Braden Shewmake is heading back to Houston.
The Astros and the infielder agreed to a minor league contract earlier today, the team announced, bringing him into the organization for a second time this season. Shewmake had just become a free agent a few days ago after the Brewers designated him for assignment and he cleared waivers.
Houston already got a look at Shewmake once this year, and the numbers from that stretch were solid enough to make him a familiar fit. In 30 games with the Astros, he logged 83 plate appearances and hit .256/.272/.423 with three home runs. His brief run with Milwaukee was much quieter: he went 2-for-7 in four games before the Brewers moved on.
The appeal is pretty straightforward. Shewmake is a defense-first shortstop who can move around the infield, and Houston leaned on that versatility while dealing with injuries to Jeremy Peña and Carlos Correa. He saw time at second base, third base and shortstop during that stretch.
Over parts of three major league seasons, Shewmake has 165 plate appearances and a .196/.206/.320 line. For now, the Astros are sending him to Triple-A Sugar Land, where he’ll add depth for an infield group that can use it.
A former Braves first-round pick, Shewmake also brings a homecoming angle. The former Texas A&M standout and Wylie, Texas native returns to his home state with a lifetime .240/.305/.382 batting line in parts of five Triple-A seasons.
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Brewers Fans Just Got Another Trade Deadline Twist In Relief Market
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For Brewers fans, it adds another layer to a market that has already been buzzing around relief help. Suter is heading to a contender for the stretch run, and there is at least one more twist to monitor if the schedule lines up, because the Brewers could see him again when the Braves come to town later this month. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Just Made A Staff Move Pat Murphy Really Needed
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For a club trying to piece together innings and shorten the distance from starter to endgame, the attraction is obvious. The shuffle also shows how much the Brewers value getting immediate pitching support without waiting on a prospect timeline, even if it costs them two outfielders who had been part of the organizations future depth. What comes next is the part Milwaukee will care about most: whether the new arrivals can settle in quickly enough to help right away. [Read more 🡒]