Why Sal Frelick Declined Returning to Italy’s World Baseball Classic

This piece digs into Sal Frelick’s choice to skip the World Baseball Classic for his health. It also looks at how the Brewers view his breakout 2025 season and what’s next for him at Spring Training in 2026.

Frelick’s ongoing knee and hamstring issues haven’t gone away. He spent the offseason rehabbing and leaned on mentors who helped him round out his hitting without losing his defensive edge.

Frelick’s WBC decision and a laser-focused offseason

Sal Frelick decided not to play in the World Baseball Classic after end-of-year MRIs showed he was “pretty banged up.” In November, he told Italy’s GM, Ned Colletti, that his Brewers commitment had to come first.

That choice freed him up to focus on offseason lifting and rehab instead of rushing to get ready for the international tournament. He trained in Boston with other pros and Boston College alums, putting his energy into recovery and strength.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy says he feels good about Frelick’s health and future. He even joked about grad school as a backup if baseball doesn’t work out—classic Murphy.

Breakout performance in 2025: turning potential into production

Frelick put together a breakout season in 2025, even with some nagging injury questions hanging over him. His line reads .288/.351/.405 with a career-high 12 home runs after what was, honestly, a modest start to his big league career.

He played in 142 games and racked up a career-best 594 plate appearances. His wRC+ jumped from 87 in 2024 to 114 in 2025. That’s a real leap—he went from mostly glove-first to a guy who can actually impact the lineup with his bat.

Frelick didn’t point to any single mechanical fix. Instead, he credits steady learning, lots of real-game reps, and help from vets like Brice Turang and Blake Perkins. Sometimes it’s just about having the right people around and getting the chance to play every day, especially when you can stay healthy.

• Games played: 142
• Plate appearances: 594
• Home runs: 12
• Slash line: .288/.351/.405
• New-era value: wRC+ 114

His offense finally matched his solid defense, so now he’s a bigger part of Milwaukee’s outfield plans. The Brewers want him in the lineup, but they’re also keeping a close eye on that knee, hoping to keep him healthy and on the field into 2026.

Health status and the plan for Spring Training

Frelick’s knee—still tied to that old college meniscus thing—remains a big focus for the Brewers’ medical staff. Surgery is technically an option, but it’d mean four or five months on the shelf, and nobody’s eager for that unless he starts having real problems.

For now, they’re taking the long view and skipping surgery, aiming to keep him on track for 2026. As Spring Training gets closer, Milwaukee’s trainers will watch his knee closely. Frelick’s been working on conditioning to build up durability, but he’s careful not to push too hard and risk a setback.

They’re not just thinking about getting him back on the field—they want him fully cleared for Opening Day. The hope is he can go full speed from the jump and actually stay productive all year, not just make it back in time.

Outlook for 2026: a healthy Frelick ready to contribute

With a full season under his belt, Frelick’s set up to build on his 2025 gains and maybe even take on a bigger role. The Brewers are all about keeping him healthy and easing him into a steady workload, because a durable Frelick is huge for their outfield depth and lineup balance.

If his knee holds up and the offseason work pays off in camp, he could really be that high-contact, sparkplug-type guy at the top of the order. There’s speed, contact, and now even a little pop—he might just be what the Brewers need to keep pace in a tough NL Central.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Why Frelick passed on returning to the Classic for Italy