Milwaukee Brewers: Expectations for the new call ups

The Milwaukee Brewers have seen a glimpse of the future in the last few weeks, particularly in last weekend’s series in Arizona. Although the team dropped two out of the three games in the desert, the debuts of both Josh Hader and Lewis Brinson have brought a lot of excitement to Milwaukee. Combine these rookies with the debut of Brett Phillips, who also played his first game last week, and the future is looking very bright for the Brewers.

But, what should really be expected from these young players at this point in their careers? Some of these guys may not fit into what they’re expected to at the present. That changes expectations for this season, but that doesn’t change the potential of these players.

How Does The Brewers Outfield Shake Out?

The main concern is two out of three of the new faces are outfielders. The Milwaukee Brewers outfield is already crowded. Ryan Braun will be coming back soon to play left field. Domingo Santana has been hitting well in right. That leaves center field for either Keon Broxton, Brinson, or Phillips. Even with Broxton’s struggles, the Brewers aren’t going to just give up on him to get the new guys in there. With that said, Santana’s at-bats aren’t guaranteed either. However, he should be starting regularly for now with the way he’s been hitting.

It’s a good idea to limit the expectations for Brinson and Phillips because of a lack of playing time at the Major League level. Not to the extent where the top prospect isn’t going to get at-bats, but an every day role as an outfielder is on likely right now. Brinson shouldn’t be just a “fill-in” call up. He should get his chances, but again, the Milwaukee Brewers is crowded with multiple guys who can perform.

On the other hand, Phillips is going to be more of an “up-and-down from Triple-A”-guy for now, but we know his talents. He’ll be back in due time. All fans can hope for is that these guys really learn from being up at the Major League level, and they use these experiences to develop.

What About Josh Hader?

On the pitching side of the things, Josh Hader had a great debut. He threw a scoreless inning out of the bullpen, while collecting an impressive strikeout of Jake Lamb. Hader will be a guy fans fall in love with. He has a unique delivery and impressive velocity. However, the future expectation for Hader is for him to become a top-of-the-line starter for the Milwaukee Brewers. The reality is that he is in the bullpen. How long his bullpen stint will last is unknown, and we can only hope that he can work his way into the rotation sooner rather than later.

Next: How Will Brewers Prospects Shape The Roster?

There is a lot to look forward to with these three new faces, but this is just the beginning. Other prospects may be on there way soon, too. Some might only be here for a temporary stay, while others may be up at the top for good, but we are getting a vision into the future right now.

The best suggestion is to just watch the kids develop, and grow into the players the team eventually want them to be. Don’t expect them to be the full versions of themselves by next week. So watch, and enjoy the future as the new Milwaukee Brewers team develops in front of our eyes.