Brewers’ Mike Boeve Quickly Hits His Way To Double-A
Third base has been a problem for the Brewers for years.
The 2023 draft might finally address the position in a meaningful way.
Brock Wilken, drafted 18th overall out of Wake Forest, is on track for a major league debut in 2025.
Now, second-rounder Mike Boeve quickly hit his way to Double-A Biloxi thanks both to an injury suffered by Wilken as well as a red-hot start at the plate.
The 22-year-old Boeve is a Nebraska-Omaha product who raked at High-A Wisconsin. He hit .553/.642/.632 with 13 walks and five strikeouts in 13 games to earn a quick ticket out of the Midwest League.
“He was a good college player,” Brewers GM Matt Arnold said. “We were thrilled to get him where we got him in the draft. He’s been awesome. I didn’t have him pegged as a .500 hitter.
“If they’re doing well, let’s challenge them. Don’t let a guy sit there and stagnate. I think it’s important to challenge these guys against better players at the next level. I think that makes them better.”
The knock on Boeve coming out of college was a lack of power. He homered just 13 times in 151 games. Through 29 games this season he had hit one home run.
Getting on base was no problem for Boeve, who reached in 15 of his first 16 Double-A games with a strong batting eye and all-fields hitting approach.
Boeve has already played first and second base as well since debuting last July, and that added versatility will help his cause moving forward in an organization that values multi-position players.
Joey Ortiz was seeing most of the time at the hot corner in Milwaukee, but he profiles best at shortstop long term.
“Boeve’s been super,” Arnold said. “That’s the benefit of the Wilken injury, which is awful, is that he gets a chance to play third every day. So that’s cool.”
MICROBREWS
— Brock Wilken was hit in the face by a pitch in a game for Double-A Biloxi on April 11. He suffered nasal and facial fractures and subsequently had surgery, but he was expected to return to action sometime around mid May.
— Catcher Jeferson Quero had season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder. He suffered the injury in the first game of the season for Triple-A Nashville while diving back to first base on a pickoff attempt. He is expected to return to full strength by spring training.
— Shortstop Cooper Pratt suffered a broken finger on a slide six games into his season at Low-A Carolina. He returned to action within two weeks.
