The Brewers announced Wednesday that they’ve selected the contract of righty Connor Sadzeck from Triple-A Nashville. Infielder Keston Hiura has been optioned to Nashville to open a spot on the active roster. Milwaukee already had an open 40-man spot after designating Chi Chi Gonzalez for assignment last night.
A promising prospect with the Rangers earlier in his career, the now-30-year-old Sadzeck hasn’t appeared in the big leagues since 2019. Injuries, including Tommy John surgery early in his minor league career and a flexor mass issue back in 2019, have slowed the right-hander and kept him off the mound for significant portions of his career.
When healthy, Sadzeck is a legitimately intriguing arm who boasts a triple-digit heater, impressive strikeout abilities and, as is often the case for flamethrowers like this, some problematic command issues. He’s pitched just 33 Major League innings and boasts a 2.18 ERA but a concerning 17.4% walk rate in that time. Sadzeck is currently sporting an outstanding 0.86 ERA and 30.7% strikeout rate in 28 Triple-A innings, however, and this year’s 10.5% walk rate is more manageable than several of his prior seasons.
Hiura, meanwhile, has gone from former first-round pick and potential building block to a defensively limited slugger who’s regularly optioned by the Brewers. He’s hitting .238/.354/.451 this season — solid overall production — but has also yet to rectify the alarming strikeout issues that have plagued him throughout his career. Hiura has fanned in a sky-high 43.8% of his plate appearances this season, making even that modest .238 average unsustainable. (He’s currently benefitting from a .412 BABIP.)
That said, the decision to option Hiura couldn’t have been an easy one. He’s been on a tear at the plate over his past 12 games, batting .324/.435/.595 with three long balls and a double in that time. For now, Hiura will return to Nashville and continue working to improve his bat-to-ball skills and overall plate discipline. In all likelihood, he’ll get another big league look (or multiple looks) between now and season’s end.
I know defense becomes an issue but I would’ve sent Jonathan Davis down and kept Hiura. The Brewers need offense more and keep him while he’s hot. McCutchen just has to play everyday until Tyrone Taylor gets back or trade for Benintendi. Not a good sign for Taylor that his noggin still isn’t right. Here’s hoping Sadzeck stays healthy and is serviceable. Could be like a trade you didn’t have to make
While Cutch has the vet experience he no longer has the range to count on him in cf every day, and nobody else on the big club is a legit cf’er either (even if Yelich had the skills to do it occasionally, he clearly isn’t physically capable at this point). We’re stuck with Davis until Taylor is back, unless there’s another kid in the minors they are willing to call up (which does not appear to be the case).
SAD!
On the contrary. He has posted the 5th best speed in feet per second in the league this year.
He’s got the range.
Davis is the one who should have gone. He’s awful. We need Hiura’s bat.
Cutch..? Sure, in limited time. Remember he’s not a spring chicken, and the whole thought process in signing him was to be the regular (not full-time mind you) DH, and keep his field time to a minimum. That’s already taken a hit with Yelich moving into that role. Anyway, sticking Cutch in cf on a regular basis mid-season doesn’t bode well for him down the stretch.
As for Davis, I get it, he’s not great. My hunch is they never intended for him to stay up this long, then Taylor and Renfroe went down about the same time and both took a little longer (obviously Taylor is still out) to get back. He seems to fit the same category as Reyes..very short term filler used to avoid having to burn an option on a better/younger prospect.
And Hiura…man it’d be great if he just didn’t K over 40% of the time. And we thought the 30%+ rate was bad for him. Now it’s over 40% and fans insist he not only stay with the big club, but play every day.
To LH:Agree ! Dito RUSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It seems kind of illogical to me when a guy draws walks and has a solid ability to get on base, yet strikes out so much. You would think that he must know the strike zone well in order to maintain a solid OBP. So he can identify good patches to hit, one would think, yet can’t make contact. His swing plane must be way off.
He sees the high fastball and thinks he can mash it, but he can’t hit it and he can’t lay off. It kinda reminds me of Corey Hart’s issue with the slider early in his career. If a pitcher got to 2 strikes on him, he’s done.
Still better than MR .180! BTW he became Mr .180 from.170 yesterday with 2 hits!
Hiura can’t hit high fastballs that’s why he wiffs a lot. If pitchers miss, he has the ability to make them pay
Hiura seems like the perfect “change of scenery” candidate. It’s clear Milwaukee is not going to unlock his potential, so it would be best for all parties to try and swap him for someone else’s underachiever and hope something clicks for one or both. I don’t know if Jo Adell is quite in this category yet, but might not be a bad idea to ask. Mickey Moniak might also be a good pickup. He can play CF and maybe the Brewers could get him to hit just a little.. Actually, Philly makes a lot of sense since Segura and Harper are out.
You make a lot of sense!
Thank you. Now if only I made a lot of cents.
Hiura doesn’t need a change of scenery. He’s not disgruntled. Once MLB teams identify your weaknesses either you adjust or your a bust
You must be an NBA fan. Change of scenery is not only for disgruntled players. It is for players that just aren’t working in their current situations for whatever reason. The thought behind it is that perhaps a new coach or manager can fix what weakness has been identified.
Dude, if he can’t lay off high fastballs or can’t hit them, no one can fix that.
You would make an excellent motivational speaker. Maybe look into that as a career.
LH is correct.
No he isn’t. You just agree with his opinion and disagree with mine. There is no correct here.
I’m ok with this they are just getting another available arm until after the all star break. I was sickened by the fact that they released Dahl. He could have handled cf over Davis. Milwaukee should make Wong, Caratini, Feliciano,Gustave, McCutchen available in trades. Heck then I would bring up Weimer, Erceg, Turang and Reetz. That honestly wouldn’t make us worse at all maybe even better offensively. The big thing is it will save a lot of money plus get guys some important playing time for next year’s possible starters which we will need if we want any chance of signing two of our top three pitchers to extensions which Mark feels they could. I would even try to trade Peterson to Yankees for Andujar. Another thing they should do is send Alexander down and bring Small up. They also need to just get Mathias, Reyes, Jackson, Barker, Kelley, Stryzellick and Severino off the 40 man roster and get better players
I wouldn’t rush to make Caratini available in a trade, as he’s the likely starting C next year after Narvaez departs. Passable catchers don’t grow on trees.
I wouldn’t rush to trade nearly 1/3 of the team either, but it’s stubby and in his world this is not only a good idea, but 1 that could actually happen.
Okay smarty pants what would you do . Mark has made it clear he wants to sign some of our pitchers to extensions like Burns and Woodruff which means in order to do that we would have a starting rotation of probably Burnes, Woodruff, Peralta, Lauer, Ashby, and Small with a bullpen of like Uribe and Williams. Now if you resign Narvaez you won’t be able to keep Caratini. So we’re going to have to save a bunch of money because we aren’t going have 200 million salary muchless a 150 salary. So we’re going to need to replace your roster with controlled minimum salaries like Turang, Reetz, Dillard, Weimer,Huira, and maybe even Lutz. Those are guys that definitely can hit major league pitching. You get them valuable playing time this year and next. we are closer to winning a couple WS in the next 5 years then we would be this year alone. I love the Brewers more then anybody but go back one step this to go ahead 5 steps in the next 2 or 3 years
I believe I’ve stated more than once I have little knowledge of our minor league system or individual players. That said, I certainly wouldn’t think bringing up 5 or 6 guys..some of which never got close to living up to their prospect hype (Erceg and Turang for example)..is the way to go mid-season.
Nor would I attempt to trade away multiple role players who are actually playing decent, and/or aren’t young/talented enough (anymore) to bring back much value. As much as I like Jace Peterson he’s not bringing back a difference maker, nevermind one as versatile as he is. And Cutch is..well, old.
Re: the rotation going forward..my gut tells me Woody may be the odd man out. Peralta is signed to a very team friendly deal, and I can’t see them moving Burnes unless contract talks get crazy. Ashby looks like a mainstay for the foreseeable future. Beyond that I’m not sure what it will look like.
It’s starting to look like this will be the year they move Hader. He’ll bring the biggest return and save money down the road. My question is who steps in to help fill the backend of the pen? Williams takes his spot..then what? Box is not great right now and nobody else can stay consistent or healthy.
Erceg? He is pitching now.
While the Brewers have many the pitching prospects, CF Sal Frelick is the Brewers’ best position prospect. He could be brought up.
It’s time for Keston Hiura to move on.
Yep. Garbage at that as well
Frelick feels like a bust to me. Like a lot of college players.
Caratini is terrible defensively!
Not really.
Narvaez was supposedly the worst pitch framer in baseball before we got him and he was #1 the very next year (and has remained top 5).
The Crew has fixed those issues with Victor as well because we have the best pitching AND catching development staffs in baseball.
That’s completely crazy talk, but then again you are the master of crazy ideas.
You want to trade half the team and some are our best players. You don’t trade Cutch or Caratini. Or Wong.
And you don’t bring up any of the bums you listed.
I think Reetz is legit but Erceg, Turang, and Weimer are not. In that order. I really think Reetz found his groove, just like Roy Halladay. We really might have caught lightning in a bottle.
Erceg? He is pitching now.
Ya, I know bro. Just saying his track record pitching isn’t as bright outside of this year doesn’t warrant a call up. I think Reetz is a late bloomer ala Roy Halladay and even Corbin Burnes. Just a thought. I’m no scout or GM.
@stubby It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see how you see the world or your agenda just by looking at your choice of players Milwaukee should get rid of and who should be on the team. What a disgrace!
I don’t get what you’re trying to do, but Gustave was just hitting 98 MPH, Feliciano is hitting over .300 and he’s a 23 YEAR OLD Catcher. Why would you want to trade him?
McCutchen isn’t great, but he’s a solid player right now, above average OPS this year. Caratini has an 800 OpS. You’re also getting rid of ALL THREE catchers, but NOT the one guy who’s going to be a FA next year.
Erceg ISN’T EVEN A POSITION PLAYER!
LOL..you’re making all these roster moves, giving away 3 of our top 4 catchers, you’re calling up pitchers who you used to be position players but aren’t anymore, you’re trading Jace Peterson for some strange reason
You’re taking the team with the 7th best odds to win a WS and you’re just dumping about 8 guys and then trading another 5 or whatever it was…and absolutely destroying next year’s depth.
This has to be sarcasm or just really that bad of an idea.
Either that or they should try and shop him around to teams looking for a cheap DH option.
Is yoan Moncada a bust? Well no not if he has a multi hit game tonight
dvdvdvdv
hyeer and how ru
We, Brewer Nation, are all frustrated right now! If we start hitting, it would solve a lot of our problems! I do not know if our present lineup can do it! I think the front office has to give our manager the player lineup to win. Bottom line, we are a decent team, but do not have the lineup to do anything in the playoff. About 10 guys are untradable,but the rest are available. Thank you, guys, for the passion!
Honestly I believe if the Brewers start pitching and hitting. They have a very bright future.
We keep losing to eventual world series winners. It’s a brew crew thing I guess.
A perfect example and one factor/clue of what’s wrong in Milwaukee besides Counsell & Stearns. Look at the premium quality seats at Miller (yeah, I know) Park in comparison to other ballparks. You would think paying for premium seats would put you in quality comfortable seats. Let alone stadiums with 365 24/7 outdoor exposure still have better seats than an INDOOR stadium!
Wasn’t the stadium rated best in a player opinion poll not too long ago? I can’t vouch for the seating but apparently players love it’s design as a stadium, which I agree with. I think it’s amazing. I had and lost one of the ground breaking concrete (or whatever) encased in some crystalline type of cube with the 2000s M and wheat leaf logo. (Barley?)
That’s a joke of a comment.
Given the payroll limits and small market size, as well as the fact that top FAs don’t want to live in MKE (THE most racist city in America with the most corrupt cops), Stearns and Counsell are not just the best GM and Manager in the game today, but arguably in the history of this sport.
NO ONE has ever done more with less than these two.
It’s actually an incredible stadium experience as a fan. Players love it too.
The only clue here is that you lack one.
Yes, the stadium is excellent. One of the best in baseball. My point was a former season ticket holder is that the higher-end seats at Miller Park in comparison to other ballparks are lower quality and not as nice, comfortable, etc. I don’t see a legit reason for that other than being cheap. I love the park except for the new name, those seats, and sometimes the product that’s on the field over the past several decades. One WS appearance in 50+ years is nothing to brag about.
BTW peabrain. Not many teams have WS appearances period. It’s dominated by a few with big money.
You should celebrate a Rowdy Tellez off of the scrap heap doing anything.
The D doesn’t matter when your pitching is that good and is top 5 in K rate.
MLB changed quite a few little rules over the last 5 years. I call them ALL Stearns’ rules. He found loopholes and exploited them as no GM ever had in order to field the best product possible (when he had among the least talent, due to financial reasons). He got those teams into the playoffs.
When the league is changing rules to thwart a Harvard genius, you KNOW he’s the best ever in any sport.
His only huge mistakes were giving Cain 2 years more than he deserved at his age and paying Yelich AFTER the fact (which annoys fans, even though he’s been just about the best lead off hitter in baseball since changing ‘position’ in that regard on June 28th).
He hasn’t made a lot of mistakes of that caliber, and the little ones he makes he moves on from early in the season (rather than being a deadline dealer, he often makes a move in May, such as with Adames). He also gets rid of relievers by May quite often and finds guys who are doing better.
This IS the best managed team in baseball, both on the field and in the FO.
Only an idiot would disagree.
@spike The Brewers are typically in the top half of MLB for home attendance. While a small TV market, I don’t completely buy the “small market” descriptor for Milwaukee. (See NBA Bucks) Compare MLB team payroll rankings along with home attendance rankings. Let’s also not forget MLB revenue sharing.
As for your “Stearns and Counsell are not just the best GM and Manager in the game today, but arguably in the history of this sport” assertion. You’re obviously biased and only see Counsell/Stearns through rose-colored glasses. They are NOT the “best in the game today” and there’s no way in h they’re near the best in the “history of this sport.” Counsell often manages like someone with some ADHD tendencies. He often overmanages or micromanages in situations where he should just let the players do their jobs. Which might be a one reason out of many reasons why some Top FA’s don’t come to MKE?
“NO ONE has ever done more with less than these two.” Seriously?? Now, who is it that doesn’t have a clue?!
You are a pinhead. The Brewers have one of the smallest stadiums in the entire league, and when a middle of the pack stadium is top 10 in attendance, the GM is doing something right. He’s also hampered by an idiot of a meddling owner who keeps the payroll near the BOTTOM of the league (do you really think a team can compete at 125 million a year?).
Small market is a reality. Who cares if you don’t buy it? It’s a FACT. The size of the media market in terms of viewer shares is THE smallest in the country for ALL of its teams. Which in turns means far less advertising revenue, thus leading to the small budget for players.
Add that to the fact that Milwaukee is rated THE WORST city to live in for black and Hispanic folks, with the most racist police force, and you don’t exactly have a calling card to draw the most talented FAs.
You’re a stone cold moron (clinical definition, a 70 IQ with no knowledge of sports or its history).
The Brewers were terrible in the 70s, horrific in the 90s and early 2000s, and just OK in the Braun/Fielder years.
Stearns is the most brilliant ever, using advanced analytics WAY before most and Counsell manages based on that and micromanages in order to get the most out of the less talented players they can afford to sign. He’d let them do their jobs if they were all 5 tool players who could do their jobs. They can’t.
Revenue sharing is meaningless against the Yankees, Cubs and Dodgers who have unlimited cash to spend.
They’re not just the best combo ever in baseball. I meant in the history of ALL sports (and I might even be inclined to say the current Bucks and Packers GMs are the best ever in their sports given ALL OF THE ABOVE limitations faced by the small market of Wisconsin).
It’s WI, dude. It’s small. It has no major media or big money.
Which is why achievements like making the playoffs for 5 years in row (when they do this year) is amazing, since prior to this streak they’d NEVER done so more than 2 years running.
And then examine the Bucks rise to the top and the savvy pick of Giannis and roster construction. And the Packers having two consecutive HOF QBs (one the greatest of all time).
You’re an idiot.
“The Brewers have one of the smallest stadiums in the entire league,”
Here’s a FACT for you mr. thinks he knows it all. Miller Park is the 16th largest stadium out of the 30 MLB ballparks. You obviously don’t believe in opinions being supported by FACTS.
You’re not worth any more of my time “Spike.” Is your wife/ girlfriend’s name “Buffy or Dottie?” Despite living in WI, I bet you’re proud of that confederate flag on the back of your pickup, aren’t you a*shat!?
I did say middle of the pack, pinhead. I also would point out that the bottom stadium is a huge outlier. Miller is only about 6000 from the very bottom if you leave that one out. But Miller is also 8000-14,000 fans short of the top couple of stadiums. It’s also significant because the old stadium was bigger when they started in 1970 and eventually held 12,000 more.
The FACT is that 13 stadiums are within 2000 either way of Miller (I will never call it the new name) and 7 parks have significantly lower capacity, while TEN have much higher capacity.
The Crew are in the middle, which is EXACTLY what I said. And our ticket prices are among the lowest in the league–being working class MKE and all–so they generate less revenue than the 13 teams they are in the middle of the pack with, even when they whup them all in attendance.
I’ve doubt you’ve ever been to Milwaukee. Maybe travelled through on your way to wherever you were going, be it Wisconsin Dells or Six Flags in Illinois. How does/can anyone quantify such accusations towards any city? Seems more subjective than objective realities were you driven to this conclusion. I’m not defending any government force of any city even if I was born in Milwaukee, just the folks I meet. To say the most rascist, you need to travel more around the country. Don’t forget racism is not something inherent to “white” people but actually certain people of all colors have their rotten apples as well. It is not unique to some “white” people but rather PEOPLE as a whole. I will not be a scapegoat for mankind’s failings and our weakness against evil in our quest to root them out and meet their maker.
Stearns is at best a 50/50 or average GM. Look at some of the former Brewers Stearns has traded away, DFA’d, or gotten rid of during his tenure. The Brewers’ current farm system is ranked anywhere from #17 to #25 (bottom half of MLB). Frankly, I’d like to see Stearns, Counsell, and Lane replaced/fired.
When Tellez is your #3 hitter along with the Brewer offense strikes out way too much, lacks foot speed, and is average defensively (that’s being generous). You’re an average to a slightly above-average team in my opinion. Yes, they’ll probably make the playoffs again. But, that’s about it. As I said earlier, one WS appearance in 50+ years isn’t something to brag about. I could be wrong?
You’re an idiot. See above response.
Farm system rankings are MEANINGLESS. Stearns has gotten more out of his allegedly crappy farm system than the big money teams (and just wait until the current crop of 16-20 year olds are ready).
Are you dumb on purpose or were you dropped on your head a lot as a child? Maybe an extra chromosome?