Keston Hiura News - Brewers Consider Trading Second Baseman
Hiura was once considered a future MLB star, yet his performance hasn't lived up to those lofty expectations. According to Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Milwaukee Brewers may be considering trading their former top prospect.
This season, the 26-year-old earned a salary of $2.2MM and is arbitration eligible for the first time this offseason. The Brewers can either offer him a contract and send him to free agency, or trade him for a minor league depth piece.
The Brewers’ first-round picks in the 2016 and 2017 drafts haven’t lived up to expectations
Keston Hiura was selected in the first round of the 2017 MLB draft by the Milwaukee Brewers, but he hasn't lived up to expectations. A highly skilled college hitter who could hit for power and average, Hiura has struggled this season due to elbow issues which ultimately necessitated Tommy John surgery in March.
Hiura has suffered an early setback, but he is expected to be a valuable asset at second base and the outfield once healthy. He should be an effective middle-of-the-order hitter in the Majors once healthy.
Hiura was one of six hitters the Brewers selected in their first ten rounds. Five were college players who walked more than they struck out, and one was Canadian third-rounder Dylan O'Rae.
Other top prospects who have yet to reach the majors include Zack Brown, Nate Kirby, Cody Ponce and Nash Walters. Although these players could potentially be added to the 25-man roster in the future, their lack of success thus far makes them unlikely major leaguers.
They selected left-handed pitcher Seth Romero in the second round of 2018, but he has struggled with his mechanics and weight. While he has a high ceiling and promising potential, there is significant risk that his development could falter.
Other high school players who have not reached their potentials include Corey Ray, Brice Turang and Adam Haseley. Ray was expected to be a star in college but developed swing-and-miss issues as an adult and has yet to reach his full potential.
Turang is a tall prep shortstop with an impressive hit tool who could potentially be an impact player at the Major League level. He would need to add more power if he wants to go further than just being an effective utility player. As such, Turang may be best suited for playin' in the outfield where his speed and arm strength would be most useful.
He can be a solid defender in center field or the outfield corners, though his defensive abilities aren't quite as strong as they would be if playing right field. Additionally, his speed and timing have been inconsistent in the past, but overall his skillset should translate to an extended career at the major league level.
His high-90s fastball is complemented by a refined cutter and two promising breaking pitches, but it has been battered this year in the minors due to lack of contact. Furthermore, he hasn't had much opportunity to develop his changeup, so more work on that front would be beneficial.
On Monday, the Brewers selected four more pitchers with large, projectable frames besides Hiura. Additionally, they selected a left-handed catcher and an outfielder capable of playing multiple positions.
The Brewers don’t have a lot of at-bats available at first base
Keston Hiura was once seen as a high-profile prospect with potential, but his lack of playing time this season has caused some concern and raised eyebrows. Now, as arbitration eligible for the first time in his career, Milwaukee must decide if they want to keep him on their 40-man roster.
It is no secret that the Brewers have a hole at first base, especially since trading away Juan Francisco last month for Mark Reynolds. Francisco had been an excellent and consistent player for the team and known for his defense at first base; however, his hitting has been poor over the past two seasons and this season his defensive shortcomings have hindered him from reaching his full potential.
One solution the Brewers could consider is giving Hiura more at-bats, which would likely be beneficial given his power and versatility to play multiple positions. He can play left field, right field and first base - providing the team with a versatile slugger at the top of their lineup going forward.
Hiura's slugging percentage has skyrocketed to an impressive 1.043 percent from his rookie year, which has been a promising sign for power hitters. His walks are at an even 11% and he's experiencing the highest fly ball rate of his career so far.
There's no denying the Brewers have some talented outfield prospects in their system, such as Joey Wiemer and Sal Frelick, but it seems unlikely any of these players will provide Hiura with enough at-bats at first base to make an impact. Instead, Hiura may spend most of his time pinch-hitting or leading off while Andrew McCutchen and Christian Yelich fill other spots outfield.
No matter where he plays, Milwaukee has plenty of other players who will get plenty of at-bats next season. Rowdy Tellez, their centerfielder, is already a reliable option and they added lefty Brice Turang who can play both first and second base.
Furthermore, the club boasts some young hitters that have impressed this spring. Garrett Mitchell has already hit four home runs while Brice Turang, Luis Uras and Manny Pina are hitting with power as well.
The Brewers must decide how many of those at-bats will come from the bench, which could significantly impact their 2023 competition. Ultimately, it comes down to whether $2 million worth of Hiura salary is worth investing in a player who can help the team win now and in the future.
Though it may be tempting to try and negotiate a minor league deal for Hiura, the best course of action may be to let him go to free agency and hope he has an impressive season. Doing this allows the Brewers to use that saved money on other offseason moves such as adding an outfielder, which should help the team return to the postseason.
The Brewers are trying to figure out their Opening Day outfield
As the Brewers embark on their final spring training games, much remains uncertain about their outfield. Ryan Braun's decision to play a full season at first base remains an intriguing mystery that will have an effect on other players throughout the organization.
The team is also looking to rework how it uses top outfield prospect Keston Hiura. He's had an impressive Spring Training, so it could be possible that he starts at some point this year.
But there's still a long way to go before that occurs. Hiura was already pulled from the Cactus League lineup this spring due to groin tightness, and it remains uncertain whether he will make the big club out of camp.
Other outfielders who could make the majors this year but have yet to have their chance in spring training include Corey Ray, whose performance last year in High Class A was encouraging.
Ray boasts a great combination of skills, and at only 23 years old he should be able to make an impact for the Brewers in 2022. However, they aren't yet willing to commit to him yet.
Willson Contreras is another outfielder likely to see significant playing time in 2022. He's a powerful hitter but not particularly good defensively, yet he still remains young and could develop into an important star in the majors.
Milwaukee must work with Contreras on his swing if they want to give him more responsibility in 2022. His tendency to get his hands out of their body too soon can result in excessive bat speed and exit velocity.
However, that could also make it harder for him to make contact on pitches inside. While this could prove risky at first glance, it could ultimately prove beneficial in the long run for the team.
Contreras' presence at first base gives the Brewers more options in other outfield positions, though he must wait until his bat is fully healthy before making a major contribution.
As the Brewers place greater emphasis on offense this year, it's essential to add a power-hitting outfielder who can provide some extra runs. They have several options in this regard, including Andrew Benintendi and Jhonny Peralta.
If the Brewers want to go for more offense, they have other options like Miguel Andujar and Joey Gallo. Both players are young and haven't had their best seasons yet, but they both possess some power-hitting potential that could provide some additional spark for the Brewers.
Right now, adding another hitter isn't the most crucial decision for the Brewers, but it does help. They also need to find a way to maximize production from their starting pitching this year. A strong rotation is essential for any team; while Milwaukee boasts plenty of experienced starters with plenty of success under their belts, they have yet to demonstrate consistency in producing quality starts.
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