Milwaukee Brewers: How long will Mauricio Dubon stay with the team?

The Milwaukee Brewers optioned Burch Smith to Triple-A and called up Mauricio Dubon. How long will Dubon stick with the team?

With the Milwaukee Brewers heading into the All Star break, the team doesn’t need to carry 13 pitchers on the 25-man roster. Given their opportunity to cut down on the number of arms, the Brewers chose to add their fifth rated prospect, Mauricio Dubon, to the active roster. Is this a move for the long term, or will Dubon need to fly back to San Antoinio in a few days?

How’s Dubon doing in the Minors?

Dubon has spent all of 2019 with the San Antonio Missions in Triple-A. In 82 games this year, Dubon owns a .306/.343/.487 slash line with 14 homers and eight steals in 14 attempts. He’s driven in 42 runs, and scored 48 times.

Why wasn’t Dubon up last year?

In 2018, Dubon got off to a fast start in Triple-A. In 27 games, Dubon slashed .343/.348/.574 with four homers and six steals. He appeared to be ready for the Majors, but tore the ACL in his left knee, and was out for the rest of the year.

What else is special about Dubon?

Dubon is the first native-born Honduran player to make the Major Leagues. However, he wasn’t an international free agent. Dubon went to high school in California, and was drafted in the 26th round by the Boston Red Sox in the 2013 amateur draft. He came to the Milwaukee Brewers in the deal that sent Tyler Thornburg to Boston.

How long will Dubon stay in Milwaukee?

That really depends on how long Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Orlando Arcia needs to get back in the lineup. Arcia was injured in a collision with second baseman Keston Hiura on Saturday night, but it doesn’t sound like a long term injury. Arcia should be ready to return to the lineup after the All Star break.

Dubon may stick around for a few days after Arcia returns, but it doesn’t make sense to keep both on the active roster. Dubon and Arcia both require full-time at-bats. Unless the Milwaukee Brewers decide to give Arcia the ‘Travis Shaw‘ treatment, and send him to Triple-A for a reboot, carrying Dubon and Arcia on the 25-man roster doesn’t make sense. The Brewers will likely add a 13th arm to the roster after the All Star break, and Dubon’s cup of coffee in the Majors will end. This isn’t a long term move, but it will give the team an up close look at a potential replacement for Arcia.