The Milwaukee Brewers appear to be calling it wraps on one formerly promising player.
Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reported Friday that the Brewers have informed veteran infielder Keston Hiura that he will not make their final Opening Day roster. The team will attempt to find a trade partner for Hiura in the coming days, but if unsuccessful, will place him on waivers.
Hiura, 26, was Milwaukee’s first-round pick in the summer of 2017, landing with the team as the No. 9 overall selection in that class. He subsequently ranked as the team’s No. 1 prospect heading into the 2018 season. Hiura's rookie year in 2019 proved to be an encouraging one, too, as hit .303 with 19 homers and 49 RBIs in just 84 games.
The wheels have since fallen off for Hiura over the last few seasons. He has hit a woeful .202 with nearly 200 strikeouts in 463 plate appearances since 2021 and has offered little with the glove to make up for it.
#Brewers Keston Hiura struggled w/ balls up in the zone
BA/xBA
Up-in: .000/.116
Up-mid: .125/.100
Up-away: .167/.125wOBA/xwOBA
Up-in: .099/.188
Up-mid: .109/.092
Up-away: .323/.230Whiff%
Up-in:61%
Up-mid:53%
Up-away:65%Avg LA up-mid:-2
Only 1 hard hit ball up in the zone pic.twitter.com/OwszRx2NMo
— Mike Kurland (@Mike_Kurland) December 12, 2020
Hiura has produced some big clutch moments during his career and still has enough raw power to potentially turn things around with a change of scenery, but any turnaround is going to take some work.
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