Reds 8, Brewers 3: Youth was served with Milwaukee's prospects all over the diamond
PHOENIX — While it didn't necessarily translate to the final score for the Milwaukee Brewers — an 8-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds — youthful exuberance abounded at American Family Fields of Phoenix on Monday.
Sal Frelick was back at third base and hitting leadoff. Jackson Chourio hit third and played in center field. Joey Ortiz received his first start at shortstop. Wes Clarke had another hit. Abner Uribe and Robert Gasser got some good work in on the mound.
Then there were the prospects a little ways away from the major leagues but who are still part of many top-30 lists and also parts of what is considered by most talent evaluators to be one of the top two or three best minor-league systems in baseball.
Guys like Brock Wilken, Eric Brown Jr., Luis Lara, Yophery Rodríguez, Mike Boeve, Logan Henderson also got into the game and made some contributions.
It was the type of stuff that made fans dream of what's to come -- if everything pans out as hoped.
"That's what spring training is about," manager Pat Murphy said. "It's about getting the opportunity to make things happen and getting the opportunity to see guys in different situations. It's hard to get it all in, in one day. But we keep trying to do everything we can to squeeze it out, get them ready to play in the season and find out about these young kids.
"Give them some opportunities, see how they react to things."
Murphy pointed to Rodríguez, ranked 10th in the Journal Sentinel's top 10 prospects list heading into 2024, who received a few innings' run in center and struck out in his only at-bat.
"He's how old, 18?" Murphy said. "First time in the States. They told us not to put him in today. Give him a day to sit on the bench. Yeah, I forgot about that."
How to watch, listen: Brewers on radio, TV for spring training games
Observations from the Brewers vs. Reds game
A look at the final box score would seem to indicate Abner Uribe's Cactus League debut was something of a dud.
But those who watched saw that while the right-hander failed to strike anyone out, he surrendered only one hard-hit ball in his inning, a double to Jake Fraley in the third.
Otherwise there was a bloop double to short center and a swinging bunt by Elly De La Cruz before Uribe recovered to generate a 5-4-3 double play and then another groundout to finish out his inning.
"He responded very, very well," Murphy said. "If there's a key to me, a high point today, that was it, bouncing back like that."
Meanwhile, Murphy got his second look at Lara, another young, talented outfielder who went 0 for 2 but made a nice diving catch in right field after entering the game late.
"Love him," Murphy said. "Fantastic. I'd bet on that kid for sure. This is what I do for a living, right? I watch young kids and try to predict their future and try to help them. I'm betting on that kid. I'd like to keep him in camp all camp, but they won't let me."
Murphy also addressed the five outs made on the bases by the Brewers — four runners caught stealing and a pickoff at second (Ortiz).
"We're not looking at the score. We're not looking at the situation," Murphy said. "We're going to get these guys confident and running. You wouldn't run down five, try to steal third down five. But we're going to practice it. That's what this is about."
Top prospect: Jackson Chourio is the name to watch but Brewers centerfielders as a whole should be electric
Spring training feature: Brewers' Jake Bauers hoping his seventh organization is best fit yet
Pat Murphy top quote
"Spring training is playing winning baseball. It's not trying to win games, necessarily. But, I'd like to win the Cactus League crown," Murphy on balancing development with competition in spring training.
Jackson Chourio watch
Batting third and starting in center field, Chourio went 1 for 2 with a single and walk before being substituted for in the sixth.
Brewers spring training schedule
Brewers at Angels, 2:10 p.m. Tuesday. Milwaukee RHP Janson Junk vs. Los Angeles RHP Zach Plesac. TV -- Bally Sports Wisconsin. Radio -- 94.5 FM.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Reds 8, Brewers 3: Youth was served as prospects defined the day
