Power surge has Turang 'in the conversation'

PHOENIX -- A player can be disappointed, or a player can be disappointed and turn that into something productive. Brewers infield prospect Brice Turang is intent on falling into the latter category.

There were no hard feelings, Turang said, when he was passed over for a September callup last season at the same time fellow former first-round Draft pick Garrett Mitchell was giving the Brewers a jolt. Turang thought he had a chance. His first full season at Triple-A was turning into arguably the best season of his pro career at the plate, ending with career highs in doubles (24), home runs (13), batting average (.286) and slugging percentage (.412). He’d played his usual strong brand of defense all over the infield and handled his first exposure to center field. Plus, Turang would have to be added to the 40-man roster in November, anyway.

But the call didn’t come, so Turang focused his efforts on finishing the Triple-A season strong. Now he’s poised to impact the Brewers in the big leagues, if not on Opening Day then sometime soon after.

“The only decision I can make is play every day and play as hard as I can,” said Turang, who was ranked the Brewers' No. 4 prospect last season by MLB Pipeline. “So, that’s what I did.”

Turang just turned 23 in late November, but it may seem as if he’s been a Brewers prospect forever. The club drafted him 21st overall out of high school in 2018 and has employed Turang in Major League Spring Training games every year since, including the last three years as a member of big league camp.

Defense and athleticism have always been calling cards for Turang, the son of a dad who played in the Majors (Brian) and a mom who played in the NCAA softball championship (Carrie), the brother of a slew of sisters who played college athletics and the brother-in-law of Washington Commanders All-Pro punter Tress Way. But in 2022, Brice Turang’s power arrived, further cementing himself as a future big leaguer and propelling him into one prominent Top 100 prospects list. FanGraphs ranks Turang 65th.

“It was a matter of time,” Turang said of his power surge. “I knew I had it. I knew I was going to do it. It was just a matter of when I was going to tap into it. When am I going to figure it out? I was always that hitter, never that big power guy. But now I’m learning to hit for power and still be a good hitter. That comes a lot easier when you’re a hitter first.”

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How did he access that power?

“A lot of it was catching the ball out front, not letting it get so deep,” Turang said. “There’s adjustments every year.”

Where he fits in the field is the current pressing question. When the Brewers traded Kolten Wong to the Mariners for outfielder Jesse Winker and infielder Abraham Toro in December, it appeared Turang had the inside track on second base. But the Brewers subsequently acquired players like Brian Anderson and Owen Miller, who could impact where Turang opens the season. Anderson, for example, expects to primarily play third base. That could push Luis Urías to second on many nights.

“I'm confident that Brice is going to be in the big leagues at some point this year,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “When? We've got competition in this camp, so that'll dictate some of it, for sure. But he's put himself in a really good place. He's improving. He's spent significant time at the highest level in the Minor Leagues, getting better at that level. So, there's no question he's in the conversation.”

Counsell said the Brewers still see upside in the bat for Turang, who will continue to do his work and leave the decisions to the decision-makers.

“You can always get better,” Turang said. “I always look at that. No matter how good you are, there’s always room to grow mentally or physically. I took last year as a good thing and continue to grow, continue to listen to the older guys and just try to never be satisfied with myself.

“The only thing I can control right now in spring is getting ready and being a good teammate to these guys," added Turang. "I’m learning and listening and talking, and one day they’re going to become my actual teammates. I want to build a friendship here, so when I get up there, I’m not just the new guy.”