[ad_1]
Arizona Diamondbacks Eduardo Escobar, top right, is congratulated by Ketel Marte, bottom right, and Josh Reddick after hitting a two-run home run in the sixth inning of a baseball game on Thursday May 20, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo / Mark J. Terrill)
The Arizona Diamondbacks, who worked at the bottom of the MLB standings, traded starting infielder Eduardo Escobar to the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday, according to Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro.
In exchange for Escobar, the D-backs will receive outfielder Cooper Hummel and second baseman Alberto Ciprian, by Gambadoro. Neither is on MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 Milwaukee Prospects list.
Hummel was an 18th-round selection in 2016 and is playing at the AAA level this season, batting .254 with six homers and 15 RBIs in 46 games.
Ciprian just became a member of the Brewers organization this year, playing rookie ball in the Dominican Summer League.
Escobar, who has been one of the most consistent players this year for struggling D-backs, is heading to NL Central.
This season, Escobar is beating .246 with 22 home runs and 65 RBIs, a high for the team.
In July 2018, the D-backs acquired Escobar from the Minnesota Twins for minor league pitcher Jhoan Duran, as well as outfielders Gabriel Maciel and Ernie De La Trinidad. After 54 appearances for Arizona to close that year, Escobar signed a three-year extension worth $ 21 million to lock down his services throughout that 2021 season.
Escobar paid off the Diamondbacks in 2019 posting a career-high 0.831 OPS and 0.511 slugging percentage with 118 RBI, 35 homers and 10 triples.
But like many D-backs in the pandemic-hit 2020 season, Escobar struggled, slashing 0.212 / .270 / .335 from 54 games last year. At the end of the season, he and the team admitted that the infielder who mainly played third baseman was struggling with his weight.
He’s returned to form this season, representing the D-backs in the All-Star Game.
[ad_2]
Source link