Farwell (again), gentle Keon. Parting (again) is such sweet sorrow. I believe you’ll be back once more.
On Friday, the Brewers reinstated right fielder Domingo Santana from the 15-day disabled list, which necessitated a corresponding roster move and, sure enough, it was our man being optioned to Triple-A Colorado Springs. The news shattered Broxtonheads everywhere.
Keon Broxton, who I correctly predicted would be the Brewers’ Opening Day centerfielder and incorrectly predicted would also be a decent ballplayer but have nonetheless remained high on since spring training, was sent down to the minor leagues for the second time in two months because of very poor play.
His first go-round with Milwaukee was ghastly, as the 26-year-old athletic centerfielder was hitless in 16 at-bats (.000 average) with 11 strikeouts. But then he went to the Sky Sox and the mountain air resurrected his lifeless bat, as he posted an impressive .301/.390/.583 with seven home runs and 18 RBI in 25 games. On May 20, he was called back up when Santana was placed on the DL with a shoulder injury.
Broxton’s second stint in the majors was better – but still not good. In 10 games, including several starts, Broxton was 4 for 22 (.182 average), including his first big-league hit, with 11 more strikeouts. He did collect five walks, score a couple runs, steal one base and even got a double!
Alas, it wasn’t enough, despite A PERFECT FIELDING PERCENTAGE on 27 defensive chances. (Advanced fielding metrics – as well as minor-league troll teams – were less favorable to Broxton, who, despite plus speed, had only a 1.8 range factor and 0.8 ultimate zone rating, both of which are about average in center field.)
But you don’t love Broxton for his statistics or actual performance. You love him because, at 6-foot-3 and almost 200 pounds, he’s lanky and swift and just looks like a great athlete. You love him for his raw gifts, his potential, his upside, his what-if. That’s why I love (not loved; I haven’t lost hope) Keon Broxton.
Because I believe that, if he just improves significantly in every aspect of the game, he’ll be a decent player! And it’s that belief and trust and support that he needs more than ever now, as he prepares for his 852nd career game in the minor leagues.
It’s a shame, not only because Broxton is one of the most exciting guys on this surprisingly fun and young Brewers team, but also because it seemed like he was – sort of, a little bit – starting to come around. He went 1 for 3 with two walks and a steal in his last two games, and a Keon Broxton that gets on base is a Keon Broxton worth keeping around. Plus, it’s not like fellow backup outfielders Ramon Flores (.212/.295/.265) and Alex Presley (.212/.288/.323) were exactly tearing it up, either.
We’ll miss you, Keon. But I know we’ll see you again. And if not, we’ve still got lovable, weird-laughing goof prospect Brett Phillips to look forward to someday.
Born in Milwaukee but a product of Shorewood High School (go ‘Hounds!) and Northwestern University (go ‘Cats!), Jimmy never knew the schoolboy bliss of cheering for a winning football, basketball or baseball team. So he ditched being a fan in order to cover sports professionally - occasionally objectively, always passionately. He's lived in Chicago, New York and Dallas, but now resides again in his beloved Brew City and is an ardent attacker of the notorious Milwaukee Inferiority Complex.
After interning at print publications like Birds and Blooms (official motto: "America's #1 backyard birding and gardening magazine!"), Sports Illustrated (unofficial motto: "Subscribe and save up to 90% off the cover price!") and The Dallas Morning News (a newspaper!), Jimmy worked for web outlets like CBSSports.com, where he was a Packers beat reporter, and FOX Sports Wisconsin, where he managed digital content. He's a proponent and frequent user of em dashes, parenthetical asides, descriptive appositives and, really, anything that makes his sentences longer and more needlessly complex.
Jimmy appreciates references to late '90s Brewers and Bucks players and is the curator of the unofficial John Jaha Hall of Fame. He also enjoys running, biking and soccer, but isn't too annoying about them. He writes about sports - both mainstream and unconventional - and non-sports, including history, music, food, art and even golf (just kidding!), and welcomes reader suggestions for off-the-beaten-path story ideas.
