The Brewers season looked very different on the morning of May 22. At the time, the team had dropped six of seven, owned a losing record (21-23), and trailed by four games as a third-place team in the NL Central.

Now, nearly three months later, the Brewers sit 22 games above .500 with a seven-game lead in the division. 

If you ask around the Brewers clubhouse, it’s no coincidence that things changed on May 22 – the day Willy Adames debuted for Milwaukee. The 25-year-old shortstop has been a sparkplug since being acquired from the Rays, leading the Crew with a red-hot bat and an electric personality.

Here are some of the key stats behind Adames’ rise to stardom.

Explosive Offense

The Brewers knew they were getting a top-notch defensive shortstop in Adames. But he’s made even more of an impact at the plate since joining the Crew.

In 69 games with the Brewers, Adames has posted elite numbers – a .298 average, a .947 OPS, and 46 RBI. Perhaps most impressively, he’s unlocked his power stroke.

Entering Wednesday's action, Adames boasts a .565 slugging percentage with the Crew – compared to a .420 slugging in 332 career games with Tampa Bay. Since the trade, Adames ranks first in the NL in extra-base hits (36), first in total bases (144), seventh in homers (16), and seventh in slugging (.565).

While it’s a small sample size, Adames’ splits reveal that his power surge may be sustainable – as long as he plays away from Tropicana Field. Adames boasts a .903 OPS in 194 career away games, a significant upgrade over his .616 OPS at his former home stadium.  

Now playing in a hitter’s park in Milwaukee, look for Adames to keep compiling big numbers at the dish.

A “Winning” Player

It can be tricky to attribute team success to a single player. But there’s no doubt the Adames acquisition made a significant impact on the Crew’s wins and losses. 

Since his Brewers debut, the team sports a 47-23 record – the best in the baseball. In fact, the Brewers won 13 of their first 16 games upon Adames’ arrival to Milwaukee – a sign of his immediate contribution to the roster.

By many metrics, Adames ranks as one of the most “winning” players in baseball. According to Fangraphs, he’s first in the NL in Wins Above Replacement (3.4) – factoring in both offense and defense -- and third in Win Probability Added (2.82) since May 22. 

If Adames can sustain his top-tier production, expect the Crew to keep racking up victories.

Coming Up Clutch

No Brewers hitter has been more clutch than Adames this season.

In 86 high-leverage plate appearances this season (late in close games or with runners in scoring position), Adames’ numbers are otherworldly – a .395 batting average, a 1.183 OPS, six home runs, and 27 RBI. Additionally, he boasts a .994 OPS in innings 7-9 this year.

Adames also ranks as one of the top clutch players league wide. According to Fangraphs, the shortstop ranks second in the National League with a 1.46 Clutch Score (measuring effectiveness in clutch situations) since his arrival to Milwaukee.

Those clutch numbers have helped translate to wins. This year, the Brewers have a 17-12 record in one-run games – the third best winning percentage in the National League. Chalk some of that success up to Adames’ timely hitting and clutch play.