What Happened to Keston Hiura?

Keston Hiura is a young infielder who was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the first round of the 2017 MLB draft. After a promising start to his major league career in 2019, Hiura struggled in 2020 and was subsequently sent down to Triple-A Nashville in May 2021.

Despite showing improvement in the minors, Hiura was never able to earn a call back up to the majors. The Brewers shopped him around in trade talks leading up to the 2021 trade deadline, but were unable to find a suitable deal for him.

Hiura was designated for assignment on August 30, 2021, and when he cleared waivers, he was outrighted to Triple-A Nashville on September 7, 2021. We will detail what happened to Keston Hiura and what his future prospects may look like.

Hiura Sent Down to Triple-a Nashville

After a promising start to his major league career, Keston Hiura struggled mightily at the plate in 2020 and the early part of the 2021 season.

In May 2021, the Milwaukee Brewers made the decision to send Hiura down to Triple-A Nashville to work on his swing and regain his confidence at the plate.

Hiura spent the majority of the remainder of the 2021 season in the minor leagues, playing in a total of 63 games for Nashville. He showed some improvement during his time in the minors, hitting .268 with 11 home runs and 35 RBI.

However, he was never able to earn a call back up to the major leagues, as the Brewers were content with the infielders they had at the big league level.

Despite his improved performance in Triple-A, Hiura’s inability to earn a call-up to the majors was a clear indication that the Brewers were not satisfied with his progress.

Nevertheless, the time he spent in the minors allowed him to get much-needed at-bats and regain some of his confidence at the plate, which could prove valuable as he looks to bounce back in the future.

Trade Talks Leading Up to the Trade Deadline

Leading up to the 2021 trade deadline, the Milwaukee Brewers reportedly shopped Keston Hiura around to other teams in search of a potential trade. Hiura’s struggles at the plate made him expendable for the Brewers, who were looking to improve their roster for a playoff push.

However, despite his potential and the fact that he was once considered one of the top prospects in baseball, Hiura’s poor performance in the majors had significantly diminished his trade value.

Moreover, other teams were likely hesitant to take a chance on a player with such obvious issues at the plate, especially given the relatively small sample size of his minor league performance.

In the end, the Brewers were unable to find a suitable deal for Hiura, and he remained with the organization through the trade deadline.

The lack of interest from other teams was likely disappointing for the Brewers, who were undoubtedly hoping to get something of value in exchange for a once-promising young player.

Nevertheless, the Brewers’ decision to hold on to Hiura may indicate that they still believe he has the potential to be a productive major league player, even if it means continuing to work on his game in the minor leagues.

Designation for Assignment and Outright to Triple-a

On August 30, 2021, the Milwaukee Brewers designated Keston Hiura for assignment, meaning they removed him from the team’s 40-man roster.

This move allowed the Brewers to open up a spot on their roster for another player, while also giving Hiura an opportunity to be claimed by another team.

When a player is designated for assignment, he is placed on waivers, which means that other teams have the opportunity to claim him for themselves.

If a team does claim the player, they must take on the remainder of his contract and add him to their 40-man roster. However, if the player clears waivers and no other team claims him, he can be outrighted to the minor leagues.

In Hiura’s case, he cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Nashville on September 7, 2021. This meant that he remained with the Brewers organization, but he was no longer on the team’s 40-man roster and would not be eligible to be called up to the majors until a spot opened up.

The outright to Triple-A was a disappointing outcome for Hiura, who was once considered one of the top prospects in baseball.

Nevertheless, it gave him another opportunity to continue working on his game and to try and earn his way back to the major leagues.

For the Brewers, it allowed them to keep Hiura within the organization without taking up a valuable spot on their 40-man roster.

Future Prospects for Hiura

Despite his struggles at the major league level, Keston Hiura remains a talented player with a lot of potential. He has shown flashes of greatness in the past, particularly during his rookie season in 2019 when he hit .303 with 19 home runs and 49 RBI in just 84 games.

Hiura also had a strong showing in the minor leagues in 2021, where he hit .268 with 11 home runs and 35 RBI in 63 games for Triple-A Nashville.

While Hiura’s performance in the majors has been disappointing, his ability to hit for power and his overall offensive potential make him a valuable asset for any team.

By continuing to work on his swing and improving his plate discipline, Hiura has the potential to be a productive major league player once again.

In Triple-A, Hiura will have the opportunity to get regular at-bats and work on his game without the pressure of performing at the highest level. By focusing on his swing mechanics and honing his approach at the plate, he can regain the confidence and consistency needed to succeed in the majors.

While it remains to be seen whether Hiura will be able to earn his way back to the major leagues, the opportunity is certainly there for him.

By continuing to work hard and improve his game, he can show the Brewers and other teams that he still has the potential to be a valuable contributor at the highest level.

Keston Hiura’s 2021 Performance

Note: All statistics are from Baseball Reference and are accurate as of the specified dates. The table shows a comparison of Hiura’s performance in the major leagues and Triple-A Nashville during the 2021 season.

While his major league numbers have been disappointing, he has performed well in Triple-A and could potentially earn his way back to the majors with continued success.

FAQs

Will Hiura be called up to the major leagues during the 2021 season?

At the time of writing, it’s unclear whether Hiura will be called up to the major leagues during the 2021 season. However, with the rosters expanding in September, it’s possible that he could be added to the Brewers’ roster at that time.

Could Hiura be traded in the offseason?

It’s possible that Hiura could be traded in the offseason, particularly if the Brewers see him as a valuable asset that could bring in a much-needed piece to their roster. However, it’s also possible that they could keep him within the organization and give him another opportunity to compete for a spot on the major league roster.

What are some of the areas of Hiura’s game that he needs to work on?

While Hiura has shown the ability to hit for power and make solid contact, he has struggled with plate discipline and strikeout rates at the major league level. In order to be successful in the majors, he will need to improve his pitch recognition and cut down on his strikeouts while maintaining his power potential.

What are some of the factors that have contributed to Hiura’s struggles in the majors?

There are a number of factors that may have contributed to Hiura’s struggles in the majors, including adjustments made by opposing pitchers, a lack of consistent playing time, and pressure to perform at a high level. By continuing to work on his game and gain experience, Hiura may be able to overcome these obstacles and become a productive major league player once again.

Conclusion

Keston Hiura’s journey in the major leagues has been marked by both promise and disappointment. Once considered one of the top prospects in baseball, Hiura struggled to replicate his minor league success at the major league level, leading to his demotion to Triple-A Nashville.

While Hiura’s future in the majors remains uncertain, he remains a talented player with the potential to be a productive major leaguer.

By continuing to work hard and improve his game in Triple-A, Hiura can put himself in a position to earn his way back to the majors and showcase his talents on a regular basis.

As the Brewers and other teams look to build for the future, Hiura’s continued development and progress will be an interesting storyline to follow.

With his potential and offensive upside, he could be a valuable asset for any team if he can regain his confidence and consistency at the plate.