Brewers: What the Hiura, Naquin news means for young prospects

It was announced on Friday by Milwaukee Brewers beat writer Adam McCalvy that Keston Hiura and Tyler Naquin were informed that they would not be making the opening day roster.

Keston Hiura has been trying to find his footing in the organization since he burst on to the scene his rookie season and unfortunately hasn't been able to recapture the performance from that 2019 season. As for Tyler Naquin, he was brought in this year as a minor league signing with an invite to spring training.

The reports on Keston Hiura are that the Milwaukee Brewers will look to find a trade partner and potentially a change of scenery before designating him for assignment. As for Tyler Naquin, the Brewers are reportedly open to keeping him in AAA should he be willing to stick around.

What does this news mean for the young prospects on the Milwaukee Brewers roster bubble?

The Keston Hiura part of this news opens the door a bit more for Brice Turang. The door had previously been cracked open for Turang coming into spring training but the strong performance of Mike Brosseau and Owen Miller have all but slammed the door shut.

However, Keston Hiura played 151 games of second base over his four partial seasons in the major leagues. With still some uncertainty about who will start at second base on opening day for the Brewers, Turang could sneak onto the Opening Day roster.

Some other potential news to keep an eye out for that will bolster or all but end Turang's chances of making the roster, is whatever happens with Luke Voit, if Voit doesn't end up on the Opening Day roster, Owen Miller is the likely backup to Rowdy Tellez at first base, opening the door once again for Brice Turang to get playing time at second base.

As for the Tyler Naquin side of things, the information that Naquin will not be on the Opening Day roster just about guarantees that either Joey Wiemer or Sal Frelick will make it to fill in for the injured Tyrone Taylor. Many, myself included, thought Naquin would be the placeholder for Taylor while Frelick and Wiemer waited in AAA to join Garrett Mitchell in the major league outfield, but he just wasn't able to impress enough in camp.

However, now the more prevailing opinion is that Wiemer or Frelick will make the roster, further supported by the comments of GM Matt Arnold commenting on the fact that Wiemer and Frelick haven't been assigned to the minors by the team.

Given the fact that Sal Frelick played a majority of his games in center field and just a few in right field, I'm leaning towards Joey Wiemer being the one to make the Opening Day roster and potentially start in right field for the Milwaukee Brewers in Chicago on Thursday. Joey Wiemer has the stronger arm of the two and much more experience in right field.

Sal Frelick is fresh off playing for Team Italy at the World Baseball Classic and is arguably the more major league ready prospect but either way the Milwaukee Brewers go between the two, we are very likely going to see two of the Brewers top four outfield prospects on the field at the same time when opening day comes around Thursday.