Green optioned to Triple-A to start All-Star break

The Brewers wasted no time making the first of probably a series of roster moves this All-Star break, optioning utilityman Taylor Green to Triple-A Nashville.

At least lately, Green wasn’t given many chances to play. But when he was used as a pinch-hitter and/or received a rare start, he never really capitalized on the opportunities. The last time Green made a real impact on a game was on June 7^th, when he hit his first Major League home run, in a pinch-hit appearance. A day later, he hit his second career shot in another pinch-hit appearance. But Green cooled off since, and his last hit came on June 26^th in Cincinnati. He saw his batting average sink all the way to .198, which is probably what prompted his return to the Minors.

Obviously, though, the playing time he wasn’t receiving wasn’t helping the cause of his batting average. Green can play third base, second base, and first base (I think he can also play shortstop in emergency situations). But, as of right now, he’s blocked at all of those positions- Aramis Ramirez has played pretty much every day since returning from a quadricep strain, Rickie Weeks is proving that he deserves to stay in the lineup for now, and Corey Hart has played outstanding defense since his move to first base. That left Green in a rare pinch-hit role that was usually given to other lefties on the bench, such as Travis Ishikawa.

So I doubt Green was actually optioned because of his performance, but rather so he can get the consistent playing times he needs. Green has proven that he can hit at the Triple-A level, as he hit .336 with 36 home runs there last year before a late-August call-up. Unfortunately for him, though, he’ll probably be stuck there until there’s an opening somewhere at the Major League level. And with the way injuries have taken their toll so far this year, it could be pretty soon that we see Green back on the Brewers.