he can’t get his barrel to.

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