Notes: Brewers try Jonathan Villar in center field

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Jonathan Villar's playing time at second base will be dwindling with Neil Walker in the fold, so the Brewers are giving him a try in center field.

Always on the lookout for ways to make the most out of their talent, the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night gave Jonathan Villar his first major-league start in center field.

Villar's opportunities at second base will largely dry up now with the acquisition of Neil Walker. But he'd played center briefly – four innings, to be exact – in 2015 while with the Houston Astros, was swinging a hot bat of late and gave manager Craig Counsell another left-handed-hitting option against the Pittsburgh Pirates' Ivan Nova.

All of that convinced the brain trust to give Villar a shot.

"It’s something that we’ve discussed for a little bit here internally," Counsell said. "To me, we’re at a point where we thought his skills might work out there. Obviously, with the trade for Neil, he’s going to occupy second base on most days and this was a pitching matchup specifically that we really thought would be the time to do it.

"This is not going to be an everyday thing right now, but there are some pitching matchups where I think getting left-handed bats in there really helps us."

Villar successfully handled both his chances in center in the four innings he played in 2015, and he played 21 2/3 innings of error-free baseball in left for the Astros that same season (including two starts).

His speed figures to allow him to compete, but it's understood he'll be a work in progress until he's able to log more time there. The extent of his preparation for Tuesday's start was taking fly balls in batting practice sporadically during the season and then a more focused workout before the game.

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"There’s no question we’re taking a defensive risk when you put somebody out at a position for the first time," Counsell said. "But we took one on Sunday, putting Neil at third base. I think he has the skills to do it.

"It’s certainly not easy going out and playing a position the first time. But he’s had a small amount of experience when he was in Houston with David (Stearns), and we’ve liked what he’s shown running after fly balls in batting practice from time to time.

"So we’ll give it a try."

The Brewers have had great success turning another former infielder, Hernán Pérez, into a super utility player who now needs only to catch in order to have logged major-league time at all nine positions.

Perhaps they can catch lightning in the bottle again with Villar, who has been a major disappointment this season with a .223 average, nine home runs, 35 runs batted in and 21 stolen bases a year after hitting .285/19/63 and leading the majors with 62 steals.

"You’re looking for the same traits, certainly," Counsell said "That’s kind of how you get there.

"Certainly, Jonny runs very well. Eddie (Sedar) and I have seen him running around out there. Houston apparently thought he could do it as well; they put him out there a little bit. He’s shown traits that he can do it.

"Experience-wise, he’s got very little, so that’s the chance we’re taking."

Villar is on board with the move. He was the team's starting shortstop for most of 2016, then moved to third base and finally second after the promotion of shortstop Orlando Arcia early last August.

"I think it's good," Villar said. "Staying in the lineup, that makes me happy because I play for the team. I told Couns, 'Don't worry what position you put me at. If I stay in the lineup, I'm happy anywhere.' "

Brinson injured: The Brewers’ plan for September reinforcements changed with news that No. 1 prospect Lewis Brinson will be out four to six weeks with a badly strained left hamstring.

Brinson was injured running to first base Monday night in a game for Class AAA Colorado Springs against New Orleans.

The time frame for Brinson’s recovery takes him close if not all the way to the end of the major-league season, making it possible he is done for the year.

“It certainly takes him out for the beginning of September but if it comes in at four weeks and it’s mid-September, there’s still a possibility,” general manager David Stearns said. “It’s unfortunate but we’re confident he will heal well and we’ll see him back out there.”

Brinson, 23, made his major-league debut this season, serving two stints with the Brewers. He struggled at the top level, batting .106 with a .513 OPS in 47 at-bats but fared quite well with Colorado Springs.

In 76 games with the Sky Sox, Brinson batted .331 with 22 doubles, 13 home runs, 48 RBI, 11 stolen bases, a .400 on-base percentage and a .562 slugging percentage.

“It’s important that we don’t lose sight of how well he’s played this year,” Stearns said. “He has made his major-league debut. He has proven he can contribute on both sides of the ball, so this has been a successful year for Lewis Brinson. This is a hurdle I’m fully confident he will get over.

“Obviously, Lewis is disappointed. But as he takes a step back, he’ll recognize this has been an enormously positive year for him. He has made impressive strides as a player and it’s going to serve him well going forward.”