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Since the Brewers revealed at the beginning of spring training that Sal Frelick would receive reps as an infielder in exhibition play, there’s been more and more evidence suggesting the club wants him to be a legitimate option at third base--rather than an in-case-of-emergency choice.
Frelick has appeared in five games at third base this spring, and made his third Cactus League start at the hot corner on Wednesday. Our own Matthew Trueblood reported last week that Frelick is working diligently at third base, with the apparent goal of being a trustworthy option, not someone who can stand there in a pinch. He wouldn’t get this many reps there unless the club was at least somewhat serious about the move.
The preferred plan for the position player mix seems to involve Frelick playing a decent amount of third base. Whether it comes to fruition in the regular season is a different matter.
Things rarely unfold throughout a 162-game season the way players, coaches, and executives draw them up beforehand. The Brewers have been one of the best teams in the National League over the last decade, largely because they plan for this. By building deep and versatile rosters, the club has kept chugging along when circumstances force them to deviate from the original vision.
The emphasis on versatility is partially why the Brewers are grooming Frelick as a part-time third baseman. However, things playing out differently from the preferred plan is more likely to keep Frelick out of the infield than force him onto the dirt.
In a perfect world, the Brewers receive strong production throughout their crowded collection of outfielders, leaving Pat Murphy with more reliable players than available playing time. Shifting Frelick to the infield would alleviate that logjam and give the Brewers their best offensive lineup.
However, it’s far more likely that the club receives capable offense from half its outfielders than from all of them. The outfield is deep but filled with offensive question marks.
As I discussed earlier this week, Garrett Mitchell’s swing has holes that leave him vulnerable to elevated velocity. Joey Wiemer made substantial improvements to his setup and swing over the winter, but must prove he can wait back on breaking pitches. Jackson Chourio figures to start in center field on Opening Day, but has 24 regular-season plate appearances above Double-A.
Frelick’s lack of home run power gives him a lower ceiling than his teammates, but he has a higher floor. In addition to his excellent speed and defense, he boasts superb plate discipline and bat-to-ball skills. He projects as one of Milwaukee’s most reliable outfielders in 2024.
The other key variable, of course, is the team's mix of infielders. There, too, there is considerable uncertainty, but a bevy of viable options. If Joey Ortiz, Brice Turang, and Oliver Dunn each continue to impress Pat Murphy and perform well, the need for infield reinforcement might not be nearly as great as seemed possible when we first learned of this experiment. That's to say nothing of Andruw Monasterio, Owen Miller, or Tyler Black. Things could break the other way, but right now, that group feels as crowded as the outfield does.
As one examines the construction of this Brewers roster, it becomes clear that Frelick’s best fit remains in the outfield. Barring several injuries in the infield, don’t expect to see him defending on the dirt with any regularity.
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