MILWAUKEE -- What a difference a year can make. This time around, the trip from Milwaukee to Los Angeles feels very different. The Brewers are enjoying a 2-0 lead in the National League Championship Series after winning the first two games at home over the Dodgers.
This Milwaukee team certainly looks different from the one that was swept by the Dodgers in this round a year ago. There is more conviction, more confidence, and above all, more experience in how to respond in whatever situations might present themselves at this stage of the postseason.
All of that, of course, is backed by a highly talented club that relies on a total team effort, can play small ball like few others and features a dominant bullpen.
Does that sound familiar?
The Team Venezuela squad that won the World Baseball Classic in March relied on many of those same virtues. Now, several members from the championship Venezuelan club find themselves in the same position with the Brewers.
Jackson Chourio, William Contreras, Antonio Senzatela, Angel Zerpa and field coordinator Néstor Corredor were all part of that championship run at Miami’s loanDepot park earlier this year.
“You look at the playoffs so far for Chourio, Contreras and Senzatela, seeing those guys in this tough environment. ... We came from a World Baseball Classic where the Venezuelan fans filled the stadium in Miami to support us,” Corredor said. “Those were true high-pressure moments. I think that really helped them understand what they’re capable of on a stage that could be considered very challenging. That experience has been key.”
Chourio mentioned at the start of the series that his experiences with Venezuela, and even with the Águilas del Zulia in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League (LVBP), prepared him to perform in big moments. Indeed, he now holds the Brewers’ franchise postseason records for home runs (five) and RBIs (17).
For Latino players, playing winter ball in their home countries can build resilience in high-stakes situations.
It’s no coincidence that Corredor, who managed the Águilas del Zulia in Venezuela, recognizes the value of these experiences for developing players.
“I’ve always said that winter ball is a different kind of baseball; it’s a different mindset where you have to go out to win and learn how to win,” he said. “I’m a big advocate for all these young guys playing winter ball at some point in their lives. Chourio is the best example. I think learning that 'win today' mindset is very beneficial for these young players.”
Beyond those similarities, will Milwaukee share Venezuela’s good fortune in pursuit of its first World Series title -- which would mark the franchise's second appearance in the Fall Classic and its first since 1982? Apparently, it’s a recurring topic in the clubhouse.
“We always joke about it -- there are five or six of us [Venezuelans] here,” Corredor revealed. “It’s a nice experience knowing we can share those memories. And going through these playoffs day by day against elite teams like the Dodgers or San Diego, I think it’s a plus for us. Winning the Classic gave us an extra boost of confidence.”
Added Chourio:
“The teams [Venezuela in the Classic and the Brewers] are very similar in terms of how we can play defense. The pitching is excellent, and both teams were able to do the little things needed to win. On Team Venezuela, I had the privilege of playing alongside so many of the game’s top stars, but it’s the same here. ... Being able to play with guys like Contreras and [Christian] Yelich, I think that helps. I think both teams have great chemistry that has helped us have success.”
Of course, the World Baseball Classic experience isn't exclusive to the Brewers' Venezuelan contingent. Brice Turang played for Team USA and was the starting second baseman in the championship game against Venezuela. Abner Uribe represented the Dominican Republic and Joey Ortiz played for Mexico, while Bo Naylor and Tyler Black represented Canada. While not all of the aforementioned are on Milwaukee’s current NLCS roster, it’s tough to ignore the tournament's influence on the team's postseason run.
Each of them played in high-pressure, playoff-atmosphere games in March. That certainly has helped.
“We’re a team with more experience and tighter chemistry,” Corredor said of the 2026 Brewers. “It’s another year playing together with virtually the same core, plus a couple of additions who have done an incredible job. You see a more confident team that knows what it can do and isn't trying to do more than it knows it can.”