Nashville Hitters to Rescue the Brewers’ Struggling Offense?

From sadness that .395-hitting (in AA in 1987) LaVel Freeman never became an MLB regular to anger at the 1995 release of AL Rookie of the Month Troy O’Leary and frustration at the 2013-14 failure to promote .328-hitting Eugenio Velez to allow the poor man to break his 0-for-46 MLB hitless streak, some of us spend a disproportionate amount of time pulling for Brewers’ fringe players (and Curtis Pride, but that was a more fulfilling story).

But if there’s a charity case today, it’s the Brewers’ woeful offense, not our crop of “AAAA” veterans we have playing in Nashville. Here’s how that Brewer offense stacks up after nine games:

• 25th in OPS (.618)
• 28th in runs per game (2.78)
• 29th in home runs per game (0.56)

With at least one open 40-man MLB roster spot, 15-person pitching staff, and optionable position players like Mike Brosseau and Keston Hiura, why not roll the dice on two or three of our hottest hitters in AAA? Remember, these are non-roster guys who actually played a full spring training and are now into grooves that might benefit our slumping offense.

Without further ado, here are the top five early-season Sounds hitters that are just a phone call away from flying to Milwaukee to bolster the parent squad: 

David Dahl – OF – Left-Handed Hitter – 28 years old
Are you tired of seeing the Brewers send out two right-handed hitting outfielders against opposing right-handed starters? Have you already given up hope of Hunter Renfroe coming through in the clutch against an opposing righty? Former Colorado Rockies’ 2019 All-Star outfielder David Dahl may be the man for you.

Despite a Covid-disaster 2020 in Colorado (.470 OPS in 99 PAs) and similarly disappointing 2021 in Texas, Fanatic excitement around Dahl grew steadily with his August 2021 signing and .911 OPS in AAA Nashville, ultimately peaking with the December trade of fellow left-handed hitter Jackie Bradley Jr. With only one left-handed outfield bat (Yelich) remaining in an ocean of righties (Renfroe, Cain, McCutchen, Taylor), Dahl entered spring training with at least a chance to earn an MLB roster spot.

Of course, such roster spots are not served on a silver platter, and while Hiura and Tyrone Taylor starred in 2022 spring training, Dahl put together a dismal .538 OPS in 16 plate appearances.

But c’mon, the man just needed to shake off some rust. After a 2-for-19 start to the AAA season with no extra-base hits or RBIs, he’s 6-for-12 in his last three games, with two home runs, a double, and 7 RBIs. Mr. Dahl’s 2022 OPS in AAA is now up to a solid .808, and he’s ready to contribute on the big stage.

Weston Wilson – IF/OF – Right-Handed Hitter – 27 years old
The always-good, never-great 2016 17th round draft pick Wilson never seemed to make any prospect lists but consistently progressed nonetheless:

• 2016 - .887 OPS at Advanced Rookie Helena
• 2017 - .842 OPS at Low-A Wisconsin
• 2018 - .777 OPS at High-A Carolina
• 2019 - .739 OPS at AA Biloxi

Then after the lost 2020 season, Wilson stepped into AAA Nashville in 2021 and showed more power than expected: 16 home runs in 246 plate appearances, with a .902 OPS before having his season cut short in early August due to thoracic outlet syndrome.

With his consistent production, burgeoning power, and ability to play all over the field (2021: 20 starts at first base, 11 at shortstop, eight at second base, eight in the outfield, six at third base), some of us wondered whether an MLB club would take a flyer on Wilson in the offseason Rule 5 draft. But that draft was canceled for the first time since 1891.

How’s Mr. Wilson performing through his first eight games at AAA Nashville this year?:

• .375 AVG / .464 OBP / .583 SLG through 28 plate appearances
• 9-for-24 with one home run and two doubles
• eight runs scored and 6 RBIs
• four walks vs. six strikeouts
• five starts at third base, one at second base, one at first base

Whether it’s a Mike Brosseau swap or replacing Keston Hiura with a right-handed-hitting utility player (who hits better than Pablo Reyes), Weston Wilson is fully prepped to help the Brewers immediately.

Jon Singleton – 1B – Left-Handed Hitter – 30 years old
While perhaps not on the level of the remarkable comebacks of Josh Hamilton, Rick Ankiel, and Darryl Strawberry, a return to the majors for Jon Singleton would undoubtedly garner a solid bit of media attention.

A former can’t-miss prospect who reportedly signed the first-ever extension by a drafted prospect with no major league service time (guaranteed $10 million, up to $35 million five year contract with the Astros in June 2014), Singleton made his major league debut as a 22-year old shortly after that, mashing 13 home runs over the remainder of that season.

However, despite a solid 2015 in AAA, he struggled in his MLB opportunities, hitting .192 with one home run in 58 plate appearances, and was remarkably outrighted by November 2016, suspended 100 games in January 2018 for a third positive drug test (the first two were for marijuana in 2012) and released in May 2018.

Singleton’s last organized baseball game was on September 4, 2017, before playing for Diablos Rojos del Mexico in the Mexican League on June 8, 2021. Oh, how’d he perform en La Ciudad de Mexico? He posted a 1.196 OPS with 15 home runs in 137 at-bats, with 51 walks and 50 strikeouts. Wowsers! So much for easing back into it!

The Brewers signed Singleton in December 2021, and he’s been an immediate success in AAA Nashville, producing a .859 OPS over his first 38 plate appearances, including two doubles, a triple, two home runs, and six RBIs. Though he’s only drawn three walks against ten strikeouts thus far, this likely isn’t a concern if you look at his terrific BB/K ratios from 2014-2017 and 2021.

Could Mr. Singleton be the instant offense that the Brewers require? Or would it be impossible to pair him with left-handed-hitting Rowdy Tellez, forcing either Andrew McCutchen or Renfroe to the bench?

Tyler White – 1B – Right-Handed Hitter – 31 years old
As Jon Singleton faded out of Houston’s plans, Tyler White tried to step into the void. A 33rd-round pick in 2013, White efficiently worked his way to the big leagues, having his contract selected in April 2016 and hitting eight home runs in 276 plate appearances that season. After limited MLB action in 2017, White returned in a big way in 2018, putting up a 140+ OPS in 237 plate appearances, with 12 home runs.

Unfortunately for him, he disappointed in 2019, was designated for assignment in June, and struggled with the Dodgers as well, being outrighted in February 2020.

White regained his form at AAA Buffalo in 2021, with a .292 AVG / .424 OBP / .476 SLG in 353 plate appearances, including 13 home runs, 80 walks, and only 73 strikeouts, but didn’t get the promotion to the Blue Jays.

Though his 2022 start has not been other-worldly (.211 AVG / .375 OBP / .579 SLG in 24 plate appearances), perhaps Mr. White is the right-handed hitting platoon partner that the Brewers need at first base if Keston Hiura can’t quite put it together yet.

Mark Mathias – IF/OF – Right-Handed Hitter – 27 years old
I admit I was baffled when the Brewers traded a catching prospect and gave a 40-man roster spot in November 2019 to a 25-year infielder who’d only posted one encouraging OPS in his previous three seasons. But of course, the “In Stearns We Trust” motto runs deep, so I didn’t doubt the move.

Mathias then appeared to be a serviceable utility man for Craig Counsell’s 2020 squad, though in limited action (16 games, 36 plate appearances, mainly in the outfield) and was poised for a potentially bigger role in 2021 before a March shoulder injury shelved him for the entire season.

Designated for assignment in November 2021 and not claimed by any other club, Mr. Mathias is now doing his best to remind Brewers’ brass of why they grabbed him in the first place, with an early season .350 AVG / .435 OPS / .550 SLG through 23 plate appearances, all in the infield.

While Mathias doesn’t offer the pop of Weston Wilson, could his prior MLB experience playing for Manager Counsell give him a selection advantage

What do you think?  Who should be the first position player called up to Milwaukee from our minors system in 2022?