Cincinnati Reds call up Bedford graduate Joey Wiemer from Triple A

Joey Wiemer is back in the big leagues.

The Bedford graduate originally was assigned to Triple A Indianapolis after being acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers in a trade for Frankie Montas Tuesday, but was recalled by the Cincinnati Reds Sunday.

“We’ve always liked him,” Reds manager David Bell said. “I like how we’re set up to help him become the player that we think and he thinks he’s capable of becoming at the Major League level.”

The Reds planned to have Wiemer stay in Triple-A and work on his swing. Then on Sunday, the Reds placed outfielder Will Benson on the paternity list and called up Wiemer from Triple-A.

Wiemer walked in his first at-bat with Cincinnati Sunday.

Wiemer’s first stint on the Reds’ big league roster may be temporary. But if he ends up going back to Triple-A, the Reds’ big league staff will have had a closer look to evaluate Wiemer and develop a plan on what he needs to improve.

Wiemer, who has a .201 batting average in 151 games with the Milwaukee Brewers between 2023 and 2024, is figuring out what the best version of his swing looks like.

If it clicks, the Reds could get a difference maker.

“He’s an explosive athlete,” said Reds starting pitcher Andrew Abbott, who has allowed a single, a double and a homer in Wiemer’s nine at-bats against him. “He has raw power. Great defensive outfielder. Great kid. He’s a smart outfielder who takes the right routes and does everything right. He’s pumped and excited to be in this clubhouse.”

When the Brewers drafted Wiemer in 2020 out of the University of Cincinnati, Wiemer was known for a batting stance that included an unorthodox leg kick. He reduced that leg kick in the Brewers’ farm system, but he still had a very distinct batting stance in 2023.

Wiemer had his hands right on top of his right ear, dropped his bat over his back shoulder and leaned back as he set up at the plate. He had a lot of moving pieces with his swing mechanics, so the Brewers worked with him on some changes heading into 2024.

When Wiemer was in the big leagues in April and May, he had a new setup. His hands started out over the plate, and he had his arms fully extended forward. It didn't work, and Wiemer hit .154 in 19 big league games this year.

Then during the summer, when Wiemer was in Triple-A, he modified his stance again. In July, he hit .333 with a 1.011 on-base-plus-slugging percentage (OPS) for the Nashville Sounds.

“I carried some adjustments into the beginning of the season, but I think I overdid it,” Wiemer said. “I was taking away from some of my athleticism and wasn’t getting the results I wanted. I shifted back to not exactly what I was doing, but a nice little blend. That’s been going well, and I’m trying to keep that rolling.”

Now, Weimer uses a more controlled toe tap as well as more hand movement than he used at the beginning of the season.

Wiemer had to wait to put those adjustments into place. This was the first season where he spent any time on the injured list. He spent two weeks in May on the big league injured list with left knee discomfort, and he missed time in June with a groin injury.

“It’s been a weird year,” Wiemer said. “I feel like the season hasn’t even really started yet.”

He got into a rhythm in July, driving in 11 runs in 18 Triple-A games.

The Reds have seen some of the best stretches of Wiemer’s career. He was one of the Brewers’ hottest hitters last summer before big league pitchers adjusted, started throwing him more low-and-away off-speed pitches and had more success.

Even when his bat was struggling, Wiemer made an impact with his rocket arm and is a standout defender. He robbed a home run from shortstop Elly De La Cruz last season, and Wiemer joked, “He might be mad at me when he walks in.”

He has a lot to look forward to as an Ohio native who played college baseball 10 minutes away from Great American Ball Park.

“I’m stoked,” Wiemer said. “Super excited to be here.”

What to know about Wiemer:

Wiemer was the Brewers' fourth-round pick (121st overall) in the 2020 MLB Draft.

Only three players from the fourth round of the 2020 draft have reached the majors: Wiemer, the Cubs' Luke Little, and the Braves' Spencer Strider.

The Reds' only draft pick from 2020 to reach the big-leagues is fifth-rounder Joe Boyle of the Oakland Athletics.

Wiemer improved his draft stock with a strong showing in the Cape Cod League, batting .273 with a .390 on-base percentage in the wood bat league.

In 2019, Wiemer helped UC to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1974.

Wiemer hit .263 with six home runs, 42 runs scored and 21 stolen bases for the Bearcats in a school-record 62 games in 2019.

Wiemer doubled twice to help UC defeat Oregon State at the NCAA Regional.

As a junior for the Bearcats , Wiemer batted .263 with 13 doubles, two triples and six homeruns, with 28 RBIs, 21 stolen bases and five outfield assists.

Wiemer played in the 2022 MLB All-Star Futures Game.

When Wiemer was an outfielder for the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers, he was selected to the all-star game for top prospects.

He drove in a run for the National League in the final inning of the game.

The following season, Wiemer doubled on the first pitch he saw in the majors:

Wiemer homered twice against the Reds in 2023, off of Brandon Williamson on June 2 and off of Andrew Abbott on July 7.

Wiemer was a three-sport star at Bedford High School in Michigan.

As a senior quarterback for the Kicking Mules' football team, Wiemer ran for 1,028 yards and 11 touchdowns, and passed for 426 yards and five TDs.

Wiemer played two seasons of basketball, averaging 12.1 points and 7.5 rebounds as a senior.

As an outfielder and pitcher, Wiemer batted .444 as a junior, and .382 with four home runs and 15 stolen bases as a senior, with a 1.62 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 30 innings pitched.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Reds call up Bedford graduate Joey Wiemer from Triple A