Milwaukee Brewers consider Mat Gamel’s potential role – MLB News
While the lefty relievers are what the Milwaukee Brewers are looking for as the Winter Meetings continue, first-base does remain an area to address. On the other hand, the club on Wednesday, December 5, said prospect Scooter Gennett might start 2013 at Triple A-Nashville.
All the same, they are considering using Mat Gamel for a utility role along with Corey Hart in the coming year. Spring Training will be the first step in this regard after news came that Gamel is progressing well in his rehab from knee surgery.
As he underwent surgery on May 22, 2012, to repair a torn ACL, Gamel was unable to play the whole season. Back then, Gamel was actually brought in to replace Prince Fielder and be a regular fixture at first-base.
Nonetheless, after only 21 games, he ended up tearing his ACL which resulted in his being out of the season, prompting the Brewers to bring Corey Hart as first baseman. Since Hart performed outstandingly well, chances are that he stays at first-base.
In his 21 games, Gamel had .246 batting average. Having a career .229 batting average in 106 games, the 27-year-old player has a long way to go. As for his being at first-base, that does not seem likely for now as Hart has proven his instrumentality there.
Nonetheless, Roenicke does not rule it out.
He said, "[Gamel is] still learning first base even though he played it the year before and did a nice job there. So, I think just trying to get him more versatile to where he can help us in any situation that comes up. If we have a right fielder that goes down, maybe he can play it every day. If something happens with Corey Hart, maybe he can play [first] every day.”
Making a good rehab, Spring Training will be key to see assess how much improvement has the player made so far after the surgery that he went through.
He added, "Being versatile is very important for him, and he wants to do it. He wants to do anything he can to make sure he's on that team next year."
Other than that, the Brewers are returning almost intact in offence. For last two years, their offence has been comparatively better.
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