Second still a work in progress for Brewers

PHOENIX - There’s little question that

Keston Hiura is the Milwaukee Brewers’ second baseman of the future, and that he’s on the fast track to the major leagues if his throwing elbow holds up.

But as the Brewers head into 2018 with an eye on surpassing the Chicago Cubs atop the National League Central and returning to the playoffs, the Brewers remain prepared to utilize both Jonathan

Villar and Eric Sogard in a time-sharing arrangement if neither seizes the job.

“There’s not going to be any, ‘This guy gets to play every day for 162 games.’ You’re not going to get any announcements like that,” manager Craig Counsell said. “It’s going to go into the season where we feel like we have an answer there for a player that performs.”

The Brewers thought they had a longterm answer at second base last year at this time in Villar, who was coming off a breakout 2016. But he struggled from the outset and never regained his footing.

Sogard, who opened 2017 at Class AAA Colorado Springs, was a revelation for about six weeks in Villar’s spot atop the lineup until he was felled by an ankle injury. He was never the same after returning in July, and the Brewers eventually traded for veteran Neil Walker to help stabilize the position.

The Brewers re-signed both Villar and Sogard to one-year deals in the off-season – Villar for $2.55 million and Sogard for $2.4 million – and will also have utility man extraordinaire Hernán Pérez on the 25-man, opening-day roster with

Mauricio Dubon waiting at Colorado Springs for depth.

Villar put up a .285 average, 19 home runs, 63 runs batted in an a majorleague-leading 62 stolen bases in 2016.

“The fact is, Jonny had a season that really Eric’s never had and Hernán’s never had. And that means something,” Counsell said. “The other fact is that he didn’t have a very good season last year. Spring training won’t change how I think about that.”

Sogard hit .331 with a .438 on-base percentage and an OPS of .924 in his first 43 games with the Brewers before being felled by the ankle injury, and his uncommon plate discipline makes him a tough out wherever he hits in the lineup.

“We’ll get into the season a little bit before we have any clarity on this,” Counsell said. “I have a feeling you guys will be asking about this during the season. It could be Eric three days a week, it could be Jonny five days a week to start, it could be Hernán.”

Second opinion, same result: The Brewers are preparing to open the season without veteran catcher Stephen Vogt on the active roster.

Vogt got a second opinion Tuesday on his ailing right shoulder and it was the same as the first: a strained capsule. Because he will be shut down until the discomfort subsides, however, there is not enough time remaining in camp to get ready for the March 29 opener in San Diego.

With Vogt likely to open the season on the disabled list, assuming the club is willing to absorb his non-guaranteed $3.065 million salary, the Brewers would go with Manny Piña and Jett Bandy as their catchers. The Vogt situation would avoid having to make a decision at the end of camp on Bandy, who is out of minor-league options.

Vogt had been as a designated during exhibition play to get some at-bats, but Counsell said that would be discontinued until he can start throwing again.

“He’s never had any problems hitting but there’s no rush with the hitting,” Counsell said.