Carlos Gomez, Yovani Gallardo, and Francisco Rodriguez to be added to Milwaukee Brewers Wall of Honor

The Wall of Honor at American Family Field remembers the players and members of the Milwaukee Brewers’ organization who meet certain criteria in terms of accomplishment and longevity with the franchise. This year, three former players who filled prominent roles with the team during the 2010’s will be enshrined and honored during a ceremony that will take place during the summer — Carlos Gomez, Francisco Rodriguez, and Yovani Gallardo. The event will also serve as a ceremonial retirement for Gomez, who has stated multiple times during his career that he wished to retire with Milwaukee.

Gomez first arrived in Milwaukee as a 24 year old post-hype prospect in late 2009, when he came over from Minnesota in a one-for-one swap that included JJ Hardy. After a couple of years in a part-time role, GoGo broke out in 2012, then signed a four-year extension. He took off in 2013-14, making the All-Star team both seasons and earning down ballot MVP votes along with a Gold Glove Award. Gomez was traded with Mike Fiers to Houston in the summer of 2015 as the team kicked off their rebuild phase in the now famous trade that returned Josh Hader, Adrian Houser, Domingo Santana, and Brett Phillips. In six years with Milwaukee, Gomez batted .267/.325/.452 for a 110 OPS+ with 87 home runs and 152 stolen bases, while accumulating 19.0 bWAR. He last appeared in the majors in 2019 with the Mets.

Rodriguez also arrived in Milwaukee via trade, coming to the team first in 2011 as a deadline acquisition to help propel the Brewers to the postseason. He would later sign with the team as a free agent four separate times and in all he spent parts of five seasons with the club, appearing in 263 games. K-Rod tallied a 2.91 ERA in 250.2 innings pitched and racked up 95 saves. He was an All-Star in 2014 and 2015 before eventually being traded to the Tigers in the deal that would net Manny Pina as a PTBNL. Rodriguez pitched two more seasons with Detroit and last appeared in the majors in 2017. K-Rod was arrested in 2012 following a domestic violence complaint that was later dropped when his fiance left the country for Venezuela.

Yovani Gallardo is the only homegrown player among the bunch, having been chosen by the Brewers in the 2nd round of the 2004 MLB Draft. He debuted in the big leagues three years later at the tender age of 21 and went on to pitch parts of 8 seasons for the Crew, including making five straight Opening Day starts from 2010-14. Gallardo was an All-Star in 2010 and received Cy Young votes in 2011. The franchise’s all-time leader in strikeouts, Gallardo whiffed 1,226 batters in 1,289.1 innings pitched while working to a 3.69 ERA and a 89-64 win-loss record. He was dealt to the Rangers in 2015 in a swap that included Corey Knebel as part of the trade return, briefly came back on a minors deal with Milwaukee for Spring Training in 2018 before getting released, and ended his time in the big leagues with the Rangers that season. Gallardo was arrested for DUI while with the Brewers in 2013.

Separate from the Wall of Honor is the more prestigious Walk of Fame, but once again there will be no honorees this summer.