Young Brewers Tracker: Diaz red-hot, draft pick Erceg off to good start
The Milwaukee Brewers are reshaping their franchise with an injection of youth and prospects.
Every Thursday for the rest of the season, FOX Sports Wisconsin will take a closer look at some specific young players -- as well as noting others who might be stepping up -- measuring, highlighting and evaluating their progress. Please note the glossary of advanced stats at the bottom of the story.
This is the 11th edition of the Young Brewers Tracker.
IN THE MAJORS
Keon Broxton (age 25)
Last week: 3 games, 7 PA, 1 HR, 1 SB, 2 BB, 2 K, .200 BA, .429 OBP, .800 SLG, 1.229 OPS, 201 sOPS+, .000 BAbip
Season: 27 games, 71 PA, .131 BA, .254 OBP, .197 SLG, .450 OPS, 1 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 8 R, 2 RBI, 7 SB, 10 BB, 33 K, .259 BAbip, 23 OPS+, -0.1 WAR.
Notable: We were going to remove Broxton from the Tracker, but can't do it after he hit his first major-league home run -- a pinch-hit shot off Max Scherzer, no less. But unless Broxton can establish himself, this will be his last appearance here.
Zach Davies (age 23)
Last week: 1 games (1 start), 0-0, 5.40 ERA, 5 IP, 7 H, 1 BB, 9 K, .318 OBA, .375 OBP, .409 SLG, 1.600 WHIP, 99 sOPS+, .538 BAbip,
Season: 13 games (13 starts), 5-3, 3.74 ERA, 74 2/3 IP, 1.179 WHIP, 8.1 H/9, 1.1 HR/9, 2.5 BB/9, 7.8 K/9, .242 OBA, .302 OBP, .408 SLG, 114 ERA+, 3.99 FIP, 0.7 WAR
Notable: Tied his career high with nine strikeouts against Washington on June 24. The last seven outs he recorded were whiffs.
Ramon Flores (age 23)
Last week: 5 games, 15 PA, 0 R, 0 RBI, 2 BB, 7 K, .000 BA, .143 OBP, .000 SLG, .143 OPS, -58 sOPS+, .000 BAbip
Season: 69 games, 194 PA, .229 BA, .309 OBP, .277 SLG, .586 OPS, 5 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 14 R, 15 RBI, 3 SB, 21 BB, 45 K, .298 BAbip, 59 OPS+, 0.1 WAR.
Notable: The left-handed hitter is batting better against lefty pitchers (.255) than righty (.218), although he has a higher OPS against right-handers (.603 to .541).
Domingo Santana (age 23)
Last week: n/a
Season: 40 games, 150 PA, .234 BA, .347 OBP, .391 SLG, .737 OPS, 8 2B, 0 3B, 4 HR, 19 R, 13 RBI, 0 SB, 21 BB, 52 K, 98 OPS+, .361 BAbip, -0.5 WAR.
Notable: Placed on the disabled list June 9 due to right elbow soreness. Not expected back until after the All-Star break.
Jonathan Villar (age 25)
Last week: 5 games, 22 PA, 3 R, 1 RBI, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 SB, 2 BB, 8 K, .400 BA, .455 OBP, .550 SLG, 1.005 OPS, 153 sOPS+, .667 BAbip
Season: 74 games, 325 PA, .300 BA, .382 OBP, .432 SLG, .814 OPS, 17 2B, 1 3B, 6 HR, 40 R, 30 RBI, 26 SB, 38 BB, 85 K, 118 OPS+, .406 BAbip, 2.2 WAR.
Notable: Villar is second in the majors in BAbip behind only Pittsburgh's Starling Marte (.412). Hit his first triple of the season last week. Interestingly, despite his speed, Villar has only six career triples.
DOWN ON THE FARM
Orlando Arcia (age 21/Triple-A)
Last week: 6 games, 24 AB, 3 H, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 SB, 4 BB, 6 K, .125 BA.
Season: 73 games, 297 AB, .269 BA, .318 OBP, .394 SLG, .712 OPS, 9 2B, 5 3B, 6 HR, 45 R, 33 RBI, 11 SB, 21 BB, 51 K.
Notable: A rough week at the bat for Arcia, who saw his batting average and slugging percentage take dives. He played one game at second base, the other five at shortstop.
Notable: Placed on the disabled list on June 26 with a hamstring injury. Clark went 2 for 4 and 2 for 5 in his two previous games before being placed on the DL.
Clint Coulter (age 22/Single-A)
Last week: 7 games, 24 AB, 8 H, 1 2B, 1 R, 4 RBI, 0 BB, 3 K, .333 BA.
Season: 54 games, 198 AB, .227 BA, .290 OBP, .318 SLG, .608 OPS, 7 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 14 R, 20 RBI, 1 SB, 12 BB, 43 K.
Notable: Had hits in six of seven games last week.
Isan Diaz (age 19/Single-A)
Last week: 7 games, 25 AB, 10 H, 3 2B, 2 HR, 8 R, 4 RBI, 1 SB, 5 BB, 8 K, .400 BA.
Season: 74 games, 279 AB, .247 BA, .326 OBP, .405 SLG, .731 OPS, 20 2B, 0 3B, 8 HR, 32 R, 40 RBI, 6 SB, 33 BB, 74 K.
Notable: Back on May 24 was hitting 199/283/304. Had three multiple-hit games last week including two 3 for 4 games.
Lucas Erceg (age 21/Single-A)
Last week: 5 games, 18 AB, 6 H, 1 2B, 1 HR, 4 R, 3 RBI, 2 SB, 2 BB, 2 K, .333 BA.
Season: 9 games, 38 AB, .421 BA, .463 OBP, .632 SLG, 1.095 OPS, 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 6 R, 7 RBI, 3 SB, 2 BB, 5 K.
Notable: Milwaukee's second-round draft pick this year is off to a good start in Helena, collecting a hit in eight of his first nine games. He hit his first professional home run on June 23.
Josh Hader (age 22/Triple-A)
Last week: 1 game (1 start), 0-0, 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K, 0.00 ERA.
Season (combined Double-A & Triple-A): 15 games (15 starts), 2-3, 1.87 ERA, 77 IP, 1.13 WHIP, 57 H, 2 HR, 30 BB, 99 K, .213 OBA.
Notable: Hader got back on track by getting out of Colorado, pitching five scoreless innings at Round Rock. He now has a 4.50 ERA and 1.50 WHIP with 26 K in 20 IP with the Sky Sox. At home he has an 8.00 ERA and 2.22 WHIP, on the road 1.64 ERA and 0.91 WHIP (2 starts each).
Adrian Houser (age 23/Double-A)
Last week: 1 game (1 start), 0-1, 4 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 4 K, 6.75 ERA.
Season: 13 games (13 starts), 3-7, 5.25 ERA, 70 1/3 IP, 1.39 WHIP, 76 H, 5 HR, 22 BB, 56 K, .279 OBA.
Notable: Went only four innings in lone start last week, his shortest outing since May 4 (also 4 IP). Houser threw a season-low 73 pitches in that June 23 start.
Gilbert Lara (age 18/Single-A)
Last week: 5 games, 17 AB, 3 H, 1 R, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 1 BB, 5 K, .176 BA.
Season: 11 games, 43 AB, .209 BA, .292 OBP, .209 SLG, .501 OPS, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 7 R, 2 RBI, 1 SB, 3 BB, 11 K.
Notable: Shortstop acquired in K-Rod trade doesn't turn 19 until Oct. 30.
Jorge Lopez (age 23/Triple-A)
Last week: 2 games (2 starts), 0-0, 9 2/3 IP, 13 H, 11 R, 9 ER, 9 BB, 10 K, 8.37 ERA.
Season: 14 games (13 starts), 1-5, 5.97 ERA, 66 1/3 IP, 1.87 WHIP, 76 H, 3 HR, 48 BB, 54 K, .289 OBA
Notable: Lopez was roughed up on June 23 by Memphis. He lasted just 4 1/3 innings, allowing eight runs (six earned) on eight hits and five walks. Lopez walked four more in his next start -- although he allowed just four hits -- and has walked for or more in three straight starts and in seven starts overall.
Jacob Nottingham (age 21/Double-A)
Last week: 5 games, 19 AB, 5 H, 1 2B, 3 R, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 3 BB, 7 K, .263 BA.
Season: 63 games, 231 AB, .255 BA, .323 OBP, .377 SLG, .700 OPS, 7 2B, 0 3B, 7 HR, 28 R, 21 RBI, 4 SB, 19 BB, 65 K.
Notable: Has a four-game hitting streak which followed a three-game hitless streak and having no hits in five of his previous six games.
Brett Phillips (Age 21/Double-A)
Last week: 6 games, 23 AB, 4 H, 1 2B, 2 HR, 4 R, 7 RBI, 2 SB, 3 BB, 8 K, .174 BA.
Season: 64 games, 236 AB, .250 BA, .335 OBP, .470 SLG, .805 OPS, 11 2B, 4 3B, 11 HR, 39 R, 41 RBI, 5 SB, 28 BB, 86 K.
Notable: Hit home runs on June 24 and June 27.
Michael Reed (age 23/Triple-A)
Last week: 7 games, 30 AB, 10 H, 2 2B, 1 HR, 7 R, 10 RBI, 1 SB, 3 BB, 5 K, .333 BA
Season: 67 games, 229 AB, .262 BA, .385 OBP, .358 SLG, .743 OPS, 11 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 39 R, 29 RBI, 13 SB, 44 BB, 61 K.
Notable: Had three multiple-hit games, including a 3 for 5 effort on June 28, giving him nine multiple-hit games in June.
Yadiel Rivera (age 24/Triple-A)
Last week: 4 games, 12 AB, 4 H, 1 2B, 2 R, 4 RBI, 0 SB, 0 BB, 4 K, .333 BA
Season: 35 games, 137 AB, .254 BA, .303 OBP, .336 SLG, .639 OPS, 5 2B, 3 3B, 0 HR, 15 R, 18 RBI, 3 SB, 6 BB, 31 K.
Notable: Sent back to Colorado Springs on June 23, had a three-hit game June 24. Could see himself out of the Tracker until he establishes himself more as a legit prospect instead of a backup.
Others: SP Taylor Jungmann's descent continues. He was sent to Double-A. He had a 9.87 ERA with Colorado Springs, including a 20.52 ERA and 3.72 WHIP in 3 home starts. OF Kyle Wren is batting .409/.473/.515 in 21 games with Colorado Springs. . . . 3B Garrett Cooper (6th round, 2013) leads Biloxi in OPS (.842). Wisconsin RHP Freddy Peralta has 73 K in 56 IP with a 2.64 ERA and 1.10 WHIP. . . 1B Juan Ortiz was promoted to Wisconsin after batting .362/.404/.553 in 12 games at Helena. . . . 3B Ronnie Gibson (26th round, 2016) has 2 HR in his first 8 games.
A glossary of some of the advanced statistics used:
OPS: On base percentage + slugging percentage
OPS+: OPS compared to league average of 100, adjusted to the player's ballpark
sOPS+: OPS for the split (in our case the last 7 days) compared to the league's split OPS (100 being average).
BAbip: Batting average on balls in play.
WHIP: Walks plus hits divided by innings pitched.
ERA+: ERA compared to league average of 100, adjusted to the player's ballpark
FIP: Fielding Independent Pitching. Measures a pitcher's effectiveness at presenting home runs, walks and hit by pitches while causing strikeouts. The MLB average FIP is the same as the MLB average ERA.
WAR: Wins Above Replacement value. Represents the number of wins the player added to the team above what a replacement player would add (we are using WAR from baseball-reference.com).
Statistics courtesy baseball-reference.com and milb.com
Dave Heller is the author of the upcoming book Ken Williams: A Slugger in Ruth's Shadow as well as Facing Ted Williams Players From the Golden Age of Baseball Recall the Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived and As Good As It Got: The 1944 St. Louis Browns
