With regular first baseman Mat Gamel likely out for the season with a torn ACL, Travis Ishikawa takes over as the starter at that position. Ishikawa has a .261 career batting average, and although he doesn't hit for a lot of power he does have two home runs in 29 at bats through games of May 2nd this season. Ishikawa has excellent defensive skills, including a .995 fielding percentage in 234 Major League games at the position. Ishikawa is a good short term option at first, and depending on how well he plays, could be the regular first baseman for the rest of the season.
The Brewers don't have a lot of other options at first base. Corey Hart, who played first base in the minors and worked out at the position in Spring Training, is now the backup first baseman by default. Milwaukee is also calling up infielder Brooks Conrad from Triple A Nashville. Conrad had a good spring and was the last player cut; ironically, Ishikawa was the player who beat him out for that last roster spot. In 15 games with Nashville, Conrad was hitting .400 with five home runs and 13 RBIs. He's a switch hitter, and has played every infield position in either the minors or Major Leagues, although he has been primarily a second baseman.
There has been speculation that Conrad would see some time at first base, but I think it's unlikely he'll be there very much. He's only played 12 games at first base in a professional career that dates back to 2001, and 11 of those were at the Triple A level. In those 12 games, Conrad committed three errors in 111 chances, for a .974 fielding percentage. While that's a very small sample, I'm concerned that his lack of experience at the position will make him a defensive liability. I see his role as being a pinch hitter and backup infielder. With Ishikawa playing regularly, the Brewers will need a pinch hitter, and Cesar Izturis is currently the only backup infielder on the club.
Other options
Nashville's regular first baseman is right handed hitting Sean Halton, who was hitting .241 with two homers and 12 RBIs through games of May 2nd. At first glance, Halton might appear to be an option in a platoon with the left handed hitting Ishikawa. However, Halton is hitting just .100 against left handed pitching (3 for 30) and a healthy .321 (17 for 53) against right handers.
This is Halton's first season at the Triple A level, and I'd prefer he had more time to play regularly and develop in the minors. In other words, he's not ready to move up yet.
Another possible option at Nashville is Taylor Green. Green has played a little first base in the minors, but has spent most of his time at third base and second base. After a slow start, Green was hitting .280 at the beginning of May.
As much as I'd like to see Green make it back to Milwaukee, I don't think it will happen immediately. Like Conrad, Green has limited experience at first base. If Conrad doesn't work out, however, Green could take his place later in the season.
There is one other option worth exploring. Veteran free agent first baseman Derrek Lee did not sign with anyone for 2012 and is available. In 2011, Lee hit .267 with 19 homers and 59 RBIs in 113 games with Baltimore and Pittsburgh. He has a lifetime fielding percentage of .994, and has won four gold gloves. At 36 years of age, he's probably got enough left in the tank to play one more season, and is worth a look.
A Featured Contributor in Sports for the Yahoo! Contributor Network, Mark Hudziak has been a fan of the Brewers since they moved to Milwaukee in 1970.
Sources:
Brewers will try Ishikawa at first
Milwaukee Brewers at Yahoo! Sports
Nashville Sounds Official Website
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