Brewers FeedDavid Hamilton
3B · Age 29 · Bats Left
Where things stand
David Hamilton hit a crucial solo home run off Dodgers closer Edwin Díaz in the ninth inning of Game 4 of the 2026 NLCS, providing insurance runs in Milwaukee's sweep that sent the Brewers to their first World Series appearance in 44 years. Hamilton, acquired from Boston in February, had hit only four home runs during the regular season but connected at a pivotal moment after manager Pat Murphy's strategic approach earlier in the game had set up the at-bat. The third baseman's power display came as a surprise to the Dodgers, who had underestimated his ability to drive the ball.
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How Dodgers' underestimation of Brewers' David Hamilton led to key insurance run in Game 4
The Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 4 of the 2026 NLCS, with David Hamilton hitting a solo home run off closer Edwin Díaz in the ninth inning to provide insurance runs. Hamilton, who hit only four home runs during the regular season after being acquired from Boston in February, connected off Díaz to extend Milwaukee's lead in what became a sweep. Brewers manager Pat Murphy had employed a strategic approach earlier in the game, instructing Hamilton to attempt a bunt to make opposing pitchers more aggressive, knowing that Hamilton led the league in bunt hits and that the pitcher would want to attack rather than walk him ahead of dangerous hitter Jackson Chourio. The Dodgers' underestimation of Hamilton's power, combined with Murphy's confidence in his third baseman, contributed to the decisive ninth-inning blast that helped send the Brewers to their first World Series appearance in 44 years.
Reviewing the BrewTwo Pitchers Elect Minor League Free Agency
Ian Hamilton and Rob Zastryzny have elected minor league free agency after being outrighted by the Braves and Brewers respectively. Hamilton, 31, appeared in just four games for Atlanta this season while posting a 2.79 ERA at Triple-A Gwinnett, and carries a career 3.72 ERA across 155 major league innings with the Yankees, White Sox, Twins, and Braves. Zastryzny, 34, was limited to 11 minor league innings in 2025 due to a trapezius strain that sidelined him from major league action and caused his fastball velocity to drop from 92 mph to 90 mph.
MLB Trade RumorsPat Murphy's Game 3 batting order tweak changes Jackson Chourio's lineup protection
Manager Pat Murphy restructured the Milwaukee Brewers' batting order for Game 3 of their NLDS against San Diego, moving Jake Bauers to the two-hole, William Contreras to third, and Brice Turang to cleanup—a lineup combination the team never used during the regular season. The change addresses opposing pitchers' focus on Jackson Chourio by providing him different protection, as Turang went hitless in the first two games despite batting directly behind Chourio in both contests. Joey Ortiz replaces David Hamilton at third base, while Dustin May starts for the Brewers against Padres right-hander Nick Pivetta in Milwaukee's first road playoff game.
Reviewing the BrewUncharacteristic defense leads to characteristic Brewers comeback in Game 2 of NLDS
The Milwaukee Brewers overcame uncharacteristic defensive lapses to defeat the San Diego Padres in Game 2 of the NLDS. Three infield errors by Brice Turang, Cooper Pratt, and David Hamilton allowed two unearned runs and put the Brewers behind entering the ninth inning. Jackson Chourio delivered the game-winning play in a bottom-of-the-ninth rally that featured walks from Christian Yelich, Sal Frelick, and Gary Sánchez to load the bases with two outs.
Reviewing the BrewJackson Chourio delivers the heroics in walk-off Brewers win in Game 2
Jackson Chourio hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning with the bases loaded to give the Brewers a 2-1 victory over the Padres in Game 2 of the NLDS, extending Milwaukee's series lead to 2-0. The Brewers trailed 3-1 entering the ninth before Yelich's walk and stolen base, followed by walks to Frelick and Sanchez, set up Chourio's game-winning hit up the middle. The Brewers' defense struggled throughout the game with errors by Turang, Hamilton, and Pratt, but Milwaukee overcame a strong performance by Padres starter Michael King, who retired the first 14 batters he faced.
Brew Crew BallLIVE: Hamilton makes unreal over-the-shoulder catch (FS1/FOX One)
MLB.com BrewersBrewers’ Joey Ortiz Undergoes MRI
Third baseman Joey Ortiz underwent an MRI after leaving Friday's game with a right knee bruise, and the results came back normal according to manager Pat Murphy. Ortiz has abdominal swelling and has dealt with oblique and groin issues, but should be ready for the Division Series beginning October 3rd. He will sit out tomorrow's regular season finale as a precaution. David Hamilton moved to third base in Ortiz's absence and went 1-for-3 with a double in today's 3-2 win over the Cardinals.
MLB Trade Rumors8 players you forgot contributed to the Brewers' record-breaking 2026 season
The 2026 Milwaukee Brewers set a franchise record with 98 wins before the season ended, surpassing last year's 97-win total with six games remaining. Manager Pat Murphy acknowledged that 58 players contributed to the team's success throughout the season, not just those on the current roster. Second baseman Braden Shewmake, acquired from Houston in early July to fill in for injured David Hamilton, appeared in four games for Milwaukee before being designated for assignment, recording a double and an RBI against Miami on July 18. The Brewers are pursuing the top overall playoff seed for the second consecutive year.
Reviewing the BrewKyle Harrison gets roughed up again, Brewers lose series finale in Pittsburgh, 7-4
Kyle Harrison lasted just 1 2/3 innings as the Brewers fell to the Pirates 7-4 in Pittsburgh. Harrison allowed five runs in the second inning after a shaky performance that included two walks and two hit batters, effectively ending any chance he makes the postseason roster. The Brewers scored early with Gary Sánchez, Sal Frelick, and David Hamilton recording singles in the second, but Pittsburgh's five-run outburst in that same inning proved too much to overcome despite Milwaukee chipping away with solo home runs from Bo Naylor and late scoring.
Brew Crew BallJoey Ortiz’s surging offensive production could be the difference for Brewers in October
Joey Ortiz has emerged as a significant offensive contributor for the Brewers since the All-Star break, posting a .954 OPS and 160 wRC+ that rank among the top 10 in baseball. This production marks a dramatic turnaround from his previous struggles at the plate, which prompted the team to move David Hamilton into a utility role to keep Ortiz in the lineup. Historically a poor postseason performer, Ortiz went 0-for-11 in the 2024 Wild Card loss to the Mets and managed only 2-for-19 in last year's playoffs. With the rest of the Brewers' lineup strengthened and no regular starter below a 90 wRC+, Ortiz's continued hot hitting could provide the offensive depth needed to compete in October.
Reviewing the BrewStunning fielding statistic shows Brewers’ once-consistent strength has taken a step back in 2026
The Milwaukee Brewers' historically strong defense has declined in 2026, posting a minus-1 Fielding Run Value, their worst mark since 2021. While individual standouts like Brice Turang and Jackson Chourio have excelled defensively, struggles from Jake Bauers, Andrew Vaughn, and unexpectedly from Sal Frelick and David Hamilton have dragged down the team's overall performance. Despite this defensive slip, the Brewers remain on pace to exceed 100 wins for the first time in franchise history, powered by a more potent offense that has compensated for the fielding weakness.
Reviewing the BrewRollercoaster evaluation of Brewers' Kyle Harrison trade with Red Sox gains new chapter
The Brewers and Red Sox's six-player trade has swung dramatically in evaluation over five months. Milwaukee initially dominated as Kyle Harrison posted a 1.57 ERA in his first 11 starts and David Hamilton got extended playing time, while Caleb Durbin struggled for Boston. However, Durbin heated up in June as Boston went 21-4 in July, and Andruw Monasterio posted a 1.044 OPS over 19 games filling in at shortstop. August reversed the momentum again, with Harrison's ERA rising to 5.01, Hamilton making costly throwing errors, Durbin managing only a .626 OPS over 30 days, and Monasterio posting a .578 OPS in August before returning to a utility role. Shane Drohan has emerged as the deal's only consistently valuable piece for Milwaukee with 114.1 innings pitched.
Reviewing the BrewEarly prediction of the Milwaukee Brewers' 2026 postseason roster
The Milwaukee Brewers have a near-100% chance of reaching the 2026 playoffs for the eighth time in nine years, though manager Pat Murphy emphasizes nothing is guaranteed with an NL Central title, first-round bye, and home-field advantage still available. Brewers fans are already speculating about the October roster, which will shrink to 26 players from the expanded September roster of 28. Teams may include unexpected players based on matchups, such as the Brewers' inclusion of Robert Gasser in last year's NLCS against the Dodgers, and will adjust pitcher counts between 12 and 13 depending on series length. Key roster questions include whether trade deadline acquisition Bo Naylor will make the team as a third catcher and whether David Hamilton will earn postseason starts against right-handed pitchers over Pratt and Ortiz.
Reviewing the BrewPat Murphy: Creating All-Stars by establishing dominance
Pat Murphy has won back-to-back Manager of the Year Awards while leading one of baseball's youngest rosters, establishing a pattern of benching players mid-at-bat to enforce fundamental standards. Murphy's approach includes pulling Sal Frelick and Caleb Durbin in April for defensive mistakes, Brandon Sproat in August for wild pitches, and Cooper Pratt in a recent game against the Mets for failing to execute a bunt and not running out a ball. While these moves have generally earned fan support and appear to improve player performance, the Pratt benching drew criticism when David Hamilton's replacement at third base threw wildly home in the tenth inning, allowing the Mets to win. Murphy maintains that establishing consequences for poor play sets the tone for the entire clubhouse and ensures winning baseball.
Brew Crew BallPat Murphy's benching of Cooper Pratt wasn't real reason Brewers dropped series opener with Mets
The Milwaukee Brewers lost to the New York Mets in extra innings on a throwing error by David Hamilton in the bottom of the 10th. Manager Pat Murphy's mid-game benching of rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt in the fifth inning drew criticism online, but the real issue was the team's poor situational hitting throughout the game. The Brewers squandered multiple scoring opportunities, including a third-inning situation where Pratt grounded into a forceout with runners in scoring position, and leadoff hitters Jackson Chourio and Brice Turang combined to go 0-for-10 with three strikeouts. Without these offensive failures, the game would never have reached extra innings where Hamilton's error decided the outcome.
Reviewing the BrewBrewers have already made the Bo Naylor change we suspected they would after trade deadline
The Milwaukee Brewers emphasize an offensive approach focused on letting the ball travel and reacting to pitch location rather than pulling, ranking last in baseball with a 36% pull rate. Manager Pat Murphy explained that Joey Ortiz's recent uptick in pulling coincides with increased confidence rather than causing his improved performance. Players acquired by the Brewers, such as David Hamilton, have significantly decreased their pull-air rates after joining the team, while pull-oriented hitters like Caleb Durbin and Isaac Collins were traded away after their rookie seasons. Catcher Bo Naylor, acquired from Cleveland at the trade deadline, is already showing early signs of adjusting to Milwaukee's approach of not pulling the ball as frequently.
Reviewing the BrewUnbelievable Joey Ortiz stat makes inconsistent playing time even more perplexing
Joey Ortiz leads all of Major League Baseball with +7 Outs Above Average at third base in 2026, despite playing only 209.1 innings at the position—less than 25% of the playing time of the second-place defender. The Milwaukee Brewers third baseman has also posted a +5 Fielding Run Value, tied for the best mark among third basemen, while hitting at a 180 wRC+ in the second half. With rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt returning to health and David Hamilton also competing for infield spots, manager Pat Murphy faces a roster crunch among three excellent defenders for limited positions.
Reviewing the BrewBrewers' top prospect's second untimely injury challenges organization's infield depth
The Milwaukee Brewers' infield depth has been tested by consecutive hamstring injuries to David Hamilton and Cooper Pratt within a month, forcing the team to shuffle its roster and sign former Pirates utility player Ji Hwan Bae. Top prospect Jett Williams, who was acquired in the Freddy Peralta trade, has been unable to capitalize on these opportunities due to a recurring wrist injury that he re-aggravated during his first at-bat after returning from the injured list on August 8. Williams is heading to Arizona for a specialist evaluation, as he has a history of wrist problems including a 2024 TFCC tear surgery. The Brewers have responded by moving Andrew Vaughn to third base for consecutive starts and using Brice Turang at shortstop situationally.
Reviewing the Brew