Brewers' Joey Wiemer: Candidate for Opening Day roster
Rotowire
Wiemer has a chance to make Milwaukee's Opening Day roster, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. "We have uncertainty in the outfield right now and that's created some opportunities for guys," manager Craig Counsell said Saturday.
With Garrett Mitchell (hamstring) questionable for the start of the season and Tyrone Taylor (elbow) expected to miss the first month of the season, the Brewers don't have any healthy outfielders who bring both defense and offensive upside to the table. Enter Wiemer, whose only non-plus tool is his hit tool, as he has the arm for right field and the speed and glove for center field. He has hit .231 with two home runs, two steals, six strikeouts and three walks in 26 at-bats this spring. The Brewers also have Luke Voit hanging around in hopes of being added to the 40-man roster, so there will have to be quite a bit of roster juggling to squeeze Wiemer onto the 40-man and Opening Day rosters. However, his defensive chops and the mounting injuries in Milwaukee give him a chance.
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Brewers' Joey Wiemer: Jumps to Triple-A
Rotowire
Wiemer was promoted to Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday.
Wiemer has posted a meager .450 OPS over 19 games with Double-A Biloxi since the start of July, but that did not prevent the Brewers from moving him up to the top level of the minor leagues. Wiemer played in this year's Futures Game and posted a .984 OPS over his first 38 games of the year, so there are reasons to be excited about his future. However, he will need to get back on track at the plate to maintain his prospect status.
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Brewers' Joey Wiemer: Striking out at furious pace
Rotowire
Wiemer hasn't homered since June 22 for Double-A Biloxi, and he's hit just .131/.221/.164 with 25 strikeouts in his last 16 games.
He's gone down on strikes at a startling 36.8 percent clip in that span, pushing his season-long strikeout rate to 30.9 percent. While Wiemer has displayed power (15 homers) and speed (24 steals in 25 tries) alike in Double-A, he's been unable to replicate the far sharper plate discipline he showed in the lower levels of the minors last season.
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Brewers' Joey Wiemer: Putting power on display
Rotowire
Wiemer went 10-for-24 (.417) with five home runs, eight RBI and two stolen bases over his last six games with Double-A Biloxi.
Double-A pitchers have had few answers for Wiemer, who is hitting .302/.375/.605 with nine home runs, 12 doubles and 26 RBI -- to go along with six stolen bases -- through 144 plate appearances at the level. They have been able to strike him out 45 times, though, and his 31.2 percent strikeout rate is the highest of his career. Wiemer's prospect star is on the rise, but he's going to have to make more contact to assert his standing.
