Milwaukee Brewers: More Patience Necessary With Orlando Arcia

Through the first five games of the season, it’s been tough sledding for the Milwaukee Brewers young shortstop Orlando Arcia.

To say it’s been a slow start at the plate for Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Orlando Arcia would be an understatement. Through four starts, Arcia is hitless in 14 at-bats. He’s reached base one time, an intentional walk to get to the pitcher with two outs.

The first half of 2018 was a slow start offensively as well, and it even earned him a few demotions to Triple-A before he figured it out at the plate. After a strong finish to 2018, including a 16 game hitting streak to end the year, there was much optimism for Arcia heading into 2019.

Preaching Patience

Through his first 14 at-bats, Arcia has looked more like 2018 first half Arcia instead of 2018 second half Arcia. He’s off-balance, swinging at anything in the same zip code as home plate. His approach at the plate is terrible.

When he was having success in the later parts of 2018, Arcia was patient at the plate, waiting for a good pitch to hit. Now he’s back to his free swinging ways, and it’s not working out well for him.

Arcia is still just 24 years old and has a lot to learn with a bright future ahead of him. He’ll never be a big-time hitter known for his power or his knack for getting on-base. Arcia’s glove is why he’s earned a long leash with the Milwaukee Brewers, and their entire defensive strategy and philosophy is based around him.

Don’t Call For A Demotion

Amidst Arcia’s struggles at the plate, some fans are understandably desiring some production from him. He hasn’t been able to come through so far, and just five games into the season, some are calling for a demotion to Triple-A.

Keep in mind, we’re just five games into the season. Yasmani Grandal just got his first hit on Monday night, Jesus Aguilar has struggled in the early going, has anyone called for them to be sent off the team? It’s too small of a sample size to make any sort of determination about Arcia’s season at this point.

Last year, Arcia hit .329 with an .803 OPS in the month of September. He’s given us glimpses of what potential he has at the plate. The talent is in there, it’s just a matter of getting it out of him. That’s the challenge for hitting coach Andy Haines.

After we reach 100 at-bats on the season, that’s when teams can start making conclusions with a large enough sample size. We’re at 14 at-bats right now. Give Arcia some time to figure it out and don’t draw any premature conclusions.

We need to be patient with Arcia as he continues to develop his bat. He’s a crucial member of this team because of his defensive capabilities and, I think he might be something of a “glue guy” in that Brewers clubhouse.

Sure, it may be painful to watch some of his at-bats, but he’ll get some base hits to fall eventually, he’ll get off the schneid, and with a little more patience at the plate, he’ll at least be a decent contributor on offense. Just give him some time.

The Milwaukee Brewers have a very strong 1-7 in the batting order. That group can more than make up for the lack of production in the 8 and 9 spots in the lineup. Although it would be nice to have Arcia swinging the bat well out of the gate, give him some time and he’ll be able to produce.