Milwaukee Brewers: What to do with Jonathan Villar?

Jonathan Villar has been a spark for the Brewers at the top of the order he has also been at times a defensive liability. Is a move to the outfield a possibility?

Currently, Villar has committed the 9th most amount of errors in all of Major League Baseball (17). Although some of this can be blamed on a mid year position change, there has been several cringe worthy moments throughout the year.

Often these moments involve errant throws coming from the rocket-armed third baseman. If one is to watch Villar at the hot corner, there is no one who can doubt his ability.

This is often seen when he makes a play deep in the hole and fires a laser in time to get the out. Villar has also shown a knack for tracking down fly balls, including one of the plays of the year for the Brewers.

Outstanding plays such as this makes one wonder if the Brewers would be able to maximize Villar’s talent in the outfield?

At first this may seem like a crazy proposal but there is precedent around the league and with the Brewers themselves.

Going into this season, the Texas Rangers were willing to experiment by moving former shortstop Ian Desmond to the outfield. By all accounts this has been a major success for the Rangers who made this move knowing they would be in competition for the playoffs.

this move is extremely unlikely with the current glut of outfielder’s seeking a chance to prove their worth

The Brewers, while on the rise, don’t figure to compete for the playoffs by next season. Meaning, experimenting with Villar in the outfield wouldn’t have any major consequences in terms of wins.

In addition, the team currently has a converted third baseman on the roster in Ryan Braun. The narrative with Braun is similar to what is taking place with Villar. An athletic player with immense talent, struggling to find consistency in the field.

However, this move is extremely unlikely with the current glut of outfielder’s seeking a chance to prove their worth.

Despite the intrigue of sending Villar to the outfield, it would be unwise to keep players like Domingo Santana, Keon Broxton and Lewis Brinson on the bench for an necessary experiment.