MLB Rookie Report: Andy Wilkins, 1B, Milwaukee Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers promoted veteran minor league first baseman Andy Wilkins to the major leagues this week. Let's take a look at his background and potential future.

Wilkins was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the fifth round in 2010 from the University of Arkansas. He hit .302 with 42 home runs in his 163 game college career; his power was respected but questions about contact and defense limited his stock to some extent. He reached Double-A quickly in 2012 but has been a mainstay in the high minors ever since, a fixture in various Triple-A lineups since midway through 2013.

His best season was 2014 when he hit 30 homers as part of a .293/.338/.558 line for Charlotte. He was rewarded with a cup-of-coffee in Chicago but hit just .140 with 22 strikeouts in 43 at-bats. He's done the roster shuffle since that time, the subject of various waiver claims and cash transactions that took him from the White Sox to the Blue Jays to the Dodgers to the Orioles to the Rangers to the Mariners and now to the Brewers in the space of two seasons.

Wilkins is a left-handed hitter, listed at 6-1, 225, born September 13, 1988. For all the moving around his profile has not changed: he's got sock in the bat but has contact issues and hasn't hit for consistently good averages or OBPs over the last two years. Although he's a bit error-prone at first base he isn't a bad athlete and can play the corner outfield spots without embarrassing himself. He has a good arm but attempts to play him at third base last year resulted in six errors in 11 games.

At this point Wilkins is an extra bat off the bench, a guy teams will stash to provide some power in their Triple-A lineups and short-term MLB roster coverage