ESPN REPORT: The Star Player Whom With Anger Slap .

ESPN REPORT: The Star Player Whom With Anger Slap Milwaukee Brewers Head Coach is Been Suspended From.

The Brewers have a whole new perspective on first base when compared to our 2023 first base preview.

Following a great season in 2022, Rowdy Tellez had a lackluster year before joining the Pirates as a free agency this past fall. Keston Hiura was selected to his fourth MiLB All-Star team, demonstrating his continuous development as a AAAA talent. After choosing free agency, he eventually inked a minor-league contract with the Tigers. Luke Voit was brought in specifically to bat against lefties, but he never really worked out in Milwaukee, struggling against them and being cut after only two months.

Only Owen Miller is still in the lineup out of the five players from the preview of the previous season (Josh VanMeter left for the Yankees). In his debut season with Milwaukee, Miller played primarily second base but also saw some time at first base due to Tellez’s injury. In addition, the Brewers added prospects Tyler Black and Wes Clarke as well as Rhys Hoskins and Jake Bauers.

Hoskins, Rhys

Despite missing the entire 2023 season due to an ACL tear, Hoskins was among the most offensively productive first basemen in his six seasons before. Hoskins has played in 667 games across those seasons.A hitter with a 125 OPS+ who is 242/.353/.492 and has 148 home runs, 405 RBIs, 588 hits, and 392 runs scored. Despite his lackluster defense (eight defensive runs saved in 496 games at first base), he has enough power to make up for it.

Additionally, he gives Milwaukee the option of using him as a regular designated hitter, which they might decide to do in case Hoskins has any difficulties healing from his injury. Despite having fewer plate appearances (267), Baseball Reference forecasts Hoskins to have another strong season. In his debut season in Milwaukee, he finished with 13 home runs, 35 RBIs, 58 hits, 34 runs, and a batting line of.247/.330/.481.

Bauers Jake

Similar to Hoskins, Bauers is a power-first baseman who has made 183 appearances at first base and has a lifetime defensive run save percentage of -2. Bauers hasn’t achieved much success in the major leagues, in contrast to Hoskins. Bauers is a career player with 412 games played with the Rays, Guardians, Mariners, and Yankees.211/.302/.361 (80 OPS+) hitter with 257 hits, 39 home runs, 140 RBIs, and 149 runs scored.

With 183 games at first base, 168 games in the outfield, and 51 games as the designated hitter in his career, he does provide a good amount of versatility. Baseball Reference projects that he will play more than Hoskins this season, with a hitting line that includes 11 home runs, 34 RBIs, 36 runs scored, and 67 hits (.224/.301/.385).

Miller Owen

In addition to his above-mentioned versatility, Miller split his 90 games with Milwaukee last season between the outfield (23 appearances), first base (35 appearances), third base (23 appearances), and second base (42 appearances). With five home runs, 27 RBIs, 76 hits, 29 runs scored, and 13 stolen bases, he hit.261/.303/.371 (84 OPS+).

With 272 career games played and -4 defensive runs saved across all positions, he is a fairly mediocre defender and Milwaukee’s best utility option through 2024. In his age-27 season, he is expected to hit.250/.304/.378 with eight home runs, 42 RBIs, 92 hits, 43 runs scored, and nine stolen bases.

Clarke, Wes

During spring training, Clarke has already established himself, going two for two against the Padres on Saturday. The University of South Carolina product Clarke, 24, was selected by the Brewers in the tenth round of the 2021 draft. He has played in 241 games at four levels over the course of three minor-league seasons, with a.233/.378/.460 line with 45 home runs, 162 RBIs, 188 hits, and 118 runs scored.

After spending the whole 2023 season in Double-A Biloxi, Clarke hit.241/.392/.497 in 118 games with 26 home runs, 80 RBIs, 96 hits, and 68 runs scored. Clarke is not on the roster and will probably begin the 2024 season in Triple-A Nashville, but he is a viable possibility should the Brewers need offensive support in the later stages of the season.

Tyler Black

The Wright State native Black, 23, was selected by the Brewers with the 33rd overall choice in 2021. Throughout 213 games at five levels, he has hit.279/.415/.465 with 23 home runs, 116 RBIs, 214 hits, 165 runs scored, and 73 stolen bases. He has advanced through Milwaukee’s farm system rather nicely. In 123 games, he hit.284/.417/.513 with 18 home runs, 73 RBIs, 128 hits, 105 runs scored, and 55 stolen bases. He spent 2023 between Double-A Biloxi and Triple-A Nashville.

Black is a non-roster invitee at spring training, just like Clarke, but Black has a higher chance of making the big-league team out of camp. According to MLB Pipeline, he is the fourth-best prospect in Milwaukee and ranked No. 46 overall. Although he has played third base the most of the time, he is a versatile fielder who can start at first base and second base in the minors and play numerous games in the outfield. As such, he is a reliable utility option to have beside Miller in the big.