Brice Turang Promoted to AAA

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Right now, Turang's statistical comp is Arcia. That's being generous, because Turang's OBP skills were far superior to Arcia's at those lower levels - so his relative drop is WORSE than the Arcia drop. If Turang ends up like Arcia, we will not even get 2.5 WAR over six seasons.

 

I agree the Brewers need to take their chances with prospects. My point is that it's hard to argue that Weston Wilson isn't more deserving of that chance than Turang. Or what about Jamie Westbrook? How about David Fry, a huge bat that is highly versatile?

 

For middle infield, my ballot has Korry Howell, Wilson, Valerio, and Cantrelle ahead of Turang. Plus, both Fry and Zavier Warren have seen some middle infield time (Warren's a shortstop they're converting to catcher. I'm interested in seeing if David Hamilton, Eduardo Garcia, Freddy Zamora, and Westbrook can really emerge as well.

 

I also get that trading prospects, even a Cooper Hummel, a Garrett Cooper, or a Mitch Haniger, also comes with risks as well. It's why my bias would have been to call up Hummel when Vogelbach got hurt. It's what the Crew did successfully with Trent Grisham (who got turned into Urias).

 

When it comes down to it, I think trading someone who profiles as a left-handed Arcia offensively is a smaller risk than dealing a Cooper Hummel, who struck me as a Mickey Tettleton-type offensively.

 

Except there are a few key differences between Turang and Arcia. The question with Turang is will be develop power. Arcia developed it, he just couldn't utilize it much because of other issues. Arcia is also much more of a pull hitter whereas Turang is a spray line drives to all fields guy. I'm sure you could find more applicable negative comps as well, but his statistical profile from Biloxi seems much more akin to Wong or Adam Frazier or the recent version of Miguel Rojas than Arcia. That type of profile can play, especially when it is attached to a solid middle infield defender.

 

Also, the Brewers started the year with three healthy shortstops on their full season minor league rosters (Turang, Hamilton, Zamora) and one who was injured (Pinero). A lot of guys have seen time at shortstop simply because someone has to play there.

 

If Turang emerges as a Wong type of offensive profile at short, that would not be bad. But I think Wilson, despite the fact that his time at shortstop has been sporadic, but a .956 fielding percentage isn't too shabby for 25 games over his minor league career. He's had 55 games at second in that time. He's primarily a corner infielder, but looks like a very competent middle infielder who can handle the corner outfield spots as well (4 assists from right field in 28 games). His bat has far fewer questions than Turang's at this point.

 

LOL. Weston Wilson will be 27 next month. He has a career minors OPS of .776. I know your schtick is to be contrarian, but come on, dude. This take is over the top, even for you.

[DuWayne Steurer]

I mean, there are hundreds, literally hundreds of guys in the minors who profile like Hummel. High OBP and a bit of power. To say that he could hit like Mickey Tettleton is such a stretch.

 

If you want to make your argument by taking a 26 year old AAA guy and comping him to Mickey T and then saying a top 5 guy is a left handed Arcia, I could counter that by saying Cooper Hummel comps out like a right handed Kevin Barker and Turang reminds me of a left handed Barry Larkin.

 

If the only thing you ever look at is minor league stats and ignore level, age, scouting reports, video and everything else, and toss in 4 games that a guy played at another position and pencil him in as the FT starter at that position, you'll convince yourself of just about anything.

 

For the record, I was sold on Todd Dunn hitting 350 homers at the big league level. Missed the boat on that one.

[yfinn6]

This is the poster who thinks it's still a good idea to play Ryan Braun at 3B.

[ClosetBrewerFan]

Back to topic, Turang is extremely young for AAA. Here is a list of Brewers middle infielders who are older than Turang.

 

Name, Age, Level

C. Devanney 24.3, AA

D. Hamilton 23.9, AA

Gabe Holt 23.6, A

F. Zamora 22.8, A

H. Cantrelle 22.7, A+

A. Pinero 22.4, A+

Y. Coca 22.2, A+

Z. Raabe 22.0, Rk

Turang 21.7, AAA

 

I'm willing to give him and the Brewers the benefit of the doubt. Let's see how he responds.