Art Charles Finally Finds A Home

MILWAUKEE—After the ups and downs of 2016, Art Charles figures he’s ready to handle just about anything.

“It was definitely the craziest year of my career,” the 26-year-old first baseman said. “But some good things came from it.”

Charles’ year began on a somewhat shocking note when he was released by the Phillies during spring training. The lefthanded slugger, who was originally a 20th-round pick in 2010 out of Bakersfield (Calif.) JC by the Blue Jays, signed with the Laredo Lemurs of the independent American Association but was immediately traded to the New Jersey Jackals of the independent Can-Am-League.

“I didn’t even know you could do that, trade across (indy) leagues,” he said. “It was a strange feeling, especially after being released by the Phillies.”

It proved to be the perfect landing spot for Charles, who won the league’s triple crown by batting .352 with 29 home runs and 101 RBI, one of the best performances in Can-Am history. Afterward, Baseball America named the 2016 Independent Leagues Player of the Year.

“I was focused and determined to show I could still play the game,” he said. “I had some things to prove. I knew I still had a jersey on my back and I could make something happen.”

Something did happen when Charles signed a minor league deal with the Reds, but he was snatched away by the Brewers in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft at the winter meetings and assigned to Triple-A Colorado Springs, known as a sluggers’ paradise.

“I hear it’s supposed to fly a little bit there, so I’m looking forward to that,” said Charles, who fills a positional void for the Brewers. “I did hear that they might have a demand for first basemen. So, I’m excited about that opportunity.

“After all I’ve been through in the last year, I’m looking at 2017 with a lot of confidence. I think it’s going to be a good year.”

MICROBREWS

• Righthander Phil Bickford, a two-time first-round draft pick acquired from the Giants in an Aug. 1 trade for reliever Will Smith, was suspended for the first 50 games of 2017 for a second positive test for a drug of abuse.

• Righthander Blake Parker, claimed on waivers from the Angels earlier in the offseason, was put back through waivers and re-claimed by Los Angeles.

— Tom Haudricourt covers the Brewers for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel