Hiura has brought back the toe tap in his swing, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
It's something that Hiura is trying to reincorporate on the fly as he struggles to find a groove in Cactus League play. Through his first 35 plate appearances this spring, the 26-year-old has batted just .156/.229/.219 with zero home runs and 15 strikeouts. He is out of minor-league options, so a tough decision could be coming soon as the Brewers sort out their Opening Day roster.
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Brewers' Keston Hiura: Settles at $2.2 million
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Hiura agreed to a one-year, $2.2 million contract with the Brewers on Friday to avoid arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
It's Hiura's first year of arbitration eligibility, and he'll receive a nice raise from his pre-arbitration salary over the past few years. The 26-year-old had a .226/.316/.449 slash line with 14 home runs and a 41.7 percent strikeout rate in 80 games last season, and he's likely to open 2023 in a bench role.
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Brewers' Keston Hiura: Run of starts ends
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Hiura is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Rockies.
Hiura had started each of the past six games at either first base or designated hitter, going 6-for-24 with a double, a walk, two runs and an RBI. With an .819 OPS on the campaign, Hiura has played his way into more opportunities, though he's still likely behind Rowdy Tellez and Andrew McCutchen in the pecking order for work at first base and DH, respectively.
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Brewers' Keston Hiura: Hits walkoff homer
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Hiura went 1-for-3 and hit a game-winning, two-run home run in Monday's 7-5 victory over the Pirates.
The Brewers trailed by two runs heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, but they tied the game in that frame and wound up in the win column thanks to Hiura's long ball in the ninth inning. Hiura still isn't playing on an everyday basis, but he started 12 of the Brewers' last 22 games. During that timeframe, he's hit .262 (11-for-42) and has posted six homers, 11 RBI and a 1.017 OPS.
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Brewers' Keston Hiura: Cranks two homers
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Hiura went 2-for-4 with two homers, three RBI and two runs scored in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Cubs.
The Brewers' DH went hitless in his two at bats against starter Justin Steele but got to the Cubs' bullpen with a solo shot in the seventh to tie the game at 2-2 and a two-run homer in the top of the ninth to push the game to 5-2. The 26-year-old is now slashing .247/.349/.507 despite his strikeout rate being north of 40%. If he can find a way to more regular at-bats, he could continue to be a sneaky source of home runs the rest of the way.
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Brewers' Keston Hiura: Collects fifth stolen base
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Hiura went 2-for-4 with a stolen base in Wednesday's 2-1 loss to the Dodgers.
Despite not having a full-time role with the Brewers at any point this season and having spent chunks of the year in the minors, Hiura has been a sneaky source of counting stats with 10 home runs and five steals across 160 plate appearances. After a quality showing at the plate Wednesday while serving as the Brewers' designated hitter, Hiura will stick in the lineup for Thursday's series finale, batting sixth and manning first base.
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Brewers' Keston Hiura: Second home run in as many days
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Hiura went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 4-2 loss to the Reds.
In his second start since getting called up from Nashville, Hiura launched a 422-foot home run to right field against Hunter Strickland to send the game to extra innings. Hiura has now hit a home run in both starts since his promotion. Despite a 43.5 percent strikeout rate, the first baseman has been effective when given the opportunity in the big leagues, sporting a 132 wRC+ in 45 games. He could be a difference maker if he can keep the strikeouts in check and starts more regularly.
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Brewers' Keston Hiura: Delivers two-run blast
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Hiura went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 7-5 loss to the Reds.
This was Hiura's first start and second game since he was brought up from Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday. He got the Brewers within a run with his fourth-inning blast, but the Reds pulled away again after that. For the season, Hiura owns a .240/.354/.472 slash line with nine long balls, 19 RBI, 21 runs scored and four stolen bases. The righty hitter owns noticeable reverse splits with a 1.054 OPS against righties versus a .559 OPS versus lefties this year, but he may still have to settle for the short side of a platoon with Rowdy Tellez at first base.
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Brewers' Keston Hiura: Gets call-up from Nashville
Rotowire
The Brewers recalled Hiura from Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday.
Though Hiura will be back to provide the Brewers with another right-handed-hitting option off the bench, he might not be guaranteed a short-side platoon role. Albeit in a limited sample, Hiura has been far more effective against righties (.453 wOBA, 194 wRC+ in 79 plate appearances) than lefties (.238 wOBA, 48 wRC+ in 65 plate appearances) during his time with the big club this season.
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Brewers' Keston Hiura: Sent down Wednesday
Rotowire
Hiura was optioned to Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday.
Hiura was carving out more consistent playing time for the Brewers recently, drawing starts in five of the last seven games. He went 6-for-16 with a homer, a double, two runs, two RBI and a stolen base during that time but will head to the minors ahead of the All-Star break after right-hander Connor Sadzeck's contract was selected Wednesday.
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Brewers' Keston Hiura: Heads to bench Tuesday
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Hiura is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Twins.
Hiura closed out last week by going 5-for-14 at the dish while making four straight starts -- two in left field and two at designated hitter -- but he'll cede his spot in the lineup to Hunter Renfroe (calf), who is back from a stint on the 10-day injured list. Christian Yelich was scratched from the lineup Tuesday with mid-back tightness, and given his history of back issues, it's possible the Brewers take a cautious approach with him through the All-Star break. If that's the case, Hiura and Jonathan Davis could be the main candidates to get more work in the outfield.
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Brewers' Keston Hiura: Nabs fourth straight start
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Hiura will start in left field and bat fifth in Sunday's game against the Pirates.
Hiura's playing time is on the upswing; he'll make his fourth consecutive start after going 5-for-11 with a home run and a walk in the past three contests. Though he should be a fixture in the lineup against left-handed pitching for the foreseeable future, Hiura looks like he could see an uptick in opportunities against right-handed pitching in the short term with Andrew McCutchen picking up more time in the outfield of late with Tyrone Taylor (concussion) and Hunter Renfroe (calf) on the injured list.
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Brewers' Keston Hiura: Slugs eighth homer
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Hiura went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Wednesday against the Cubs.
Hiura took Adrian Sampson yard in the fifth inning to account for Milwaukee's only run of the game. Hiura has eight home runs on the season, three of which have come in his last nine games. Despite the hot stretch, he remains a part-time player for the Brewers and is striking out at a 44.7 percent clip across 132 plate appearances on the campaign.
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Brewers' Keston Hiura: Crushes seventh homer
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Hiura went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and two runs in Friday's victory over the Pirates.
Something about Pirates pitching particularly appeals to Hiura, who has hit 43 home runs in his career and 12 against Pittsburgh. Hiura has filled a part-time role all season and started just seven times over the Brewers' last 23 games, but he has gotten the job done when called upon, posting a .756 OPS over 124 plate appearances.
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Brewers' Keston Hiura: Hits sixth homer
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Hiura went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's victory over the Reds.
The long ball was Hiura's sixth of the season, and it was also his first extra-base hit off a lefty this season. Hiura has some notable reverse splits going at the moment, as the right-handed hitter owns a stellar 1.090 OPS against pitchers who throw with the same hand but just a .411 OPS against southpaws.
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Brewers' Keston Hiura: Steals base Tuesday
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Hiura went 0-for-2 with a walk, a hit-by-pitch, a stolen base and a run scored in an 8-7 loss Tuesday against the Cubs.
Hiura walked and swiped second base in the second inning. He was plunked in the sixth and came around to score on a Victor Caratini homer. Since returning from Triple-A, Hiura has reached base safely in each of his eight starts and has compiled a .269/.424/.615 line in those games. Tuesday was his first start at second base since April 30 and could be a sign that Milwaukee will find more playing time for the 25-year-old moving forward.
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Brewers' Keston Hiura: Swats walkoff homer in return
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Hiura went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 7-6 extra-innings win over Atlanta.
Called up from Triple-A Nashville earlier in the day when Willy Adames (ankle) landed on the injured list, Hiura got to play hero for the Brewers by launching a game-winning homer off Jesse Chavez in the bottom of the 11th inning. Hiura had been on fire at Nashville, going 8-for-19 (.421) in five games with three home runs, and the 25-year-old was able to carry that momentum forward for at least one game with Milwaukee.
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Brewers' Keston Hiura: Recalled by Brewers
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Hiura was recalled from Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday.
Hiura spent the first month of the season on the major-league roster and hit .216 with two homers, five runs, five RBI and a stolen base. After going 8-for-19 with three homers, 10 RBI and three runs over five games in Nashville, the 25-year-old will rejoin the major-league club to provide additional infield depth after Willy Adames (ankle) was placed on the 10-day IL.
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Brewers' Keston Hiura: Sent to Triple-A
Rotowire
Hiura was optioned to Triple-A Nashville on Friday.
Hiura went 1-for-4 with a solo homer and three strikeouts Thursday against the Reds, but the long ball wasn't enough to retain his spot on the big-league roster. He has a .688 OPS in 42 plate appearances, but his 47.6 percent strikeout rate remains a significant issue. Hiura should receive more regular playing time down with Nashville.
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Brewers' Keston Hiura: Hits second homer
Rotowire
Hiura went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's victory over the Reds.
The long ball was the second of the season for Hiura, who is hitting better and walking more than he did last season but has also struck out in nearly half of his 42 PA. He has started 12 games this season, and with the Brewers healthy, he figures to continue working in a part-time role.
