Milwaukee Brewers: Who Should Be The Primary Centerfielder?

In the early stages of the Milwaukee Brewers rebuild, David Stearns has amassed plenty of outfield talent. Who will take the reigns as the everyday centerfielder?

The Milwaukee Brewers have an abundance of centerfield talent forcing Craig Counsell and David Stearns to make a tough decision.

One option is to give Keon Broxton a chance to prove his worth over a full season. Before suffering a broken arm that ended his season, Broxton was on a tear at the plate. From August 1st to September 16th, he batted .288, with 7 home runs and 15 stolen bases.

After bouncing back and forth between the Brewers and AAA for much of the season, Broxton’s late season rally should be enough to make him a front-runner for the job. However, if he is unable to reduce his 36% strikeout rate, Milwaukee may seek other options.

Aside from Broxton, the most exciting centerfield option is Lewis Brinson. Acquired in last year’s Jonathan Lucroy trade, the former Ranger put up huge numbers at AAA Colorado Springs. In 23 games, he slashed (.382,.387, .618). This went along with his four home run’s and 20 RBI’s.

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As the organization’s #1 prospect, fans will be pushing to see Brinson return from Arizona as the starting centerfielder. However, it would be unwise to waste a year of team control over some early season games. Instead, it is better to give Brinson additional time in AAA to build on his late-season success.

If over this time, Keon Broxton establishes himself in the majors then Brinson’s arrival should be pushed back until September. Although it is difficult to wait for the organization’s top talent to arrive in Milwaukee, nothing good can come from unnecessarily shaking a young players confidence.

Therefore, look for Lewis Brinson to make his Brewers debut anywhere from mid-June to September. At this point, it will be up to Counsell to manage a crowded and talented outfield.

The third option in centerfield is newcomer Ryan Cordell, the “player to be named later” in last year’s Jonathan Lucroy trade. Spending last year at the Rangers AA affiliate, Cordell .264 with 19 home runs and 70 RBI’s.

These numbers could have been even better had he not missed the final month with a sprained ankle. Generally, the “player’s to be named later” are mere throw-in’s, not Cordell. It appears David Stearns was able to add another top prospect to his already stacked outfield.

The question becomes, is he ready to challenge Broxton and Brinson for the starting job in Milwaukee. According to FanGraphs’s projections,

"Cordell doesn’t have any one skill to separate him from the crowd offensively, but he doesn’t have any massive weaknesses either. He hits for decent power, doesn’t strikeout terribly often and provides some value on the bases. Defensively, he grades out as well above average in the outfield, with the plurality of his games coming in center. Altogether, that makes for a promising young player"

Based on this evaluation the best option would be to let Cordell develop another season in AAA. Still only 24 years old, he has time to hone his offensive skills in a hitter-friendly environment. Also, he could spend some additional time at third base, where he has prior experience.

Next: Is Jabari Parker A Good Fit?

With spring training less than a month away, Craig Counsell and David Stearns will be laying out their plan for filling out the 2017 roster. One of the biggest question marks will be in centerfield. Will Broxton build on his late season success, or should the team give #1 prospect, Lewis Brinson the opening day job?

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