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Hiura's Future Position?

balsamlaker

By balsamlaker,
in Milwaukee Brewers Talk

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TURBO Nashville Sounds

TURBO

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Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns confirmed Friday that Keston Hiura will move to first base this season.

 

It was the expectation after the team signed Kolten Wong, a move they officially announced Friday. "We believe he can do this," Stearns said Friday of Hiura's move to first base. Hiura has only played second base as a pro, but he's been one of the worst fielders in baseball there and there's always been speculation that he could move positions eventually. It's happening probably earlier than the Brewers expected, but it's also likely for the best. With Hiura moving to first, Daniel Vogelbach is now a bench bat, assuming there's no universal designated hitter.

 

RELATED: Daniel Vogelbach

SOURCE: Tom Haudricourt on Twitter

Feb 5, 2021, 11:03 AM ET

"I'm sick of runnin' from these wimps!" Ajax - The WARRIORS
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monty57 ACL Brewers

monty57

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"We believe he can do this," Stearns said Friday of Hiura's move to first base.

 

With certain GM's that statement would be a sure sign that he's being traded. ;-)

 

If Hiura can play average defense at first base, he is going to be a long-term answer for a big question the Brewers had. I hope he's able to prove the naysayers wrong.

"The most successful (people) know that performance over the long haul is what counts. If you can seize the day, great. But never forget that there are days yet to come."

 

~Bill Walsh

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monty57 ACL Brewers

monty57

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I'm sure it happens a lot with other organizations but it sure seems like we have had a lot of players come up with good bats that are forced to move to 1B or the OF or we just have to get rid of them because they are terrible defensively.

 

I think Melvin liked power guys, and they made the majors because "the bat plays." Defense always seemed secondary during the Melvin era. Under Stearns, the Brewers seem to like athletic guys, and they've drafted a lot of middle infielders and center fielders. As they grow and develop, they're sometimes moved to corner positions, but I don't think it's been a big thing since Stearns has taken over. Of course, he hasn't had too many position players graduate to the majors.

 

Hiura is an odd case. He hurt his elbow in college and played DH there, and most people thought he would need elbow surgery after he was drafted. The Brewers didn't force him under the knife, but they too had him DH in the lower minor league levels.

 

Counsell has defended him by saying that he really hasn't had much time playing defense, so he thought that he'd get better as he got more reps. That may well be the case, but the Brewers need to win, so they can't let a player develop at the MLB level. There is reason for concern with him moving, but I think there is also reason to believe that he will do just fine at first base.

"The most successful (people) know that performance over the long haul is what counts. If you can seize the day, great. But never forget that there are days yet to come."

 

~Bill Walsh

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PeaveyFury Biloxi Shuckers

PeaveyFury

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"We believe he can do this," Stearns said Friday of Hiura's move to first base.

 

With certain GM's that statement would be a sure sign that he's being traded. ;-)

 

This was my first thought, actually. Seems like the dreaded 'vote of confidence' that usually precedes the exact opposite happening! :)

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Eye Black GOAT

Eye Black

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Via Adam McCalvy...

 

The Brewers have had a new Opening Day 1B every year since Prince Fielder left after 2011:

 

2012: Mat Gamel

2013: Alex Gonzalez

2014: Lyle Overbay

2015: Adam Lind

2016: Chris Carter

2017: Eric Thames

2018: Ryan Braun

2019: Jesus Aguilar

2020: Justin Smoak

2021: Keston Hiura?

Not just “at Night” anymore.
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sveumrules Carolina Mudcats

sveumrules

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Don’t you summon him when you say his name three times?

 

That is a very interesting list, I didn’t really realize how unsettled 1B has been for this long.

 

Luckily Stearns & company have been able to extract more value (118 wRC+, 9th & 9.5 WAR, 12th among 1B 2016-20) out of the post-Prince morass than Melvin & associates did (90 wRC+, 29th & -1.8 WAR, 29th among 1B 2012-15).

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Ron Robinsons Beard Biloxi Shuckers

Ron Robinsons Beard

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I had totally forgotten about Chris Carter's existence.

 

 

I had totally forgotten about Chris Carter's existence.

 

 

I had totally forgotten about Chris Carter's existence.

 

 

Clearly trying to ensure it doesn't happen again

 

It seems like Chris Carter was here a million years ago, but the guy just turned 34 years old.

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nate82 Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

nate82

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Via Adam McCalvy...

 

The Brewers have had a new Opening Day 1B every year since Prince Fielder left after 2011:

 

2012: Mat Gamel

2013: Alex Gonzalez

2014: Lyle Overbay

2015: Adam Lind

2016: Chris Carter

2017: Eric Thames

2018: Ryan Braun

2019: Jesus Aguilar

2020: Justin Smoak

2021: Keston Hiura?

 

[sarcasm]This list should really be who played 1B after the greatest 1B in Brewers history Yuniesky Betancourt in 2013![/sarcasm]

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MadScientist Draft Eligible

MadScientist

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[sarcasm]This list should really be who played 1B after the greatest 1B in Brewers history Yuniesky Betancourt in 2013![/sarcasm]

2013 saw Alex Gonzalez, Yuni B and Jaun Francisco man first base. What a horrible year for that position. I hope to never see something that bad again.

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MVP2110 ACL Brewers

MVP2110

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Not sure where to put this but with the news tonight that there will for sure be no DH in the NL what does that do for Vogelbach? He's a really good bat and I'd like to keep him on the team but his chances might have taken a severe hit. With him & Hiura both really being able to only play 1b I'm not sure where the ABs would come from besides as a pinch hitter, and the occasional start at 1st or DH
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MVP2110 ACL Brewers

MVP2110

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Not sure where to put this but with the news tonight that there will for sure be no DH in the NL what does that do for Vogelbach? He's a really good bat and I'd like to keep him on the team but his chances might have taken a severe hit. With him & Hiura both really being able to only play 1b I'm not sure where the ABs would come from besides as a pinch hitter, and the occasional start at 1st or DH
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