Isaac Collins’ time in Milwaukee has come to a swift and somewhat surprising end after the Royals came swooping in following his breakout rookie season.
Collins’ Breakout Rookie Year Ends in a Sudden Farewell
The Brewers are sending Collins and reliever Nick Mears to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for left-handed pitcher Angel Zerpa. The move comes on the heels of a breakout season for Collins, his first full year in the majors, during which he helped the Brewers to a record-setting 97 wins and a division title. Now, less than three months after the team’s playoff run ended, he’s packing his bags and heading to the Royals.
The trade raises eyebrows not just because of Collins’ productive rookie campaign, but because of the tone it sets for Milwaukee’s offseason. The 28-year-old left fielder played 130 games in 2025 and quietly became one of the league’s most dependable under-the-radar contributors. With a slash line of .263/.368/.411, Collins brought disciplined at-bats and timely power to a lineup that didn’t lean on home runs to win. He knocked in 54 runs and finished fourth in the National League Rookie of the Year race, a remarkable achievement for a player who didn’t debut until 2024 and came from a relatively obscure college program at Creighton.
Mears Departs After Strong Year in the Bullpen
As for Mears, his role in Milwaukee’s bullpen was steady but not flashy. The right-hander appeared in 63 games in 2025 and posted a respectable 3.49 ERA, often serving as a middle-innings bridge in tight games. His departure further thins a bullpen that leaned heavily on consistency during the Brewers’ playoff push. While not a headline-grabber, Mears was a piece of the engine that made Milwaukee’s 97-win season hum.
Zerpa Brings Upside, But Also Questions
In return, the Brewers acquire Angel Zerpa, a 25-year-old southpaw who made 69 appearances for the Royals and turned in a 4.18 ERA. Zerpa, while younger and more cost-controlled, has yet to show sustained dominance in relief or starting roles, but he brings potential. Whether that potential pans out in Milwaukee remains to be seen.
This is more than just a roster shuffle. It’s a signal, possibly the first of many, that the Brewers are willing to take calculated risks, trading known quantities for upside, even if that means letting go of a fan favorite and an award-season standout. The fact that these two clubs will meet early in the 2025 season, from April 3 to 5 in Kansas City, only adds another layer of intrigue.
For now, Brewers fans will have to wonder: was this the right time to sell high on Isaac Collins, or the wrong time to say goodbye?
