Biloxi Shuckers open 2022 season with stacked outfield

After a season in which the Biloxi Shuckers ranked in the bottom half of the Southern League in virtually every offensive category, there’s actually plenty of reason for optimism, stemming from this year’s Opening Day roster.

Nine of the 30 players starting the 2022 season with the Double-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers are ranked in the organization’s top 30 prospects, according to MLB Pipeline.

Staring with second-ranked Joey Wiemer and third-ranked Garrett Mitchell, who make up two-thirds of Biloxi’s star-studded outfield.

Mitchell, who actually held the top spot last year, went through an adjustment period upon his call-up to Double-A, but is ready to get back to putting up the kind of numbers that made him a first-round selection in 2020.

As for Wiemer, it all started clicking when he got lower in his stance, propelling him to a 27-homer, 30 stolen base campaign, making him one of just 16 Minor League players to go 20-20 in 2021. Mitchell said, “Well, just even going into spring training, just the guys that we were playing with, just seeing us, we’d make the jokes, calling each other – our team, the Biloxi Bombers. So, I mean we have a really good crew and I think, like I said, just all of us being consistent, being the players that we are, not trying to be too much, I think we have the chance to be really, really successful.”

Wiemer said, “Iron sharpens iron is a perfect way to put it. It’s great to be with such a group of talented guys. A lot of good dudes, and it’s just keeping each other up, talking, competing with each other at the same time, playing with each other, so yeah, it’s really fun to be a part of.”

Biloxi Shuckers Manager Mike Guerrero said, “This group is going to be pretty good. I think there’s a lot of expectations for all of them. And we’re hoping to achieve and conquer. We all know that the Southern League is probably the toughest league in baseball, so welcome to the Judge.”

Our first glimpse of this year’s Shuckers will be at tonight’s exhibition game against William Carey, a seven-inning wooden bat game set for 6:35 p.m. from MGM Park. Tickets are $12.