Todd Rosiak

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

San Diego – The time is now for Orlando Arcia.

The Milwaukee Brewers announced following their 7-3 loss to the San Diego Padres at Petco Park that Arcia, their top prospect, will be recalled from Class AAA Colorado Springs on Tuesday and become their primary starter at shortstop.

Jonathan Villar, who's played at an all-star level for much of the season, will shift over to third base.

"The thinking is, it's time to get him started," said manager Craig Counsell, who earlier in the day bid adieu to catcher Jonathan Lucroy and relievers Jeremy Jeffress and Will Smith after they were traded in two separate deadline-day deals.

"It's as much as that. We've still got (58) games left, a good chunk of the season left, and we're hopeful it gives him good experience going into next year.

"I think it's a little shot in the arm for us, a little boost for us, as well."

Arcia comes to the Brewers having hit .267 with eight home runs and 53 runs batted in at Colorado Springs this season. He went 0 for 1 as a pinch-hitter on Monday night against Oklahoma City.

His average sat as high as .310 on June 4 before it began sliding south. He was selected to play in the Triple-A All-Star Game in mid-July, but opted out for personal reasons. Last season, Arcia was named Milwaukee's minor-league player of the year after hitting .307 with eight homers, 69 RBI and 25 stolen bases in 129 games at Class AA Biloxi.

"The reports were he was absolutely outstanding defensively," Counsell said of Arcia's season to date. "He didn't have the season he had last year but we feel like he's ready to handle big-league pitching. And the big thing is, you need experience. You need to face big-league pitching. So in approximately 60 games, it's a good place to get hopefully 200 plate appearances under his belt and use that as experience going into next year."

In making Arcia the primary shortstop, the Brewers are moving a player in Villar who has committed a team-high 17 errors to third base, where they have no established starter. Villar has been a catalyst atop the lineup, hitting .293 with eight homers, 38 RBI, a .376 on-base percentage and a major-league-leading 39 stolen bases.

Hernan Perez, who's also been a pleasant surprise this season and has been serving as the primary third baseman of late, will now shift around and play in the outfield as well as the infield.

"Jonny's going to play largely third base, but there will be some shortstop days for him still," Counsell said. "With Hernan, we'll take advantage of his versatility. There will be outfield starts, there will be infield starts, but he'll certainly continue to play a lot."

Counsell acknowledged Villar's accomplishments at shortstop to this point.

"From my perspective, Jonny's done his job. He's done a really good job," he said. "He was disappointed and I understand that. I'm perfectly good with that. But Orlando's a shortstop, and he's a really good shortstop.

"I think this improves us. I don't know that third base is going to be (Villar's) permanent position, but on this team, it's where we need him to play."

Villar has now been displaced from shortstop in two straight years. Prior to the Brewers trading for him, he was the Houston Astros' shortstop until eventual American League rookie of the year Carlos Correa was deemed ready to play every day.

He wound up starting eight games at third for the Astros last season.

"I don't have control for the situation," Villar said. "I say thank you (to Counsell) because he gave me the opportunity to play every day. I go to third base, so I'll be ready to play there.

"I understand because last year in Houston I played different positions. I know (Arcia) is very good. That's today, but we don't know next year what position you're going to play. But they want to see the guy and what he's got.

"I'm going to be ready to play third base."