When the Milwaukee Brewers recalled Andruw Monasterio from Class AAA Nashville in late May, his stay was supposed to be brief – a week, more or less.

But two months later the 26-year-old is still in the major leagues, and seeing regular playing time to boot with third baseman Brian Anderson on the injured list.

“As a baseball player, when you come from the minor leagues you don’t know when your last day in baseball (could be),” said Monasterio, a native of Caracas, Venezuela. “So I’ve tried to take my career in the big leagues day by day.

"Every baseball player desires to play every day, so now I've got a chance to play every day, I am taking advantage of it."

Monasterio signed by Cubs at 17 years old

Monasterio was signed by the Chicago Cubs in May of 2014 at the age of 17, a product of the organization's Venezuelan academy.

“I’ve totally changed,” said Monasterio of the type of player he is today. “If you see me (then and now), you’re going to see the difference – and it’s a big one."

He spent 4 ½ years in the Cubs organization, reaching as high as the advanced Class A level before being dealt with a player to be named to the Washington Nationals in exchange for veteran Daniel Murphy and cash at the 2018 trading deadline.

Monasterio's stay with Washington was a short one – four months, in fact – before he found himself on the move again, this time to the Cleveland Guardians as part of a multi-player trade.

He rose as high as Class AAA Columbus in 2021, hitting .287 with eight home runs and 61 runs batted in between two minor-league stops, but elected free agency that offseason and was on the move again.

This time, Monasterio signed a minor-league deal with the Brewers while also earning his first invitation to major-league spring training.

He began 2022 at Class AA Biloxi and finished at Class AAA Nashville, hitting a combined .271 with nine homers and 44 RBI – a showing that was good enough for Monasterio and the Brewers to come together on another contract for 2023.

After another invite to big-league camp in the spring, Monasterio was hitting .271 with four homers and 19 RBI in 42 games at Nashville when Willy Adames was sent to the injured list after suffering a concussion when he was hit in the head by a foul ball while standing on the dugout steps.

Needing someone who could play shortstop, the Brewers called upon Monasterio.

He made his major-league debut on May 28 against San Francisco. Two days later, he celebrated his 26th birthday with his first two hits in a loss at Toronto.

“When I made my debut, I dreamed (of) that,” Monaseterio said. “It was something that you cannot describe. I was happy, but I took it like another day in the office because it was the same game. The only thing that changed in the big leagues is, there are more people with cameras.”

Then on June 4, Monasterio slugged his first major-league homer, a three-run shot at Cincinnati that helped pave the way to a 5-1 victory over the Reds.

Monasterio seizing opportunity to be an every day player

Three days later, Adames was reinstated from the IL and the bulk of Monsterio's playing time after that came either at second base or off the bench.

His next big opportunity came out of the all-star break, when Anderson went on the IL with a low back strain at Cincinnati. In the series finale against the Cincinnati Reds, Monasterio helped nail down a huge three-game sweep with a game-winning RBI single into right field off all-star closer Alexis Díaz.

Since that game, Monasterio has hit .409 while striking out only 21.7% of the time. He became the first Brewers rookie since Caleb Gindl in 2013 to have four straight multi-hit games in the process.

“Andruw had an opportunity when he first got called up with Willy’s injury, and then we put him in 'the cooler' and didn't play much unfortunately, and he struggled a little bit,” manager Craig Counsell said. “But he's back to regular playing time.

“(He’s) done what he's done really well in the minor leagues -- he's very good with balls and strikes and he's very good at squaring up the baseball, and he's continued to do that against big-league pitchers.”

What has been the key to Monasterio's success?

“This game is too fast and is a game of inches, so I’m trying to be present and make it slower,” Monasterio said. “If I strike out, I go play defense. If I get a base hit, I go to play defense. It's the same thing.

“I don’t take this as success because I’ve got (only) two months here,” Monasterio said. “I’m trying to be here for years.”

Monasterio displaying impressive plate discipline for a rookie

Through 32 games, Monasterio is hitting .289 with a .758 OPS to go along with 16 runs, five doubles and a homer.

His plate discipline, which Counsell lauded, continues to stand out.

The latest example came in the bottom of the ninth in Friday's loss to the Braves when he worked back from 0-2 count with two outs to walk. It allowed the Brewers to eventually get the potential winning run to the plate, although the rally eventually fell short.

Going into Saturday, Monasterio had struck out just 23.4% of the time in 94 plate appearances.

“When I have two strikes, I don't think I have two strikes,” Monasterio said. “I just try to be calm and be relaxed because if you take this game fast, you are broke.”

Monasterio continues to learn as he goes, a key for any young player trying to stick in the majors.

“In the big leagues you have to make adjustments every day,” Monasterio said. “If you went 4 for 4 or 0 for 4 last night, tomorrow is another day, another pitcher and another team.

“We played the (Philadelphia) Phillies (Thursday), now we're playing the (Atlanta) Braves. It's totally different stuff; you get one pitcher and then another pitcher and they might have a different approach to us.

“The Phillies may pitch me sinker in and this guy pitches me away, but you never know. Every day you have to be different with your approach. You cannot be the same.”

Versatility in field provides Counsell with luxury

Another contributing factor to Monasterio’s extended stay with the Brewers has been his ability to be used at several different positions.

“Any role they need me, I'm going to be ready,” said Monasterio, a natural middle infielder who has also been more than adept at third. He's made 10 starts at second base, nine at third and five at shortstop with one more at designated hitter.

“I don't care if it's at third base, shortstop or second base or outfield, I'm going to be ready every day,” he continued.

Even though it’s not his primary position, Monasterio said there hasn’t been much of a learning curve for him playing third now on an every day basis.

“Third base is more angles and the ball gets to you quickly, (compared to) in the middle you have to cover more ground than third,” Monasterio said. “That's (really) all.”

With Anderson due back from the IL shortly, Monasterio's role will again be in flux.

But Monasterio has put himself on the Brewers' radar moving forward -- a major feather in any young player's cap.

“He’s played a little bit of every position and has shown that he can do it,” said Counsell, who knows a thing or two about playing middle infield after a successful 14-year career in the majors. “You put that (with his hitting) together and it's the first 100 plate appearances of a valuable player in the future here.”

Added Monasterio: "This is my first year, so I can't complain. Grateful for the opportunity to be a big-leaguer."

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Staying power: Rookie Andruw Monasterio has made a name for himself