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For a second straight season, Brice Turang will open the 12 months at second base for the Brewers. Supervisor Pat Murphy confirmed the choice to call Turang as Milwaukee’s beginning second baseman final night time (link via David Adler of MLB.com). Murphy opined that Turang is poised to take a “quantum leap” ahead in 2024 and solidify himself as an on a regular basis participant within the massive leagues after an up-and-down rookie season that left him with lackluster offensive numbers.
Turang, 24, was the No. 21 general choose within the 2018 draft and ranked amongst Milwaukee’s high prospects for a number of years earlier than making the 2023 Opening Day roster and debuting within the majors. He posted above-average however not elite numbers in Triple-A throughout the 2022 season previous to that MLB debut, however his first 12 months within the massive leagues highlighted a few of the limitations in his recreation. Turang has lengthy been touted as a plus defender and plus runner, however he hit simply .218/.285/.300 in 448 plate appearances final season. The ensuing 60 wRC+ means that Turang was a whopping 40% worse than common on the plate.
Whereas Turang’s 21% strikeout charge was a bit decrease than the league common and his 8.5% stroll charge was sound, he additionally put collectively one of many weakest batted-ball profiles within the sport. Turang ranked in simply the fifth percentile of MLB hitters when it comes to barrel charge, per Statcast, whereas his 26% hard-hit charge landed within the fourth percentile and his 85.5 mph common exit velocity positioned in solely the second percentile. Turang’s dash pace was elite, however even regardless of his wheels he batted simply .268 on balls in play due to that penchant for feeble contact.
Even amid questions on his offensive outlook, the glove and pace will land him one other Opening Day nod at second base. That units the Milwaukee infield all over the place however the sizzling nook. Rhys Hoskins has first base locked down. Willy Adames will return at shortstop. Heading into camp, it appeared just like the third base job may very well be Joey Ortiz’s to lose, however Milwaukee’s determination to experiment with high outfield prospect Sal Frelick at third base has created extra of a contest.
Murphy and Brewers infielder coordinator Matt Erickson have heaped reward onto Frelick for his work at third base this spring, writes Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. The 23-year-old has “instantly” checked each field the group wish to see when it comes to his footwork within the infield, Erickson tells Hogg, expressing additional confidence that Frelick’s mechanics on tougher on-the-move throws can enhance with expertise. Erickson famous that the general package deal of defensive expertise at third base remains to be not on par with others in camp, however that’s to be anticipated for a participant who didn’t even play on the sizzling nook in his beginner days. Furthermore, each Erickson and Murphy are amazed that Frelick has already come so far as he has.
The consequence may very well be one thing of a cut up workload for Frelick between proper subject and third base. The Brewers acquired the slick-fielding Ortiz alongside left-handed rotation hopeful DL Hall within the commerce sending ace Corbin Burnes to Baltimore. Ortiz, like Turang, is taken into account a plus defensive shortstop however gained’t get a lot alternative at that place because of the presence of Adames. He may log appreciable time on the sizzling nook, although Adler suggests Ortiz may additionally see time at second base in opposition to left-handed pitching. He’s a right-handed bat and pure choice to spell Turang, who hit simply .188/.278/.188 (35 wRC+) in opposition to southpaws.
A strict platoon association for the group may not be the reply, nevertheless. Whereas Ortiz can play both third or second in opposition to lefties, each Turang and the lefty-swinging Frelick (.184/.279/.289, 59 wRC+) struggled drastically in restricted motion in opposition to left-handed pitching. Proper-handed-hitting Andruw Monasterio turned in a .291/.387/.392 slash (118 wRC+) in opposition to lefties and will spend time at third base if/when Ortiz slides over to the keystone to spell Turang in opposition to southpaws. Equally, outfielder Joey Wiemer (.267/.298/.517, 115 wRC+ in opposition to lefties) may probably spell Frelick in opposition to lefties.
If something, Frelick’s burgeoning versatility and the mix of right- and left-handed-hitting infield/outfield choices solely offers Murphy extra gasoline to play matchups in opposition to opposing pitchers. Importantly, all of Turang, Ortiz, Frelick, Wiemer and Monasterio grade as above-average to plus defenders at their respective positions (at the least, within the case of the outfield with regard to Frelick). There’s appreciable alternative for all 5 to work their approach into the lineup for semi-regular enjoying time, if no more.
So far as the Milwaukee rotation is worried, there’s nonetheless some high quality tuning to be sorted out, however one open query grew to become clear this week when Murphy confirmed that right-hander Colin Rea can be in his rotation (through Adler) He’ll be penciled right into a beginning workers that additionally consists of Freddy Peralta and Jakob Junis. Veteran Wade Miley has been not on time attributable to shoulder troubles however progressed to going through teammates in a simulated recreation right now, tweets Hogg. A agency timeline for his return stays unclear and depending on how he continues to progress.
Rea, nevertheless, can be assured a beginning job. That’s a notable improvement for a journeyman right-hander who’s bounced from the Padres, to the Marlins, to the Cubs, to the Brewers, to Japan and again to Milwaukee. The 33-year-old pitched 124 2/3 innings for the Brew Crew in 2023, logging a 4.55 ERA with sturdy command and strong ground-ball tendencies however a barely below-average strikeout charge. He’s been sharp to date in spring coaching, firing eight innings — together with 4 no-hit frames his final outing — with a dozen strikeouts and simply two walks.
Rea inked a one-year, $4.5MM deal again on Nov. 2. He’ll earn a $3.5MM wage in 2024 and is assured that plus a $1MM buyout on a $5.5MM choice for the 2025 season. He may choose up a further $500K of incentives every season, based mostly on innings pitched, giving him the chance to earn $10MM over the following two seasons in Milwaukee.
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