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Brewers will reportedly call up top prospect Keston Hiura

By Jason Cole

MILWAUKEE, WI - JUNE 21: Keston Hiura, the Milwaukee Brewers 2017 first round draft pick, participates in batting practice before the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Miller Park on June 21, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - JUNE 21: Keston Hiura, the Milwaukee Brewers 2017 first round draft pick, participates in batting practice before the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Miller Park on June 21, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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With power-hitting third baseman Travis Shaw slumping, Milwaukee calls up one of the top prospects in the minors to compete for his spot.

The Athletic reported Tuesday that the Milwaukee Brewers will call up top prospect Keston Hiura from the minors in what will likely be a challenge to incumbent third baseman Travis Shaw’s job.

Hiura was drafted as a second baseman and has played there exclusively in the minors, the move is likely aimed at Shaw. The Brewers have had both Shaw and Mike Moustakas play second and third the past two seasons, but both are naturally third basemen. After hitting more than 30 home runs in each of the past two seasons, Shaw has cratered this season. He has hit only .163 with four home runs and eight RBI this season.

Hiura, by contrast, has seen his power hitting take off this season. He has hit 11 home runs in 129 at-bats at Triple-A San Antonio so far. He has also hit .333 with 29 RBI and an OPS of 1.106. Hiura was the No. 9 overall pick in the June 2017 MLB Draft out of UC Irvine. He hit better than .400 in college and continued to hit at the professional level.

Hiura, a 22-year-old righthanded hitter, hit .371 and .293 in his first two seasons in the minors. However, his power potential really took off this season. With Hiura in the lineup, it’s expected that Moustakas will return to third base on a full-time basis. Moustakas has played well so far with 10 home runs this season.

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