PHOENIX — The Brewers’ deep and proficient outfield corps has a defining attribute: robust defensive play.
Each Milwaukee outfielder was ranked among the many high defenders within the Nationwide League final season, a principal cause the Brewers led the NL in defensive runs saved as calculated by the Fielding Bible.
“The secret is to attain extra runs than the opposite workforce, so when you can forestall them from scoring runs with good protection, that solely helps,” star left fielder Christian Yelich mentioned.
Statcast’s numbers agreed.
Yelich was rated three outs above the common left fielder in 2023, tied for second within the Majors.
Joey Wiemer: six outs above common in middle, sixth within the NL amongst full-time middle fielders.
Sal Frelick: seven outs above common whereas splitting time between proper and middle.
Blake Perkins: seven outs about common whereas taking part in at the least 9 video games in any respect three spots.
And Garrett Mitchell “saved” three runs above common in his 19 video games final season, lacking virtually 5 months due to a shoulder damage.
“We’ve acquired some high quality outfielders,” Brewers supervisor Pat Murphy mentioned.
It’s a excessive commonplace, and Jackson Chourio is experiencing a number of the maybe anticipated rising pains for a participant who has an eight-year, $82 million contract however has performed solely six video games above the Double-A degree whereas making an attempt to ascend to the Brewers’ Main League defensive degree.
“He has performed subpar protection,” Murphy mentioned matter-of-factly, “However I feel a whole lot of that’s that further weight [of expectations] he’s carrying round. I feel that may enhance for positive.
“He’s a younger child. I’m simply going to maintain believing in him. He’s most likely urgent. He additionally did some actually good issues immediately. Upside is improbable.”
Chourio, MLB Pipeline’s No. 2 total prospect, had a bunt single in three plate appearances but in addition had a difficult day in his first begin in proper subject throughout the Brewers’ 4-3 victory over the Angels in Cactus League play on Monday.
He misplayed a hard-hit line drive by Mickey Moniak main off the second inning, taking an acute angle on a ball that skipped previous him on a fast hop and rolled to the wall. He was charged with a two-base error, though DL Corridor stored that runner from scoring.
Chourio might have been making an attempt to make up for that play on his throwing error within the third inning. With Aaron Hicks on first base and one out, Chourio charged Luis Rengifo’s line-drive single and overthrew third base making an attempt to catch Hicks, a throw that was unlikely to have retired the runner.
Chourio has spent the majority of his Cactus League time in middle subject, with 63 innings there and 22 innings in left.
Murphy, who is aware of so much in regards to the excessive sky and the windy circumstances that prevail in Arizona, sees the benefits in giving Chourio all of the reps he can get.
“If there may be ever a spot to learn to play outfield it’s Arizona, as a result of it isn’t form to you with regards to solar, wind, sky,” Murphy mentioned.
“All of that’s as tough as you will see. All that has contributed, and I feel it’s a good factor that he has been fairly common on the market.”
Just like the Brewers, scouts consider in Chourio’s defensive skill. He’s rated a 60 fielder by MLB Pipeline utilizing the 20-80 Main League scale, during which 60 is firmly above Main League common.
Chourio has hung out on the again fields working with outfield and first base coach Quintin Berry, who’s in his fourth season within the group after a five-year Main League outfield profession.
“Chourio has finished some good issues, he actually has,” Murphy mentioned. “You’ll be able to see it in him. You’ll be able to see the expertise. There are flashes on the plate that he’s been very, excellent.
“Different stuff, he has an extended technique to go. We didn’t signal him for simply this yr, we signed him for the long run. I feel he’ll develop leaps and bounds. He’ll develop extra accustomed to what it takes.”