Brewer

Hicklen

Hicklen went 0-for-5 with four strikeouts during his week with the Brewers. On the plus side, he did put a ball in play this time; he was 0-for-4 with four strikeouts in his previous major league action with the Royals in 2022.

Hicklen, 28, will get a chance to make his season debut with rosters expanding. It would have been a crying shame if Brewer didn’t get a chance to play for the Brewers for reasons we can’t quite put a finger on. Hicklen will be a bench option while with the club.

Hicklen has been officially added to Milwaukee’s 40-man roster, but will remain stationed at Triple-A Nashville as emergency outfield depth. The 28-year-old outfielder got into six games for the Royals back in 2022 and is holds a sky-high .955 OPS with 19 homers and 26 steals across 313 plate appearances this season at the Triple-A level.

Hernández is arguably the most notable inclusion after latching on with the Brewers last November on a minor league pact. Paredes and Zastryzny will remain with the club back at Triple-A Nashville as emergency relief depth.

It’s fitting that Brewer wound up in Milwaukee at some point during his career. Hicklen got into six contests for the Royals during the 2022 campaign and split last year between the Royals and Phillies at the Triple-A level, slashing .236/.350/.455 with 10 homers and 21 steals across 286 plate appearances in 72 games. The 27-year-old represents valuable organizational outfield depth heading into the 2024 season.

He’ll presumably remain in Triple-A. Hicklen, 27, briefly appeared with the Royals last season, striking out in all four of his at-bats. The 27-year-old outfielder was hitting .233/.338/.452 with eight homers and 15 steals in 61 games for Triple-A Omaha. He’s 50-for-55 stealing bases in 191 career games in Triple-A.

Hicklen had an outside chance at competing for a reserve role on the club’s Opening Day roster until he suffered a right elbow strain in mid-February. He’s expected to miss a total of eight weeks and will begin the minor league season on the injured list.

Hicklen is in Royals’ camp as a non-roster invitee and will open the year on the injured list at Triple-A Omaha.

Hicklen was with the club for their series in Toronto, but he’ll be returned to the Storm Chasers with all of the Royals unvaccinated players returning. The 26-year-old should get another opportunity with the big league club before the season is through.

Hicklen got his first small taste of the majors in May and went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts. The 26-year-old has posted a cool .868 OPS with 14 home runs and 18 stolen bases in 73 games this summer at Triple-A.