Milwaukee Brewers: Eric Thames in the outfield?

Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Eric Thames recently returned from a thumb injury. During his rehab assignment, he spent a little time in the outfield.

With Jesus Aguilar swinging a hot bat, it makes no sense to pull him out of the lineup to make room for Eric Thames. The logical solution is to move Eric Thames into the outfield rotation and reward Aguilar for his stellar plate performance as of late.

Before his thumb injury, Eric Thames was on a hot streak. The hope is that he can continue that after his DL stint, but he has to be worked into the lineup for that to happen.

Thames in the Outfield?

Christian Yelich, Lorenzo Cain, and Ryan Braun are all playing well.  The Milwaukee Brewers already have an abundance of outfielders, but throwing Thames into the mix wouldn’t hurt.

It’s hard to justify cutting Jesus Aguilar‘s playing time just to make room for Thames. He has made the most of his consistent playing time. While his .286 batting average doesn’t seem all that spectacular, he has had some big hits.

The player most likely to lose playing time due to Thames’ return is Domingo Santana. Though Santana was dominant in 2017, his 2018 hasn’t lived up to the standard he set last season. That doesn’t mean Santana should be confined to the bench for the rest of the season; he may just be in a slump.

Thames is a possible candidate to spend time in the outfield, especially if there is a righty on the mound. Because of the outstanding cast of outfielders the Milwaukee Brewers have, right field is the spot he would most likely find himself in.

Thames has spent a little time in the outfield before, making a few appearances last season. He also played a few outfield innings during his rehab stint in Colorado Springs.

Is it likely?

It isn’t a strong possibility that Thames will find a consistent spot in the outfield. It is something the Milwaukee Brewers should consider exploring, though. Especially if Thames picks up where he left off as far as producing runs is concerned.

Next: Should Keston Hiura be untouchable?

The Crew is currently being faced with the problem everyone would love to have: too many good players. The subsequent challenge is ensuring those who deserve consistent playing time are receiving it. Moving Thames into the outfield rotation is a possible solution for the Crew.