Your 2013 Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

[homer]

 

The talent the Brewers have in WI is nice and all, but it has to perform, and that still doesn't diminish the fact that above Rookie ball (which is largely meaningless) the Brewers were woefully thin on talent coming into the off-season. We've beat this into the ground over the winter, but again let's not count our chickens before they are hatched here. Many of us have continually said that this year could redefine our system if some of our position players perform. However, we're still awfully thin from an impact pitching standpoint below AA... as in there's no one... and there's not a lefty in the system worth being legitimately excited about so there's still plenty of work to be done.

 

I know Lopez was assigned to WI and had a projectable frame on draft day (and yes I obviously remember championing the pick) but that placement seems awfully aggressive based on his demotion all the way to the DSL last season. I'll be curious to see him in person for a variety of reasons which is why I think I'm going to catch the entire opening series next week at TWC field, with the exception of possibly Wednesday depending on who is pitching. If it's someone I'm lukewarm on I'll probably do my usual Wednesday Wings/Duck Dynasty thing at my brother's restaurant as I'll be able to catch them later in the season.

 

Maybe wait until mid season for your Debbie Downer post. Hope springs attorney!!!

[Jenkins5]

I'm really surprised no one has mentioned Giacalone at all. He started off terrible last season then finished the season as one of the most dangerous hitters in the league. I'm curious as to if it was an injury or if he just was outperformed by Sermo (who I believe is now playing first). He is a guy I got interested in last season, seems to have some upside and just turned 21 in December.

 

I was less than estatic that Pena didn't make the team out of camp BUT really they have 5 really talent OF's they only took for (they can DH one of them a game) He will be on his way to Wisconsin after what should be a quick stop for Haniger or Roache. Haniger played all spring with BC and really seemed like every day he was lighting it up so it surprised me with that and the fact he got some time in last season with the T-Rats that he didn't get the promotion.

 

Overall super excited for all the young offensive talent! Not often T-Rats are loaded with young High-school/DSL type talent (usually get all the older college guys it seems) Pitching wise..... not not much excites me there. Lopez needs to step it up from where he has performed. Where's Will West? Haven't seen his name anywhere either. I like that kid a bunch.

 

BTW This is the old YoungGeezy....been awhile I know, lost password, didn't remember the original email, didn't feel like emailing admins, so just started fresh account

[MTBrew]

As hope springs eternal, I hope that the players that were in Helena last summer got the necessary coaching and attitude adjustments needed to improve their skills.

Regarding Giacalone, he can put the bat on the ball. But he never showed any power in Helena, and is at a position that requires it. He was an average, at best, defender at 1B, and I don't think he has the athletic skills to play elsewhere.

Reed, was never able to put the bat on the ball solidly. I honestly think he may have had a vision problem. Decent athlete but I don't believe he has the speed or instincts to play CF.

Pena, very very raw. Good athlete, swings with power. I thought he was overmatched, in all aspects of the game, while in Helena.

Not saying he shouldn't have been there but he needed a lot of coaching, basic fundamentals.

Alfredo Rodriguez is not going to make anyone forget Yadiel Rivera, very average, may be below, at SS. May have a future as a UT guy.

Very disappointed that Emmanuel Quiles was released. Maybe a little old for Helena but he had an absolute gun of an arm and some pop in his bat. One of the few bright spots in Helena last year. Stosh too, a real gamer. I have been less than impressed with some of the talent that has come thru Helena the past couple of years and continue to scratch my head on who is kept and who is released.

On the other hand the T-Rats folks are really going to enjoy McFarland, terrific athlete and comes to play every day. Tyrone too, sweet player with all kinds of skills.

[Mass Haas]

Wonderful write-up from Kyle at BrewCrewBall.com includes:

 

(2012 4th rounder Tyler) Wagner will be followed in the rotation by 2012 fifth round pick Damien Magnifico, (Brent) Suter, 2011 second round pick Jorge Lopez and 2012 11th round pick Preston Gainey. Several other pitchers, including 2012 Timber Rattler Eric Semmelhack, will also be groomed to start through the tandem process.

 

Read the entire piece.

[TooLiveBrew]

I'm really surprised no one has mentioned Giacalone at all. He started off terrible last season then finished the season as one of the most dangerous hitters in the league. I'm curious as to if it was an injury or if he just was outperformed by Sermo (who I believe is now playing first). He is a guy I got interested in last season, seems to have some upside and just turned 21 in December.

Welcome back YoungGeezy!

 

Fwiw, I mentioned Giacalone earlier in the thread. I was a little surprised that he wasn't named to Wisconsin's roster.

[Jenkins5]

"I think some people are questioning the decision to bring him back here instead of sending him to High-A," Erickson said. "He did everything he could to prove he deserved to go to High-A, but I think it's in Mitch's best interest to come here and I know Doug Melvin wants him to have some success at every level and we're happy to have him."

 

Per Mass's link

 

Well echos my statement on Haniger and goes to show he most likely will not be here long if he carries over his spring success. I am really liking him as a prospect right now and looking forward to hopefully seeing him next Thursday if I make the trip from FDL.

[Mass Haas]

Rattler Radio Blog with more on the tandems

[Noche]

Rattler Radio Blog with more on the tandems

 

Chrissy Mac looking noticeably thicker in the lower half. The race for best hitter on the T-Rats is going to be a vicious one.

 

http://mlblogsrattlerradio.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/first-wisconsin-workout-003.jpg

 

-sorry about the huge photo

[Mass Haas]

Matt Erickson and Brent Dean photos at link

 

Rattlers to begin new season with a young, talented lineup

by Tim Froberg, Post-Crescent Media

 

GRAND CHUTE — The teaching aspect may be the part of his job that Matt Erickson enjoys the most.

 

The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers manager loves the challenge of turning potential into production.

 

Erickson will get plenty of opportunities to keep his instructional skills sharp while trying to defend the Midwest League championship with a talented Timber Rattlers team that lacks experience.

 

“We’re going to have a very young club, but it’s probably the highest-ceiling ballclub we’ve had in five years,” Erickson said Tuesday at the team’s media day. “It’s probably the best talent we’ve brought here in five years, but it’s also the youngest team. We’re going to have a 19-year-old (Clint Coulter) behind the plate, an 18-year-old (Orlando Arcia) at short and a 19-year-old (Tyrone Taylor) in center. So we’re really young up the middle. I’m excited what kind of progress we’ll make.”

 

When Wisconsin opens the season Thursday at Peoria, the Rattlers will return just six players from last year’s championship team and no starting position player with the possible exception of outfielder Mitch Haniger, who played 14 games with the Rattlers before suffering a season-ending knee injury.

 

The revamped Rattlers roster includes 15 players selected in last year’s major league baseball draft, plus two No. 1 picks from 2012 — Haniger and Coulter — along with a second-round selection in outfielder Tyrone Taylor.

 

Wisconsin will start the season with five players ranked among the Milwaukee Brewers’ top-30 prospects by Baseball America. Coulter and Haniger are rated ninth and 10th, respectively, followed by Taylor (15), Arcia (17) and pitcher Jorge Lopez (23).

 

A year ago, the Rattlers opened the year with just three prospects rated among the organizations’ top 30. That didn’t stop Wisconsin from exceeding expectations and winning the Midwest League title. This year’s squad appears to have more raw talent, but matching last year’s success will be a tough task considering it’s a brand-new team.

 

“Our No. 1 goal is player development,” said Erickson. “We need to get them better and move them along and get them one step closer to their dream. At the same time, we’re all very competitive people. We’re trying to win games every time we step onto the field.”

 

Pitching and defense were the strengths of the wildly successful 2012 team, but that might not be the case this summer. Brent Suter and Mike Strong, a pair of left-handers, and right-hander Eric Semmelheck are the only returnees on the pitching staff. Meanwhile, defense was a bit of an issue in spring training.

 

On the other hand, Erickson liked what he saw at the plate.

 

“There were days when we swung the bat real good,” said Erickson, who is starting his third season as Timber Rattlers manager. “I think we’re going to have some tough outs in this lineup. We were inconsistent taking care of the baseball, which drove me nuts. We’ll spend a lot of time early in the year working on defense.

 

“But it’s a good group of guys. I think we’ll have another good clubhouse, which was essential to the success we had last year.”

 

Additional players returning from last year’s championship team are infielder Mike Garza and catcher Parker Berberet. Catcher Brent Dean was on Wisconsin’s roster briefly, but didn’t play in a game.

 

“Being here last year was great,” said Suter. “That team had such good chemistry and camaraderie and played to win every night. “It’s a little weird having so many guys gone. A couple of us have already told the guys that if we want to be like last year’s team, we have to play together as a group and sacrifice for the good of the team. If you do that, good things will happen.”

 

Wagner to start opener

 

Tyler Wagner, a 22-year right-hander from Las Vegas, will be the Rattlers’ opening-day starting pitcher in Peoria. Wagner was Milwaukee’s fourth-round pick in the 2012 draft

 

Damien Magnifico, a 21-year-out right-hander, will start for the Rattlers Friday followed by Suter on Saturday and Lopez on Sunday. Preston Gainey, a 22-year-old right-hander, will start the Rattlers’ home opener Monday night against the Cedar Rapids Kernels.

 

“It’s definitely an honor,” said Wagner. “I didn’t find out until today and it was a nice surprise. I’ll probably have a few butterflies with it being opening day, but you have to treat it like any other game.”

 

Rattlers' house looking sharp

 

Suter was among the players who raved about the $6.2 million renovation that took place over the winter at Fox Cities Stadium.

 

“It’s unreal,” said Suter. “The luxury boxes are incredible and the weight room is awesome. This stadium was great last year and it’s really top-notch now. Fort Wayne was the best ballpark I had ever played in, but I’d say our stadium probably ties it now.”

 

Second mascot added

 

Fang, the team’s long-time mascot, will have some company this summer. The Timber Rattlers will introduce a second mascot named Whiffer.

 

No dead ringer

 

One of the countless promotions the Rattlers will offer will be Matt Erickson Bobblehead Night, scheduled for Monday’s home opener. Erickson, though, isn’t sure his face bears much resemblance to the bobblehead.

 

“They sent us a picture of it and my son looked at it and said, ‘Dad, you look just like Barack Obama.’ I don’t know what that means.”

 

Remembering Davis

 

Erickson wasn’t surprised to see former Timber Rattlers outfielder Khris Davis land a job with the Brewers after showing considerable power in spring training.

 

“He can flat-out hit and he proved that again in spring training,” Erickson said. “When he was here, he wasn’t real consistent with his pitch selection. But when he swung at strikes, he’d put the barrel of the bat on the ball and hit with power to all fields. It was exciting to watch him in spring training. I wish him the best with the Brewers.”

[Mass Haas]

Video interviews with LHP Brent Suter, OF Mitch Haniger and RHP Tyler Wagner

[TracyThom]

The T-Rats have added a second mascot to go with Fang. Its name is Whizzer, and it's a ... something.

 

http://www.fox11online.com/dpp/sports/new-timber-rattlers-mascot

[TURBO]

Almost positive WHIFFER will also be the MYSTERY bobblehead this year since I heard through the grapevine the mystery bobble would not be a player.

 

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/c67.0.403.403/p403x403/40831_559598224080773_1136414629_n.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Cream City Cables:

 

Down On The Farm: Talking Baseball With Brewers Prospects Clint Coulter and Mitch Haniger

[Mass Haas]

Brief video interview at link

 

Taylor proves to be intriguing prospect for Timber Rattlers

by Tim Froberg, Post-Crescent Media

 

GRAND CHUTE — Tyrone Taylor decided his future was on the diamond after attending a Pac-12 football game late in his sensational California prep athletic career.

 

The dynamic two-sport athlete took a good look at the behemoths in shoulder pads and knew that baseball was the route he should go.

 

“It was a UCLA-USC game and we were up there pretty close, and I saw how big those guys were,” said Taylor. “I started thinking, ‘Those guys would tear me to shreds.”’

 

Instead, the speedy 19-year-old center fielder will focus on tearing up Midwest League pitching in his first full season of professional baseball with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

 

Taylor’s potential is intriguing. He was the Milwaukee Brewers’ second-round draft pick (92nd overall) in the 2012 Major League Baseball draft and is rated by Baseball America as the organization’s 15th best prospect. He is also ranked by the same publication as the No. 1 athlete in the Milwaukee farm system.

 

Prior to being drafted, Taylor had committed to Cal State-Fullerton, but signed with the Brewers for $750,000 — well above Major League Baseball’s recommended pick value of $523,600 for the slot. As a senior at Torrance High School, Taylor hit .488 with four home runs and 29 RBI. He excelled on the gridiron, too, rushing for 1,521 yards and scoring 31 touchdowns as a running back, while making 190 tackles as a ballhawking safety.

 

“He’s athletic and he’s definitely one of the fastest, most explosive athletes in the organization,” said Wisconsin manager Matt Erickson. “The first thing that jumps out at you is speed.”

 

Taylor, a right-handed hitter, got off to a terrific start in the Brewers’ organization late last season. In 18 games of rookie league ball for Arizona and Helena, Taylor hit .389 and .385 with six stolen bases, two home runs and 11 RBI.

 

The 6-foot-1, 198-pound Taylor has been batting leadoff for the Rattlers. He is a line-drive hitter with the potential to develop power and makes good contact at the plate.

 

In seven games this season, he is hitting .226 with seven hits, three doubles and four RBI in 31 plate appearances.

 

“One of the things that stood out about him in spring training was that his pitch selection was really good for a young man,” said Erickson. “He didn’t chase out of the zone too much. He tries to stay inside the ball and hit line drives up the middle and the other way, but he can pop one to the pull side, too. We want him to stay consistent with his pitch selection and hit the ball where it’s pitched.”

 

Taylor isn’t the type to coast on his talent.

 

“I like to think I’m a toolsey guy, but I’m a hard worker, too” said Taylor. “I play the game hard and I play it the right way. Speed is lot of my game and I know one of the most important things for me is to put the bat on the ball.”

 

According to Erickson, former No. 1 draft pick Mitch Haniger and Michael Reed will also get some opportunities to play center field, but Taylor will likely start the majority of Wisconsin’s games in center. Taylor can cover considerable ground with his above-average speed, but Erickson and his staff will closely monitor his throwing. Taylor injured his throwing arm last summer and the Brewers shut him down for about a month. He says it’s no longer a problem.

 

“The Brewers put me on a really good rehab program to build the strength back and then put me on a throwing program,” said Taylor. “It feels great now, 100 percent.”

 

Taylor’s development on the basepaths will be a key to his future since he can fly.

 

“We really didn’t try and steal a ton of bases in spring training, but he certainly has the speed to be a threat,” said Erickson. ”In spring training, Reggie Williams (an outfield and baserunning instructor for the Brewers) noticed that he had a tendency to come up too high out of his stance when he’s breaking to second. He’s got to work on staying lower and on his secondary leads to become a more consistent baserunner, rather than not just relying on his speed.”

 

Erickson likes the upbeat attitude Taylor has shown since arriving in Grand Chute and sees him as a good fit in the clubhouse.

 

“He always has a smile on his face,” said Erickson. “I like his temperament and demeanor. You’re not going to see him moping around the locker room.”

 

And Taylor has had plenty of opportunities to mope since he’s playing in cold weather for the first time.

 

“It’s been really cold here, but I think I’ll get used to it,” said Taylor. “All the guys say you just have to battle through it. This is a nice place to play. It’s a good bunch of guys and the stadium is awesome. It should be a fun year.”

 

http://cmsimg.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=U0&Date=20130413&Category=APC020602&ArtNo=304130466&Ref=AR&MaxW=300&Border=0&Taylor-proves-intriguing-prospect-Timber-Rattlers

[Mass Haas]

Rattler Radio Blog - Walkup Music

 

Nice going, Damien Magnifico - makes sense...

[Mass Haas]

Bob Brainerd's excellent Timber Rattler feature articles commence for 2013 - first up, Mitch Haniger

 

Mitch in Time

[Mass Haas]

Link includes a video interview w/Haniger

 

Healthy Mitch Haniger starting to show off his tools for Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

Rattlers outfielder has three hits in defeat

by Tim Froberg, Post-Crescent Media

 

GRAND CHUTE — When he relaunched his promising professional baseball career last fall following a season-ending knee injury, Mitch Haniger had a tough time playing the game without thinking of the knee.

 

That’s no longer a problem and a healthy Haniger is heating up like Wisconsin’s spring temperatures.

 

Haniger went three-for-four at the plate Sunday in the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers’ 6-3 loss to the South Bend Silver Hawks and has collected five hits in his last eight at-bats to raise his season batting average to .309.

 

The prized, multiple-tool outfield prospect leads the Timber Rattlers with 12 RBI and is tied for the team lead in home runs (2) and second in slugging percentage (.466). The 22-year-old Haniger can run and has three stolen bases, while showing defensive skills and a strong arm in right field.

 

“He’s a solid ballplayer and kind of a three-dimensional guy because he can do more than just hit,” said Wisconsin manager Matt Erickson. “He made a diving catch the other day and he’s made some decent plays in the outfield. He also scored from first on a single and an error Saturday, so he’s shown some speed, too.”

 

Ultimately, though, Haniger’s bat is what may get him to Miller Park. He was the last of three first-round picks (No. 38 overall) by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2012 draft behind current teammates Clint Coulter (No. 27) and Victor Roache (No. 28).

 

The Brewers started Haniger with the Timber Rattlers last summer, but he played just 14 games before suffering a partial tear of his posterior cruciate ligament on a slide to home plate. The Milwaukee organization shut him down the rest of the minor league season before Haniger reported back to work in the fall for instructional league play in Arizona.

 

“During instructional league play, yeah, I’d think about the knee,” admitted Haniger. “But once I started to train in the offseason and began lifting weights to get stronger, I stopped thinking about it. It doesn’t even enter my mind anymore. I’m just trying to focus on the next day and not worry about what happened in the past. I knew I’d get back to full strength. It was just a matter of time and I felt ready to go this year.”

 

The right-handed-hitting Haniger can drive the ball out of the park, but makes good contact at the plate and has struck out just seven times in his first 68 at-bats. During his recent hot streak, he has been content finding holes with singles.

 

“I’m just trying to keep it simple,” said Haniger. “The power numbers will come. Right now, I’m just trying to square the ball up and hit the ball hard.”

 

Haniger is part of a talented group of highly rated Milwaukee draft picks on the Timber Rattlers roster. Roache is rated by Baseball America as the Brewers’ seventh-best prospect, while Coulter (No. 8), Haniger (No. 10), outfielder Tyrone Taylor (No. 15) and shortstop Orlando Arcia (No. 17) are also ranked among Milwaukee’s top 20 prospects.

 

And fans are stopping by Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium to check out these prospects. The Timber Rattlers had strong attendance numbers of 3,644 and 4,934 in back-to-back games Saturday and Sunday

 

“I think it brings out a lot of fans,” said Haniger. “It’s fun playing with a couple other guys that were in your draft class. This team is going to be really good.”

 

Taylor, a second-round selection in the 2012 draft, and Coulter also made offensive contributions Sunday. Taylor smacked a leadoff home run in the opening inning, while Coulter delivered a game-tying single in the bottom of the eighth.

 

It was Taylor’s second homer of the season.

 

“He’s an interesting player,” said Erickson. “Hitting home runs isn’t really his game. He’s going to try and work counts and get on base and hit the ball to all fields. But every once in awhile, he’ll jump a first pitch and show power to the pull side.”

[Mass Haas]

Online article / video report / interview: Timber Rattlers Pitcher Austin Blaski Feeling at Home at Fox Cities Stadium

[Mass Haas]

Via Bob Brainerd - Catch of the Day (Clint Coulter)

[Mass Haas]

Victor Roache Fox11 Video Report

[Mass Haas]

Bob Brainerd's latest is on OF Tyrone Taylor

[Mass Haas]

Bob Brainerd with another excellent player profile read, this time fireballing Damien Magnifico

[Mass Haas]

LINK INCLUDES VIDEO INTERVIEW

 

Timber Rattlers pitcher Jorge Lopez gaining confidence on mound

Rattlers pitcher showing signs of potential

by Tim Froberg, Post-Crescent Media

 

GRAND CHUTE — Jorge Lopez has a big arm and a high ceiling.

 

He’s the youngest pitcher on the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers’ roster and the highest-rated pitching prospect.

 

That’s why patience has been shown the past few months with the 20-year-old right-hander.

 

And it’s starting to pay off.

 

Lopez has struggled for much of the 2013 season, but delivered his second consecutive quality start Sunday in Wisconsin’s 7-5 Midwest League win over the visiting Peoria Chiefs.

 

Lopez, a second-round pick by Milwaukee in the 2011 Major League Baseball draft, allowed three runs on six hits in six innings to pick up the mound win. Mixing an effective curve and change-up with a low-90s fastball, Lopez was sharp for five of his six innings. Four of the hits he allowed came in a three-run Peoria second inning, but none of those hits were smoked and Lopez calmly worked out of a jam which could have produced a much different result.

 

Although his numbers (2-4, 8.33 ERA) aren’t good, Lopez is coming on. In his previous start on May 23 against Quad Cities, Lopez threw six hitless innings to pick up his first win of the season.

 

“He’s building some confidence,” said Wisconsin manager Matt Erickson. “He’s had a couple of nice outings in a row and, hopefully, he’s one of those guys who continues to get better each time he goes out there.”

 

When Lopez faced Peoria earlier in the season on April 7, the results were dreary: six runs on six hits — including three home runs. But Lopez was a different pitcher Sunday and didn’t surrender an extra-base hit.

 

“When he started the year with us, he was kind of wide-eyed and although he had a nice arm, he really didn’t seem to know what he was doing out there,” said Erickson. “I don’t care how good your arm is, if they know it’s coming, they’re going to get good swings on you. He’s doing a better job now of attacking the zone and getting ahead in counts.”

 

Lopez, whose fastball tops out around 95 mph, is rated by Baseball America as Milwaukee’s 23rd-best prospect and is one of four Timber Rattlers ranked among the Brewers’ top 30.

 

“I had good command of my fastball today,” said Lopez. “I got a few up in the third inning, but was confident in all my pitches. The thing I need to do is keep throwing strikes.”

 

Lopez grew up in Puerto Rico, where he graduated from Caguas Military Academy and became the country’s second-highest drafted pitcher ever, behind only Luis Atilano, who was chosen by Atlanta in the supplemental round of the 2003 MLB draft.

 

In addition to being ranked as the top pitching prospect in Puerto Rico, Lopez was considered to be one of the country’s premier volleyball players.

 

“Sometimes, I miss volleyball,” said Lopez. “Baseball is my job and volleyball is like a hobby for me. I can jump and put the ball down.”

 

If he keeps the ball down on the diamond, the 6-foot-4, 186-pound Lopez has the arm talent to rise through the Brewers’ farm system.

 

“He’s a guy who if he continues to learn to set up his pitches, he could be a good one,” said Erickson. “He’s got the ideal body type, where he could develop into a workhorse. He has to keep learning.”

 

Rattlers pitcher Jorge Lopez makes a throw to first against the Peoria Chiefs on Sunday in Grand Chute. / Photo by Ron Page/Post-Crescent Media

 

http://cmsimg.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=U0&Date=20130603&Category=APC020602&ArtNo=306030188&Ref=AR&MaxW=600&Border=0

[Mass Haas]

Taylor ahead of schedule

Prospect for Brewers has chip on shoulder

By Josh Flickinger, Beloit Daily News

 

Tyrone Taylor read the scouting reports. Both amateur and professional scouting types alike tabbed him as a “tools” guy.

 

While a compliment to his impressive physical attributes, the implication was that Taylor was not refined, needed coaching and a lot of work on the fundamentals.

 

The 19-year-old native of Torrance, Calif., is surprising many of those experts by putting up solid numbers across the board in his first full season of professional baseball. A second-round selection of the Milwaukee Brewers in 2012, Taylor is hitting .279 with 17 extra-base hits including four home runs to go along with 14 stolen bases in 17 attempts for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

 

He used the scouting reports as fuel for the fire heading into this season.

 

“I read all those things about me,” Taylor said. “It kind of put a little chip on my shoulder. I’ve been playing baseball all my life. I’ve never really thought of myself as a raw guy.”

 

After the Brewers selected him, Taylor quickly signed and proceeded to hit .387 in the first 18 games of his professional career, starting in the rookie Arizona League followed by a stint with Helena in the Pioneer League.

 

Taylor’s first season would have an unfortunate finish as he was shut down with a shoulder injury.

 

“It was tough,” Taylor said. “Coming into the season I felt about 90 percent. I had to be the designated hitter for two weeks and then I think I came back on the field a little too soon. The Brewers handled it really well. I had good training and rehab and feel 100 percent now.”

 

Timber Rattlers manager Matt Erickson likes what he sees out of his center fielder.

 

“He’s a guy that we hold in high regard,” Erickson said. “He’s obviously athletic, can run and has great hand-eye coordination. The thing that stands out most to me is his pitch selection. For a 19-year old to have a feel for the strike zone the way he does is impressive. If you can do that, command the strike zone, no matter how old you are, you are usually going to have success, especially with the tools he has.”

 

Taylor has struck out just 26 times in 219 at-bats, and although he has walked just 16 times this season, six of those have come in the last 10 games, during which he has batted .472.

 

“He was scheduled to be our leadoff guy,” Erickson said. “But we had some guys get called up in the middle of our lineup. So we dropped him to the three spot and didn’t really ask him to do anything different. He’s one of our most consistent hitters. He’s done everything we’ve asked. Over the course of the first half, you can see his confidence growing as he has success.”

 

His ability on the defensive side was evident Tuesday when he caught a sinking line drive and then threw a rocket to first base to double up Matt Olson at first.

 

“I actually didn’t get a good read on that ball,” Taylor said. “And I also couldn’t see very well because of the twilight sky. But when I caught it and saw him off the bag, I was pretty excited. I do pride myself on my defense.”

 

Asked which area he has improved the most since being drafted, Taylor had a quick response.

 

“I think my hitting for sure,” Taylor said. “I remember the first time I hit off a tee in front of the hitting coach Sandy Guerrero. He was like ‘Holy cow, this kid is going to need a lot of work.’ But they taught me a few things and I’m a pretty quick learner.”

 

Brewers fans have had a difficult time getting excited about the team currently occupying Miller Park. They would be well served to closely follow the exploits of Taylor in the next few years.

 

“I’ve been in the league five years now,” Erickson said. “And we haven’t had a lot of high school kids come here and have immediate offensive success. Because of his pitch selection and his mature approach, I’m not surprised at his success after getting to know him.”

 

Tyrone Taylor, shown here batting against Beloit Tuesday evening, is one of the top prospects in the Milwaukee Brewers organization. Staff photo by Josh Flickinger

 

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/beloitdailynews.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/5c/35c881ce-d43f-11e2-bc17-0019bb2963f4/51b9e78415b99.image.jpg

[BrewCrewForever]

I am starting to get quote excited for Taylor's potential. Going to a game next month in Appleton, very excited to see him in person.