Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy has gone through a lot, but he has not let it stop him.
The Milwaukee Brewers have captured the second-best record in Major League Baseball, have arguably the best young pitcher in the sport in Jacob Misiorowski and other impressive young talent around him, but it hasn't all been easy.
In terms of health, Milwaukee has been tested during the 2026 campaign. Currently, the Brewers have 11 players on the Injured List. Pitchers such as Brandon Woodruff, Quinn Priester and Angel Zerpa are done for the season.
Other important players, such as left-hander Kyle Harrison, outfielder Sal Frelick and third baseman David Hamilton occupy the list as well, though Hamilton is expected back on Friday after dealing with a left hamstring strain and a sore right elbow.
Beyond rampant injuries to the roster, even Brewers manager Pat Murphy has struggled with his health. Since last season, he has struggled with a hip issue and back pain related to a nerve issue, according to Reuters.
After the 2025 season, Murphy underwent rehabilitation efforts to address the problem with his hip, but after a reprieve from the pain, the issue returned. In June, Murphy underwent back surgery during an off day for the Brewers, but he did not miss any time to recover.
Murphy, 67, has won back-to-back National League Manager of the Year awards, which made him just the second manager in NL history to win the award twice in a row, joining Bobby Cox (Atlanta Braves: 04-05).
Murphy’s age is showing, but his resolve remains steadfast, and he has set the culture for the Brewers. For a man who is creeping up to 70, the idea of not taking time to recover from a back surgery so he can remain involved in leading one of baseball’s best teams is an extraordinary feat in itself.
Murphy has been honest about his ailments. He has taken the time to talk about the pain he deals with and the treatments that come with it; the medicine, the injections, surgery, and so on and so forth.
But that honesty is what makes Murphy so celebrated by players, both past and present. His ability to connect with them on a no-nonsense, yet caring approach has been integral to relationship building.
To find a bad word uttered against Murphy or any ill-will would be like finding a needle in a haystack. He has been a class act and an integral piece of the organization’s success, and his willingness to sacrifice his physical health for the sake of the team has demonstrated that if he is willing to run through the proverbial brick wall, so are his players.
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