Shuckers' Gatewood keeps swinging hot bat
After improved vision led to a breakthrough 2017, Jake Gatewood seemed ready to embrace the expectations of being a 2014 supplemental first-round pick.But then his 2018 season opened quietly. On Monday, Gatewood looked to be back in the swing of things.
After improved vision led to a breakthrough 2017,
But then his 2018 season opened quietly. On Monday, Gatewood looked to be back in the swing of things.
Gameday box score
Milwaukee's No. 18 prospect reached five times, tying his career high in hits while going 4-for-4 with three doubles, three RBIs, two runs scored and a walk to pace Double-A Biloxi to a 12-7 victory over Chattanooga at MGM Park.
The 22-year-old first baseman collected four hits on three previous occasions, most recently in Class A Advanced Carolina's win over Buies Creek last May 31.
At that time, Gatewood was enjoying a breakout first half, thanks in part to changing his contact lenses to the correct prescription. A .779 OPS at Carolina earned the 41st overall Draft pick of 2014 his first trip to Double-A.
The Clovis, California native slugged .457 at Biloxi and returned to the prospect radar. But Gatewood batted .167/.250/.333 in the opening month of 2018, striking out 28 times in 84 at-bats. That has turned around this month. The University of Southern California commit has hit .324/.358/.514 over 74 at-bats in May.
On Monday, all four of his hits were to center field. He scored
Gatewood's timely knocks helped the Shuckers overcome a 12-hit attack from Chattanooga, which included a home run from No. 76 overall prospect
No. 19 Brewers prospect
Vince Lara-Cinisomo is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @vincelara.