I want to see Cam Devanney get a shot....

[BigWoo53]

I have a soft spot for guys who have been in the minors a while and Devanney is 26. He was drafted by the Brewers in the 15th round and can play SS/3B or even 1B as a RHH platoon option. Do I think he'd change much for the offense? No. But he probably can't do worse. He hit 23 homers between Biloxi and Nashville last year and has an OPS over .800 again this year. He has good pop and I would rather see a long-time farmhand get a shot at some ABs over Jahmai Jones. 

[BrewerFan]

2 hours ago, BigWoo53 said:

I have a soft spot for guys who have been in the minors a while and Devanney is 26. He was drafted by the Brewers in the 15th round and can play SS/3B or even 1B as a RHH platoon option. Do I think he'd change much for the offense? No. But he probably can't do worse. He hit 23 homers between Biloxi and Nashville last year and has an OPS over .800 again this year. He has good pop and I would rather see a long-time farmhand get a shot at some ABs over Jahmai Jones. 

I think he will, but I also think he's very much still a legitimate prospect for the Brewers...though one who's very much under the radar.

He was drafted in '19 out of a small school(Elon). Played rookie ball, 2020 came, no MiLB...and they jumped him to AA in '21 and he predictably struggled.

'22 he had a BIG year  -264./342./492 and OPS of .834

'23 he started off a bit slow, but he's been playing well for a while now. 

-May 25th he was hitting; 182/.267/.318 .585 OPS

-Now he's up to .251/.346/.462 OPS- .808
26 BB/32 K, 11.5 BB% 16.8 K%

That's not SINCE May 25, that's his overall slash line right now. He's also crushed lefties the last two years(.903/.946 OPS in '22 and '23).

--Add that to the fact that he's an elite defensive 3B, SS and can play 2B...and that's a guy who's got value, particularly to a team like the Brewers. 

 

So an older out of College in '19, rookie ball, skipped year, struggled in AA '21, very good 2nd full season in '22 so he's really in his 3rd year of development and he's gotten much better after that rough jump from rookie to AA and he's just kept getting better at AAA. The glove plays at the most important position.

I think he could just be  a late bloomer moreso than a "long-time farmhand," since...as you can see, he really hasn't been in the system that long. 

His biggest obstacle now is the 40 man, otherwise I could have seen him called up to man 3B for a short stretch, but I believe he'll play himself on next year. Brian Anderson will be gone. Urias...who knows. He'll likely get another shot. But after that, it's Monastario, Owen Miller and Devanney who'll be competing and there's an outside chance Adames is gone.

 

We'll likely find out pretty early next year. Maybe even by the time they have to set their 40 man roster for the rule 5. I don't know who exactly needs to be added to the roster. I think at worst, he could be a guy who's defense provides value at SS/3B/2B, hits for a little power and compliments the lineup well. 

 

I don't think I'd make the move just yet.

[RedStickBrew]

There is no shortage of Cam Devanney believers on this site.  I think the Brewers are looking for a bat that can impact the offense immediately and Cam probably isn't that player right now.

He arguably has positioned himself above Luis Urias in the pecking order at AAA though with the way they are both performing.

I think he gets a look next year- he would at worst fit a utility role well. I think he played some outfield in Biloxi too at times IIRC.

[SF70]

The Brewers need power and Devanney has pop and a good glove. Why he’s still in AAA and Jones isn’t DFA’d is beyond me.

[sveumrules]

35 minutes ago, SF70 said:

The Brewers need power and Devanney has pop and a good glove. Why he’s still in AAA and Jones isn’t DFA’d is beyond me.

Jahmai
290/421/543 in AAA this year.

Devanney
251/347/452 in AAA this year.

Jahmai has hit and hit for power on a whole other level this year than Cam.

[SF70]

1 minute ago, sveumrules said:

Jahmai
290/421/543 in AAA this year.

Devanney
251/347/452 in AAA this year.

Jahmai has hit and hit for power on a whole other level this year than Cam.

But done in the PCL vs IL.

Im going with the glove and International league bat.

[sveumrules]

2 minutes ago, SF70 said:

But done in the PCL vs IL.

Im going with the glove and International league bat.

137 wRC+ (which is league adjusted) for Jahmai vs 99 wRC+ for Devanney.

No doubt Cam has a better glove, but the Brewers are in more need of offense from their backup IF, and Jahmai has been a superior offensive performer this year.

[Playing Catch]

I've never quite understood the fascination with Devanney. Don't get me wrong, I love that he has a fanbase, and think it would be wonderful if he made it to the Show, and he could end up having success.

I also think that for some reason, many of us here don't take a longer look at the AAAA-type guys that the Crew are picking up. Blake Perkins and Jahmai Jones both have similar prospect profiles as many of those that came up through the Brewers system, and are of similar age.

[SF70]

7 minutes ago, sveumrules said:

137 wRC+ (which is league adjusted) for Jahmai vs 99 wRC+ for Devanney.

No doubt Cam has a better glove, but the Brewers are in more need of offense from their backup IF, and Jahmai has been a superior offensive performer this year.

Last year Devanney had a 136 wRC+ vs Jones’s 90. And this season Devanney was injured and now seems to be getting his stroke going.

But yeah, the team agrees with you, at least up to last nights game, but after watching Jones’s last handful plus of AB’s not sure the team still has confidence in Mr Jones much longer.

[sveumrules]

4 minutes ago, SF70 said:

Last year Devanney had a 136 wRC+ vs Jones’s 90. And this season Devanney was injured and now seems to be getting his stroke going.

But yeah, the team agrees with you, at least up to last nights game, but after watching Jones’s last handful plus of AB’s not sure the team still has confidence in Mr Jones much longer.

Devanney’s 136 wRC+ last year was in 56 PA, Jones posted his across 236 PA this year so over 4x the sample size.

I agree that Jahmai isn’t long for the roster, but think he will be losing his spot to a deadline acquisition with some kind of MLB track record.

[SF70]

6 minutes ago, sveumrules said:

Devanney’s 136 wRC+ last year was in 56 PA, Jones posted his across 236 PA this year so over 4x the sample size.

I agree that Jahmai isn’t long for the roster, but think he will be losing his spot to a deadline acquisition with some kind of MLB track record.

You’re right with the SSS Devanney bat last year at Nashville, but still had a 114 wRC+ with Biloxi, so a better year last season than Jones.

And I agree the team will probably upgrade the IF and possibly with multiple players, it’s just this team’s biggest weakness is the lack of power in the lineup and Devanney has pop in his bat and can more than hold his own in the field.

[RedStickBrew]

7 minutes ago, SF70 said:

You’re right with the SSS Devanney bat last year at Nashville, but still had a 114 wRC+ with Biloxi, so a better year last season than Jones.

And I agree the team will probably upgrade the IF and possibly with multiple players, it’s just this team’s biggest weakness is the lack of power in the lineup and Devanney has pop in his bat and can more than hold his own in the field.

Perhaps another issue to consider is that Devanney has gotten off to slow starts at Biloxi and Nashville the last two years.  With no prior MLB experience, the FO likely doesn't view him as a plug and produce player from the get go.  While he has adjusted at each level, he does not possess the hit tool of a Sal Frelick type player and will likely need time to adjust to MLB pitching. That said, I love Cam and hope to see him in a Brewer uniform one day.

[wiguy94]

1 hour ago, sveumrules said:

137 wRC+ (which is league adjusted) for Jahmai vs 99 wRC+ for Devanney.

No doubt Cam has a better glove, but the Brewers are in more need of offense from their backup IF, and Jahmai has been a superior offensive performer this year.

Devanney got off to a slow start after an injured preseason and late season start. Since the middle of May Devanney is slashing .285/.383/.518 with a 13% BB-rate and 12% K-rate for a 122 wRC+. He also is much better and more versatile defensively than Jones and absolutely crushes LHP.

[Jim French Stepstool]

Cam fan here. Don't know how close anyone came to taking a flyer on him, but I was relieved when he didn't get plucked in rule 5. 

He can defend at a high level, has versatility & can swing the bat, particularly vs LHP. That makes him a poster boy for this FO. That said I'm not that surprised they're leaning towards others who have a little more under their belts experience-wise. I think the day comes when we're happy he's here.

[Harold Hutchison]

Love Devanney, too. Frankly would be open to deal Adames just to clear the space for Devanney to get a shot. Sadly, I think he may be the guy dealt for the MLB rental who bumps Jones. I just remember "free Cooper Hummel" turned into a trade for said rental.

[BigWoo53]

4 hours ago, clancyphile said:

Love Devanney, too. Frankly would be open to deal Adames just to clear the space for Devanney to get a shot. Sadly, I think he may be the guy dealt for the MLB rental who bumps Jones. I just remember "free Cooper Hummel" turned into a trade for said rental.

I think Avina may be that guy as the guy for a rental or Hedbert Perez. Is Devanney even on the Brewers' top 30?  He's roadblocked to any PT, yes things can change but Brewers really have never had a 3B since I have been alive. Not sure Devanney can be that but IMO he can come up right now and provide and long-term is a better version of Brian Anderson wih more versatility defensively.