Brewers: Is Orlando Arcia ready to break out?

The Milwaukee Brewers have grown so frustrated by Orlando Arcia’s struggles that they acquired Luis Urias to compete with him for the every day shortstop role. Arcia has responded with a fast start to his Spring season. Is this the breakout the team has been waiting for?

Orlando Arcia‘s time with the Milwaukee Brewers has been frustrating for a lot of reasons. He looks fantastic in the field, but he’s been prone to struggles at the plate and the occasional gaffe on the base paths.

Arcia was expected to face competition for the starting shortstop job with Luis Urias in camp. Urias has yet to appear in a game this Spring due to a hand injured sustained in winter ball. However, Arcia clearly took the challenge seriously because he’s leading the team in almost every offensive category this Spring.

Is this the start of a breakout campaign for Arcia?

How hot has Arcia been this spring?

Arcia has racked up 23 plate appearances in nine games for the Brewers during the Spring Training games. In those 23 appearances, Arcia has clubbed five homers, drive in 10 runs, scored six times, and owns a .304/.304/1.000 slash line.

He’s also only struck out twice, but he has yet to draw a walk. He is one-for-one in stolen base attempts so far.

Is this production going to continue?

In Spring Training, it’s always important to consider the circumstances when a player is performing above or below the norm. It’s entirely possible that a hitter is feasting on inferior pitching or is working on a specific aspect of his swing that results in rough at bats.

When looking at Arcia’s five homers, he’s tagged Sean Manaea, Scott Blewett, Yu Darvish, Taylor Hearn, and Keynan Middleton. That’s one legitimate ace, a solid starter working his way back from injury, one power reliever working his way back from injury, and two organizational depth guys. That’s a mixed bag if there ever was one.

Is Arcia the Opening Day starter at shortstop?

Barring injury or disaster, Arcia will be in the lineup at shortstop on Opening Day.

The Brewers would likely still want to see what Urias has to offer and he will get a look once he’s cleared for games, but this is Arcia’s job until it isn’t.

It’s important to keep in mind that while it’s great to see improved production in Spring Training, these games are forgotten as soon as the regular season starts. No one remembers who hit the most homers in February and March once the first pitch is thrown on Opening Day. It’s great to see Arcia producing, but he needs to find the same level of production once the games start counting.