Joey Wiemer: Brewers 2021 Minor League Player Of The Year
To succeed in baseball, one must be open to change when necessary. Outfielder Joey Wiemer was, and it jump-started his career in a big way.
Wiemer opened the season at Low-A Carolina and was having trouble maximizing his primary tool—power.
The 2020 fourth-rounder out of Cincinnati had used a big leg kick in his approach at the plate, but it wasn’t working to his satisfaction, so he conferred with fellow 2020 draft pick and roommate Zavier Warren.
“Long story short: We were at Kannapolis and I was 0-for-5 and just hitting ground balls and I was like, ‘Dude, what do you see?’ ” Wiemer told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “He said, ‘Too much head movement. Starting too high.’
“So I just started ‘lower-backing’ my load, and ever since it’s been good. I figured out that toe-tap load. I start lower in my stance now. It’s been awesome to tap into the power potential that I’ve always had, finally seeing the consistency with getting the ball in the air.”
The results were dramatic.
In early August, Wiemer belted four homers with 12 RBIs over a seven-game span, earning a promotion to High-A Wisconsin. He homered in four of his first eight games for the Timber Rattlers en route to posting a 1.146 OPS over 34 games.
In 109 total games, Wiemer batted .295/.403/.556 with 27 home runs and 30 stolen bases. The natural right fielder even started 24 games in center, not bad for a player who checks in at 6-foot-5, 220 pounds.
Wiemer also has a cannon for an arm and topped out at 98 mph on the mound in college.
“I’m comfortable everywhere in the outfield,” Wiemer said.”I know I can play center if need be. But realistically, with prototypes and player comps and everything, obviously my frame and size and everything kind of plays better in right.”
The Brewers might have passed on Wiemer in the five-round 2020 draft had he not agreed to sign for $150,000, well below the slot value of $473,700. Now, he looks like a steal.
MICROBREWS
— Catcher Jeferson Quero had surgery to repair a separated left shoulder suffered on Aug. 30 in a game in the Arizona Complex League. The 18-year-old is expected to make a full recovery by spring training.
— Longtime Brewers minor league manager Mike Guerrero won his 1,300th career game when Double-A Biloxi beat Pensacola 5-2 on Sept. 9.
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