Wes Clarke’s Power Intrigues Brewers
Wes Clarke knew his stay in his first major league camp would be a short one.
So the 24-year-old first baseman/catcher made sure to take full advantage.
The righthanded-hitting Clarke slugged a team-leading four home runs in his first nine Cactus League games when he was reassigned to minor league camp on March 10.
“I love the bat. Everybody loves the bat,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “The organization thinks highly of him.”
The Brewers drafted Clarke in the 10th round in 2021 out of South Carolina. He flashed power in his first full pro season in 2022, going deep 14 times in 99 games split between High-A Wisconsin and Double-A Biloxi.
He took the next step at Biloxi in 2023 with 26 homers and an .889 OPS in 118 games while playing home games in a pitcher-friendly park and with pitchers advantaged with a pre-tacked baseball in the first half.
“Once we went back to the normal baseballs, I felt way more confident,” Clarke said. “I felt like I was seeing the ball better, recognizing pitches better—everything.
“I think last year was very good for consistency, which is what I go for, and that second half was pretty consistent.”
Clarke was asked to focus on catching this spring, but it’s tough to see him breaking in at the position in Milwaukee, where William Contreras is a budding all-star and Jeferson Quero is one of the top catching prospects in the game.
“We’re thinking (it would be ideal) if he can get behind the plate and be serviceable, even if he’s a third catcher,” Murphy said. “We think the bat plays. And he plays some first, too, and he’s gotten better there.”
Clarke is on board with whatever gets him to the majors the fastest.
“I don’t think it matters that much,” Clarke said. “I love catching. I love first base . . . Either one’s good with me.”
MICROBREWS
— As spring training camp drew to a close, top prospect Jackson Chourio had put together a strong enough body of work to lock down an Opening Day roster spot.
The 20-year-old didn’t hit for much power but got on base at a good clip and, while experiencing some hiccups, generally performed well while playing all three outfield spots.
Perhaps the biggest factor was Chourio didn’t appear overwhelmed or crushed by the weight of expectations that come with the $82 million contract he signed in the offseason. That was a record sum for a player with no MLB experience.
“I don’t think anyone handles (expectations) seamlessly the right way,” Murphy said. “But I think overall he will handle it just fine, because I think he cares more about being good than being rich.”
— One under-the-radar performer this spring who is likely to make his ML B debut this season is Oliver Dunn. The 26-year-old displayed pop in his lefthanded bat as well as the ability to man both second and third base.
Milwaukee acquired Dunn from the Phillies in November for middle infielder Robert Moore as Dunn was coming off a strong Triple-A season and then a standout performance in the Arizona Fall League.
“I love his intensity. I love his focus. I love his preparation. I love his swing,” Murphy said. “I’ve liked everything about this kid, man. He rises to the occasion and he ain’t afraid.”
