Jesús Aguilar continues to make deep impact for Brewers

SAN FRANCISCO - On a team loaded with individual stories of success, Jesús Aguilar just might have the most compelling tale.

“He has been unbelievable, he really has,” said Milwaukee Brewers leftfielder Ryan Braun.

“The thing that shocks me most is that he hadn’t gotten more of an opportunity. This guy is a great hitter. We’ve seen it all season, whether he’s in an everyday role or coming off the bench. He has had such quality at-bats for us.”

The 27-year-old first baseman was at it again over the weekend in Colorado, helping the Brewers take two of three from the Rockies to get a crucial nine-game trip off to a solid start. On Saturday night, facing Greg Holland, one of the best closers in the game, Aguilar was thrown six straight sliders by a specialist who buries right-handed hitters with them.

Aguilar worked the count to 3-2 and then crushed a high slider far out to left-center, snapping a 3-3 tie and propelling the Brewers to a dramatic 6-3 victory.

“That at-bat he had against Holland is one of the best I’ve seen all year,” said catcher Stephen Vogt, who often faced Holland when the two played in the American League. “Six straight sliders, and (Aguilar) didn’t chase any of them (out of the strike zone).

“The one mistake Holland made all night, Aggie jumped on it. That’s not easy to do. Holland is deceptive and nasty and throws 96 (mph), and doesn’t throw fastballs. That was such a huge at-bat.

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"Aggie has had some great at-bats for us. I go back to the game in New York (when Aguilar hit a grand slam to beat the Yankees). It seems like whenever we’ve had a dramatic win, he’s been part of it.”

Not bad for a player who was buried in Cleveland’s farm system and was claimed off waivers by the Brewers two weeks before spring training began. Aguilar had played three seasons at Class AAA Columbus, slugging 68 home runs and driving in 262 runs but never getting a real chance to make the Indians’ big-league roster.

Aguilar forced the Brewers to keep him as the backup to Eric Thames by hitting an eye-popping seven home runs in spring training. Then, slowly adjusting to an unfamiliar bench role, he waited for his turn and cashed in enough opportunities to guarantee more playing time.

“I just try to do whatever I can to help the team win,” Aguilar said through interpreter Carlos Brizuela. “That’s the most important thing to me. It’s all about the team winning. I’ve been able to come up with some big hits that have helped us win games.

“The main thing is I’ve tried to stick to a routine and staying positive. You are going to have slumps and I did, but you have to keep working to come out of it. That’s very important, to be as prepared as you can be.”

Entering the Brewers’ game Monday night against San Francisco, Aguilar was batting .270 with 13 doubles, 14 home runs and 44 runs batted in over 233 at-bats, with a .862 OPS. He has been one of the most productive pinch-hitters in the league, with 14 hits, three home runs and 10 RBI.

Like the rest of the offense, Aguilar struggled coming out of the all-star break but has turned it on in August, compiling a .947 OPS over 14 games with five homers and nine RBI.

“Jesús has carved out a really nice role on this team,” manager Craig Counsell said. “He had that one stretch that everybody went through when we weren’t hitting but he has provided quality at-bats. That’s what I’ve seen from Jesús all year – a quality at-bat. There’s thought behind it.

“He’s a big guy but he’s a smart hitter. He knows what he’s trying to do. I’ve put him in a position to get big hits because I think he’s capable of it. When you add the power component in there, he’s a dangerous hitter.”

Counsell, who played off the bench during stretches of his long major-league career, knows it’s not easy to produce quality at-bats when you don’t play everyday. It can be especially tough for inexperienced players, which makes Aguilar’s contributions more impressive.

“That’s a credit to Jesús,” Counsell said. “If you talk to the people who have seen him play winter ball (in Venezuela), even though he’s 27 he’s kind of a veteran of that league. Jesús has leadership qualities. He’s a baseball player. Having a guy on the bench with power is a real weapon in the National League.”