DL Hall’s journey with the Brewers has been nothing short of a rollercoaster. Initial struggles were marked by a rough 7.71 ERA in four injury-laden starts, followed by a grueling three-month rehab.

But Hall’s story took a positive turn as he finished the season strong. In 26 2/3 innings after his August return, he managed a more respectable 3.38 ERA, 3.28 FIP, and a solid 27.4% strikeout rate—indications of promise.

A key element of this improvement was Hall’s average fastball velocity, which bumped up from 92.3 mph to 94.3 mph post-rehab. Still, it was not quite the blistering speed we saw when he was a key bullpen piece for the Orioles, yet it’s more in line with expectations for his role. But here’s the catch: despite the added heat, Hall’s fastball failed to impress where it truly counts.

You might recall when the Brewers acquired Hall in the Corbin Burnes trade; his fastball was touted as the gem of the package, conjuring 28% whiff rates in his early MLB days. Back then, the pitch earned a sparkling 70-grade on scouting scales.

However, the fastball never lived up to its billing in Milwaukee. During the season, its whiff rate lingered below the league average for four-seamers, hinting at mediocrity rather than menace.

The issue with Hall’s fastball isn’t just speed—it’s the lack of movement and deception. While it gained some vertical break, it couldn’t domineer as expected, its vertical angle matched that of an average four-seamer. The metrics aren’t kind, seeing it as passé.

A roaring fastball combines speed, spin, and a strategic edge, often delivered high in the zone to flummox hitters. Hall’s fastball didn’t tick enough of these boxes in 2024, leaving the Brewers with a bit of a conundrum.

Hall’s fastball lacked the juice needed to be the centerpiece of his pitching arsenal. Instead, it became just another pitch in the mix.

Moving forward, the Brewers have a few options. The offseason presents a valuable window for Hall to work closely with Milwaukee’s development staff.

There’s an opportunity here to fine-tune his mechanics and perhaps dial back some life into his fastball’s lethality. But, if the fastball doesn’t wow again, the Brewers might have to recalibrate their expectations.

If Hall can’t elevate his fastball’s game, he might find himself transitioning into a more bullpen-centric role, where he previously thrived. And with high-leverage potential, it’s not a bad fallback. However, there’s still a pathway for Hall as a starter, just not the originally envisioned one.

Right now, Hall’s fastball isn’t his ace in the hole. Instead, he’s pivoting to rely more on an impressive array of secondary pitches.

His curveball, slider, and changeup collectively held hitters to a .260 wOBA with a whiff rate of 33.7%, contributing to the majority of his strikeouts. In sections of the season, Hall leaned into this diversity, throwing fewer fastballs and achieving better results—a sharp 2.89 ERA and a 30.4% strikeout rate in his last few outings.

However, this soft-and-spin-heavy style has its limitations. Hall’s secondary pitches often work best out of the zone—an enticing chase—leaving his curveball as the go-to for strikes.

It’s a fine line: too many in-zone curveballs could cause trouble. To secure his starting role, Hall might ponder adding a cutter or two-seamer to make his fastball package more well-rounded.

In absence of a dominant fastball, Hall’s ceiling might settle as a back-end starter—a valuable role, yet a touch below the Brewers’ original hopes. Yet, Milwaukee’s success with similar arms like Colin Rea, Aaron Civale, and Bryse Wilson shows there’s still a winning formula in play.

The Brewers have yet to make a call on Hall’s 2025 role. Ideally, he’ll ready himself as a starter through the offseason, hoping his fastball finds its footing.

If not, the Brewers may find themselves navigating new routes for Hall, a left-hander once poised for a rotation role behind Freddy Peralta. The offseason clock is ticking, and the Brewers are waiting to see if Hall can unlock his full potential.