speed-first star who turned Milwaukee into a problem for pitchers
In the 2026 season, O’Connell became Milwaukee’s catalyst, setting the program’s single-season stolen base record with 41 steals while also leading the team with 72 hits, 19 doubles, a .340 average, and 60 runs scored. He’s a legit table-setter with extra-base pop, but the real separator is his game-changing speed and willingness to pressure defenses every inning. He also earned Horizon League First Team honors, and Milwaukee coaches described his speed as a “cheat code,” which is the kind of swagger teams love in an outfielder.
