The date of Aug. 1, 2022, is one that has stuck with Milwaukee Brewers fans for the past four years.

On that day, star closer Josh Hader was traded to the San Diego Padres in a move that made absolutely no sense at the time.

Hader was an All-Star in 2022 and, to no one's surprise, he was in 2021 as well.

It could be argued that '21 was his best year. He was named All-MLB First Team for the second time in his career, and for the third time he was the National League Reliever of the Year.

Hader also contributed to a combined no-hitter that season, so to say he was coming off a historic season would be an understatement.

Milwaukee had an off-day on Monday, Aug. 1, and they had just fallen to 57-45 after a 7-2 loss to the Boston Red Sox.

The phone was clearly ringing at the trade deadline, and the last thing anyone expected was for the Brewers to move on from Hader while being 12 games above .500.

Former president of baseball operations David Stearns jumped on the opportunity to get four players in a massive haul with the Padres, and the rest was history.

The Brewers were carrying the momentum of a historic run in 2018 with four straight playoff berths.

Here in 2026, they've made the playoffs in eight of the last nine years. The only season they didn't make the postseason? 2022.

That Hader trade changed everything. It left a massive void in this bullpen, even with Devin Williams around, but most importantly, it messed with team morale.

Four years later, that trade has finally come full circle and paid off far more than Stearns ever thought was possible.

Trading Hader meant a multi-player return was necessary, and that's exactly what the Brewers got.

Left-handed pitchers Taylor Rogers and Robert Gasser came to Milwaukee. At the time, Gasser was the Padres' No. 7 prospect

The Brewers added a right-handed pitcher in Dinelson Lamet, and then added outfielder Esteury Ruiz, who was San Diego's No. 28 prospect.

Two top-30 prospects and another pair of pitchers were a massive get for the Brewers, but the only part of that trade that matters now is Gasser.

Gasser is fresh off a six-inning outing in Game 3 of the World Series where he allowed just one hit and faced the minimum.

For what it's worth, he was the first Brewers starter this postseason to throw six innings, so without a doubt, everything the Brewers went through in '22 was worth it, as it all built up to this exact moment.