Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy made some noise around Major League Baseball classifying him as one of the best catchers in Baseball. The Brewers have had a problem at the 1st base position ever since Prince Fielder left after the 2011 season. From Mat Gamel, all the way to Juan Francisco they just couldn’t find the fixing piece. Hunter Morris was projected to be Milwaukee’s hero, but he fell off after a arm injury.
This year the Brewers became the most aggressive they have in awhile going out for 1st basemen. After last years platoon of Mark Reynolds and Lyle Overbay wasn’t that effective, the Brewers dealt struggling pitcher Marco Estrada to the Blue Jays in-exchange for Adam Lind. Lind struggles against lefties, similar to Brewers second baseman Scooter Gennett (Ryan Gennett), so the Brewers needed someone who can hit lefties.
After rumors of them potentially going after Allen Craig and others to try to fill the void , the Brewers just decided to use their best player last year to play 1st base versus left handed pitchers. That player is Jonathan Lucroy.
Lucroy is one of the best hitters on the Brewers, as he recorded a .301 batting average last year. He has played 33 career games at 1st base and will now be looking to improve his IQ towards the 1st base position. The Brewers also pondered the idea of having 2011 NL MVP Ryan Braun play 1st base. Braun has went from 3rd base, to left field, and to right field.
The #Brewers are expected to use catcher Jonathan Lucroy at first base against lefties this season. http://t.co/9nshyGzp8O
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) February 2, 2015
With Lucroy adapting to more and more 1st basemen duties, Brewers back-up catcher Martin Maldonado will have an increased role this season. Expected to help Lucroy out at first base coming off the bench is Matt Clark, who was a great call-up late in the season for the Brewers.
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