Joey Wiemer

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Joseph Daryl Wiemer

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Biographical Information[edit]

OF Joey Wiemer was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 4th round of the 2020 amateur draft out of the University of Cincinnati. With the minor leagues being shut down by the COVID-19 pandemic, he had to wait until 2021 to make his debut in the Brewers' system, splitting the season between the Carolina Mudcats and the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. In 109 games between the two teams, he hit .296/.403/.556 with 27 homers and 77 RBIs to stake his a claim as one of the top prospects within the organization. Interestingly, the power outburst was a bit of a surprise, as he had only hit 12 long balls in three seasons for the Cincinnati Bearcats.

In 2022, he started the season in the AA Southern League, with the Biloxi Shuckers, then earned a late-year promotion to the Nashville Sounds of the AAA International League. Once again, his numbers were impressive, as he batted .256/.336/.465 in 127 games, with 34 doubles, 21 homers and another 77 RBIs. He had managed to reach AAA in less than two years, and was also selected to play on the National League team in the 2022 Futures Game. In the contest played at Dodger Stadium on July 16th, he drove a ball to the fence in the 7th inning but was deprived of extra bases when RF Denzel Clarke made a superb running catch; he was still credited with a sacrifice fly as Pete Crow-Armstrong came in to score.

Wiemer went to spring training as a non-roster invitee in 2023, and while he initially did not make the team, he was called up to the Show immediately after Opening Day when Luis Urias suffered a strained hamstring muscle in the team's first game. He was inserted into the starting line-up in centerfield on April 1st and doubled on the first pitch he saw from Justin Steele of the Chicago Cubs in his first big league at-bat. That ended up being the start of a busy year as he played 132 games as the Brewers' regular centerfielder, hitting .2024 with 13 homers and 42 RBIs. His OPS+ was only 75 even if he played well on defence, and he did not start in the postseason, only appearing in one game as a defensive replacement as Milwaukee was defeated by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Wild Card Series.

Given his lack of hitting as a rookie, he played only sparingly for the Brewers in 2024, as he in effect lost his job to youngster Jackson Chourio who went on to have a great rookie season. Confined to a role as a defensive replacement, he came to bat just 26 times in 21 games in April and May before being sent down to the minors. At the trading deadline on July 30th, he and P Jakob Junis were traded to the Cincinnati Reds in return for P Frankie Montas, but even though he was joining his hometown team, he only appeared in two games for the Reds in early August, without an at-bat and spent the rest of the year in the minors. Between the Nashville Sounds and Louisville Bats, he hit .224 in 83 games in AAA with 3 homers and 24 RBIs. He was not a good fit for the Reds, who had a number of young outfielders on their roster, and on November 22nd he was traded again, this time heading to the Kansas City Royals along with 2B Jonathan India in return for P Brady Singer.

Further Reading[edit]

  • Adam McCalvy: "Light-tower power has Wiemer's prospect star on rise", mlb.com, February 4, 2022. [1]
  • Adam McCalvy: "'No butterflies': Wiemer proves he belongs in Crew debut", mlb.com, April 1, 2023. [2]

Related Sites[edit]

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