Huira could be X factor in Brewers’ playoff push

By JERRY TAPP

Is Keston Huira’s power a key to the Brewers making another playoff run?

Keston Huira will probably never be mistaken for one of the premier power hitters in the majors. He has, however, put together some impressive home run numbers this season in his limited playing time.

With a home run against the Dodgers in the Brewers 4-0 win on August 22, Huira has slugged three HRs in his last two games. He has hit seven home runs in his last 49 at-bats going back to July 1. Better yet, he has five HRs in his last 27 at-bats.

For the 2022 season, Huira has 13 home runs in 150 at-bats. That’s 11.5 at-bats per home run. He doesn’t have enough at-bats to qualify for the Top 10 list in this stat, but his 11.5 at-bats per home run would place him second in the majors to Aaron Judge who has 9.45 at-bats per home run. With 41 games remaining in this season, if Huira can maintain his home run swing, he should see his name in the line-up much more in the last six weeks of the regular season.

Here are a few other interesting stats about Huira’s power surge this season:

•    Huira’s career at-bats per home run is 17.4. Mark McGwire has the best career at-bats per home run stat at 10.61 followed by Babe Ruth at 11.76.

•    Among active players who have enough at-bats to qualify for the list (3000 career at-bats), Giancarlo Stanton has the best career at-bats per home run at 13.82. He is followed by Kyle Schwarber (14.09), Mike Trout (14.83), Nelson Cruz (15.92), Albert Pujols (16.33), Adam Duvall (16.99), Bryce Harper (17.02), Joc Pederson (17.3), George Springer (17.47), Nolan Arenado (17.99). Again, Huira does not have enough at-bats to qualify for the Top 10 in this stat, but his 17.4 at-bats per home run puts him in very elite company.

•    Best season at-bats per home run is 6.52 by Barry Bonds in 2001.

•    The Major League career average at-bats per home run is 27.0. Again, Huira stands at 17.4

•    The Brewers 2022 at-bats per home run is 23.9. Huira’s 11.5 tops the team. He is followed by Hunter Renfroe (14.7), Rowdy Tellez (15.2) and Willy Adames (16.5).

•    Huira is one of seven players who this season have 10 or more home runs with less than 200 at-bats. His 13 HR’s ranks second on the list of players with most homers with less than 200 at-bats. Topping the list is Matt Carpenter with 15 HRs in 128 at-bats.

•    The most home runs in a season with less than 200 at-bats is 24 by Matt Olson with Oakland in 2017.

•    The Brewers record for most HRs in a season with less than 200 at-bats is held by Manny Pina who had 13 home runs last season in 180 at-bats.

Keep an eye on Huira during the last 41 games of the season. He could be an important offensive weapon as the Brewers try to make the post-season for the fifth consecutive year.