Who’s making a strong case for playing time in Arizona? Keep an eye on these three
As Spring Training nears the halfway point, the Brewers are fully in the midst of the Cactus League grind.
While the team’s stars are merely tuning up for the regular season, others on the squad are vying for a roster spot.
Here are three players that have made an early case for playing time as this spring’s standouts.
1. Keston Hiura, 1B
It’s been a bumpy road for the Crew’s former top prospect.
After earning the Major League call in 2019, Hiura immediately emerged as a key contributor while slashing .303/.368/.570 in 84 games as a rookie. Since then, the 2017 first-round pick has struggled to make consistent contact and fallen out of the lineup – he played just 61 games while bouncing back and forth between the Majors and Triple-A Nashville in 2021.
Hiura took this offseason to adjust his swing and timing mechanism, and the early results are promising. In his first three Cactus League games, Hiura’s accumulated three hits, a walk and four RBI in eight plate appearances, including a home run.
The sample size is minimal – and Spring Training performances can be deceiving – but finding results are an important step as Hiura tries to get both his confidence and his swing back on track.
While it’s uncertain what Hiura’s role will be in 2022, he’s only helped his case so far in Arizona.
2. Luis Perdomo, RHP
The Brewers signed Perdomo to a Minor League deal back in 2020, hoping the tantalizing righty would compete for a roster spot once he recovered from Tommy John surgery. Now, finally healthy, Perdomo is showing some encouraging signs early in camp.
Through two spring appearances, Perdomo has retired all nine batters he’s faced. His success came against quality competition, too – among those nine include big names like Yasmani Grandal, Adolis Garcia, Yoan Moncada and Eloy Jimenez.
A heavy sinkerball pitcher, Perdomo brings MLB experience to the table, having pitched in 133 games over five seasons for the Padres. He hasn’t appeared in an MLB game since his elbow injury in 2020, but is hoping to break camp with the Crew this season.
3. Ethan Small, RHP
Unlike Hiura and Perdomo, Small is yet to make the leap to the Big Leagues. But the Brewers No. 8 prospect is hoping that will change in 2022.
Picked in the first round in 2019, the Mississippi State product has excelled in the Minor Leagues with a 1.74 ERA over two full seasons. After dominating in nine Triple-A games last year, Small has been an active participant in the Crew’s MLB camp, even starting their Cactus League opener vs. the Dodgers on March 18.
Small looked the part while pitching two innings at Camelback Ranch, surrendering just one walk and striking out two. Like Perdomo, that success is even more impressive when you factor in the quality of hitters he faced – including striking out 2019 MVP Cody Bellinger and perennial MVP candidate Trea Turner.
Small will likely start the season in the Minors, and he has much to prove before he gets his Big League call. Yet, fans should still be encouraged by his positive start down in Arizona.