The Brewers are bringing top prospect Keston Hiura back to the majors, The Athletic’s Robert Murray reports (Twitter link). In a corresponding move, the struggling Travis Shaw will head down to Triple-A.
This will be Hiura’s second stint in the major leagues, as he made his debut in a 17-game cameo for Milwaukee earlier this season while Shaw was on the IL with a wrist injury. During that brief time with the Brewers, Hiura lived up to his status as one of baseball’s consensus top prospects, hitting .281/.333/.531 with five homers over 69 plate appearances. While Hiura struck out in 23 of those trips to the plate and benefited from a .361 BABIP, he was also doing damage when he did make strong contact, with a .369 xwOBA that exactly matched his .369 wOBA.
Given his tendency to strike out and the fact that Hiura doesn’t turn 23 until August, it may be a bit much to expect the youngster to continue being an above-average offensive producer for the remainder of the season (or as long as he’s still on the 25-man roster). Yet it was clear that some type of upgrade was needed for Shaw, who has become a weak link on a Brewers team with postseason aspirations. His wrist problem, which cost him three weeks on the injured list, certainly could be a factor, though there isn’t much to like about what Shaw has done at the plate this season.
After hitting .258/.347/.497 with 63 homers over his first two seasons in Milwaukee, Shaw has managed only a .166/.278/.293 slash line and six home runs through 209 plate appearances this year. His power numbers and contact rates have cratered while his strikeouts have gone through the roof, as Shaw’s 33% strikeout rate and 13.4% swinging strike rate are far and away his career highs.
Shaw still had two option years remaining, and was earning $4.675MM this season in his first of three arbitration-eligible years. While it isn’t a stretch to consider if Shaw could be a non-tender candidate this winter, there’s still lots of time for him to get on track against Triple-A pitching and again contribute to the Brewers this season. While Hiura is certainly the Brew Crew’s second baseman of the future and potentially the present, Shaw could again be an option at third base since Mike Moustakas is only signed through this season, as he and the Brewers share an $11MM mutual option for 2020. Moustakas has been lacking in free agent suitors in each of the last two seasons, though one would think he’ll decline his side of that option to again seek a multi-year commitment, given that the Moose is enjoying his finest season at the plate.
Looking even longer-term, even if Hiura spends the rest of the season on the Brewers’ big league roster, he won’t amass enough Major League service time to himself qualify for future Super Two status.
Hiura has played exclusively as a second baseman during his young career, so his addition to the roster will almost mean that Moustakas will again be spending much of his time at the hot corner. Playing second base for the first time in his MLB career this season, Moustakas ended up acquitting himself decently well at the keystone (+1 Defensive Runs Saved, -1.6 UZR/150), and obviously the position switch had no impact on Moustakas’ ability to hit.
About time…
As a Cub fan, I really think Hiura needs some more time down in AAA
Nice try
yes
I think Shaw might be better off elsewhere. Maybe that will help his career. New hitting coach that might get to the guy. He has potential
Plot twist
New hitting Coach? Eh, maybe since the brewers have a new hitting coach this season.. Potential? Nah, well beyond showing potential with a couple 30 HR seasons and above avg defense. Maybe, just maybe his hand injury derailed his first half and he just hasn’t been able to get it going, yet. Long season folks
I wasn’t referring to Brewers as one of the worst hitting coaches by any means. There are a handful of really good hitting coaches would could help him out. It has to be a mental struggle for him this year. He is still young and maybe his hand has some play in it. I won’t argue that, but the Brewers gave up on him by sending him to the minors. If his hand isn’t healed, why not IL him for a long period of time instead of aggravating the hand? In that time, he can adjust to new mechanics to take out the discomfort of holding a baseball bat. I seen players being pushed like Shaw and have their careers collapse because of poor decision making. I am a Pirates fan after all and seen plenty of poor decisions. Shaw could use the IL to regroup and get healthy. He can be back by August and possibly in a better position for a September run with the team if he does go on the IL
Either way, I wish the Brewers fans the best of luck against Cardinals and Cubs. I am quietly rooting for you guys.
If you are a real Pirates fan why are you rooting for the Brewers?
It is not even July yet.
And every team makes poor decisions.
Much respect.. However, some players take longer than others to find their stroke again (Ex. Jim Thome 2005-2006; Tiger Woods), or sadly may never (Ellsbury, Harvey). Shaw was already on the IL for an extended period, which may have contributed to his awful bat the first half of the season. Maybe not. Assuming that the Brewers gave up on him is nonsense. They did the same to Orlando Arcia and Knebe last season.. Hopefully playing every day vs Righties and Lefties in the minors will turn Shaw’s season around. He’s had some nice at bats with a few HRs since coming back from the IL. Obviously not good enough but a step in the right direction. – Optimist
As a Pirates fan, Chris Archer and Gerrit Cole trades have set us back so much. I don’t see us sniffing a playoff or wild card birth. The depth is not there since we traded a lot of it to keep up with the Cardinals in a brief run at the division and wild card. Since then, the farm system as dropped from the top 10 and its hard to see a top player in the system right now. There is Mitch Keller and possibly Hayes, beyond that, it doesn’t look to well. I think they should sell and retool their system for the future. I really don’t see anything good by continuously going down the path the organization is going.
Trade him back to Boston. We’ll give you Thornburg straight up
HA Throw in Wally and you got yourself a deal mister
Uhh baseball, such a cruel game. One season you’re hitting clean up for a world series contender, or becoming the next best closer….the next season you’re sent down to the minors (Shaw) or consistently blowing saves (Diaz)
Love this for my fantasy team. Snapped him up.
Congrats man, pumped for you
Haha
can he pitch?
Shaw can be part of a package for Matt Boyd?
Sounds like that package will be declined
No but Hiura would probably get the Tigers attention
Hopefully this time it’s for good.
Shaw’s story is amazing. cannot believe his brutal slump this season.
Moustakas on pace for a 7 WAR season what is life lol
Brewers had such a great season last year but look very average this year. And that is due to two reasons:
(1) important players like Shaw that have seriously underachieved
(2). Erratic and mediocre starting pitching
I don’t see The Brewers making the playoffs this year without additional talent. Besides Shaw, Aguilar and Cain have been very big disappointments this year.
On paper, it was a powerhouse offense. It didn’t materialize due to the underachievers
it’s the end of September already to this Debbie Downer
Oddly, Shaw has underachieved this year, but oddly his whole career has been overachieving.
He was decent with Boston but I would not say he was an overachiever.
I suspect that much of this decline is physical.
He’s put up more power in the majors than he did in the minors.
Hiura, while down, hit 8HRs and 20RBI Better than Shaw’s season HR/RBI total. Brewers lost 6 games during that time by 2runs or less. Easily 1 W/L Hiura could have added if not 2.
well that was long over due