This is the seventh in a nine-part series previewing the Milwaukee Brewers by position leading up to Opening Day on April 6
ON THE ROSTER:
Jean Segura (.246, 5 HR, 31 RBI, 20 SB in 146 games)
Hector Gomez (.150, 0 HR, 1 RBI in 15 games)
2014 IN REVIEW:
It was a year to forget for Jean Segura.
Coming off an All-Star appearance in his first full season in the big leagues, Segura turned down a six-year, $38 million contract extension offer from the Brewers in spring training.
Segura was already off to a slow start when he was involved in a freak accident on April 26. He was walking through the Miller Park dugout before the bottom of the first inning of a game against the Chicago Cubs when he was inadvertently struck in the face by a Ryan Braun warmup swing. The wound required multiple stitches and left a visible scar under Segura's right eye.
Unfortunately, the worst was yet to come. Segura returned to the clubhouse following Milwaukee's 7-6 loss to St. Louis on July 11 to news that his nine-month-old son, Janniel, had died in the Dominican Republic.
Segura returned to the Brewers on July 18 but continued to struggle at the plate. A 24-for-139 (.173) stretch lowered his batting average to from .274 to .232 at the All-Star break. He was hitting just .231 when he began to lose playing time to Elian Herrera at the end of July.
While Milwaukee collapsed offensively in September, Segura had a strong final month of the season. He hit .319 in 72 at-bats to raise his final batting average to .246.
Segura's defense also slipped in 2014, as his defensive runs saved dropped from 3 to 1, while his UZR (ultimate zone rating) went from -1.1 to -4.0. His 16 errors were the third-most by a National League starting shortstop.
Jeff Bianchi, Hector Gomez, Irving Falu and Herrera all made at least one start at shortstop for the Brewers in 2014. Bianchi began the season as the backup shortstop until an elbow injury ended his season in July. Herrera bounced back in forth from Triple-A as a utility player, Falu lasted just 11 games and Gomez was a September call-up.
2015 OUTLOOK
Segura appears to be in a much better place mentally this spring, as he got married and had another child in the offseason.
Baseball-wise, Segura implemented a few tweaks to his batting stance during the few weeks he spent playing winter ball this offseason. He is focused on holding his hands back and shifting more weight to his back leg to avoid getting out in front of pitches.
The 25-year-old faces a critical season in 2015. Segura will begin the year as Milwaukee's starting shortstop, but there are plenty of alternative shortstop options in the Brewers' minor-league system. Acquired in the Yovani Gallardo trade, 21-year-old Luis Sardinas will start at shortstop in Triple-A.
Four of MLB.com's top-30 prospects in the Brewers system currently play shortstop -- Orlando Arcia (No. 1 overall), Jake Gatewood (No. 5 overall), Gilbert Lara (No. 6 overall) and Yadiel Rivera (No. 23 overall).
Time will tell if Segura can regain the form that earned him a spot on the National League All-Star team in 2013.
Gomez will serve as the primary backup to Segura, while Herrera is fighting for the final spot on Milwaukee's bench. Sardinas and Rivera will be waiting in Triple-A should a need arise at shortstop.
KEY TO SUCCESS
Be it Segura, Sardinas or Gomez, the Brewers must find consistency at shortstop. If Segura is going right, Ron Roenicke could consider moving him to leadoff and Carlos Gomez to a run-producing spot in the lineup.
THEY SAID IT
"We saw how great he started, the energy and the smile on his face. We need that back. Everybody needs to have that look where they are enjoying what they are doing and are confident. Last year was a rough year for him in all areas. He's an important part of what we do." -- Roenicke on Segura
"I'm not going to say (I need to) get back to where I was two years ago. I don't want to put pressure on myself to do what I did two years ago. Two years ago is over. Last year is over to. It is a new year for me. I'll be prepared for everything to do my job to do everything to make me a better player." -- Segura
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