Narváez getting settled at plate
He hit first home run against Reds on Monday
The behind-the-scenes work was there.
The in-game results? Not so much. But finally, mercifully, things have turned a bit at the plate for Omar Narváez.
After seeing his average drop to .122 in Pittsburgh over the weekend, the Milwaukee Brewers catcher has put together consecutive two-hit games to raise it to .175 and at least get to within shouting distance of the Mendoza Line.
In Monday's 4-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at Miller
Park, Narváez also began slugging the ball. With his first home run of the season and a double, he doubled his extrabase hit total going into the game.
“I've said it before, Omar has been a remarkably consistent offensive guy in this league the last three years,” manager Craig Counsell said. “So, it was going to come. Still, for the player and all of us, it's just a deep breath and relax a little bit, and know it's there. “That's the big thing.” Narváez hit .278 with 22 home runs and 55 runs batted in over 132 games with the Seattle Mariners in 2019, numbers the Brewers believed could get even better when they traded minor-league pitcher Adam Hill and a draft pick to ac
quire him last December.
But after a spring spent focusing on improving his defense and then the pandemic-related shutdown of the season, Narváez – like many other talented hitters across the league – quickly dug himself into a hole that kept getting deeper before some recent tweaks began taking hold.
“I feel like it's better technique and calming myself down in the box,” he said. “I feel like I've got a little more time to make a decision before I swing. I like the place I am right now, and hopefully I keep it going.
“I like to work a lot, I like to see a lot of video from last year and where I was last year and where I was a couple days ago. A little leg kick I don't normally do, so I spoke up to (hitting coach Andy Haines) and we made adjustments.
“I like to hear what they've got too. I like to listen to what other people have got to say and put everything together.”
Narváez was asked how he's been able to remain positive despite the depth of his offensive struggles, and he had a simple answer.
“I'm one of those persons that always says, if you don't do anything good on offense, you better do it on defense. I'm doing a good job on defense so far, and nothing is given,” he said. “I'm motivated to keep working and I will never stop working.”
Indeed, Narváez has made major strides behind the plate.
After finishing 2019 with an atrocious minus-19 defensive runs saved, the 28year-old is plus-four in his 144 innings. He's thrown out 27.3% would-be basestealers and, perhaps most notably, entered Tuesday as the top pitch framer in the majors with a 57.9% strike rate on the 470 pitches he's received.
“Everything starts from last year in Seattle,” he said. “I kind of didn't understand everything that they wanted me to do. I think I got to a great place, which is the Brewers. Everything they have done for me is amazing, and the way they have talked to me.
“Just the way they have given information, I've been able to recognize it and understand everything they've said to me.”
Williams whiffing ’em
The Brewers have a relief pitcher averaging an astounding 19.4 strikeouts per nine innings.
Can you name him?
If you guessed Josh Hader, you couldn't be blamed. The two-time National League reliever of the year is averaging 14 strikeouts per nine innings, down a bit from his career mark of 15.3.
The reliever whiffing hitters at an even more prolific rate is rookie righthander Devin Williams, who was at it again Monday night in the Brewers' 4-2 victory over Cincinnati.
Coming on in the seventh after Eugenio Suárez led off with a homer against starter Brett Anderson, Williams faced three hitters – Matt Davidson, Mike Moustakas and Phillip Ervin – and struck out all three.
It was the fifth time in 10 appearances that Williams logged three strikeouts, giving him 23 in 102⁄3 innings, with only four hits allowed, one earned run (0.84 ERA) and five walks.
What makes it so difficult for hitters to make contact against Williams? He mixes a high-velocity fastball (96.5 mph average) with a devastating changeup (84.2 mph), a two-pitch mix that you rarely see from young, inexperienced pitchers.
“Let me tell you this,” said Narváez. “I couldn't even catch the changeup today, so that can tell you how nasty it is. I see every hitter uncomfortable because he's a 97 (mph) guy with a huge and nasty changeup.He's not easy.”
As if that weren't enough, Narváez said Williams also showed hitters his slider, which he rarely throws.
“He commanded it,” Narváez said. “So, it's another pitch I've got in the back of my mind every time I catch him. Everybody knows about the changeup. So, for him, it was 1-2-3, easy.”
Williams made a positive impression in his MLB debut last season, posting a 3.95 ERA in 13 appearances, with 14 strikeouts in 132⁄3 innings. This year, he has elevated his game, making it easy for Counsell to summon him in the late innings with games on the line.
“I still think if I look back at last year, he pitched so well in the minor leagues (.180 opponents batting average, 82 strikeouts in 57 innings at Class AA Biloxi and Class AAA San Antonio),” Counsell said. “He has grown confidence in is stuff, and that's a big part of this.
“That's what we're seeing. He's a talented player. He's understanding his stuff really well. He's pitching with a ton of confidence. He's become a big weapon for us.”
Ashby added to Appleton
The Brewers confirmed the addition of left-hander Aaron Ashby to the 60man player pool and assigned him to their alternate training site in Appleton. His addition meant each of the organization's Top 10 prospects, as ranked by the Journal Sentinel, received invitations to that camp:
1. SS Brice Turang. 2. LHP Ethan Small. 3. C Mario Feliciano. 4. LHP Aaron Ashby. 5. LHP Antoine Kelly. 6. OF Tristan Lutz. 7. SS Eduardo Garcia. 8. OF Hedbert Perez. 9. RHP Drew Rasmussen (since promoted to Milwaukee). 10. OF Corey Ray.