Brewers' Eric Sogard is in a good place with a healthy knee and roster spot secure

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Brewers infielder Eric Sogard is healthy this spring and doesn't have to worry about securing a spot on the roster.

PHOENIX – Eric Sogard probably didn’t fully realize it at the time, but not making the Milwaukee Brewers’ roster last spring might have been the best thing to happen to him.

The veteran utility infielder missed the 2016 season with Oakland after undergoing surgery to repair a damaged left knee. He signed a minor-league deal with the Brewers but was not back to full health when spring camp began.

“He hadn’t played in a year when he came to camp, so we were a little careful with him,” manager Craig Counsell said. “He had a solid spring but I think he’d tell you he needed to go play a lot, though, and get some consistent at-bats.”

And that’s exactly what Sogard did when assigned to Class AAA Colorado Springs, a hitter-friendly environment in which he immediately prospered. In 24 games there, Sogard batted .330 with a .421 on-base percentage, eight doubles, three home runs, 17 RBI and 30 runs scored.

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“I needed to do that,” Sogard said of getting regular action with the Sky Sox. “I had wanted to go to winter ball to get some at-bats but the knee wasn’t ready. So, going to Triple-A was the best thing for me.

“And I had a blast. That was a good group of guys and coaching staffs. It was one of my more enjoyable months of pro ball.”

The Brewers rewarded Sogard by calling him up on May 12, and with incumbent second baseman Jonathan Villar struggling at the plate and in the field, the diminutive left-handed hitter soon got his chance to show what he could do. And he didn’t blow it.

Batting mostly in the leadoff spot, Sogard went on an on-base tear, displaying remarkable ball-strike discipline and striking the ball better than at any point in his big-league career. Over a six-week stretch, he hit .331 with a .438 OBP, 24 runs scored and 22 walks, and only 20 strikeouts in 136 at-bats.

“That was probably the best stretch of my career,” Sogard said. “I got to a point where I was able to relax and calm down, play the way I’m capable of playing.

“Obviously, I was seeing the ball very well. I stuck to my approach.”

The only thing that could stop Sogard was an untimely injury. In early July, putting on the breaks after a wide turn at third base, he sprained his left ankle, an issue that lingered and eventually landed him on the disabled list.

Unfortunately for Sogard and the Brewers, who were battling for a playoff spot, he was never the same the rest of the season. But he nevertheless finished with a .273 batting average and .393 OBP, which would have led the club had he compiled enough at-bats to qualify.

It was easily the best season of Sogard’s six years in the majors, and the Brewers rewarded him with a $2.4 million contract shortly after play concluded. The way the bizarrely quiet off-season played out for many free agents, Sogard quickly realized how fortunate he was to have a deal signed, sealed and delivered.

“I certainly wanted to be back here,” he said. “I was happy to sign early and not even take my opportunity to be on the free-agent market. Looking back, I’m happy with that decision. This is where I wanted to be, so I’m glad we got it done.”

Which brings us to this spring, and a completely different situation for the 31-year-old Sogard. His knee is 100%, he’s on the 40-man roster and he doesn’t have to worry about winning a spot on the club.

Those luxuries have allowed the quiet, bespectacled Sogard to concentrate on preparing himself physically for the season and not worrying about results on the field, which nevertheless have been impressive (.357 average, .474 OBP) .

As they say, what a difference a year makes.

“It’s 100% different,” Sogard said. “Last year was a rush, getting prepared for spring. Coming off that knee surgery, I wasn’t sure I was going to be ready. It was the first time I had played games for a long time.

“It’s nice to have that little bit of comfort, have an off-season when I could strengthen my body and my lower half, especially, instead of rushing to get back from rehab. Just being back with this group of guys; we had a lot of fun last year. To get back and continue where we left off is going to be nice.”

What exactly Sogard’s role will be remains to be determined. He is vying for action at second base with Villar and Hernán Pérez, and also will serve as the primary backup for shortstop Orlando Arcia.

“We all have so much versatility,” Sogard said. “That’s the good thing about this team. We can go about it in many ways. We’re all going to be able to contribute, so it’s going to be exciting.”