Missions' Hiura bops pair of dingers
It's been a Hiura's welcome back to the Minor Leagues for Keston. Keston Hiura -- the top Brewers prospect -- went deep twice, including a grand slam, to drive in five runs as Triple-A San Antonio lambasted Tacoma, 15-1, on Thursday at Nelson Wolff Stadium.
It's been a Hiura's welcome back to the Minor Leagues for Keston.
Keston Hiura -- the top Brewers prospect -- went deep twice, including a grand slam, to drive in five runs as Triple-A San Antonio lambasted Tacoma, 15-1, on Thursday at Nelson Wolff Stadium.
"Once I got back down, nothing really changed where the game changed or pace of play or anything like that," he said. "Just being able to stick with my approach. We have a great group of guys down here and it was great to be back playing with them."
The 22-year-old had a simple goal when he returned to Triple-A: keep swinging the bat well. Exposed to big league pitching for the first time in his career earlier this year, Hiura hit both of Thursday's jacks against top Mariners prospectJustus Sheffield, who has some experience in the Majors himself.
In the first inning, MLB.com's No. 12 overall prospect drove a 1-1 offering from the 36th overall prospect over the wall in left-center to put the Missions on the board.
Gameday box score
One frame later, Hiura stepped to the plate with the bases loaded. He again worked a 1-1 count, then deposited another Sheffield mistake to center field for San Antonio's first grand slam of 2019.
"I think it was more of just being able to see the ball well and swing at pitches I want to swing at and not try and chase anything," the UC-Irvine product said. "The second home run, the grand slam, was more of being aggressive with runners on base, trying to be able to drive the ball to the outfield to find a gap or whatnot."
Rainiers relievers kept him from reaching base in the remainder of his three at-bats, but he'd already put together his third multi-homer game of the season. Hiura left the building twice against Oklahoma City on April 26 and did it again eight days later against Round Rock.
His most recent feat didn't mean extra to him for having come against another highly touted prospect. Hiura sees the opposition as a challenge regardless of who is throwing the ball.
"It's more of being able to relax at the plate and stick to your approach and not take too much out of it," he said. "You've just got to approach every player the same, whether it's Clayton Kershaw on the mound or Joe Smith."
The Brewers called up Hiura -- who was the first player from the 2017 Draft to reach The Show -- on May 14 after he put up a .333/.408/.698 showing through the first five weeks of the season. He recorded a hit in his first Major League at-bat with his family in the stands behind the visiting dugout.
"I think at that level, every pitcher's a guy," the Valencia, California, native said. "They all have tremendous stuff, where their pitchers are moving all directions, a lot of velocity. They're executing spots really well. They pitch to scouting reports. At that level, you have to be patient and stick to your approach more than ever and capitalize on their mistakes if they have any, which is unlikely at times."
Hiura didn't have much trouble adhering to that plan. During his time in the bigs, he clubbed five homers in 64 at-bats while posting a .281 average and a .531 slugging percentage.
The promotion came as a surprise to Hiura. The 5-foot-11, 190-pounder expected a callup later in the season, so he was grateful for the opportunity to be up there sooner. The organization told him it would be a temporary move and that when Travis Shaw returned from the injured list, he'd likely return to the Minors. That ultimately proved to be the case.
"I was just trying to make the most out of all that, being able to enjoy all my time out there," the 2018 Arizona Fall League MVP said.
Since returning from Milwaukee on June 5, the 2017 first-rounder has four multi-hit efforts and four roundtrippers. In Pacific Coast League play this year (45 games), he's batting .331 with a 1.105 OPS to complement his 15 homers and 37 RBIs.

Hiura wasn't the only Missions player to enjoy a big night at the dish. Fifth-ranked Brewers prospect Mauricio Dubón went 2-for-5 with three RBIs and a run scored. No. 8 Lucas Erceg drilled a three-run homer and finished with four RBIs, while 13th-ranked Troy Stokes Jr. plated a run with a double and scored four times.
"You can probably ask anyone in the PCL right now, 'What team do you have to be careful with right now?' I guarantee you they say us," Hiura said. "Every player on this team is capable of damaging the baseball and putting up a lot of zeros on the board pitching-wise. I think just that fear that we're capable of being able to put up 10 runs a game and shut you out as well definitely shows you how good of a team this is. Not only are we great, talent-wise, the team camaraderie in the clubhouse and the relationships we have here are really special. I was bummed to come back down but also really excited to play with them."
Chris Mariscal's solo dinger in the third accounted for Tacoma's lone run.
Sheffield (2-6) allowed eight earned runs on seven hits and a walk, pushing his ERA to 6.87.
Chris Bumbaca is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @BOOMbaca.
Paying homage to Negro Leagues, this team is MiLB's "hoppinest"
Nicknamed “baseball’s most hoppinest team” by the local newspaper coverage at the time, the Fredericksburg Frogs were one of the Chesapeake Bay area’s more successful Negro League teams in the 1920s, standing out amid a long lineage of segregated Black teams that played in downtown Fredericksburg, Virginia, between the 1880s
The year after Jackie, Ritchey integrated PCL
A version of this story originally appeared on MiLB.com in 2018. We present it here once more as Minor League Baseball celebrates Black History Month with stories of Black baseball pioneers.
Each team's top power hitting prospect for '25
The home run is the most efficient event in sports. It’s the maximum outcome a single batter can achieve, and all it takes is one swing. One very powerful, well-timed, well-coordinated swing. It’s why power is such an important tool in prospect development and evaluation. You can put the ball
Here are the 10 best potential prospect matchups at Spring Breakout
Spring Breakout will soon offer the opportunity for the majority of baseball's top prospects to face off against each other for the second straight year. Fearsome sluggers against hard-throwing pitchers. Speedy baserunners against cannon-armed catchers. Well-rounded shortstops battling to prove who should be ranked higher. Full rosters for all 30
10 prospects at Spring Training who are lighting up Statcast
One of the best parts of Spring Training every year is getting to see the top prospects in baseball. A lot of the time, it's the first look fans get at MLB's future stars. But we also know a lot more about those prospects going into Spring Training than we
Questions plague Peeples' trailblazing story
A version of this story previously appeared on MiLB.com in 2007. We present it again as Minor League Baseball celebrates Black History Month with stories of Black baseball pioneers.
Prospects to watch this spring -- one for each team
Spring may not have arrived quite yet, but Spring Training has! Players have reported to camp and exhibition games kick off Thursday with the Cubs visiting the Dodgers in Glendale, Ariz.
8 of the best team matchups in Spring Breakout
After Spring Breakout's dynamic debut last year, the prospect showcase event returns in full force for 2025. All 30 Major League teams will field squads of top prospects to face off in 16 games from March 13-16 -- the Cubs and Nationals will play twice since there's an odd number
Fowler: A 19th-century baseball pioneer
A version of this story originally appeared on MiLB.com in 2006. We present it here once more as Minor League Baseball celebrates Black History Month with stories of Black baseball pioneers.
Everything you need to know about prospects and Spring Training
This story was excerpted from MLB Pipeline's newsletter. Subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
Arkansas-based Mariners affiliate to honor legacy of the Little Rock Nine
The Little Rock Nine sounds like it could be the name of a baseball team playing in Arkansas' capital city, and for three nights during the 2025 season, it will be. The story behind the name transcends baseball, however. From Aug. 21-23, the Arkansas Travelers -- Seattle's Double-A affiliate --
MiLB podcast breaks down Spring Training storylines
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Leaf Peepers? Thunder Chickens?! Coming to the Minors this year
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Dodgers greats Newcombe and Campanella made history as Minors teammates
A version of this story originally appeared on MiLB.com in 2006. We present it here once more as Minor League Baseball celebrates Black History Month with stories of Black baseball pioneers.
15 prospects primed for a bounceback season from injury
A lot of players will be getting a fresh start heading into the 2025 season. Prospects who missed significant time due to injury have had upwards of six months between regular-season games to return to health. Now they'll be looking to re-establish their value and maybe even reach new heights.
Check out the newest Minor League team logos for 2025
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Here are 18 prospects who also starred on the gridiron
The two-time defending-champion Kansas City Chiefs are set to meet the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, and plenty of baseball prospects will be keeping a close eye. After all, many current Minor Leaguers played football at a high level before committing fully to the diamond. No, there aren't any
Did you know the Superdome was once home to a Minor League team?
On Sunday, one of the world’s most-watched sporting events will take place at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Believe it or not, decades before Super Bowl LIX came to town, the same building was home to a Minor League Baseball team for one season. The 1977 Triple-A New Orleans Pelicans
How a Black pitcher's brief PCL stint in 1916 generated a historic card
A version of this story originally appeared on MiLB.com in 2010. We present it here once more as Minor League Baseball celebrates Black History Month with stories of Black baseball pioneers.
The Show Before the Show: Episode 489
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minors legend Jones still holds batting record
A version of this story originally appeared on MiLB.com in 2008. We present it here once more as Minor League Baseball celebrates Black History Month with stories of Black baseball pioneers. Grover "Deacon" Jones spent more than a half-century in baseball, serving the game at almost every level and in
Hooks have a new look -- and more -- on the line for 20th season
In advance of a milestone season at Whataburger Field, the Corpus Christi Hooks are making a change. The Houston Astros' Double-A affiliate unveiled new logos and uniforms on Friday evening, marking the first time they have significantly altered their look since debuting in 2005. According to Hooks general manager Brady