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Milwaukee Brewers: 5 Bounceback Candidates For 2019

By David Gasper

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JULY 29: Manager Craig Counsell #30 of the Milwaukee Brewers takes the ball from pitcher Matt Albers #43 taking Albers out of the game against the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the fifth inning at AT&T Park on July 29, 2018 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JULY 29: Manager Craig Counsell #30 of the Milwaukee Brewers takes the ball from pitcher Matt Albers #43 taking Albers out of the game against the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the fifth inning at AT&T Park on July 29, 2018 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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Milwaukee Brewers
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 16: Orlando Arcia #3 of the Milwaukee Brewers singles against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fifth inning in Game Four of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium on October 16, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

SS Orlando Arcia

The first four months of the 2018 season were an absolute nightmare for the Milwaukee Brewers young shortstop Orlando Arcia. At mid-season, after two minor league demotions, Arcia sat at a .197/.231/.251 slash line.

The second half went much better for Arcia, as he slashed .290/.320/.386 after returning just prior to the Trade Deadline. He hit .329 in the month of September as he really heated up and finished the season with a 4-for-4 day in Game 163.

By the end of the postseason, Arcia was on a 16 game hitting streak.

That strong second half has given the Milwaukee Brewers plenty of reason to be optimistic for his performance at the plate in 2019. His swing was all out of sorts in the early part of the season but it appears he’s gotten his timing down and is back to being a productive player.

In 2017, Arcia’s first full season, he hit .277/.324/.407 with 15 homers, 53 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases. Arcia never has been a high OBP, big power type hitter. He has speed and contact ability, which is his strength at the plate. The 15 homers in 2017 likely represents his ceiling as a power hitter.

We know he can hit in the .270 range because we’ve seen him do it. The .190 batting averages early last year were an odd outlier.

With a renewed focus and an improved swing, Orlando Arcia is primed to bounceback better than anyone in 2019. If his second half and postseason surge are any indication, Arcia can be one of the best 8th spot hitters in the NL. They just need to get it out of him.

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