Mariners' Kolten Wong: Scuffling at plate in spring
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Wong went into Monday's Cactus League matchup against the Angels hitting .185 (5-for-27) with a double, a walk, a stolen base and two runs across 10 spring training games.
The veteran trade acquisition has struck out an acceptable six times over 28 plate appearances, so it's possible he's also been on the wrong side of luck on at least a handful of occasions when putting the ball in play. Wong slugged a career-best 15 homers for the Brewers in 2021 while also posting his highest strikeout rate (17.7 percent) since his rookie 2013 campaign, but he still remains a highly reliable contact hitter with some solid pop that's proven capable of 40-plus extra-base hits on multiple occasions throughout his long career.
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Mariners' Kolten Wong: Traded to Seattle
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Wong was traded to the Mariners from the Brewers on Friday in exchange for Jesse Winker and Abraham Toro, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Wong will almost certainly serve as Seattle's everyday second-baseman in 2023 after Adam Frazier became a free agent this offseason. Wong slashed .251/.339/.430 last season while playing his home games in hitter-friendly American Family Field. Seattle's Safeco Field has a reputation for favoring pitchers, so it's possible his output in 2023 will decline as a result.
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Brewers' Kolten Wong: Returning to Milwaukee in '23
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The Brewers picked up Wong's $10 million club option for 2023 on Tuesday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Wong has enjoyed some of his most productive seasons from the plate since signing with the Brewers in 2021, slashing .262/.337/.439 over the past two seasons. Barring a major drop-off in those numbers, Wong figures to resume his role as Milwaukee's everyday second baseman in 2023.
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Brewers' Kolten Wong: Heads to bench Wednesday
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Wong isn't starting Wednesday against the Diamondbacks.
Although right-hander Merrill Kelly is starting for Arizona on Wednesday, Wong will be on the bench for the second time in the last three games. Luis Urias will start at the keystone and bat cleanup.
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Brewers' Kolten Wong: Sits Monday versus lefty
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Wong isn't in the lineup Monday against the Diamondbacks.
After going 2-for-4 with and an RBI on Sunday, Wong will sit out against southpaw Tommy Henry. Luis Urias will take over at second base in his place and bat sixth.
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Brewers' Kolten Wong: Resting against left-hander
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Wong isn't starting Thursday against the Marlins.
The Brewers are facing a left-handed pitcher (Braxton Garrett) for a second consecutive game, so Wong will head to the bench once again. Luis Urias will shift to the keystone while Mike Brosseau starts at third base.
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Brewers' Kolten Wong: Takes seat against lefty
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Wong is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals.
The Brewers are rolling out a righty-heavy lineup to counter Cardinals southpaw Jose Quintana, so the lefty-hitting Wong will head to the bench for the series finale. Luis Urias checks in at the keystone for Wong.
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Brewers' Kolten Wong: On bench versus lefty
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Wong is out of the lineup for Sunday's game at Cincinnati.
Wong has a 1.010 OPS with four home runs, nine RBI, seven runs and two stolen bases in his past 12 games, but he'll head to the bench Sunday with southpaw Nick Lodolo pitching for the Reds. Luis Urias will step in at the keystone and bat sixth in the series finale.
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Brewers' Kolten Wong: Steals 16th base
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Wong went 2-for-5 with a run scored and a stolen base in Friday's 5-3 over the Reds.
Wong followed up Thursday's three-homer outburst with another multi-hit effort. He's knocked multiple hits in four of his last six games, raising his season slash line to .254/.336/.440 through 469 plate appearances. Wong has swiped 16 bags in 21 attempts while scoring 63 runs this year.
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Brewers' Kolten Wong: Explodes for three home runs
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Wong went 3-for-4 with three homers, five RBI and three runs scored in Thursday's 5-1 victory over the Reds.
Wong jumped on a four-seam fastball from Hunter Greene in the top of the second and sent it into the stands, putting the Brewers up 2-0. The second baseman came back with another two-run shot in the sixth, then added the final death blow to the Reds with a solo bomb in the eighth. Wong is hitting .400 over his last five games with four homers, nine RBI and five runs scored.
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Brewers' Kolten Wong: Productive against Yankees
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Wong went 3-for-4 with a three-run homer, a double, a walk and a strikeout during Sunday's 12-8 loss to the Yankees.
Wong went just 1-for-8 with two strikeouts over the first two games of the Brewers' weekend series against the Yankees, but he set the tone for Sunday's series finale with his three-run blast with two outs in the bottom of the first inning. The 31-year-old's performance marked the first time that he's recorded an extra-base hit since Aug. 30, and he's slashed just .225/.326/.325 with three runs, three RBI and two stolen bases since the start of September.
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Brewers' Kolten Wong: Makes impact off bench
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Wong went 1-for-2 with a stolen base and a run scored in Tuesday's 8-4 win over the Cardinals.
Wong singled, stole second and scored in the eighth inning after entering the game in the sixth as a pinch hitter. The second baseman is up to 15 steals this year, his highest total since he swiped 24 bags in 2019. He's up to a .247/.332/.413 slash line with 11 home runs, 37 RBI and 57 runs scored through 115 games, though it appears the lefty hitter has slipped into a platoon role at the keystone late in the year.
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Brewers' Kolten Wong: Sitting versus lefty
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Wong is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Cardinals, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Wong holds just a .421 OPS against LHP this season, so he'll retreat to the dugout with southpaw Jordan Montgomery starting the game for St. Louis. Luis Urias will take over at second base for Wong and bat seventh.
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Brewers' Kolten Wong: Kept quiet in return
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Wong (knee) went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts in Saturday's 5-1 win over the Reds.
Wong missed four games with left knee discomfort, and he wasn't able to make much of an impact in his return. He's gone 2-for-19 with five strikeouts through seven games this month, though the slump has yet to cost him the starting role at second base. The 31-year-old is slashing .245/.332/.414 with 11 home runs, 14 stolen bases, 37 RBI and 56 runs scored through 113 contests.
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Brewers' Kolten Wong: Starting Saturday
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Wong (knee) is starting Saturday against the Reds.
Wong sat out the last four games due to left knee discomfort, but he'll start at the keystone and bat fifth Saturday. Over six games since the start of the month, he's gone 2-for-16 with a run, a stolen base and three strikeouts.
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Brewers' Kolten Wong: Remains sidelined
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Wong (knee) remains on the bench Friday against the Reds.
Wong exited Tuesday's game against Colorado with left knee discomfort and hasn't appeared since then. Luis Urias will again handle second base Friday, with Mike Brosseau starting at third.
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Brewers' Kolten Wong: Remains on bench for nightcap
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Wong (knee) isn't starting the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Giants.
Wong sat out the first game of Thursday's twin bill and will remain on the bench for the nightcap as he continues to deal with left knee discomfort. Luis Urias is starting at the keystone and batting eighth.
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Brewers' Kolten Wong: Not starting matinee
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Wong (knee) isn't starting the first game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Giants.
Wong didn't play Wednesday after exiting Tuesday's game with left knee discomfort, and he'll be out of the lineup for a second consecutive matchup. It's not yet clear whether he'll be available off the bench for the first game of the twin bill or whether he'll be back in action for the nightcap. Luis Urias is starting at the keystone and batting seventh.
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Brewers' Kolten Wong: Unavailable Wednesday
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Wong (knee) is not in the starting lineup Wednesday versus the Rockies.
Wong left Tuesday's game early with left knee discomfort and will now miss at least one game while nursing the injury. With left-hander Kyle Freeland on the mound, it's possible that he would have been absent from the lineup regardless. Keston Hiura will replace him at second base and bat sixth in the series finale.
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Brewers' Kolten Wong: Exits with knee issue
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Wong was removed from Tuesday's game in Colorado with left knee discomfort, Sophia Minnaert of Bally Sports Wisconsin reports.
Wong went 0-for-3 before being lifted with the injury during the sixth inning. The 31-year-old is likely to be held out of the lineup for Wednesday's series finale regardless of the injury since lefty Kyle Freeland is scheduled to start for the Rockies.
