Isaac Collins has been raking for the Milwaukee Brewers. After Saturday’s 9-0 win in Minnesota, he’s batting .316 with a .447 OBP, three homeruns and 12 RBI in the month of June. In the injury absence of centerfielder Garrett Mitchell, Collins has stepped up as the third outfielder, the everyday starter in left field.
Coming into the series, he’d carried the fence in back-to-back games. The Twins have kept him in the ballpark, but he still enjoyed a 2-4 day and drove in three runs on Saturday, including a pair on a two-out double in the eighth inning.
For Collins, a native of Maple, MN, the series has also been a sort of homecoming. Going from childhood fantasy to standing in the box at Target Field, he can’t quite believe it’s real.
Isaac Collins Living the Dream with Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee’s second and final series against the Twins this season, it’s also been Collins’ first chance playing in Minnesota. Back in May, the Brewers hosted a three-game set at American Family Field.
“You can’t, really. It’s surreal,” Collins said pregame Friday when asked to describe setting foot in the Minnesota ballpark, a few miles from where he grew up. “To be on here with you guys, at Target Field, playing against the Twins, it’s a dream come true. Every kid dreams of this moment. Just grateful, really. Really grateful to able to experience this.”
Before bringing him on the air, MLB Network asked Collins to name his favorite Twins as a kid: Justin Morneau, Joe Mauer, Jason Kubel, Denard Span. All 2000s OGs.
Noting his positional versatility – Collins can play all three outfield spots, plus second and third base – the cast asked him if he based his game off any players in particular. That really coaxed out the nerdy childhood Twins fan.
Collins Has Found Ways To Stick Around After Making Spring Cut
“That’s a good question,” Collins answered. “I’ve never really tried to compare myself to anybody. I try to take certain aspects of certain players. Denard Span being one of them. I even liked guys like Ben Revere, Nick Punto. Just those glue guys, those guys a lot of people tend to forget about, but they help the team win. They get on base, let the big dogs knock them in.”
Lately Collins has been one of the “big dogs,” notching 8 RBIs in his last four games. He’s also helped hold Milwaukee together as the roster navigates injuries to centerfielders Mitchell and Blake Perkins.
On the season, Collins is slashing .254/.358/.406, with 4 HR and 19 RBIs in 138 at bats. He’s also swiped 7 bags in 9 tries. Recording only a handful of plate appearances last year, Collins is still technically a rookie but well on his way to passing Revere’s 7 career homeruns.
One state over from his homeland, the 27-year-old has quickly become more than a marginal prospect or afterthought platoon piece in Milwaukee. Instead he’s been a cog, both in the lineup and out in left field.
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