The Milwaukee Brewers just about have their starting infield for the 2025 MLB season figured out. Rhys Hoskins, of course, will be the everyday first baseman. Going into the offseason, many fans may have been hoping that he would turn down his $18 million player option after hitting just .214/.303/.419 last season. But his line of .281/.395/.844 with six home runs and eight RBI in 12 Spring Training games has fans more excited about him coming back.
Recently, it was determined that Joey Ortiz will take over as the everyday shortstop following the departure of Willy Adames to the San Francisco Giants in free agency. Brice Turang, who had been in the running to play short, will remain at second base.
Really, the only starting job that remains up in the air anywhere on the diamond for Milwaukee is at third base. And while they have a platoon of young players that are ready to split time there, they also have a stud down in the minors who is confident the job will be his by season’s end.
Milwaukee Brewers Prospect Brock Wilken Has His Sights Set on the Majors
Back in 2023, the Brewers made Brock Wilken their first round pick when they selected him 18th overall in the MLB amateur draft. And it was easy to see why. Playing college baseball at Wake Forest that year, Wilken hit .345/.506/.807 with 31 home runs and 82 RBI… in just 66 games.
Following being drafted by Milwaukee, Wilken played at three different levels of the Brewers minor league system, hitting .285/.414/.473 with five home runs and 29 RBI in his first half-season as a professional (47 games).
And things looked great for the young third baseman heading into 2024. He started the year at Double-A and the belief was he would skyrocket through the system again.
But then “an incident” happened.
Per Adam McCalvy, who covers the Brewers for MLB.com, “an incident” is what Wilken calls the game in which he was drilled in the face by an errant fastball early last season. He required surgery to repair multiple facial fractures, but, the grinder that he is, was back out on the field on May 7. The “incident” occurred on April 11.
But there was one problem: he could not see well anymore. The injury had affect his vision.
In 108 games with Biloxi last year, Wilken hit just .199/.312/.363. He still had his power, though, smashing 17 home runs and driving in 51.
And this year, he told McCalvy, things will be different.
“I did a lot of eye therapy and rehab in the offseason,” Wilken said. “My eyes were working in the 50th percentile in depth perception. My left eye was severely damaged, and the muscle that basically holds your eye in place was not strong enough. So basically, my eye could converge inward when I would try to focus on an object.
“There were a lot of things that were not right,” Wilken said. “Then mentally, it was a grind. Trying to be in the box like, ‘Oh gosh, am I going to get hit again?’ It was a lingering thought.
“I think that has gone away, which is really nice. I took off the [protective] cage [on his batting helmet] in the Fall League and I have no cage on all spring. Mentally and physically, I feel great. My eyes are going really well. I think I’m ready to go out there and start the year.”
McCalvy then reports that Wilken believes that he will earn a callup to the Majors at some point this season, perhaps in September when the rosters expand. And when/if that happens, he will be ready.
At just 22 years old, Wilken still has room for growth. But as Milwaukee has not had a consistent everyday third baseman for six seasons, at least one that will stick around for more than a single season, there is a job waiting for him if he can, indeed, put the “incident” behind him and get back on track.
More Milwaukee Brewers News from Wisconsin Sports Heroics
- Brice Turang Stands the Most to Lose by Remaining at 2B
- Son of Brewers Franchise Legend Living the Dream Playing for Dad’s Former Team
- “I’ll Be Ready;” Popular Brewers Prospect Reacts to Bad News from Team
For More Great Wisconsin Sports Content
Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19 and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here!
