Angels inform journalists (incl Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register) to sign a midfielder Keston Hiura on a minor league contract. He will report to Triple-A Salt Lake after being released by the Tigers last week. You are a CAA client.
Hiura is a Southern California native who played at UC-Irvine. The Brewers selected him ninth overall in the 2017 draft. Hiura was the best player who looked like a rising star when he hit 19 homers in 84 games as a rookie for Milwaukee in the ’19 season. That tremendous showing came with an unfortunate 30.7% strikeout rate that previewed some serious swing-and-miss issues. Hiura’s batting average increased in each subsequent season, resulting in a .205/.293/.394 slash between 2020-22.
The Brewers released Hiura from their 40-man roster on the eve of the 2023 season. He spent a year in Triple-A and was eligible for major league free agency at the end of the year. Hiura signed a minor league contract with Detroit and played 49 games for their senior farm team. He slumped to a .232/.312/.401 batting line in 199 trips to the plate. Hiura walked at a solid 10.6% clip but struck out 28.1% of the time and only hit six homers. The Tigers released him in conjunction with their decision to select the former first pick Spencer Torkelsonwho will always play at the beginning of the children.
While Hiura didn’t have a great few months with the Tigers, he has a solid minor league resume. Hiura owns a .289/.382/550 batting line in nearly 1100 Triple-A plate appearances over parts of five seasons. He hit 23 homers in 85 games as recently as last year.
Originally drafted as a second baseman, Hiura has excelled defensively and has moved to first base. The Tigers only played him at first or designated hitter. Whether the Angels will give him any work in the keystone is unclear, but Hiura offers an alternative to the struggling first baseman. Nolan Schanuel. Last year’s #11 overall pick is hitting .211/.279/.333 over 231 plate appearances in his first full professional season.
