All Systems Go For Maricio Dubon
Shortly after general manager David Stearns announced that Mauricio Dubon would begin the 2019 season at Triple-A San Antonio, the 24-year-old shortstop embarked on a social media campaign to show he had recovered from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
On Dec. 16, Dubon posted video on Twitter of him taking swings in the batting cage at the Brewers’ spring training complex in Phoenix with this message: “Hey, is he gonna be ready for spring – yep.”
The next day, Dubon posted the same video with an additional message: “Will he still have the same swing – yes sir.”
And so it went. Dubon would later post a video of him making turns at second base during fielding practice with the message: “second base, feeling very comfortable.”
Dubon has worked hard to recover from the knee injury he suffered a month into the 2018 season at Triple-A. He was off to a blazing start, riding a 23-game hitting streak and batting .343 when he suffered the injury while trying to escape a rundown on the bases.
Dubon’s season was cruelly over at that early point, sidetracking his quest to become the first Honduras-born player to make the majors. He certainly would have made his big league debut at some point because the Brewers went through many options at second base during the season.
Even with a big showing this spring, Dubon would not make the major league roster because Stearns and the decision-makers want to give him time to literally get his feet under him again.
“Mauricio, we’re going to want to begin the year at Triple-A,” Stearns said. “There’s not a time frame for how long he has to stay at Triple-A. We’ll let his performance and development dictate that.”
One of the players acquired from the Red Sox—along with Travis Shaw—in the Tyler Thornburg trade in December 2016, Dubon and No. 1 prospect Keston Hiura give the Brewers two middle infielders to watch in coming years. Hiura is strictly a second baseman but Dubon also is an accomplished shortstop, providing the versatility that Stearns and Co. covet.
MICROBREWS
— Righthander Deolis Guerra signed a minor league deal with an invitation to big league camp. The 29-year-old last pitched in the majors in 2017 with the Angels.
— Lefthander Angel Perdomo also will be a non-roster invitee to camp. The 24-year-old had been in the lower levels of the Blue Jays’ system since signing with Toronto in 2011.
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