Who’s On Third? The Brewers Don’t Know Yet.

For the time being, the Milwaukee Brewers’ infield situation plays out like an Abbot and Costello routine.

The departure of Willy Adames in free agency left a glaring hole on the left side of Milwaukee’s infield and while there are no shortage of capable replacements, the two front-runners for the job — Brice Turang and Joey Ortiz — have established themselves at other positions, with the former earning Platinum Glove honors as baseball’s best defensive second baseman a year ago and the latter looking like a natural at the hot corner in his first full big-league season.

So, what’s manager Pat Murphys plan?

“We’ll know something soon,” Murphy said after the Brewers’ 12-5 victory over the Royals Thursday at American Family Fields of Phoenix.

Both Turang and Ortiz were drafted and came up through the minor leagues as shortstops and both were lauded along the way for their ability to play the position but Adames’ presence there forced both players to different positions.

Turang was first, making the Opening Day roster in 2023 as Milwaukee’s starting second baseman where he quickly adapted to and excelled at his new spot.

Ortiz arrived a year later along with left-hander DL Hall in a trade that sent Corbin Burnes to Baltimore. A highly-touted shortstop prospect who was blocked at the big-league level by the likes of former top overall prospect Jackson Holliday, Gunner Henderson and Jordan Westburg, Ortiz was eyed at the time as a potential replacement for Adames.

But with a lack of available options and an early-season injury to Oliver Dunn, Ortiz found himself thrust into the mix at third. Despite making just 16 appearances there in the minor leagues, Ortiz looked like a natural and played himself into Gold Glove consideration.

Still, he’s the most likely to make the shift if only because the Brewers’ infield depth options — Dunn, Andrew Monasterio and recently-acquired Caleb Durbin– might be better suited to platoon at third.

The team also maintains faith in prospect Tyler Black’s ability to man the position and non-roster invitee Vinny Capra played his way into the conversation with three home runs so far this spring.

“The third (player) in that (group) might be the most important,” Murphy said. “Whoever that third (person) is … it might come down to ‘what’s the best position for them.’”

Murphy said at the start of Cactus League play that he planned to give both Ortiz and Turang time at short during the exhibition season and that’s been the case through the first seven games.

Ortiz has started three games at short and one at third while Turang has made two at second and two more at shortstop. Durbin has made four starts – two at third and two at second – while Capra has made one start at shortstop and third.

How it all shakes out remains to be seen but one thing Murphy is certain of, however, is a preference to keep whichever player does get moved in that spot as opposed to mixing and matching throughout the year.

“I don’t think you’ll get to where all three positions are our best possible choice but I think we’ll have a good combination,” Murphy said.

With a month left

“We’ll know something soon,” Murphy said.