\The Milwaukee Brewers recently signed Outfielder Tyler Naquin to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training. Can he actually help? The Crew is loaded at the Major League level with OFs and are loaded at the Minor League level with OF prospects. Looking at the numbers for Tyler, it would appear he isn’t any better than what the Brewers actually have.
The Tyler Naquin Numbers
61 HR, 237 RBI, .264 BA, .766 OPS, in 557 career games.
The Milwaukee Brewers Current Outfielders Numbers
Christian Yelich – 174 HR, 630 RBI, .287 BA, .842 OPS, in 1,249 career games.
Jesse Winker – 80 HR, 243 RBI, .270 BA, .837 OPS, in 549 career games.
Tyrone Taylor – 31 HR, 101 RBI, .241 BA, .756 OPS, in 250 career games.
The Brewers Current Outfield Prospect Numbers
Garrett Mitchell – 13 HR, 64 RBI, .273 BA, .801 OPS, in 132 career games (Minor Leagues)
Sal Frelick – 13 HR, 80 RBI, .331 BA, .882 OPS, in 154 career games (Minor Leagues)
Joey Wiemer – 48 HR, 154 RBI, .274 BA, .873 OPS, in 236 career games (Minor Leagues)
What does all this mean?
When you look at the numbers for Tyler Naquin, the impact he will have on the current roster is negligible. His BA is slightly better than Tyrone Taylor, same for his OPS. Jesse Winker and Christian Yelich aren’t going anywhere. That leaves us with the prospects, not to mention the Brewers ability to mix and match positions in the OF with other players not mentioned here.
What do the scouts say?
Garrett Mitchell – A physical, explosive athlete, Mitchell is an 80 runner on the 20-80 scouting scale. He covers huge swaths of ground in center field, where he projects as a plus defender with a plus arm.
Sal Frelick – A strong defender in centerfield, Sal Frelick has the potential to be an every day leadoff hitter who provides value on both the offensive and defensive side of the game.
Joey Wiemer – Wiemer is about as raw as they come. The clay to mold here is substantial, and the raw tools are considerable. If his organization can tap into even a fringy hit tool, the game power should come where he has a chance to become a 20-20 player.
Adding Tyler Naquin to the roster takes away a spot for either Sal Frelick or Joey Wiemer, assuming the Brewers do not use someone else to fill the backup OF positions. With Mitchell already ticketed for CF, there is nothing for Frelick to prove in the minor leagues, other than to get more seasoning, which he certainly does not need.
Let these guys play.
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FAQs
How to Watch the Milwaukee Brewers Without Cable?
DirectTV Stream will give local viewers access to watch the Brewers, regardless of the channel they are playing on, Bally Sports Wisconsin, ESPN, Fox, Fox Sports 1, and TBS. fuboTV will also give viewers access to all Brewers games, except those on TBS.
Out-of-market fans can use MLB.TV to enjoy Brewers baseball from afar.
When Did the Brewers Come to Milwaukee?
The Brewers were founded in 1969 as the Seattle Pilots as part of the American League (AL). After one season, the team relocated to Milwaukee. The Brewers joined the National League (NL) in 1998.
How Did the Brewers Get Their Name?
The Brewers’ name dates back to the early 1900s, originally held by a professional franchise that relocated to become the St. Louis Browns. It honors the beer-brewing industry in and around Milwaukee.
Will the Brewers Win the 2023 World Series?
Sportsbooks have the Brewers at 4000-1 to win the World Series. This is the 14th-best odds among MLB teams. It’s not impossible with players like Christian Yelich, but the odds aren’t in their favor.
