Former top Brewers prospect's career hanging on for dear life after MiLB deal

Most Milwaukee Brewers fans remember very well the time when Keston Hiura was one of the team's top prospects and considered to be among the best hitting prospects in baseball period. Milwaukee was lauded for getting Hiura with the ninth overall pick in the 2017 draft and many expected Hiura to contribute in the big leagues quickly thanks to his advanced hit tool and despite his uncertain defensive future.

Unfortunately, Hiura's time in the big leagues has not gone to plan. While his 84 games during his debut 2019 season went well with a .303/.368/.570 line, his next three seasons with the Brewers saw him combine to post a .687 OPS as he was unable to replicate his early success while dealing with some injury issues. Milwaukee gave him multiple chances to work things out, but they ultimately designated for assignment in 2023 and he became a free agent after the season.

Hiura tried to catch on with the Angels last season, but his ability to hit again continued to escape him as he recorded just four hits in limited action. Despite all of the headwinds to sticking around in the big leagues, it looks like the Rockies are giving Hiura another shot on a minor league deal.

Former Brewers top prospect Keston Hiura inks minor league deal with Rockies

One hopes that Hiura can figure things out with Colorado. He clearly has talent in him and perhaps going to a hitter-friendly environment with the Rockies can finally unlock his lofty potential. However, he is going to have to make actual contact for that to happen which has been a challenge for several years now.

Given that Hiura had to sign with the Rockies, it is abundantly clear that Hiura's career is on life support right now. Colorado is one of the worst teams in baseball and famously poorly run, so that he had to try and latch on there speaks to the fact that the number of teams interested in him at all is a very small number at this point. The Rockies are baseball purgatory and Hiura is now in it.

Hiura is a cautionary tale when it comes to prospects. Despite being from a relatively safe draft pick demographic as a college bat, there is nothing guaranteed whatsoever when it comes to prospects. The Brewers are as good as anyone in developing players and adding guys that can help them in the big leagues, but even they can only do so much.

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