Following Sunday’s 10-1 win over the Braves, the Colorado Rockies made a housekeeping move, recalling Michael Toglia from a productive stint at Triple-A. To make room at the position, ex-Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Keston Hiura was designated for assignment. Hiura played in eight games and went 4-18 for Colorado this season, also drawing three walks. It’s been a rough go since the young Brewer began his career with a bang back in 2019.
Milwaukee Brewers Brought Out the Best of Keston Hiura
Hiura hasn’t much left to prove in the minor leagues. In 200 plate appearances for the Rockies’ Triple-A affiliate, he hit nine homeruns, drove in 31 and posted an .827 OPS. Between the highest minor-league levels in the Tigers and Angels organizations last season, covering 86 games, he posted marks of 26/66/.943.
It’s the next level up, facing MLB pitchers, that continues to plague the now 28-year-old.
Including his 2019 debut, Hiura spent four seasons with the Brewers. He mashed 19 homeruns and 23 doubles as a rookie in only 314 at bats, recording a .303 batting average and slugging .570. That was the last time he hit for average, but he retained his power in subsequent years. As recently as 2022, he whacked 14 homeruns in a platoon role. All 50 of his career homers have come during his time in Milwaukee.
From Raking Rookie to Minor-League Journeyman
It is possible that his rookie numbers were inflated by the live-ball phenomenon that has come to define 2019 in MLB archives. Homerun totals skyrocketed across the league. Notoriously weak hitters suddenly carried the fences. Players of all ilk enjoyed career years at the plate – Hiura among them.
He remained with the Brewers organization through 2023, but spent the entirety of that season in the minors, mostly at Nashville. Once again, he mashed the pitching there, delivering a slash line of .311/.397/.563. Milwaukee let him sign with the Tigers as a restricted free agent the following season, who later released him. Hiura garnered 27 MLB at bats with the Angels that year.
Between 2022 and 2025, he has now spent time in four teams’ systems. According to MLB rules, the Rockies have seven days from the time of his designation to trade or waive him, or option him back to the minors if Hiura doesn’t choose free agency instead. Because he consistently destroys Triple-A pitchers, before season’s end he could get another minor-league deal, like the Rockies gave him this spring, to provide organizational depth.
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