On Wednesday, June 25th, all eyes will be on one mound in the National League Central. The matchup between Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski and Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes will be must-see TV. It’s the most anticipated duel of young aces since the epic clashes of Pedro Martinez and Roger Clemens. But before that, Misiorowski has offered a shockingly candid admission of his own debut.
Despite his overpowering talent, Misiorowski expected the worst when he first took a major league mound. In a recent interview with Foul Territory, he confessed that he thought he was going to get hit around by big-league hitters.
When asked how his vision of the majors differed from reality, he was refreshingly honest. “I mean, I don’t think I would…I thought I’d allow more hits,” Misiorowski admitted. “You know, I thought I’d get hit around my first game and then kind of figure out and settle.”
Jacob Misiorowski thought he was going to get hit around in his MLB debut. pic.twitter.com/QQlsyYyjR3
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) June 23, 2025
But what Misiorowski assumed would occur and what actually happened were two entirely different stories. Instead of getting hit around, he created history. In his first two starts, the rookie was nearly untouchable, establishing a modern-era record by beginning his career with 11 straight innings without allowing a hit. He put up a 2-0 record, a fantastic 1.64 ERA, and a minuscule 0.55 WHIP.
Misiorowski threw five no-hit innings in his first appearance, against the Cardinals. In his second start, he carried a perfect game into the seventh inning against the Twins, a dominant outing that showed his excellence. That domination came via a truly elite arsenal of pitches that had scouts buzzing for years.
Standing at a towering 6-foot-7, Misiorowski was a second-round pick in 2022, signed for a large bonus. He has an 80-grade fastball that often touches the high 90s and can even cross the 100 mph mark at times. Add to that a devastating, 70-grade wipeout slider that has been clocked as high as 97 mph. This electric stuff is why he quickly became a consensus top-30 prospect in all of baseball.
It’s that game-changing value that emboldened the Brewers’ front office to pull off a major roster move right after he arrived. That directly led to veteran right-hander Aaron Civale being moved out of the rotation and into the bullpen on June 12. Civale was so upset by the demotion that he asked for a trade. The Brewers just as promptly traded him to the White Sox for first baseman Andrew Vaughn to make the rookie’s place in the rotation permanent.
Misiorowski’s arrival has been a jolt of energy, but he isn’t the only rookie powering Milwaukee’s success this season. The team’s remarkable run has been fueled by several other key players.
Youth powering Brewers’ movement
The most pleasant surprise has been the breakthrough of outfielder Isaac Collins. The 27-year-old was chosen in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 Draft and emerged as one of the team’s top all-around performers.
He tops all qualified Brewers with a 115 wRC+, meaning he creates 15% more runs than a league-average player. Collins also boasts a .357 OBP and contributes excellent defense in left field, giving the team stellar value from an unexpected source.
Fellow rookie Chad Patrick has been a stabilizing force in the rotation. The righty has delivered a quality 3.50 ERA across nearly 80 innings of work. And the consistency has been impressive: He has never given up more than three runs in any of his 13 starts. His consistent steadiness has been invaluable for a rotation that has needed reliable arms, and he now ranks as the top National League rookie pitcher in Wins Above Replacement, slowly constructing a nice season of his own.
This infusion of young, energetic talent has defined the Brewers’ success in 2025. The club is currently 43-35 on the season, second in the NL Central, and in a pretty solid Wild Card spot. They’ve created an identity built on speed and athleticism, ranking second in the majors with 96 stolen bases.
The Brewers might not have a megastar, but this exciting crop of youngsters has provided them the spark and stability to compete with the best in the league.
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