Counsel says Brewers prospects will get their chance

Appleton, Wisconsin — Yes, baseball is a team sport. But if the Milwaukee Brewers are to return to the postseason this year, they need to find an offense that was MIA for much of last season.

Perhaps some of the team’s top minor leaguers are believed to be able to deliver the coveted punch, and Brewers manager Craig Counsell suggested Wednesday that they’ll get their chance.

Speaking at the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Hot Stove Banquet at Fox Cities Stadium, Counsel said: “I think the Position Players Group is where we introduce some really exciting young players at some point this year.

“I think Sal Frerick will impact the Brewers this year. I think Bryce Turang will impact the Brewers. Garrett Mitchell made an impact late last year. William Contreras is 24. He already has. We’ve been through the All-Star Game and it’s going to make an impact on us this year.

But with the Brewers finishing 22nd out of 30 teams last season with a .235 batting average, they need a veteran player already there to pick up the pace. Renfro was traded to the Dodgers. And Christian Jelich, who was second on his team with a .252 average, plummeted from his MVP form he showed in 2018 and his 2019.

“Christian is in a great position,” Counsel said. “He’s a great winner. He hasn’t been able to get back to those heights so far, but it’s there and we’re doing everything we can to help him make the most of them. I will

Counsell said his biggest concern is the bullpen, with relievers Brad Boxberger, Taylor Rodgers and Trevor Gott leaving in free agency.

“In the bullpen, we’ve changed a lot of names, so like many bullpens, there will be some unfamiliar names,” he said.

“That’s probably where spring training has the most work to do as far as understanding the level of talent out there.”

“But our team starts with the starting pitchers. And our starting pitchers range from good to great, and we’re going to rely on that group again to be a good part of winning games.”

He added that signing free agent Bryan Anderson this week is an important acquisition.

“He offers us a lot of versatility, so it’s an important addition for us,” Counsel said. It’s a position, but I’ve also played a lot of outfielders, and I think they’re very valuable players who can make up for when things go wrong or they get injured.

So it was good. It was a late sign for us, but an important one. “

Regarding this year’s rule changes, Counsel said that while the elimination of the shift was the most notable to fans, it wasn’t the most important one.

“It’s a pitch clock,” he said. “This is going to be the most important rule change. And it’s the rule change that I hope will have a positive impact on the game. There are phases, but I think the game will pick up the pace in the end, and it should be a better experience for the fans.”

Although not yet announced, former Timber Rattlers manager Matt Erickson, who was the Brewers’ infielder and hitting coach last season, will take on a slightly newer role as the Brewers’ roving infield instructor.

“It’s going to be a slightly different role this year,” Ericsson said. “I will continue to work with infielders in the big leagues, but I will also work with infielders here in Appleton and work on the back end of player development. and competitive balance b-select short Robert Moore) could come here, so my understanding is that most of the time will be spent between Appleton and Milwaukee, with trips to the rest of the affiliates. I’m going out too.”

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