Keston Hiura has a .984 OPS in Nashville

[Fear The Chorizo]

1 hour ago, wildcat2237 said:

I find this Hiura stuff to be really funny. Here is the readers digest version of the situation: 

In March 2023 Hiura did not make the team. In March 2023 the Brewers decided Hiura was no longer part of the teams future plan moving forward and they put him on waivers. Not one other team wanted him. Hiura was then sent to AAA as minor league filler to help the Sounds. He is essentially now a AAAA player. 

Its a bummer but its facts. 

Hiura proved over a large MLB sample size: 

1. He plays terrible defense. 

2. He whiffs at an alarming rate. 

3. He hits a few HR's, but not enough to overcome the whiffs. 

 

This fails to mention that he was put on waivers at the end of spring training, at which point most teams are looking to squeak guys through back onto their minor league teams and teams would be hard pressed to open up a 40 man spot for a guy with no options left.  Plus, the Brewers did still value him enough to give him his $2m salary this offseason.  He wasn't dfa'd in November 2022.

It's never as simple as "any team could have had Hiura on waivers if they wanted him".  

I continue to see the defense argument posted about why Hiura isn't on the mlb roster...if the Brewers weren't so hellbent on having all their position players capable of playing multiple defensive positions, including designated freaking hitter, this wouldn't be an issue for getting him on the roster.  Hiura has also played decent LF this year in Nashville, but I don't even care - designated hitters don't play the field.

I don't want hiura up in Milwaukee as the DH on a roster that would still include Winker and a bevy of other AAAA utility players on the bench.  I want Hiura to replace winker and be the DH, and then have a trade to add a better offensive 1B/3b.

[Fear The Chorizo]

34 minutes ago, Samurai Bucky said:

This begs the question:  what would be a sufficient sample size?  I agree that he has to be a better option than Winker and should get the opportunity.  Let's say, he gets called up today and plays the remainder of the games as a DH.  If he doesn't rake, will the next step be, "he needs to get a full season under his belt?"

If we are calling for Hiura to get these chances, then we can't call out Turang or other young players who, at least, are an asset defensively.  

For starters, a full MLB season - from late March through September.  And I'm one who also preaches patience for guys like turang and wiemer who provide defensive value even when they aren't hitting. 

 

That hasn't happened yet for Hiura, and won't until 2024 at the earliest

[rickh150]

And my guess is that some want to twist my view on this issue as me saying I am anti establishment with CC and Arnold. That is the furthest thing from truth. This is CC’s best managerial season. He is Manager of the Year right now. We have scored less than we have given up and are ten games over .500 in first place.  We have had injuries everywhere. Arnold made the trade of the year and picked up Rea, Teheran, and pieces that fit. Stellar job so far on the fly in replacing DS.

I just see this DH issue as a huge issue that could be improved with Hiura, based on last year’s results and this year’s stats. It’s like the teacher asking a question and having only one kid raising his hand in the front row to answer and the teacher keeps looking over and through him saying, “ Anyone?” 

[markedman5]

From McCalvy 

Why haven’t the Brewers called up Keston Hiura? 

 

Hiura wasn’t the same hitter in the big leagues from 2020-22 as he was during an eye-opening rookie showing in ‘19, but he’s been on a tear at Triple-A Nashville this year, hitting .308 with a .963 OPS. The Brewers have not yet given him a shot, however, for a couple of reasons. One, scouts say Hiura has actually regressed in the field, and would be limited to designated hitter duty for a Brewers team that’s been winning with pitching and defense. Two, Minor League surface numbers don’t always tell the whole story. The Brewers have much more advanced data about players’ performance and the quality of competition against whom they’re doing damage. 

 

So far, the organization hasn’t viewed Hiura as an upgrade, or it would have made the move. But that may be changing.  Hiura made an adjustment to his approach earlier this month that has intrigued club officials. At this point, it’s a smallish sample. But it’s growing. 

 

Asked whether Hiura could be a possibility for a callup at some point, Brewers GM Matt Arnold said, “He’s continuing to evolve his approach and we’re seeing some really encouraging signs here lately. Certainly, we’re looking for more production out of the DH spot and Keston is absolutely in the conversation there.” 

[Brewcrew82]

8 minutes ago, markedman5 said:

From McCalvy 

Why haven’t the Brewers called up Keston Hiura? 

 

Hiura wasn’t the same hitter in the big leagues from 2020-22 as he was during an eye-opening rookie showing in ‘19, but he’s been on a tear at Triple-A Nashville this year, hitting .308 with a .963 OPS. The Brewers have not yet given him a shot, however, for a couple of reasons. One, scouts say Hiura has actually regressed in the field, and would be limited to designated hitter duty for a Brewers team that’s been winning with pitching and defense. Two, Minor League surface numbers don’t always tell the whole story. The Brewers have much more advanced data about players’ performance and the quality of competition against whom they’re doing damage. 

 

So far, the organization hasn’t viewed Hiura as an upgrade, or it would have made the move. But that may be changing.  Hiura made an adjustment to his approach earlier this month that has intrigued club officials. At this point, it’s a smallish sample. But it’s growing. 

 

Asked whether Hiura could be a possibility for a callup at some point, Brewers GM Matt Arnold said, “He’s continuing to evolve his approach and we’re seeing some really encouraging signs here lately. Certainly, we’re looking for more production out of the DH spot and Keston is absolutely in the conversation there.” 

Well, there’s your answer people. 
 

[rickh150]

27 minutes ago, Brewcrew82 said:

Well, there’s your answer people. 
 

Finally. Two months late. Still baffling with what Winker has done.

[markedman5]

4 minutes ago, rickh150 said:

Finally. Two months late. Still baffling with what Winker has done.

Not baffling at all to me……they wanted to give Winker every chance to come out of it…….which is perfectly reasonable ……it just didn’t work.

[sveumrules]

7 minutes ago, rickh150 said:

Finally. Two months late. Still baffling with what Winker has done.

Hiura was injured and didn't play from 5/12 until 6/16.

He was hurt two months ago.

[rickh150]

9 minutes ago, sveumrules said:

Hiura was injured and didn't play from 5/12 until 6/16.

He was hurt two months ago.

Fair enough, five weeks then….Winker was injured about two months ago in late May.. The questions for his replacement could have started then.

[Jopal78]

1 hour ago, markedman5 said:

Not baffling at all to me……they wanted to give Winker every chance to come out of it…….which is perfectly reasonable ……it just didn’t work.

And Winker makes nearly 10% of the teams payroll. 10 million dollar guys get plenty of chances before being sent packing

[rickh150]

3 hours ago, Jopal78 said:

And Winker makes nearly 10% of the teams payroll. 10 million dollar guys get plenty of chances before being sent packing

Let him go now and you are going to have a PR riot on your hands for not giving this guy enough chances, 

[Jim French Stepstool]

Hiura pulled from the game after 3 ABs tonight for Nashville.

?????

[Team Canada]

10 hours ago, rickh150 said:

Let him go now and you are going to have a PR riot on your hands for not giving this guy enough chances, 

I highly doubt that.

[sveumrules]

9 hours ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

Hiura pulled from the game after 3 ABs tonight for Nashville.

?????

Ejected for arguing with the umpire about an HBP.

[kestrel79]

He scares me in the field, but let's see what he can do in the DH...or they want to up his trade value. I have a feeling some other team will figure him out and he'll be good again.

[ReverendBrewmeister]

No call up of Hiura with Winker going on the 10-Day Injured List. Gives more credence to the idea that no call up should be expected for Hiura until after the Trade Deadline, if at all.

 

[Jopal78]

I just don’t think he’s in Milwaukee’s plans, period. Their DH goes on the DL they have an open spot on the 40 man roster and they call up somebody else. 
 

In a week or so, the  math will really be working against Hiura as the Brewers will need two spots for n the 40 man roster for Justin Wilson and Woodruff, eventually an 3rd for Ashby. Plus spots for whomever they acquire at the deadline.

Even Hiura’s trade value isn’t much beyond doing him a solid with a change of scenery,  because even if he was traded at the deadline, he’d still be owed a half-million dollars in salary by his new team, he would have to go on an acquiring team’s 40 man roster and then after 8 weeks of play his new team would have to decide to tender him a 3-4 million dollar contract and carry him on their 40 man all winter. 

Frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if Hiura finishes out the season in AAA for Milwaukee then leaves as a minor league free agent. 

[KeithStone53151]

This feels like an irrational hatred. It makes me wonder if he mouthed off to someone, or something non baseball related happened to cause this. Hiura not getting a call is completely devoid of logic

[sveumrules]

2 minutes ago, KeithStone53151 said:

This feels like an irrational hatred. It makes me wonder if he mouthed off to someone, or something non baseball related happened to cause this. Hiura not getting a call is completely devoid of logic

Toro: can be optioned back to AAA, okay-ish fielder, doesn’t K at a ridiculous rate.

Hiura: out of options, can’t field, Ks at ridiculous rate.

That’s the logic.

[Jopal78]

4 minutes ago, KeithStone53151 said:

This feels like an irrational hatred. It makes me wonder if he mouthed off to someone, or something non baseball related happened to cause this. Hiura not getting a call is completely devoid of logic

I’m sure they have more information than fans do, there’s something about his game that’s unacceptable to the team and he can’t fix it. 
 

If they didn’t like him as a human, they’d just release him.

[CheeseheadInQC]

11 minutes ago, KeithStone53151 said:

This feels like an irrational hatred. It makes me wonder if he mouthed off to someone, or something non baseball related happened to cause this. Hiura not getting a call is completely devoid of logic

While Hiura’s season stats are better, Toro has arguably been better of late, along with the defensive edge.

[KeithStone53151]

8 minutes ago, Jopal78 said:

I’m sure they have more information than fans do, there’s something about his game that’s unacceptable to the team and he can’t fix it. 
 

If they didn’t like him as a human, they’d just release him.

First point is fair, second point is less fair as teams employ bad humans often enough. I feel like they don't like him as a person, but they want to get something for him at the deadline

[jerichoholicninja]

Management loves noodle bats that can stand on all kinds of different parts of the field. This shouldn't come as much of a surprise.

Less sarcastically, I think they'll be giving Yelich a lot more DH time and let the kids play the outfield. So there really isn't a place for Huira to get PA's anyway.

[Jopal78]

19 minutes ago, KeithStone53151 said:

First point is fair, second point is less fair as teams employ bad humans often enough. I feel like they don't like him as a person, but they want to get something for him at the deadline

He’s not worth anything. 

Any acquiring team would have to pay him a half million bucks (when most sellers are looking to trim payroll) for 8 weeks worth of games. Then he’s either tendered a contract for 3-4 million and carried on the 40 man all winter or he’s cut loose.  
 

What exactly do you expect the Brewers to get for that?

[Jim French Stepstool]

3 hours ago, sveumrules said:

Ejected for arguing with the umpire about an HBP.

Aaaaaaahhh, OK. Thanks.