What's Turang's future?

[monty57]

I haven't followed the farm system as much as I used to, so I wanted to get everyone's opinion on this.

It is very likely that the Brewers will not exercise Wong's option, leaving an opening in the 2023 Brewer infield. Being the Brewers' top infield prospect, that would seem to open up a huge opportunity for him. From those who know more about his game than I do, what seems to be the most likely scenario?
 

1) Turang takes over second base.

2) Turang takes over third base with Urias moving to second.

3) Turang takes over shortstop with Adames moving to third and Urias moving to second.

4) Turang plays a utility role, with someone like Brosseau or a FA pick-up starting.

5) Turang isn't ready yet, and stays in the minors to start 2023.

 

I look forward to hearing your thoughts. I put this in the Minor League forum because Turang is a prospect, but if a moderator thinks this should be in the MLB forum, feel free to move it there.

[sveumrules]

After posting -8 DRS during his first 628 innings at SS in 2018, Adames has been at +14 DRS over 3466 innings since 2019. Even if Turang is a better fielder, I don't think they'll move Adames off SS.

Small samples all around but Urias has graded out better at 3B (+7 DRS | 872 innings) than 2B (+2 DRS | 672 innings), & his bat profiles better at third so I would imagine he would stay there.

Which leaves option 1 as the most likely in my opinion. Even if his wRC+ is only in the 85 or so range, with plus defense & plus base running (17/1 SB/CS so far this year) that should shake out around 2 WAR or so which wouldn't be terrible for a 23 year old rookie. 

[JohnBriggs12]

Turang isn't being groomed to be a utility player.  Barring Adames being locked up with a multi year contract, I think he moves to 3B, and Urias goes to 2B.  

[Outlander]

My guess is they keep Adames at SS for the most part and play Turang at 2B as a strong side of a platoon. Can use Brosseau at second or third against lefties and move Urias around to wherever Brosseau isn't against lefties. Having Turang and Urias should eliminate the need for a Pablo Reyes type guy on the 40 man. Would really consider him over Davis right now.

[Lathund]

I agree that Brewers are unlikely to exercise the team option on Wong, and that Turang will be up next year in some capacity. I think exactly which role he plays will depend a bit on what other moves are made. If somehow a great 2B becomes available for much below their true value, Brewers will go with that. But as the roster stands right now for next year (So no Wong, Peterson or Cutch) it makes sense that Turang is pencilled into the 2B position (He hasn't played 3B at all in the minors, while Urias looks good there. So the idea that Turang plays 3B and Urias 2B seems highly unlikely), while also seeing some time as the backup at SS and CF. But really, circumstances will dictate. "No plan survives contact with the regular MLB season" as the old saying goes. 

But he'll definitely be up sooner rather than later IMO. His league-average ish production in AAA is entirely down to a lack of power; batting average and OBP are good, he's not overwhelmed and striking out a ton. Combine that with good defense at 3 up the middle positions and good baserunning, and it's easy to justify a roster spot while waiting to see if the power will show up. 

[Robocaller]

1 hour ago, sveumrules said:

After posting -8 DRS during his first 628 innings at SS in 2018, Adames has been at +14 DRS over 3466 innings since 2019. Even if Turang is a better fielder, I don't think they'll move Adames off SS.

Small samples all around but Urias has graded out better at 3B (+7 DRS | 872 innings) than 2B (+2 DRS | 672 innings), & his bat profiles better at third so I would imagine he would stay there.

Which leaves option 1 as the most likely in my opinion. Even if his wRC+ is only in the 85 or so range, with plus defense & plus base running (17/1 SB/CS so far this year) that should shake out around 2 WAR or so which wouldn't be terrible for a 23 year old rookie. 

How could someone's bat profile better at 3B than 2B? If he's + hitter for a 3B, he's + hitter for 2B.

 

[Robocaller]

1 hour ago, JohnBriggs12 said:

Turang isn't being groomed to be a utility player.  Barring Adames being locked up with a multi year contract, I think he moves to 3B, and Urias goes to 2B.  

Not permanently, but clearly he's being groomed to be a utility player. He wouldn't be playing CF otherwise.

 

[Joseph Zarr]

1 minute ago, Robocaller said:

Not permanently, but clearly he's being groomed to be a utility player. He wouldn't be playing CF otherwise.

 

If you aren't Jackson Chourio you're playing multiple positions all across the Farm. Frelick plays all over the OF. Wiemer as well. Tyler Black plays 2B and CF. Jakson Reetz plays C and LF (he's definitely not an OF'er). Tristan Peters plays all OF spots. Felix Valerio plays LF and 2B - he's definitely not a LF'er. What I'm suggesting is: the best athletes and the best hitters in the system are simply moved around to give them more opportunities to stay in the line-up. I guess, then, what I'm also saying is our idea of what a 'Utility' player is might be changing. Also, in Nashville, given they currently have a mere 3 true OF'ers on their rosters and not a single healhty true CF'er I'd take it with a grain of salt. Rick Sweet is on record, twice already this year, saying: Brice Turang is a shortstop. My meaningless 2 centavos.

[Brewcrew82]

1 minute ago, Joseph Zarr said:

If you aren't Jackson Chourio you're playing multiple positions all across the Farm. Frelick plays all over the OF. Wiemer as well. Tyler Black plays 2B and CF. Jakson Reetz plays C and LF (he's definitely not an OF'er). Tristan Peters plays all OF spots. Felix Valerio plays LF and 2B - he's definitely not a LF'er. What I'm suggesting is: the best athletes and the best hitters in the system are simply moved around to give them more opportunities to stay in the line-up. I guess, then, what I'm also saying is our idea of what a 'Utility' player is might be changing. Also, in Nashville, given they currently have a mere 3 true OF'ers on their rosters and not a single healhty true CF'er I'd take it with a grain of salt. Rick Sweet is on record, twice already this year, saying: Brice Turang is a shortstop. My meaningless 2 centavos.

@Joseph Zarr And even with Chourio there's talk of playing him at SS at some point, is there not? Though, his position in the majors will almost certainly be CF....

[Joseph Zarr]

6 minutes ago, Brewcrew82 said:

@Joseph Zarr And even with Chourio there's talk of playing him at SS at some point, is there not? Though, his position in the majors will almost certainly be CF....

Honestly, that talk has absolutely fallen off this season. All the talk has been of why he was moved to CF and why he'll stick or why it works. Plus, Eduardo Garcia is the daily SS there and he needs all those reps. BUT, as always, these things are flexible as they move through the system. The best 'case and point' we have for this is witnessing the DSL signings (granted, this is at the extreme as this is typically the youngest professional players around) positional prognostications, and then where the players actually play. It's all a chess board is what I'm saying. 

[damuelle]

Rover playing backup shortstop, lots of 2nd base and some center field is my guess, but that’s after we have him spend some quality time at 2nd base in AAA later this year and early next year.

I’ll also venture to say that we won’t blow Turang’s first option year in 2023 like we foolishly did with Hiura in 2019, so he may have to spend more time in AAA than most of us would like.

[Robocaller]

1 hour ago, Joseph Zarr said:

If you aren't Jackson Chourio you're playing multiple positions all across the Farm. Frelick plays all over the OF. Wiemer as well. Tyler Black plays 2B and CF. Jakson Reetz plays C and LF (he's definitely not an OF'er). Tristan Peters plays all OF spots. Felix Valerio plays LF and 2B - he's definitely not a LF'er. What I'm suggesting is: the best athletes and the best hitters in the system are simply moved around to give them more opportunities to stay in the line-up. I guess, then, what I'm also saying is our idea of what a 'Utility' player is might be changing. Also, in Nashville, given they currently have a mere 3 true OF'ers on their rosters and not a single healhty true CF'er I'd take it with a grain of salt. Rick Sweet is on record, twice already this year, saying: Brice Turang is a shortstop. My meaningless 2 centavos.

They're playing multiple positions so they can play multiple positions in the majors, at least when they are first brought up. Tyler Black is a 2b, but if he can also play OF, he'll be more usable as a bench piece when he makes the majors.

 

[ClosetBrewerFan]

I think he will have a good opportunity to win the 2b job out of spring training next year.  Brousseau is a nice platoon partner for him and for emergency.  This is a nice way to keep payroll down and at least get good defense and OBP.  They may still bring in a veteran to challenge him but I'm sure they will give Turang every opportunity to win the job.  

[TigerUppercut]

6.)  Turang is packaged at the deadline or in the off-season for a bat.

[Jim French Stepstool]

23 hours ago, ClosetBrewerFan said:

I think he will have a good opportunity to win the 2b job out of spring training next year.  Brousseau is a nice platoon partner for him and for emergency.  This is a nice way to keep payroll down and at least get good defense and OBP.  They may still bring in a veteran to challenge him but I'm sure they will give Turang every opportunity to win the job.  

That's where I'm at. Another thing I like is that he should be the SS behind Adames. Even with the versatility Urias possesses I think it'll be good for him to just entrench at 3B. He isn't playing any 2B (that I know of) in Nashville but that shouldn't be much of a transition.

[AJOHNSON104]

As the roster is currently constructed, I think Turang ends up playing mostly 2B next year with a some SS and a little CF. He seems to be a better SS than Urias, so I could see them using him as the primary SS backup. Trades (maybe even including him) could change this though.