ST. LOUIS — Keston Hiura’s performance at the plate so far in 2022 has been promising, to say the least.
Despite playing only part-time, and having already been optioned back and forth to Class AAA Nashville, he’s hitting .250 with five home runs and 12 runs batted in.
And after taking Jake Woodford deep in Saturday’s 8-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium, Hiura had also homered in consecutive games for the second time this season.
“When he gets a pitch to hit, he’s doing a lot of damage with it,” Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “That’s what he’s shown this year with five homers already in 70 plate appearances, maybe (actually, 64).
“It’s great to see, and it’s going to help us down the road.”
Hiura went through a rough couple of seasons after breaking through with 19 homers and 49 RBI in a highly successful rookie campaign in 2019.
That led to the 25-year-old revamping his setup at the plate this past offseason, a decision that helped set the stage for a terrific performance in spring training and a spot on the opening-day roster.
But one thing that hasn’t changed about Hiura’s game is his reverse splits. Or, to put it another way, his success against right-handed pitching.
Looking at his offensive numbers this season, almost all of his run production has come against righties. After taking Woodford deep, Hiura was batting .370 with all five of his homers and 10 of his 13 RBI coming against righties.
Going back over the course of Hiura’s career, 37 of his 41 homers and 89 of his 112 RBI have been produced with a righty on the mound. He’s also a .259 career hitter against righties compared to .198 versus lefties.
So, what gives?
“Obviously at the end of the day, regardless of what hand, you just want to compete,” Hiura said. “I think just growing up, there was probably a majority of righties rather than lefties. So, I think me just seeing some arms from the right side plays a little bit of a factor.
“But at the same time, I’m not going up there thinking, ‘Oh, shoot, a lefty is pitching.’ It’s more so just being able to compete, hit the mistakes and do your best up there. Not really any answer; I just think it’s more natural of a look for me coming from a righty than a lefty.
“But I’ve got to figure it out and keep competing.”
The lion’s share of Hiura’s playing time this far has come at first base (10 starts), which is where the emerging Rowdy Tellez — a left-handed power hitter who’s actually hit lefties better over the course of his career, but in general has more even splits — is becoming more entrenched.
But Hiura could continue to receive more starts at designated hitter against righty starters and also spell Kolten Wong from time to time at second base.
The bottom line is, if Hiura can continue to hit, Counsell is likely going to try to find a way to get him into the lineup.
“I’m just trying to capitalize on the pitches I can drive, and trying to build off that pretty much,” Hiura said.
Yelich still searching
After Christian Yelich notched his third career cycle at Cincinnati on May 11, the hope was the former NL MVP had finally turned a corner at the plate.
But that hasn’t been the case.
In 15 games since then, Yelich is hitting just .185 with one extra-base hit — a double — and one RBI. But his peripheral numbers all still rank him up there among the elite in the major leagues.
His hard-hit percentage and exit velocities remain in the 90th percentile, he’s barreling the ball in the 89th percentile and he’s also walking at an above-average rate.
“I feel good. I feel like I haven’t seen results,” said Yelich, who’s hitting .241 with five homers and 21 RBI with an OPS of .729 over a team-leading 46 games (45 starts).
“It is what it is. You work your (butt) off in this game trying to get things to go well for you, and you know the work you put in, and at the end of the day it either happens for you or it doesn’t.
“So, I’m just plugging along and trying to do well.”
Yelich said his primary focus is continuing to do what he can to contribute to what’s been a successful season to date for the Brewers, who entered Sunday in first place in the Central Division, 2½ games ahead of the Cardinals.
“Honestly, whenever we win, everyone’s happy. When we lose, we’re not,” he said. “That’s the goal at the end of the day. We’re just trying to win. Obviously, if you have individual success it promotes team success.
“But you’ve just got to work. You never know when it can turn for you, when you’re going to hit that hot streak. You never know. You’re just constantly trying to get better. And when you are doing well, you’re still working because you want to ride it out as long as you can.
“That’s just the story of a baseball season, really.”
Renfroe set on returning quickly
Shortstop Willy Adames headed out on a minor-league rehab assignment Saturday and should rejoin the Brewers by the end of this coming week.
Could Hunter Renfroe be next?
If he has his way, that’s the scenario that will play out as the right fielder continues to make his way back from the strained right hamstring that sent him to the 10-day injured list last Tuesday.
After doing some straight-line running in St. Louis over the weekend, Renfroe is expecting to begin ramping up his activity once the Brewers head to Wrigley Field for a four-game set with the Chicago Cubs.
He’s eligible to be reinstated from the IL beginning Friday, which is the second of a four-game series against the San Diego Padres at American Family Field.
“I plan on being ready,” Renfroe said. “And I will be ready. Whether they activate me or not, I have no control over that.”
There’s no question the Brewers would welcome his bat back to the middle of the lineup; his nine homers are tied for the team lead.
But chances are the brakes will be pumped on Renfroe’s return — much like they have been with Adames — to ensure he’s fully recovered first.
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