Scooter Gennett looks to prove Brewers made right call at second base
PHOENIX -- There may not be anybody at the Milwaukee Brewers training complex more excited about the 2015 season than second baseman Scooter Gennett. One of the first position players to report to camp, the 24-year-old doesn't hide his love for the game or his enthusiasm for what lies ahead.
"It's great to be here and to see the clubhouse filling up," said Gennett on the first day of camp. "It's great to see the guys I know and to meet the new guys. I'm ready to get to work. We can do some great things."
Gennett, entering his sixth season in professional baseball, has good reason to look forward to the 2015 campaign. Platooning with Rickie Weeks last season, Gennett hit .289 with nine home runs and 54 RBI in only 440 at-bats. The Brewers were impressed enough that they elected not to re-sign Weeks. As a result, Gennett heads in to 2015 as the clear-cut starter at second base.
"I'm aware of the role I have now," said Gennett. "I've put myself in this position where over the last few years I've shown them that I can play here. This year, it's just about consistently showing them I can do it."
To prepare for the 2015 season, Gennett spent the offseason living in the Phoenix area.
"This past offseason went really well," Gennett said. "Living here, I was able to come out to the complex as often as I wanted. I've got a good head start this year. I feel like I'm where I was near the end of spring training last year. Give me another month or so and I'll be feeling great."
Still, both the Brewers and Gennett realize there are improvements he needs to make if he wants to hold on to the starting job. While the 2009 16th-round draft pick has hit at an impressive .323 clip against right-handed pitching at the major-league level, he's hit only .128 against southpaws. Gennett thinks seeing more left-handed pitching will help him considerably.
"The big thing that's going to help me with lefties is getting in there more often and seeing them," he said. "I've never had trouble with them before. Only when I got here to this level. You face a tough lefty starter when you haven't seen one in a week and it's difficult for anybody. I think if I can see lefties more often, it's going to help a lot."
For their part, the Brewers intend to give Gennett every chance to prove himself.
"We're going to give Scooter the opportunity to hit more left-handers this spring," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. "We're going to give him every chance to show what he can do. During the season, we don't expect him to play all 162 games. We know he's going to get some days off and those are probably going to come against lefties, but we're going to give him a chance."
Beyond helping him better handle left-handers, Gennett thinks more playing time will improve his entire game.
"Playing every day is going to help me be consistent," he said. "It's going to help at the plate and in the field. I'll be able to be consistent with my attitude and preparation. That's going to help me in all areas. I know I don't have to beat out somebody this year. But I still have to have that same attitude and that same work ethic that I'm trying to beat out somebody. That's my whole mindset."
Gennett's teammates appreciate that approach and also think it could be the key to him successfully transitioning to a full-time starting role in 2015.
"Scooter works hard. He's worked hard the last few years and that's gotten him this far," pitcher Mike Fiers said. "I've seen him work hard on defense and defensive positioning the last two years. He's come in this year like he's got to earn the job, even though it looks like it's his for the taking. I know he'll keep working at it. That's all you can ask of a young guy moving into a starting role for the first time. He's got a chance to bring a lot to this club."
For now though, Gennett just wants to get to work.
"This is an incredible place to be," Gennett said. "This is what I want to do. I can't wait to get going."