The Milwaukee Brewers entered spring training pretty content on moving Joey Ortiz to shortstop and keeping Brice Turang at second base. However, recent reporting from Adam McCalvy at MLB.com has indicated that the organization is highly considering switching them around.
Pat Murphy explained how the change came about
Manager Pat Murphy said the change in switching Turang to shortstop and Ortiz to second base came about rather by accident. He, as well as the players, also happen to like this arrangement. They have liked it so much that their recent spring training defensive lineups have included the change.
“We’ve been looking at this lately, and it kind of woke me up. Nobody really suggested it, we just tried it, like, ‘Whoa.’ I think it even surprised the players. It feels right. And I wouldn’t have said that 10 days ago.”
Pat Murphy
Murphy did not want to commit to how he plans on arranging the infield on Opening Day, which is in less than 10 days, but he did reveal that Turang and Ortiz will be assigned positions and stick to them. Constantly switching them around between second base and shortstop is not an option.
“Whatever the Brewers decide, the idea is to have Turang and Ortiz set at their positions as much as possible, rather than moving around.”
Per Adam McCalvy
More major Milwaukee Brewers infield news
Also included in this write up from McCalvy, was the Brewers current thinking/evaluation of the third base position battle. All signs right now are pointing towards Oliver Dunn getting the nod. Dunn, who made the Opening Day roster last year, is quietly having a great spring in which he is second on the team in hits (12) and doubles (4) while posting a .387 batting average and a 1.167 OPS.
Caleb Durbin, who was acquired in the Devin Williams trade this off-season, has supposedly not impressed at third base.
“Caleb Durbin, has failed to impress the scouts trying to keep track of Milwaukee’s various infield permutations.”
According to Adam McCalvy
The way McCalvy made it sound, is that Durbin needs more time to get comfortable with the Brewers defensive system and schemes. He could be a candidate to start the year in the minor leagues, thus opening the door for Vinny Capra to make the Opening Day roster.
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