Milwaukee Brewers: Looking at the potential of Brett Phillips

Brett Phillips is a young outfielder for the Milwaukee Brewers who is getting his opportunity in the Major Leagues.

It hasn’t been a totally smooth start for Phillips. But he did hit his first career home run against Philadelphia, and has made multiple good plays in his short time up with the Milwaukee Brewers. Fans are getting a taste of what Phillips can be as a Major Leaguer, and they will look for him to try and get hot to stay away from Triple-A.

Overall, Phillips has started his career with three hits, one home run, and two RBIs. In addition to drawing two walks, and scoring two runs in 17 AB. This is including being sent up and down multiple times, and not getting regular playing time.

He is starting to get more accustomed to the big leagues, but the main problem of his still remains. That is how he has struck out in 10 of those 17 AB. The Brewers knew that Phillips was a free swinging power hitter who would strikeout quite a bit. But he has to cut those back in order to stay with the big league team.

As far as staying with the team this season, it wont be easy. This Milwaukee Brewers organization is loaded with outfield talent. With the Brewers competing, he will have to show manager Craig Counsell that he can impact the team in order to stay.

However, Phillips impact with the Brewers in 2017 wont necessarily be the story of how his career will go with Milwaukee. Barring major struggles, Phillips will most likely be with the Major League team at the start of next season. Which means he has the rest of this year, and the off season to prepare to compete for a starting role next season.

Phillips is nowhere near a guaranteed starting spot next season, though. With all the outfielders in this organization, nobody other than Braun is guaranteed anything as far as the outfield.

However, with the trade deadline coming up, and with opportunities to show what he can do, Phillips will definitely get his chances with this team. You have to think there will be at least one outfielder traded at the deadline. Maybe even more let go over the winter. Thus giving Phillips more of an opportunity, assuming he isn’t one of the players leaving.

Phillips very well could be a piece of a trade to go get a guy like Sonny Gray or somebody else to push this team to a division title in 2017. He is a young prospect with a lot of power, good speed and good defense. Which a lot of teams would like. I’m sure General Manager David Stearns has gotten many calls with Phillips involved.

However, I feel like bringing Phillips up multiple times this season is in a plan of developing him to be a Brewer, not to use him in a trade. There are many other outfielders in the organization to trade, Phillips should not be a “deal or no deal” type player for another team trying to trade with Milwaukee.

Milwaukee Brewers fans should be very excited for the potential of Phillips, and the team in general. He will hopefully continue to get at bats and playing time at the big league level. This will help him develop with the team, who you can tell he has a strong bond with. His teammates have welcomed him in to the group and the celebration. The curtain call after his first home run shows it.

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A great defensive option, fast pinch runner, and a powerful left handed bat off the bench. That could be huge for the 2017 Milwaukee Brewers. Then you go from there to develop him into the everyday player he can be. Look out MLB.