The Milwaukee Brewers have been a formidable team in the National League Central for some time now, boasting a mix of young talent and veteran experience.
Keston Hiura is one such young talent that has been making waves in the league, earning a reputation as a power-hitting second baseman.
However, recent rumors have suggested that Hiura may no longer be with the Brewers. So, is Keston Hiura still with the Brewers?.
Background Information
Keston Hiura, a second baseman for the Milwaukee Brewers, has been a pivotal player for the team since he made his debut in 2019.
However, his recent struggles at the plate have led to his demotion to Triple-A. In this article, we will discuss Hiura’s career with the Brewers, his recent struggles, and his contract details.
Hiura’s Career With the Brewers
Hiura was drafted by the Brewers in the first round of the 2017 MLB draft. He made his debut with the team in 2019 and quickly became a key player in the lineup.
That year, he hit .303 with 19 home runs and 49 RBI in 84 games, earning him a spot as a finalist for the National League Rookie of the Year award. In 2020, he hit .212 with 13 home runs and 32 RBI in 59 games.
Recent Struggles and Demotion to Triple-a
So far in the 2021 season, Hiura has struggled at the plate. He has hit just .152 with four home runs and 17 RBI in 45 games. His struggles led to the Brewers demoting him to Triple-A in an attempt to help him get back on track.
Hiura has shown signs of improvement since his demotion, hitting .321 with three home runs and 15 RBI in 22 games with the Nashville Sounds.
Contract Details and Options
Hiura is under team control through the 2025 season. He is currently in his second year of arbitration eligibility and is making $2.2 million in 2021. The Brewers have three more years of team control over him before he becomes a free agent in 2026.
The team also has two option years on his contract, meaning they can choose to keep him for the 2026 and 2027 seasons at a predetermined salary.
Hiura has had a promising career with the Brewers so far, but his recent struggles have led to his demotion to Triple-A. However, he has shown signs of improvement and could potentially return to the major league club soon.
The team has several years of team control over him, giving them the opportunity to help him develop into the player they believe he can be.
Outright Assignment
An outright assignment is a process that allows a team to remove a player from its 40-man roster without exposing the player to the waiver wire.
When a player is outrighted, he is removed from the 40-man roster and sent to the minors, where he continues to receive his salary, but does not count against the team’s 40-man roster.
Why Hiura Was Outrighted
Keston Hiura was outrighted by the Milwaukee Brewers because of his poor performance in the 2021 season. Since his debut with the Brewers in 2019, Hiura had been one of the team’s most promising prospects.
However, in the 2021 season, his performance declined, and he struggled to hit the ball with consistency. As a result, the Brewers made the decision to remove him from the 40-man roster and send him to the minors.
Implications of Outright Assignment
The outright assignment of Hiura has several implications for both the player and the Brewers organization. For the player, it means that he will continue to be paid his salary, but will no longer be on the 40-man roster, which could affect his future prospects in the majors.
Additionally, being sent to the minors could impact his confidence and morale, although it could also give him an opportunity to work on his performance in a less stressful environment.
For the Brewers organization, the outright assignment of Hiura indicates that they are willing to make tough decisions when it comes to the development of their players.
It also frees up a spot on the 40-man roster, which could be used to bring in new players or to promote other minor league prospects.
Overall, the outright assignment of Hiura is a reminder that even the most promising players can struggle to live up to expectations in the major leagues.
The Brewers’ decision to send him to the minors is a sign of their commitment to developing their players and their willingness to make tough decisions when necessary.
Free Agency
Free agency is a crucial aspect of Major League Baseball (MLB). It allows players to negotiate contracts with any team in the league, giving them the opportunity to earn more money or pursue other opportunities.
However, not all players are eligible for free agency, and this was the case for Keston Hiura.
How Free Agency Works in Mlb
In MLB, players become eligible for free agency after they have spent six years in the league. If a player has not signed a contract extension with their current team, they can become a free agent and negotiate with any team they want.
This system is designed to prevent teams from monopolizing talent and promote fair competition in the league.
Why Hiura Couldn’t Elect Free Agency
Keston Hiura is a second baseman for the Milwaukee Brewers. He was drafted in 2017 and made his MLB debut in 2019.
Unfortunately, he struggled during the 2021 season and was eventually sent down to the minors. Because this was his first career outright assignment, he was not eligible for free agency.
What This Means for His Future With the Brewers
Since Hiura was not eligible for free agency, he will remain part of the Brewers organization for now. He will earn a salary of $2.2 million in 2023, but this does not guarantee that he will be on the major league roster.
Hiura will have to work his way back up to earn a spot on the team, but his future with the Brewers remains uncertain.
Free agency is an important aspect of MLB that allows players to negotiate contracts with any team in the league. However, not all players are eligible for free agency, and Keston Hiura is one of them.
He will have to work his way back up to earn a spot on the Brewers’ roster, but it remains to be seen if he will remain with the team in the long term.
Brewers Organization
Hiura’s Role in the Brewers Organization
Keston Hiura is a second baseman who was drafted by the Brewers in the first round of the 2017 MLB Draft. He quickly rose through the ranks and made his major league debut in May 2019. Since then, Hiura has been an integral part of the Brewers organization, playing in 143 games over two seasons.
However, Hiura struggled with consistency during the 2020 season, hitting just .212 with a .297 on-base percentage. As a result, he was demoted to the Brewers’ alternate training site for a portion of the year.
Despite these struggles, the Brewers have expressed confidence in Hiura’s abilities and have stated that he remains a key part of their long-term plans.
Potential Opportunities for Playing Time
With the departure of Orlando Arcia in the offseason, Hiura’s role on the Brewers is expected to be at second base on a full-time basis. This opens up opportunities for Hiura to establish himself as a consistent and reliable player for the team.
Furthermore, Hiura’s offensive potential has always been his calling card, and the Brewers will likely look to him to be a key contributor in the middle of their lineup.
In his first full season in the majors in 2019, Hiura hit .303 with 19 home runs and 49 RBI in just 84 games. If he can recapture that form, he could be one of the Brewers’ most productive offensive players.
Support From the Team and Coaching Staff
Despite Hiura’s struggles in 2020, both the Brewers’ front office and coaching staff have expressed support for him.
President of Baseball Operations David Stearns noted that Hiura was “a big part of our future,” while manager Craig Counsell stated that he believed Hiura was “going to be a very good major league player.”
Additionally, the Brewers have made moves to bolster their coaching staff in order to better support Hiura’s development. They hired hitting coach Andy Haines in 2019, who worked extensively with Hiura during his successful rookie campaign.
This offseason, they also added former major league infielder Ron Washington as a coach, who has a history of working with elite infielders such as Elvis Andrus and Adrian Beltre.
Overall, Hiura is expected to play a significant role in the Brewers’ plans for the upcoming season and beyond.
Despite some struggles in 2020, he has shown the potential to be a dynamic offensive player, and the team’s front office and coaching staff have expressed confidence in his abilities.
Why is Keston Hiura Not Playing?
Struggles in Spring Training
Keston Hiura had a rough spring training, batting .152 with a 25.9% strikeout rate in 46 plate appearances.
Defensive Issues
Hiura’s defense at second base has also been a concern, as he has committed four errors in just 13 games at the position this spring.
Potential Service
Time Manipulation Some speculate that the Brewers may be trying to manipulate Hiura’s service time by keeping him off the Opening Day roster, allowing them to gain an extra year of team control before he hits free agency.
Competition for Roster Spots
The Brewers have several other options at second base, including veteran Luis Urias and newly-acquired Daniel Robertson, which may have factored into their decision to drop Hiura from the 40-man roster.
Need for Development or Trade
It is possible that the Brewers have not given up on Hiura, but rather feel that he needs more time to refine his skills in the minor leagues before returning to the majors. Alternatively, they could be exploring trade options for the young infielder.
Who is Milwaukee Brewers Partner?
The Milwaukee Brewers have a new official hot dog partner. The new partnership is with Vienna Beef. Vienna Beef announced the partnership on Thursday. The partnership is for games held at American Family Field.
American Family Field is the Brewers’ home stadium. Vienna Beef is a well-known hot dog brand. The partnership will provide Vienna Beef with advertising opportunities. Fans attending games will be able to buy Vienna Beef hot dogs.
The Brewers previously had a different hot dog partner. The partnership is expected to be a lucrative one for both parties.
Who is the 22 Player on the Brewers?
The 22nd player on the Milwaukee Brewers team is Christian Yelich. Yelich is a professional baseball player from the United States. He was born on December 5th, 1991. Yelich primarily plays the position of left fielder.
He is currently signed to the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB). Yelich began his professional baseball career in 2010 when he was drafted by the Miami Marlins. He played for the Marlins from 2013 to 2017 before being traded to the Brewers in 2018.
Yelich has achieved multiple awards and recognition for his exceptional performance on the field. In 2018, he won the National League (NL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award. Yelich continues to be a key player for the Brewers and a fan favorite.
To Recap
Despite speculation that Keston Hiura was leaving the Brewers organization, it appears that he will remain with the team for now.
His first career outright assignment did not grant him the option to elect free agency, allowing him to stay with the Brewers and continue to develop as a player.
With a promising future ahead of him and a 2023 salary of $2.2 million, Brewers fans can expect to see Hiura continue to be a key player in the team’s success.
