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We knew the Milwaukee Brewers were going to make a couple of roster moves this weekend to bring both Eric Sogard and Wily Peralta, who were in Philadelphia with the team yesterday, back on to the active roster from the disabled list. The first of those moves was announced late this morning:
INF Eric Sogard (left ankle strain) has been reinstated from the 10-day disabled list. OF Keon Broxton optioned to Triple-A @skysox.
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) July 22, 2017
Broxton was Milwaukee’s Opening Day center fielder this season after finishing 2016 with an offensive flourish. His high-strikeout approach is one that leaves him prone to lengthy slumps, however, and Keon had endured a few of those this season. His overall batting line of .218/.294/.430 (83 wRC+) with 14 home runs and 17 stolen bases through 326 plate appearances has been greatly weighed down by a rough patch that began towards the end of June. Beginning on June 28th, Broxton has hit only .060/.175/.120 (-19 wRC+!!!) across his last 57 plate appearances while striking out 22 times. He’ll hope to get things back in order down in Colorado Springs and could still factor into the big league lineup at some point down the stretch.
Without Broxton, it stands to reason that the lefty-hitting Brett Phillips will begin to see more regular playing time in center field. The highly-touted prospect has batted .227/.292/.545 (99 wRC+) with 2 home runs across 25 plate appearances so far in the big leagues. He’s made a few highlight reel plays with both his glove and arm during, as well.
Sogard, 31, will return to the active roster after spending the last three weeks on the disabled list with an ankle issue. Sogard burst on to the scene in a big way after signing with the Brewers on a minor league deal over the winter and waiting until May to get called up to the big leagues. The left-handed hitter posted a meager .609 OPS through his first 5 major league seasons with Oakland but in 43 games with the Brewers, hit .331/.438/.485 (144 wRC+) with 3 homers and 3 steals in 162 plate appearances. He had mostly usurped the role of regular second baseman and leadoff hitter from Jonathan Villar when he went down and figures to play a prominent role in the lineup now that he’s back. That is, unless the Brewers go out and acquire Ian Kinsler of course.
Statistics courtesy of Fangraphs