2:04PM: The Brewers officially announced the selection of Frelick’s contract. Tapia was designated for assignment in the corresponding move, potentially ending the outfielder’s tenure in Milwaukee after a little over a month. Tapia quickly caught on with the Brewers after being released by the Red Sox, and hit .173/.267/.288 over 61 PA in a Milwaukee uniform.
12:50PM: The Brewers are promoting top outfield prospect Sal Frelick, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal (Twitter link). Frelick’s first game with Milwaukee will mark the 23-year-old’s big league debut.
It was a little over two years ago that the Brewers selected Frelick with the 15th overall pick of the 2021 draft, so it has been a pretty quick road to the majors for the Boston College product. In fact, it is quite possible Frelick might’ve been on Milwaukee’s roster even earlier if he didn’t have to undergo thumb surgery in April, and he missed a little under two months while recovering.
This notable injury might explain Frelick’s underwhelming numbers with Triple-A Nashville this season. After hitting .365/.435/.508 over 215 at Triple-A in 2022, there was some speculation that Frelick might make the Brewers’ roster in Spring Training. However, he was optioned to the minors for more seasoning, and hasn’t really gotten on track, hitting .247/.333/.342 over 183 PA. Frelick has been hitting better over the last week, and despite this small sample size, the Brewers brass has apparently seen enough to believe that Frelick is ready for the Show.
Of course, the shaky state of Milwaukee’s outfield has also left the club looking for any answers it can find. Left fielder Christian Yelich is enjoying a tremendous season, but center field and right field have been revolving doors. Joey Wiemer, Tyrone Taylor, Blake Perkins, Raimel Tapia, Jesse Winker, Owen Miller, and the injured Brian Anderson and Garrett Mitchell have all gotten varying degrees of playing time without anyone providing particularly much offense. It remains to be seen exactly how long of a look Frelick might get in his first taste of the big leagues, but there’s plenty of opportunity for him to quickly carve out a niche for himself if he hits well.
Even despite his injury-shortened 2023 campaign, midseason prospect rankings are still quite high on Frelick’s potential. MLB Pipeline rates Frelick 17th on their list, with Baseball America (30th) and the Athletic’s Keith Law (31st) not far behind. All outlets give him a 70-grade for speed, and Frelick has stolen 44 bases from 58 chances over his minor league career. Pipeline and BA also give Frelick a 70-grade for his hitting ability, praising his approach at the plate and his excellent knack for drawing walks. Frelick’s power is still a question mark, and Pipeline is a little questionable about Frelick’s ability to stick in center field even if Baseball America and Law are both more bullish. Law writes that Frelick is “at least a 60 defender in center,” and uses Brett Gardner as a possible comp for Frelick at the MLB level.
Congratulations to the young man! That said…this definitely feels forced. Slashing .247/.333/.342 in the IL. The plate discipline is obviously there and he never strikes out but he isn’t making good contact. I hope it works out and that I’m wrong but I can’t envision him being up for good.
You have to look st what he has done since coming back from injury. Hitting over .300 since then. That was june 9. Led team in average and rbis since then.
His batted ball numbers still aren’t super promising. He’s averaging 84.6 MPH on his exit velo this season and 7.9 degrees of launch angle. He’s going to have to run a super high BABIP to be successful in the bigs given those numbers.
I understand that he isn’t a power guy and I personally think there is still a place in the game for a player with his profile, but it’s going to be tough if he can’t sting the ball. He’ll likely need to produce at least above-average exit velo and barrel rates to be an everyday regular.
I think you’re putting too much value on the EV and LA for a hit-over-power player.
He had a 4.50(!!!) BB/K this month. He could probably benefit from an offseason at Driveline to try to tap into more power, but he’ll give Milwaukee exactly what they lack right now: a disciplined contact hitter.
agreed with todd… Frelick doesn’t have much to prove at the AAA level anymore now that he’s healthy. might be a good time to get Wiems a little break
I don’t quite agree that he “doesn’t have much to prove at the AAA level anymore.” He needs to prove he can hit with better EVs and barrel rates.
Top a pop has no power. His defense is hit and miss. Sal has much more upside than the ham And egger released!
Must star developing College guys quicker. Good move He is better than Topa Pop even if he plays defense and hits with some power.. Both of which Topa a Pop lacks.
It can’t be forced. Not when experts on here have insisted he should have been called up when Mitchell went down (nevermind that’s when HE went down too), or that he should have made the team out of spring training.
No worse than forcing CC to play the worse batting lineup in Baseball besides KC and Oakland
@myaccount to be fair to Frelick, he was injured for 2 months and rehabbed first half of the season. Even the best players don’t come out of the gate (this late in the season) swinging. This late in the year, the pitchers are hitting their stride and have their routine down. It’s not like the beginning of the season when hitters are crushing pitching. By mid season, the pitchers have put it together and hitters are challenged a bit more compared to beginning of the season.
With all that said, Frelick may have a hiccup at times this season. But I think he will be a nice addition to Yelich. As a Pirates fan, I dislike the Brewers more than I can say for the Cardinals or Cubbies. I’d position Frelick in the 7th or 8th in the batting order to keep the pressure off him. Let him see easier pitches for awhile and casually move him up the lineup to 5th or 6th. If he’s doing well and the 5th or 6th slot, maybe slot him in the 2 spot in the lineup ahead of Yelich. They could be an interesting 2 and 3 hitters. Just filling out the rest of that lineup to give both guys a chance to drive in runs, is a mix and match going from 6-9 hitting order. Who knows, maybe Frelick gives the Brewers what they need for at least a NL Championship series.
3/3 so far, game tying rbi, two incredible plays at the wall. Dudes just a gamer.
Good luck kid!
Now bring back huira
Hiura is in purgatory. Did everything that was asked of him. Cut down on Ks and improved defense at first and OF. Good luck to Sal. Kid can hit above mendoza line blindfolded, making him a huge upgrade on this team!
Hiura has a track record though of completely reverting to his bad plate discipline every time he comes back to the majors. He’s always tore up AAA. His problem is that MLB pitchers know how to pick him apart and get him swinging at things he shouldn’t. He always “figures it out” in triple an and loses it as soon as he comes back up. I agree he should be back in the majors. But I think he should be part of a package to get something in return so that he can try a change of scenery.
Hiura has had chance after chance and failed. I look for him to be traded at the deadline. We need first base help and he’s a prefect trade chip
Arcia season, including dagger HR last night, is proof that some take longer to adjust.
Looking at what Arcia is doing for ATL at short and then looking what Adames is doing makes me puke. We gave up on arcia way too soon. Now our SS us struggling to hit over .200
tangerinepony;
1. Arcia has been working with one of the best – if not THE best – coaching staffs in MLB for 2 years. Coaches matter.
2. What do you think another team will trade for Hiura considering his age, salary and track record? It appears to me that all teams have guys that can do one thing decently but have major holes in the rest of their game.
Arcia got a change of scenery. Which is what Hiura needs. Just as much as there’s those who take time to adjust, there’s those who just need a change of scenery. But Hiura mashed triple a, then the wheels fall off in the mlb. He likely needs the change of scenery.
If coaches matter then apparently the brewers hitting coaches are complete garbage and should be replaced at seasons end
It’s not the hitting coaches in Milwaukee. It’s the front office, scouts, and the Brewers system who annually draft, fall in love with some offensive player(s) who mainly hits dingers, is not a good base runner, average at best defensively, hits between .175 to .245, and fits Counsell/Stearns/Arnold’s image of a ballplayer. See their 2023 #1 draft pick and most of their recent high picks as an example. Turang, Mitchell, & Chourio being recent exceptions.
Hiura should come up for either Winkler, Pancake house, or Mr. smiley right now. Taylor has a great smile, but he has not performed like the others. I also want Chero now. Chero, Fralick . and Hiura for the awful trio on our Roster!
About time! Can’t be any worse than the clowns they keep running out
Makes me yearn for Sal Fasano and Sal Butera.
Brewers could better us Sal Maglie.
How is 2 homeruns, 19 rbi’s and 8 steals considered a big time prospect?
Potential, what he did last year, and what he has done lately…
Frelick is over rated. A poor man’s Khris Davis. He’s got no power probably a weak arm for corner OF spots. Plus he’s undersized. The brewers can only hope he’s an on base machine but the way the brewers are I doubt it.
Pretty poor comparison to Khris Davis of all people, not even close to the same player. Frelick is good defense and speed and decent arm, minimal power. He will get on base but needs to keep that average up to be an everyday player.
This has to be one of the worst comparisons I have seen. Khris Davis had a noodle arm, below average defense, no contact and a ton of power.
Frelick projects to be—at worst—average defensively, likely slightly above average. Moderate arm, little pop, and a ton of contact and a high on-base percentage.
Because not everything is about power. Sometimes if you want to score runs, you need a table setter. A spark.
Bummed Tapia is probably gone. I feel like he’s better than those terrible stats.
Tapia was obvious casualty BA .173 OPS .555. More interesting will be who is next with Brian Anderson coming back. Tyrone Taylor .153/.394 or Jessie Winker .198/.565??
I hope it’s winker but probably not, counsel love having in the clean up to do absolutely nothing
I’m betting on Taylor due to who Counsell typically gets rid of over the years. I’m hoping it’s Winker who hasn’t done anything all year, but he’s a Counsell type guy.
It will be Winker whenever they trade for their guy at DH/1B. Dead man walking at this point. Taylor is likely gone though if they find two bats.
Good Bye for now, Will let someone else say something. Good posting gang!
Sounds like a second rate comedian from Manhattan
Sal Frelick. Just off the disco floor in Manhattan. Saturday night fever
Bad day to be a Tapia.
Wiemer is the regular centerfielder, not “one of the mix”. He’s played in 96 games with 322 plate appearances. Excellent defense, great power, still trying to find a consistent rate of contact. But that’s been the story on him at every level. He’s a keeper.
I doubt Wiemer is a keeper, doesn’t make enough contact. Much rather keep Mitchell, frelick, chorio.
Wiemer= Rob Deer reincarnate.
Wiemer would need to start belting more home runs to be rob deer incarnate. Josh Donaldson and the year he’s having is more reminiscent of rob deer.
My point was Wiemer is overrated.
Wiemer, Mitchell and Frelick will be competing for the 2 OF spots next spring. The 1 who loses will be in AAA next year
Mitchell’s contact rate is far worse than Wiemer’s, and had been all throughout the minors as well.
Another one of those young players that’s magically ready to play after the super 2 cutoff is no longer a concern.
No. Teams don’t manipulate service time. This is a random coincidence……
He was injured.
As I said above, some insisted he get called up when Mitchell got hurt. Despite the fact he also got hurt at the same time. Can’t remember for sure, but it may have been the same DAY as Mitchell.
We all like to think we know more than the people in the dugout, clubhouse or front office, until something like this. Instead, we brush it off and keep pretending we’re smarter than people who get paid by the team.
The Brewers have called up a lot of rookies this year was before Super 2. And he was injured the same day Mitchell got hurt and didn’t come back till June 10. So wasn’t an option. Rookies Brewers have called up this year:turang, Weimar, montasario, payamps, peguero, uribe, perkins, jones. Brewers don’t care about that
He was legitimately struggling in April, got injured the exact same day the person he would’ve replaced on the roster got hurt. And now after putting it back together since returning from injury, got his call up. If you think it’s service time manipulation, you clearly don’t know the situation. There was also a logjam to begin the year that’s since been cleared up between injuries and lack of performance.
You nailed it and did so in a measured, respectful way. Thank you.
He is not disappointing tonight. Super young player.
Frelick certainly played with that adrenaline pump today for his first MLB game, 3-3, 2 huge defensive plays at the wall, more or less won the game single handedly for Milwaukee. Well done to Mr Frelick, who deserves a frelick and an ice-cream for his outstanding play today. MVP of the game to be fair.
Braves unfortunately did not add on to their 3, but maybe could have if not for Mr Sal Frelick.
Now we get Mr Elder v Mr Teheran. Mr Teheran’s record maybe better if he’d had some run support in his early outings, and I am sure being an ex Brave he’ll want to beat his former team. Mr Elder has been a bit off lately, so it sets up an interesting 3rd game.
A message from SAL: Do you like me now!
He was very bad in aaa but he was also hurt and hitting better lately. Also his plate discipline is top notch.his lack of power is a concern but that is nothing he can improve much in the minors, at age 23 and 5’9/175 he probably is pretty maxed out.
Thus they maybe just want to call him up to find out whether he is luis arraez or Juan Pierre.