Top prospect Sal Frelick makes immediate impact on Brewers with electrifying MLB debut
It's Sal Frelick time.
Faced with some of the worst performance at the plate from the right field position in baseball history, the Milwaukee Brewers made the call to promote one of their top prospects Saturday according to a report.
Frelick, 23, was the Brewers first-round draft pick in 2021 and is ranked as the organization's No. 2 prospect behind only Jackson Chourio.
Frelick has spent this season at Class Triple-A Nashville, where he hit .247/.333/.342 while also battling a thumb injury that kept him out six weeks. In 46 games with Nashville last year, Frelick batted .365/.435/.508.
Entering Saturday, Brewers right fielders had a .547 OPS, which would be the lowest mark over a full season since 1941.
The Brewers designated Raimel Tapia for assignment, who had seen a share of the playing time in right, in a corresponding move after the veteran posted a .555 OPS in 20 games with Milwaukee.
“We're not getting production out of right field,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said before the game. "We're going to try to get more production out of right field, and Sal's going to get a shot to give us that."
Frelick, renowned for his bat, will try to do just that. His best skill is contact, which has produced a high-grade hit tool from scouts during his time in the minors. The left-handed hitting outfielder also possesses impressive speed and plays above-average defense at any of the three outfield spots.
“I'm just really excited to show everyone the guy who they drafted two years ago - kind of a little sparkplug, pesky at the plate, dirty uniform, stuff like that,” Frelick said.
His first impression on Milwaukee couldn't have been any better.
Frelick singled in each of his first three at-bats, scored a run and tied the game with his first RBI in the sixth while making two spectacular grabs at the wall in right field.
Frelick is ranked as the No. 17 prospect in all of baseball by MLB Pipeline.
He got the news of his call-up following Friday night's game in Nashville from manager Rick Sweet and didn't get much sleep before a morning flight to Chicago and short drive to American Family Field.
Frelick, wearing No. 10, was slotted in the lineup immediately in right and batting sixth.
The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal first reported the news prior to Saturday night's game against the Atlanta Braves.
“I think if you're not nervous and don't have the butterflies, then I don't know if I want you on my team," Frelick said. "You're going to be nervous, and as soon as that first pitch goes by, I should settle in.”
Most of Frelick's playing time figures to come in either center or right field, with Joey Wiemer and Blake Perkins working in at the other position, while he could also slot in at designated hitter at times.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers calling up one of their top prospects, Sal Frelick
