Brewers' former top-ranked prospect heads overseas to salvage his career

During the Milwaukee Brewers’ playoff drought spanning the 2012 through 2017 seasons, the organization missed on several first-round draft picks. Prospects such as Victor Roache, Kodi Medeiros, Corey Ray, and others all generated excitement at one point, but most ultimately failed to fully develop into long-term impact players at the major league level, or in some cases even reach the big leagues.

However, when Milwaukee selected Keston Hiura in the first round of the 2017 MLB Draft, many believed he had the talent to finally reverse that trend. A polished college hitter with an advanced bat, Hiura quickly climbed prospect rankings and made his MLB debut in 2019. He immediately delivered several memorable moments, including a dramatic extra-inning walk-off home run against then-Chicago Cubs closer Craig Kimbrel.

Unfortunately, persistent strikeout issues and defensive concerns eventually cast a shadow over his long-term outlook. While he showed subtle signs of improving his swing-and-miss tendencies during his time in the minor leagues, those struggles continued against major league pitching. Defensively, he also transitioned from second base to first base during his career, further hamstringing his value.

Hiura, who last appeared in a major league game with the Brewers in 2022, remained in the organization through the 2023 season before eventually moving on. Since then, he has spent time with several teams including the Los Angeles Angels, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers, and Los Angeles Dodgers organizations before he was ultimately released by the Dodgers earlier this April.

After remaining unsigned by a team for an extended period, Hiura is now taking his game overseas in a last-ditch effort to revive his career.

Former promising Milwaukee Brewers prospect Keston Hiura sign with Kiwoom Heroes of the Korea Baseball Organization

While the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) has already begun play for their 2026 season, Hiura is reportedly signing with the Kiwoom Heroes for the remainder of the season. At age 29, this type of move is common for players trying to salvage their careers. Occasionally, players have gone overseas, performed well, and successfully corrected issues that previously plagued them.

In fact, one of the most recent examples of a player going overseas to revive his career and subsequently earning another shot in MLB, also played for the Brewers and possessed a very similar profile to Hiura's. Tyler Austin, a cult hero of the Brewers back in 2019, hit a wall shortly after his days in Milwaukee came to an end. Despite impressive power potential, a proclivity for striking out left Austin with few opportunities in MLB as the 2019 campaign came to a close.

Austin, who, like Hiura, also lacks defensive value as a first base-DH-type player at this point in his career, headed to Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan for the next six seasons. However, ahead of the 2026 season, Austin landed a major league deal with the Chicago Cubs. He currently resides on the 60-day IL after suffering a knee injury in Spring Training, but he will presumably earn another shot at the big leagues when he's healthy.

Hiura's stint in the KBO may not last as long as Austin's did in NPB, but with very similar profiles, maybe he will find the same success overseas and earn another major league opportunity down the road. With few other options at this stage in his career, it seems a prudent decision for the former top-ranked Brewers prospect.

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