The Freddy Peralta Appreciation Post

    On January 21, 2026, Milwaukee Brewers fans got the inevitable, but nonetheless disappointing, news that ace Starting Pitcher Freddy Peralta had been traded for a pair of major league prospects.  We call this news inevitable because the Crew has a penchant for trading great players with a single season left of club control.

    We call this disappointing because Fastball Freddy, an absolute fixture in a Milwaukee Brewer jersey, ended his nearly eight year journey with the only big league club he had ever suited up for.  It's time to look back on Freddy's career in Milwaukee and recognize what was - it's time for the Freddy Peralta appreciation post.

    It all started on the road, in Denver, CO, of all places.  On a Sunday in May 2018, a 21-year-old Peralta made his first career start facing the Colorado Rockies.  As far as first impressions go, it was a pretty good one.  Facing a lineup that featured prime Nolan Arenado, Charlie Blackmon, D.J. LeMehieu, and Trevor Story; Fastball Freddy stole the show.    

    The line was impressive, and a sign of big things to come.  In 5.2 innings, he struckout 13 batters against only two walks, allowing zero runs.  The Brewers would win the game 7-3.

    This start launched a career that compiled some of the highest career numbers from a Milwaukee pitcher in the last thirty years.  A lower ERA than Ben Sheets and Yovani Gallardo, more strikeouts and less hits per nine innings than anyone else in Brewer history.  Third all-time in strikeouts in franchise history.

    Fast forward to the 2025 season, when a magical Brewers run included a stretch of 29 consecutive scoreless innings from Freddy.

    

    A career dossier that reads of consistency, reliability, and just pure stuff.  When Freddy was on, he was nearly untouchable.  While he may not have been the guy you could count on seven or eight innings from, he was always that guys that gave his all in every inning he pitched.  If he got touched up early, he stuck it through as long as Pat Murphy or Craig Counsell would let him.

    It's hard to pinpoint exactly what made Freddy the kind of pitcher that Milwaukee could appreciate.  Perhaps it was his enjoyment of the game, his growth as a pitcher from year one to year eight, or maybe watching this 21-year-old strikeout machine develop into a staff ace.  But Freddy was the man. 

 

    Before Corbin Burnes found his cutter, Freddy was there.  When Brandon Woodruff was hurt, Freddy was there.  Just last season, when Milwaukee opened the year with a patchwork starting rotation - guess what:  Freddy was there.

    So raise a glass Brewer fans, and toast the last eight years of Brewer baseball.  Because you know what?  Freddy was there, and he will be missed. Cheers.