Trevor Megill, the Milwaukee Brewers' dominant closer, is heading to the All-Star Game, and it appears it was always part of his plan, one way or another. Following a thrilling 3-2 victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Megill revealed his determination to be in Atlanta for the annual midsummer classic, even before receiving the official nod.
"This was No. 1 for me this year," Megill stated. "This is what I was striving for. A lot of hard work, a lot of pitchers in front of me, putting it down and giving me the opportunities to go out there and get saves. Without the guys around me, this wouldn't be possible."
Megill's All-Star selection comes after a stellar first half of the season, highlighted by his crucial performance against the Dodgers. In the 10th inning, he faced the heart of the Dodgers' lineup, striking out Freddie Freeman, Andy Pages, and Tommy Edman in succession. This dominant display paved the way for Jackson Chourio's walk-off single, securing a historic home sweep for the Brewers – their first ever against the Dodgers.
At the time of his selection, Megill boasted a 2-0 record with 21 saves, placing him second in the National League in that category. He also sported an impressive 2.41 ERA and 43 strikeouts in just under 34 innings pitched.
Megill's journey to All-Star status is a testament to his perseverance and growth. His early career saw him struggle with consistency, posting an 8.37 ERA with the Chicago Cubs in 2021 and a 4.80 ERA with the Minnesota Twins in 2022.
The Brewers acquired Megill in 2023 from the Twins in exchange for cash considerations and a player to be named later, who turned out to be minor-league pitcher Taylor Floyd. Since joining Milwaukee, Megill has transformed into one of the league's most reliable closers.
Megill credits the Brewers' coaching staff and organizational philosophy for his success. "Trusting (pitching coach Chris) Hook and Jim (Henderson, assistant pitching coach) and (manager Pat) Murphy and (general manager Matt) Arnold and everybody," Megill said. "It's just a very mature organization. You put a gameplan together with them, and they trust you to go out there and execute it. They don't get lost too much in the analytics and what not. Just go out there and get the zeroes, and I feel the confidence coming from up top."
Megill is replacing his teammate, Freddy Peralta, on the National League All-Star roster. Peralta is scheduled to pitch for the Brewers close to the All-Star Game, making him ineligible to participate in the exhibition contest.
"Five years in the league now, you see it every year, guys can't throw (in the All-Star Game for various reasons)," Megill noted. "There's always that chance later in the week to sneak in, so I just had to take it slow and play patience a little bit."
Megill's selection continues a remarkable trend for the Brewers, marking the third consecutive year that their closer has been named an All-Star. He follows in the footsteps of Josh Hader (now with the Houston Astros) and Devin Williams. Megill stepped up significantly in 2024, recording 21 saves during the first half of the season while Williams was sidelined with back fractures.
"I learned a lot last year from one of the best closers in the game, and just kind of took it to [this year] and tried to keep the camaraderie and everything great down there (in the bullpen," Megill said. "They've been great to me down in the bullpen."
His dominant 10th inning against the Dodgers served as a perfect example of his high-leverage capabilities. "That's leverage right there," he said. "That's what we all as bullpen arms strive to come out on top of. To be able to do that this week, it was awesome."
- All-Star Nod: Trevor Megill selected for the All-Star Game.
- Stellar Performance: Dominant outing against the Dodgers, striking out three in the 10th.
- Season Stats: 2-0 record, 21 saves, 2.41 ERA.
- Team Impact: Helped secure a historic sweep against Los Angeles.
- Replacement: Replacing teammate Freddy Peralta on the All-Star roster.
- Organizational Support: Credits Brewers' coaching staff and team philosophy for his success.
- Continued Tradition: Third consecutive Brewers closer named an All-Star.
Post a Comment for "Megill to Star in Peralta's Place"