IRVINE, Calif. --- The eighth Anteater in MLB history has been promoted to the big leagues in former All-American
Keston Hiura.
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Hiura was drafted as the ninth overall pick in the first round of the 2018 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers, and has risen up through the minor leagues from Single-A Wisconsin to Double-A Biloxi and finally Triple-A San Antonio where he hit .333 with 11 home runs and 24 extra-base hits in 37 games this season.
Hiura is the fifth player and first position player from that draft year to reach the Majors. He entered the season as the No. 1 prospect in the Brewers organization, the No. 1 prospect at his position of second base, and No. 15 prospect overall according to MLB Pipeline and Major League Baseball.
Top Prospect Keston Hiura Called Up to the Crew
Keston joined the Brewers earlier Tuesday as they're in the middle of series in Philadelphia against the Phillies, He will start tonight in game two of the series batting seventh in the order and playing second base. Hiura will also wear jersey No. 18 for the Brewers as his contract was selected adding him to the 25-man roster.
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Hiura is the first Anteater to receive a callup since Christian Bergman was promoted by the Colorado Rockies on June 9, 2014. Hiura is just eighth Anteater to reach the Majors joining fellow position players Bryan Petersen (debut 2010) and Brady Anderson (debut 1988) along with pitchers Doug Linton (debut 1992), Gary Wheelock (debut 1976), Sean Tracey (debut 2006), Dylan Axelrod (debut 2011), and Bergman
Hiura started Tuesday's game at Philadelphia batting seventh in the order and playing second base. In his first at-bat, he singled up the middle off the pitcher Jerad Eickhoff for his first Major League hit.
Hiura finished the night 2-for-3 with two singles and a walk as the Brewers went on to win, 6-1.
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Updates and additional information will be added to this post as they become available. Fans can also follow Hiura's journey through the baseball twitter account @UCIbsb.
