All the details you need to know about the new team that first baseman Luke Voit has signed for the upcoming 2023 MLB season.
Luke Voit, a free-agent first baseman, and the Milwaukee Brewers have agreed on a minor league contract. Voit was an incredible juggernaut in the center of the Yankees’ lineup for at least two and a half seasons, hitting a combined.279/.372/.543 with 57 home runs, 31 doubles, and an 11.5% walk rate (although he had a more problematic 26.3% strikeout rate). T
Their production occurred over the course of 892 plate appearances and included a Major League Baseball-leading 22 home runs during the abbreviated 2020 season. But, the previous two years have been a living nightmare for the slugger, and this is largely owing to the fact that he has been dealing with health issues.
After suffering a torn meniscus in his left knee during the 2021 spring training season, Voit started the 2021 season on the injured final roster spot. Due to the injury, he was sidelined until the middle of May and underwent surgery; nonetheless, his return to action was short-lived. Voit had a Grade 2 oblique strain just two weeks after returning to the field of play.
Nonetheless, despite the fact that even Grade 1 oblique strains can sometimes result in absences of up to one month, Voit was back on the field in under one month’s time. In a similar fashion, this return from the IL was condensed in its overall length.
Luke Voit was part of the Juan Soto blockbuster trade
Only a few days before the start of the 2022 season, the Yankees sent Voit to the Padres in exchange for the right-handed pitcher Justin Lange. Before being sent to the Nationals in exchange for Juan Soto in a blockbuster deal, Voit had 344 at-bats with the Padres and posted a batting line of.225/.317/.416.
Voit’s output dropped off significantly once he was traded to Washington, as shown by his.228/.295/.381 slash line in the final two months of the season. Following the conclusion of the season, Washington chose not to grant him an increase in his previous salary of $5.45 million by not tendering him a contract.
Voit will seek to get back on track with the Brewers in a more hitter-friendly setting than the one he played in during the 2022 season, provided, of course, that he makes the team. If he does make the club, the Brewers will provide a more hitter-friendly environment.
The Brewers already have Rowdy Tellez playing first base for them, and it’s possible that outfielder Jesse Winker will get some time as a designated hitter. This will depend on how the rest of the Brewers’ outfielders perform. Christian Yelich is firmly established in left field (and is looking for his own rebound), while Garrett Mitchell and Tyrone Taylor appear to be in the running to man the positions in center field and right field respectively.
In order for Voit to achieve success with the Brewers, he will first and foremost need to reduce his strikeout rate, which has been trending in the wrong direction ever since that season in 2021 that was cut short due to injury. A far cry from the 26.3% clip at which he punched out during his Yankees peak and an even farther cry from his career-best 23.1% during that standout 2020 campaign, Voit has struck out in 31.3% of his plate appearances over the past two seasons. This is a far cry from his career-best 23.1% during that standout 2020 campaign.
Voit continues to make hard contact at a very strong clip (44.6% over the past two seasons, according to Statcast), and he barrels the ball at a rate that is elite (15%); yet, his ability to create loud contact has been undermined by his increase in whiffing completely. Hopefully, he will be able to get back in form with the Brewers who desperately need firepower.
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