The Brewers announced on Wednesday that they’ve signed their first-round pick, UC Irvine second baseman/outfielder Keston Hiura. According to MLB.com’s Jim Callis (on Twitter), he’ll receive a bonus of $4MM, which comes in a bit south of the $4.57MM slot value of the No. 9 overall selection. Tom Hadricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel tweets that Hiura will likely head to the team’s Spring Training facility in Arizona before eventually joining Milwaukee’s Class-A affiliate in the Midwest League.
Hiura, who will turn 21 in August, was considered one of the best college bats in the draft and has drawn immense praise for his plus bat speed, hit tool and power. He ranked 14th on Baseball America’s top 500 list, 15th on the top 100 of Fangraphs’ Eric Longenhagen, 19th per ESPN’s Keith Law and 22nd in the draft per Callis and colleague Jonathan Mayo.
Hiura might’ve gone higher in the draft, but an elbow injury prevented him from throwing all season long, limiting him to DH. He’s already seen Dr. Neal ElAttrache for the issue, per Longenhagen. Callis and Mayo write that some scouts believe he’ll eventually require Tommy John surgery, and BA’s report concludes by stating that many believe he’s headed for some form of elbow procedure as soon as he signs. (An assignment to the team’s Class-A affiliate, of course, would run counter to that belief.)
Because of the elbow issue, there’s no clear consensus on where Hiura will profile defensively in the long run. MLB.com’s report on him notes that Hiura’s footwork in the infield is questionable and needs some work, while the injury to his throwing arm obviously casts some level of uncertainty when it comes to whether he’ll be able to handle center field. He’s also played left field in college, and he could potentially profile at any of the three positions if things break right for him and the Brewers. While all of the linked scouting reports express some degree of concern about his defense, the common consensus is that Hiura has a very good chance to hit wherever he plays.
Best pick of the draft
This and Adell at 10
Best pick ? Really?
I can think of 4 that are better picks
Gore, wright, that kid that went to the angels, how about a guy named McKay ?
Hunter Greene, McKay, Adell all come to mind as better picks than Hiura.
I think dswaim and gmflores were saying for the draft position. Of course Greene McKay etc are better players but they were expected to go where they did and everyone knew they were good.
Relative to where he was drafted. Yes.
Hunter Greene will blow out his arm
Can you ever write a post, without coming off like a raging anal hemroid?
I would say one of the worst actually, better pick for an AL club, and if you’re picking in the 20’s. Brewers really blew it by passing on Adell and significantly on Baz.
its this guy japanese or at least have some parent there.
Does it matter?
Yep! thats why he looks asian
Doesn’t matter
So because you guys don’t think it matters means he’s not allowed to ask the question? I’m not saying it’s anything close to important, but he can still ask it. And if anyone calls mp9 a racist because of this just needs to look back at what racism really was and is.
He can ask whatever he wants. He can also be called a moron.
No Hiura is American
He’s Danish
The best hitter in the draft and probably the closest to the majors. Nice to get him at below-slot value. He can’t currently throw (there’s some interesting video online you can find of him fielding balls and then handing them to other fielders) so he may need TJ surgery, but, if he gets it now he’ll be ready for ST by 2018