Steward Berroa: Rising Minor-League Sensation Turning MLB Scouts’ Heads

Los Angeles — In a swift roster shake-up Wednesday afternoon, the Los Angeles Dodgers sent switch-hitting outfielder Steward Berroa to the Milwaukee Brewers for cash considerations, marking the 26-year-old Dominican’s second trade in barely two months and opening a fresh chapter for one of baseball’s most dynamic speed threats. Berroa, who made his MLB debut with the Toronto Blue Jays in June 2024, now joins a Brewers club hungry for outfield depth and top-of-the-order quickness after a flurry of early-season injuries. Milwaukee officials believe the Santo Domingo native can provide immediate insurance behind Christian Yelich while also igniting the basepaths in a division race already tightening by mid-July. Why Milwaukee pounced • Elite speed: Berroa ranked in the 95th percentile in sprint speed during his short 2024 stint, swiping six bags in just 28 games. • Switch-hitting flexibility: Manager Pat Murphy gains a late-inning weapon who can attack lefties (.312 OBP versus LHP in Triple-A) and pinch-run without burning a platoon spot. • Minor-league option: Because Berroa still has one minor-league option, Milwaukee can shuttle him between Nashville and the big-league roster, a key advantage as the Brewers juggle innings limits and IL returns. Dodgers’ logic For L.A., the deal clears a 40-man roster spot ahead of this weekend’s return of Jason Heyward and provides modest financial relief. The Dodgers acquired Berroa from Toronto on May 12 only to keep him at Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he hit .261/.358/.391 with 11 steals in 27 games but remained blocked by a crowded outfield headlined by Mookie Betts, Teoscar Hernández and Andy Pages. Scouting snapshot Height/Weight: 5-9, 178 lbs Bats/Throws: Switch/Right Tools grades (20-80): Speed 70, Arm 55, Defense 50, Hit 40, Power 35 Berroa’s compact frame belies plus arm strength that plays in right field and an aggressive first step that routinely turns singles into doubles. Scouts still question his swing decisions—he struck out 31.8 percent of the time last season—but Milwaukee’s hitting group has a track record of squeezing on-base value from raw athletes (see: Sal Frelick, Brice Turang). Contract status & service time Berroa remains pre-arbitration with five years of club control, costing Milwaukee only the league minimum in 2025. If he exceeds 72 MLB days this season he’ll be arbitration-eligible after 2027; otherwise the clock could push a year, giving the Brewers even more roster flexibility. What’s next • Expect a quick call-up: Milwaukee optioned utility man Owen Miller after Tuesday’s game, signaling a vacancy that Berroa could fill as soon as Thursday’s opener versus Cincinnati. • Potential leadoff audition: With rookie Jackson Chourio slumping (.211 OBP since June 1), Murphy hinted postgame that “a fresh spark up top wouldn’t hurt,” nudging Berroa into immediate lineup speculation. • Fantasy impact: Deep-league managers chasing steals should track Berroa; the Brewers rank top-5 in MLB stolen-base attempts and give their runners ample green lights. Bottom line Steward Berroa has traveled from Toronto to Los Angeles to Milwaukee in a whirlwind 60-day span, but his blazing wheels and defensive versatility make him more than a roster placeholder. If the Brewers can unlock even league-average on-base skills, the National League Central just gained another nightly highlight reel.