Post by Brew Crew GM - Tyler on Jan 23, 2018 20:51:22 GMT -6
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MJ Melendez KC #9 Age 22 ETA: 2023 (2017 FYPD) Melendez is a lock to stay behind the plate, and he projects out to be a plus defender that blocks well and controls the running game with his laser arm. There’s some work to do offensively, but his plus raw power and plus defensive skills give him the tools to be a MLB backup if the hit tool doesn’t come around. When you watch Melendez you notice it right away. He completely sells out for power. Take it away JP!
“Exudes leader vibe in interactions with teammates. Frame is starting to fill out. Looks significantly stronger than 2017 Instructs MJ Melendez. Still adroit and flexible behind home. Does not get cheated on his swings, appears to be deliberate choice to exchange strikeouts for hard contact. Utilizes leg kick early in counts and shortens stride with two strikes. Still swings hard in two-strike counts, though.”
Melendez will always be fantasy relevant as a backstop with 20-plus homer pop. ETA: 2021
Blessed with massive power upside and athleticism, Melendez’s huge strikeout problems could hold him back from reaching his potential
Back in July, I tweeted about MJ Melendez, and how a large blame for his struggles can be put on the harsh environment of Wilmington. I cited how his elite power was still present, his HR/FB% had plummeted, and even mentioned how in the weeks prior to that tweet he had been showing improvements in his approach. While “improvements” for Melendez meant his K% was still around 35 percent, any amount of improvement is a good thing for a young hitter, and I was hoping that brighter days were ahead. Unfortunately, Melendez didn’t end the season on a good note.
In the 27 games leading up to that tweet, Melendez had posted a .754 OPS. From that date until the end of the season, Melendez had a .499 OPS with a strikeout rate well above 40 percent. While in that time Melendez still experienced the hardships of Wilmington, and still displayed the plus raw power he possesses, you can’t blame a strikeout rate that high on bad luck. I still love Melendez’s power, and he’ll only be 21 for all of next year so he has plenty of time, but he’s going to need to make some improvements next year to keep warranting a ranking this high.
If he doesn’t put it all together offensively, Melendez still has a chance to be an asset on the defensive side. Melendez is very athletic for a catcher and is extremely nimble behind the plate. He also has an absolute cannon, which helped him throw out 60 percent of baserunners this year. Like his offense however, Melendez’s defense isn’t devoid of flaws. If he’s going to be an impact defender behind the plate, Melendez needs to improve in the technical aspects of catching; namely framing, blocking, and game-calling. While any young catcher could use work in these aspects, Melendez’s showings have called some to question his future behind the plate. I believe that working with Sebastian Rivero has helped Melendez build in these areas, and it should continue to as they move up together, but he’s certainly not guaranteed to fulfill his potential on the defensive end.
Josh Breaux NYY #10 Age 22 I know what you’re thinking…Breaux over Seigler? In essence, it boils down to the more polished power hitter. Breaux is a physical specimen at the plate. Yes, his swing gets long and there are some swing-and-miss concerns, but his power projection is his stand-out tool. He isn’t the athlete that Seigler is. But at this stage in their development, he is the better overall hitter. ETA: 2021
Mario Feliciano MIL #12 Age 21 ETA:2021 (2016 Draft) The Brewers took Feliciano with their pick in Competitive Balance Round B at 75 overall in the 2016 draft. Feliciano started 2018 in extended spring training and dealt with injuries all season and only had 165 plate appearances over 42 games. Feliciano is more talented than his career numbers indicate, and the batted ball numbers show more here. To put everything into context it’s important to note that the Brewers have pushed Feliciano aggressively through their system and that makes the tough offensive numbers easier to swallow. There’s plus raw power here, and a strong throwing arm and I feel like we’re waiting for the rest of the skills to catch up. There’s always an enormous amount of risk in prep catching prospects and Feliciano is no different. The fact that the Brewers keep aggressively pushing him up through their system speaks volumes about his makeup and how they believe he handles pitchers despite his raw defensive skills. The Brewers sent Feliciano to the AFL to get some much needed reps, but he was shut down due to right shoulder discomfort after just two games that ended up with him getting arthroscopic surgery. He’s expected to be ready for spring training. ETA: 2022.
Volatile catching prospect with a strong arm behind the plate.
The Brewers selected Feliciano in the Competitive Balance round of the 2016 MLB Draft from Puerto Rico. Milwaukee was impressed with his athleticism behind the dish and offensive upside, but injuries have plagued the 21 year old since making his professional debut.
When he is on the field, however, Feliciano has shown well at the plate. He’s shown barrel feel and the ability to barrel up the baseball on a consistent basis, but there’s some real swing-and-miss to his game that worries me for when he reaches the big leagues. He hasn’t really tapped into any of his raw power quite yet, but he’s still only 21 and is still maturing.
Defensively, Feliciano has shown quality actions behind the plate. He’s a quality receiver, frames the ball well, and comes out of the crouch quickly with an above-average arm. There isn’t many question marks as to how he’ll bode as a big league catcher, but he’s a virtual unknown in regards to his offensive profile. We don’t really know what kind of hitter he is going to be, or if he’ll even be able to have success against quality big league pitching. The potential is there, but so are the question marks.
Payton Henry MIL #17 Age 23 ETA: 2021 (2016 draft) The Brewers snagged Henry in the sixth round in what has turned into a strong 2016 draft. The prep backstop from Utah had a strong commitment to BYU and it was surprising that the Brewers were able to get him signed. The best tools here are the plus power and equally impressive throwing arm, and the other tools are beginning to take shape around them. Henry utilized all fields better than ever last year with a 38.5% pull rate and a 36.7 opposite field rate according to Fangraphs. He also improved his defensive game. He needs to make some adjustments at the plate though, as a quick look at his batted ball data shows a groundball-heavy approach, which will make it tough to tap into his raw power. Henry was actually a prep backstop taken in the same draft as Mario Feliciano despite being a year and a half older, so he needs to keep improving at every stop. ETA: 2022.
Defensive minded catcher with some power.
Henry is a relatively safe bet to be a backup catcher at the big league level that can hit for power. His hit tool lacks, and likely always will, but there is some raw power in his swing that is starting to translate into gameplay. There is some swing-and-miss to his game and he likely won’t ever hit for much contact at the next level.
Behind the plate is where Henry will make his money. He’s a quality defensive catcher with quality actions and a strong arm behind the dish. Teammates have praised Henry for his leadership behind the plate and he has the makings of a Major League defensive backstop.
Jeferson Quero MIL #18 Age 17 ETA 2024 (2019 IFA) A member of Venezuela’s Little League World Series team in 2015, Quero continued to improve in the subsequent years and was regarded by scouts as one of the better catching prospects in the 2019-20 international class. Intrigued by his potential to contribute on both sides of the ball, the Brewers signed Quero for $200,000 at the outset of the July 2 period.
Quero stands out most right now for his hitting ability, but he also has a chance to be a good defensive catcher. He has an advanced approach and makes a lot of hard, consistent contact for a young player, barreling the ball to all fields from the right side of the plate. He has good raw power that plays to his pull side right now, and it’s easy to envision Quero applying it to all fields as he gets stronger and matures as a hitter.
Defensively, Quero is an athletic backstop who already receives high marks for his receiving, blocking technique and feel for handling pitchers. His plus arm headlines an impressive catch-and-throw skillset that should allow him to combat the running game. The Brewers are eager to see how Quero’s advanced tools and skills translate in game action in 2020, when he will make his pro debut at age 18.
Mitch Ghelfi (MIL-A+)
Andres Melendez
1B -
Matt Thaiss LAA #9 Age 23 (2016 FYPD) He did it. Thaiss finally found a way to hit for more power. The former Virginia Cavalier was the Angels first rounder in 2016, and the Angels immediately removed him from behind the plate and moved him to first in an attempt to draw as much as possible out of the bat. He was able to up his flyball rate to around 41-42% without altering the plate approach too much. He did walk less, but the trade off is still one the Angels and Thaiss would make again and again. I don’t think Thaiss ever becomes a star, but a first baseman in the Mitch Moreland mold is a realistic outcome here. A valuable asset through his controllable seasons. Thaiss should see Anaheim sometime in 2019. ETA: 2019.
Thomas Dillard MIL #25 Age 22 ETA: 2022 (2019 Draft) Switch-hitting corner outfielder with real power potential.
Dillard was a recent draftee by the Brewers in this past draft and is a relatively impressive prospect from a power standpoint. He has legit raw power and can do some real damage at the plate when he runs into one. The overall hit tool isn’t anything to go crazy about, but his power can’t be ignored.
The problem with Dillard is where to play him on the field. He’s currently an outfielder right now, but the athletic profile suggests that he’s going to eventually move to either first base or a DH role. The Brewers have also experimented with using him behind the dish, where he saw some action in high school.
2B -
Nate Orf OAK AAA
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Alika Williams TB (2020 FYPD)
Eduardo Garcia MIL #8 Age 17 ETA: 2024 (2019 IFA) The Brewers couldn’t sign Garcia on the July 2 signing date because he was only 15, and you can’t sign an International Free Agent until they turn 16, which he did eight days later. The Brewers gave Garcia $1.1 million, and early returns from instructs make that sound like a good deal so far. Garcia was regarded as one of the slickest defenders at the six in this class, and has the hands, range, arm and footwork to be a plus defender there in the big leagues. He needs to add strength and is far from a finished product physically, but there’s a lot to like here. To put it into context, if Garcia was in high school right now he wouldn’t be draft eligible until 2020, and he still wouldn’t even be 18-years old. It feels aggressive putting such a young player here, but when you know, you know. ETA: 2024.
Quality defensive shortstop with some pop at the plate.
Garcia was one of the youngest players in his international class and signed with the Brewers for $1.1 million the day he turned 16 years old. He has a fantastic frame, standing at 6-foot-2 and only 160 pounds as a 17-year-old kid.
There’s clear room for him to physically mature and add more to that build, which means there’s likely more power and durability to come as we continue to see him grow. Garcia has sound hitting mechanics for a 17-year-old and his swing shouldn’t have an issue translating to the minor league ranks. He projects as a more contact oriented player at the current moment, but there will always be that power potential until he fully matures.
Garcia was well regarded as one of the premiere defensive shortstops in his international class, and rightfully so. He’s well advanced with his glove for his age and has all the necessary tools to stick at shortstop in the long run. He will likely always be a glove first, bat second guy, but the ability to defend at a high level at an up-the-middle position gives him a fairly good chance of reaching the big leagues.
Hayden Cantrelle MIL Age 22 (2020 Draft) - A switch-hitter, Cantrelle was the Crew’s 5th round pick in 2020 and he has an intriguing blend of tools. In independent ball in 2020, Cantrelle put up a solid .264/.393/.345 slash line and then played well at Instructional League in the fall. Cantrelle profiles as a leadoff hitter, spraying the ball all over the field, hitting for a high average, possessing plus-speed, also with some sneaky pop. Historically, Cantrelle has gotten off to slow starts at the plate, hitting below .200 for the first month of the season each year of his college career. Right around the time he normally gets on a hot streak, the season shut down in 2020, leaving him with a .136 average his Junior year. That dropped him to the 5th round, but he’s much more talented than that and should outplay his draft position long-term.
Chris Seise TEX #26 Age 21 ETA: 2022 (2017 FYPD) The Rangers drafted Seise 29th overall in 2017. He was sent to the short season Northwest League and performed ok but not great. Last March a shoulder injury necessitated rotator cuff surgery, and his recovery sidelined him for entirety of 2018. Seise drew disparate reviews on his defense, ranging anywhere from above average to below average. There is more of a consensus opinion on his bat, which features easy loft and power projection. The 6’2” frame 175 lb frame looks primed for more muscle. He has loose hands, a fluid swing and uses his lower half well. From all accounts Seise has a shot to play every day, but the injury history and limited track record of performance make him somewhat of a risky proposition.
Shortstop with a deep pool of tools has been sidelined with injury issues.
Chris Seise was the Rangers’ first round selection in the 2017 draft. They landed on Seise as he was a prep shortstop who was likely to stick at the six and displayed some electric athletic tools.
Seise did not play in 2018 due to rotator cuff surgery. In 2019, he only pieced together 92 plate appearances before missing the remainder of the season due to a torn labrum in his left shoulder. In his time at A-Full Hickory, the tools were loud and the plate approach was rough (32.6 K-BB%).
Assuming the shoulder heals, he’s still only just now turning 21 years old, putting him on par with most college bats in this summer’s draft. Hopefully he gets a full season of full health and torches the South Atlantic League to start the year off, giving us a glimpse of that first round promise.
Zack Short CHC #15 Age 24 ETA: 2020 (2017 DD) The Cubs system has a few guys who project to be super utility types and Zack Short is probably the best of the bunch. He can hold it down at…..short……and was voted best defensive…..short……stop in the Southern League according to a Baseball America industry survey last August. Offensively, he has a very disciplined, patient approach and walks at a high rate. In fact, he walked more than he struck out in his first two pro seasons. In 2018 his strikeout rate spiked to 26%, a full 8% higher than 2017. Also noteworthy, he lead qualified AA hitters with a 54.9% FB rate. He is trending in the direction of a three true outcome type guy, but the power/hit tools will likely not be good enough to play every day. Think super utility guy who fills in three our four times a week at different positions.
Utility future awaits elite glove guy with potential fixable offensive flaw
Many in the Cubs organization believe that Short is the best defender in the system, and some have compared him to the Cardinals’ Paul DeJong with a straight face when talking about his potential. While he may have potential to get to that level, Short has some serious work to do.
Currently, Short at the plate is incredibly pull-happy. He does pack more power into his sub-200 pound frame than one would believe. Yet, he attempts to pull the ball so much that he gets his lower half out of position, especially on breaking stuff. In 2019, he pulled more than 50 percent of his balls in play in Triple-A, but that has led to a significant infield fly ball rate. Short does have a good eye, as evidenced by his consistent double-digit walk rates, so he could see some major changes if he could work over his swing.
The glove is certainly elite and works well around the infield. He also has above-average speed, though he rarely takes off to steal a base, so that is something that could show up in his game more along the way as well.
Shay Whitcomb HOU Age: 22 (2020 DD)
Blake Allemand (?)
Luis Aviles Jr (LAA-AAA)
3B -
Jesus Parra MIL Age 18 (2018 IFA) - Parra is one of the few corner infield prospects the Brewers have in this system, although he is several years away from the big leagues. Parra has plenty of raw power that he’s already shown some ability to tap into with six homers and 15 doubles in 65 games in the 2019 DSL season. He does have a little bit of a strikeout issue and may not hit for a super high average, but his power profile and strong arm make him a solid candidate to stick at third base going forward. He should be ready for Rookie ball in Arizona in 2021 and could possibly make the jump to Low-A.
Casey Schmitt SF (2020 FYPD)
Weston Wilson (MIL-AA) (2016 Draft)
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Hedbert Perez MIL #9 Age 17 (2019 IFA) The son of Robert Perez, an outfielder who played six Major League seasons (1994-2001) with five different teams, Hedbert Perez received the second-highest bonus ($700,000) among players signed by Milwaukee during the 2019-20 international period after he impressed scouts with his athleticism, tools and advanced feel for the game as a Venezuelan amateur. The Brewers brought him to Miller Park for batting practice after he signed, and Perez made the most of the opportunity by hitting some long, big league-esque home runs before opening even more eyes during instructional league.
Across-the-board tools highlight Perez’s impressive profile and fuel his impact potential on both sides of the ball. One of the better pure hitters in his class, Perez has a pretty swing for a player his age, combining bat speed and feel for the barrel with a quick, compact left-handed stroke. Those qualities, along with his discerning eye, have led scouts to project Perez as a future above-average hitter, and the fact that he already shows above-average raw power as a teenager makes it easy to dream on his offensive ceiling.
More than just a promising young hitter, Perez has the potential to remain in center field long term with his blend of athleticism, plus speed and range, and it certainly doesn’t hurt that he also has great instincts and gets good jumps. His accurate, above-average arm is a weapon up the middle and qualifies him to play either outfield corner. Overall, Perez has one of the highest ceilings in the Brewers’ system and should offer a glimpse of that potential when makes his highly anticipated debut in 2020.
Austin Beck OAK #4 Age 20 (2017 FYPD) Some context is needed when evaluating Beck’s 2018 season. The A’s had him make pretty significant alterations to his swing involving quieting his hands and eliminating his leg kick, which our own Lance Brozdowski broke down here. The goal was to get Beck to make more contact, and then they can re-introduce the leg kick later on to generate more power. The early results were positive as the strikeout rate dropped from 29% to 22% and his contact rate improved from 66% to 76%. The plus bat speed is still there, but the plus speed doesn’t play on the base paths as he’s only 15-for-22 in his career. The plus speed and plus arm do play in centerfield though and he projects as a plus defender there. Look for Beck to repeat Low-A in 2019. ETA: 2023.
Griffin Conine TOR #17 Age 22 ETA: 2022 (2018 FYPD) The son of former All-Star Jeff Conine, the Jays selected Griffin in the 2nd round of the 2018 MLB draft. He has strong athletic build. Swinging from the left side, Conine looks to launch everything. That leads to a long swing at times and a lot of swing and miss in his game. The power projection is there. He grades at 55 game power. His lack of a hit tool will limit his game power though. ETA: 2021
Power over hit corner outfield prototype coming off a rebound season in 2019.
The Blue Jays love their MLB bloodlines and Conine, their 2018 second rounder, is the next in line to feed Toronto’s legacy fetish. A player of some pedigree as not only the son of former MLB All-Star Jeff Conine, but also a former standout for Duke. He broke out over the summer of 2017, pacing the Cape Cod League circuit in homers, showing off impressive power in the historically power-starved environments of the Cape.
Riding the high of the CCBL breakout, Conine’s spring was tumultuous as he struggled with strikeouts, lending credence to lingering hit tool concerns. Toronto however was not deterred as they plucked Conine in the second round and paid him $1.35 million.
Conine appeared in two rookie leagues games out of the draft before he was assigned to Toronto’s short season affiliate in Vancouver. Over 55 games Conine put up a league average line, flashing his prodigious power, and worrisome swing and miss. Things got off to a sour note in 2019 as he tested positive for Ridilin and served a 50 game suspension to begin the season.
Assigned to the Midwest League in the final days of May, Conine hit well through three months of action producing strong power numbers. The production was once again marred by concerning strikeout rates. Even beyond his 35%+ K-rate, Conine’s 20.8 SwStr% was the worst among Lansing batters with 300 PAs or more despite being on the older end of competition.
Many saw the slashline and joined the gravy train, but I’d caution against overzealous reactions. Advanced college players with big conference experience don’t typically spend the first full season post draft in low-A ball unless there are serious concerns. Conine’s power is easy plus with the ability to drive pitches to any part of the ballpark. His splits are fine from a power standpoint, though his approach is noticeably worse against lefthanders. Overall a future 40 hit/60 power bat seems realistic.
At the moment a 30 hit tool grade might be generous, but his quality of contact and his strong batted ball profile leave hope for the optimist in me. Conine is adequate in either corner with a strong throwing arm, his bat and defensive profile fit in right field long term and he reads the ball off the bat well enough to compensate for below average foot speed. Likely a second division regular peak, but there’s a shot he only develops into a platoon corner outfield bat. Not a profile in high demand these days.
Carlos Rodriguez MIL #17 Age 18 ETA: 2022 (2017 IFA) The Brewers grabbed Rodriguez during the 2017 J2 period by signing him for $1.355 million. Rodriguez is a left-handed slap hitter without much power or the ability to drive the ball. He’s an ultra-aggressive hitter whose game is putting the ball in play, and he takes full advantage of his plus-plus wheels. Rodriguez projects as a plus defender in center. He’s a fourth outfielder for me unless he adds strength or learns to drive the ball more. ETA: 2023.
Contact oriented outfielder with real athleticism.
Rodriguez signed with the Brewers for $1.35 million despite him not being a highly ranked prospect in his international class. That being said, he does have some fairly interesting skills with big time potential.
Rodriguez is only 18 years old, but his short, compact swing consistently makes contact with the baseball and he could potentially have a 55-grade hit tool as he continues to progress. His calling card is his speed/defense combination, however, as Rodriguez is both a plus runner and defender. He’s going to stick in center field moving forward and should excel there.
He’s an interesting prospect because of his plus speed and defensive value. If the hit tool comes around, however, we’re talking about a kid that can hit at a fairly high rate with great speed and strong defense at a position of need. Given that potential, he’s certainly someone to keep an eye out for.
Lewis Medina MIL #12 Age 16 ETA: 2024 (2019 IFA) Left/left power prospect with an intriguing frame.
Medina was a signee of the Brewers in this recent draft class, signing for $1.3 million out of Venezuela with the club. He was one of the top outfield prospects available in this recent J2 market.
Medina stands at 6-foot-2 and roughly 170 pounds as a 16-year-old kid. He has so much room to grow and develop that it’s actually really intriguing to imagine what he’ll look like in a few years. The more he matures, the more power he’ll add to an already impressive raw power tool. He has a pretty swing that creates elevation and drives the ball to all fields, making him a legit power threat.
Defensively, Medina profiles best as a corner outfielder that won’t blow you away with his glove, but should get the job done. He’s relatively raw from a prospect standpoint, but we need to see more from him to get a better evaluation.
Eduarqui Fernandez MIL #13 Age 18 ETA: 2024 (2018 IFA) The Brewers signed Fernandez for $1.1 million this past July. At 6-foot-2, 176 pounds, Fernandez has a nice projectable frame and even if he adds weight like I expect him to, he should still be agile enough to play center. Fernandez drew compliments for his ability to make hard contact consistently during the showcase circuit. It’s a potential plus power tool to go along with an average hit tool with above average speed and arm strength. He’s worth a late flier in your FYPD for dynasty leagues. ETA: 2024.
Toolsy outfielder with big time potential
Fernandez signed with the Brewers in the 2018 J2 market for a little bit more than a million dollars out of Venezuela. Fernandez boasts a fairly projectable frame for an 18-year-old, standing at an athletic 6-foot-2 and roughly 175 pounds.
The biggest thing that stands out to me when evaluating Fernandez are his tools. He projects to be average both in his hit tool and power, but his aggressiveness at the plate means he could eventually become an above-average power hitter. He’s shown a plus run tool and profiles as a legit threat to swipe a bag when he reaches base. This also aids him in the outfield, as he’ll likely be a center fielder in the long run given his athleticism and ability to play the position well.
Fernandez is a toolsy kid with legit potential, but there’s always risk with 18-year-old kids which makes him difficult to predict. He could certainly be a contributing everyday outfielder if he clicks, but the likelihood of that happening isn’t higher than the possibility that it doesn’t. Expect him to likely be a competitive fourth outfielder for a quality playoff team.
Micah Bello MIL #16 Age 19 ETA: 2022 (2018 Draft) Contact oriented, athletic outfielder.
The Brewers drafted Bello in the second round of the 2018 draft and added another prospect from their burgeoning Hawaiian pipeline. Bello has average tools across the board with the hit tool, speed and power. He’s a tick better defensively with an above-average arm, but he should add some weight to his athletic frame which could dramatically alter the skill set. At 6-foot, 165 pounds Bello is a bit on the smaller side, but the body has some room for his “man muscles.” Bello works out with big-leaguer Kolten Wong in the offseason, and hopefully he can add strength and jump the power and speed tools up a grade. He has good instincts and a strong eye at the plate, so the foundation is here. ETA: 2022
Bello being this low on my list is solely because of the fact that he’s 19 years old and prospects like this tend to be more volatile. The skill set, however, is impressive and could play at the big league level.
Bello swings a quick, simple bat that just makes contact with the baseball to all fields. His bat-to-ball skills and quality approach at the plate give him an above-average hit tool, in my opinion, but the power just doesn’t seem like it’s ever going to be there. Bello’s run tool is also worth noting, as he is an above-average runner that can swipe bags and cover some serious ground in the outfield.
He’s athletic and has a strong enough arm to stick in center field moving forward, which is actually the best for Bello. Corner outfielders tend to hit for more power at the next level and that’s something that Bello isn’t going to do. He’s certainly an interesting prospect that I think could improve his prospect status next season.
Hudson Haskin BAL #16 Age 22 ETA: 2024 (2020 FYPD)
Nelson Velazquez CHC #19 Age 21 ETA: 2022 (trade with Pirates, 2020) Former overslot draftee has struggled to develop eye at the plate, but legit power still remains.
Drafted as an elite raw athlete with double plus raw power and plus raw speed, Velazquez became a darling of many Cubs backers who wanted to believe in the tools. However, he’s struggled to develop the most important tool of all- his hit tool.
He’s still an above-average runner as he’s filled out some, but he’s yet to get beyond Low-A at this point. The defense is still very impressive at a corner with a big arm, but he’s still raw in his reads and jumps on balls.
The aggressive approach Velazquez uses can still find success at times, as seen in his .286 batting average in the Midwest League in 2019. However, to have success up the ladder, he will need to work counts and develop his zone judgement in order to access the impressive raw power he has.
Pablo Abreu MIL #21 Age 20 ETA: 2022 (2016 IFA) Abreu is yet another projectable athletic outfielder in a system full of them. He was an $800,000 signing out of the Dominican Republic in 2016. His above-average bat speed stands out, but it’s necessary due to the long swing. Abreu has the skills to stick in center long-term but won’t stand out like several others in the organization so he fits best on a corner. Like many athletes in this system there’s extreme risk attached to this profile because if the hit tool doesn’t develop he won’t be able to tap into the rest of his above-average skill set. ETA: 2023.
Athletic outfielder with a strong arm.
Abreu is signed with the Brewers as an international signee in the 2016 J2 signing period as a 16-year-old kid with average or better tools across the board.
The hit tool isn’t necessarily there yet, but he’s made strides at the plate in terms of his plate recognition and feel for the strike zone. He has a visible approach when he gets up to bat and is actually really good at working deep into counts. The power is more advanced at the current moment and there still may be more to desire given his ongoing maturity.
Abreu is an impressive athlete with an above-average run tool and arm. He’s currently a center fielder, but as he matures, I think it’s more than likely we see him make a move over to right field given his arm strength.
Larry Ernesto MIL #22 Age 19 ETA: 2022 (2017 IFA) The Brewers gave the switch-hitting teenager $1.8 million to sign as part of their 2017 J2 class. Ernesto brings plus raw power to the table, but an immature hit tool and undeveloped plate approach stand in the way here. Like many other athletes in the system Ernesto could stick in center long-term, but this organization is ripe with athletes and he will likely be a better fit on the corner, and his average arm makes him a potential right field fit. Every other tool has a chance to project out as average, but the hit tool needs the most work right now. ETA: 2024
Je'Von Ward MIL #23 Age 18 The Brewers grabbed Ward in the 12th round of the 2017 draft. It often takes taller, long-limbed baseball players time to figure it out, and I’m not saying Ward has it all figured out yet, but 2018 was a very encouraging year for him. At 6-foot-5, 190 pounds Ward doesn’t have the traditional baseball player body, but the frame and skills make him an interesting lotto ticket. Ward has strong foundational skills with the walk and strikeout rates, and those aren’t numbers you normally associate with long-limbed athletes that are this raw. He’s an above-average runner with potential plus raw power, but the speed likely drops closer to average as he adds strength and mass. There’s some significant emerging power here. If he can figure out how to tap into this power more consistently watch out. It will be a slow rise through the system, but Ward is an interesting prospect. ETA: 2023.
Athletic switch-hitting outfielder with some true power.
Ernesto was arguably the most coveted Brewers’ prospect in the 2017 J2 class, signing for nearly $2 million from the Dominican Republic. He’s an athletic 6-foot-2 with some clear projectability in his build.
He showed well in his professional debut, putting up some quality numbers, but there are some concerns at the plate. Ernesto is a switch hitter, which is obviously a valuable thing, but he’s way too aggressive offensively and doesn’t have a quality recognition of the strike zone. There is legit swing-and-miss concerns here from a 19-year-old kid who has all the makings of a free swinger.
Ernesto runs well and is a quality athlete that could potentially stick in center field moving forward. He’s young and still makes some mistakes from a pure defensive standpoint, but he’s going to play out of that as he develops. He is a high-risk, high-reward type of prospect.
Korry Howell MIL #23 Age 21 ETA: 2022 (2018 Draft) Raw offensive profile with game changing speed.
Howell was a shot-in-the-dark 12th round pick by the Brewers in the 2018 MLB Draft and really only has one impressive tool. He is a plus-plus runner that can has legit game changing speed both in the field and every time he puts the ball in play.
Outside of that, however, he’s really raw as an overall prospect and is going to take some major development from the Brewers to ever be something. His hit tool lacks, there isn’t much power, and his defensive actions at shortstop are questionable.
Garrett Whitley TB #18 Age 21 (2015 FYPD) Whitley missed all of 2018 recovering from a torn labrum. When he is going good, he is a dynamic athlete and a patient hitter. The hit tool is plagued with swing and miss which limits his ceiling to a fourth outfielder, quad-A type. ETA: 2021
Je'Von Ward MIL #28 Age 20 ETA: 2021 (2017 Draft) Athletic outfielder with an impressive frame.
From an athletic standpoint, Ward is essentially a modern day scout’s dream. He’s 6-foot-5 and only 190 pounds with plenty of room to mature and grow into this build. He’s an above-average runner that gets to first base quickly from the left side of the batter’s box.
Ward struggles to elevate the ball offensively, as nearly 70 percent of the balls he put in play this season were hit into the ground. That doesn’t play in the modern day big leagues and it won’t play as he continues to progress through the minors, so he needs to start elevating the baseball on a more consistent basis.
He’s set for a corner spot moving forward, with the athleticism to play center field but the instincts and defensive profile have him set for a corner spot.
Troy Stokes Jr. DET #30 Age 24 ETA: 2020 (2014 Draft) Stokes narrowly missed his second straight 20/20 season as he compiled 19 homers and 19 stolen bags in Double-A in 2018. Stokes has transformed himself since the Brewers used their fourth round pick in the 2014 draft on this kid from Baltimore. He began hitting for more power in 2017 when he hit 20 homers despite coming into the year with only nine to his name. The heavy pull/fly-ball approach has caused the strikeout rate to head the wrong direction and also ensures that he won’t be much of a batting average asset, but the change has been an important one for Stokes prospect status. As a speed only player that’s limited to left due to an almost unplayable throwing arm, he needed to make a change. Stokes now has a future as a second division regular in left for a big league club where he can hit 20-25 homers and steal 15-20 bags due to his above-average speed. Much better fantasy player than a traditional one. He’s put himself in position to potentially get a late season call-up if needed. ETA: 2019.
Athletic power/speed combo with a tendency to pull the ball.
After nearly posting two straight 20/20 seasons in the minors, Stokes Jr. took a big statistical step back once he hit Triple A, with nine homers and 14 steals in the PCL. The Brewers had to make room for some pitching to return, so after a down year Stokes Jr. was DFA’d in September and the Tigers claimed him.
The speed with Stokes Jr. is obvious, in fact, that’s what got him drafted in the first place, but the power is what developed as he progressed. That pop is going to be limited by a below average hit tool. There is a lot of movement pre-swing that at times seems to hinder his ability to stay on time. His tendency to pull the ball is going to keep his batting average down, but he has displayed a good eye at the plate. The strikeouts took a small step forward in the PCL, but that will always be a part of his game.
Stokes Jr. doesn’t have the arm to play anywhere except for left field. He does a good job of using his speed to cover ground though so he can become a second division regular at the position. The 20/20 ceiling is what the Tigers are hoping to re-capture with Stokes Jr. in their farm system. Realistically, his hit tool will likely hold him to a fourth outfielder role.
Wes Rogers MIL (2014 FYPD)
Michael Reed (?) 43 AB
Stephen Wrenn (HOU A+) (2016 DD)
SP -
Simeon Woods-Richardson TOR #5 Age 19 ETA: 2022 (2018 FYPD) Woods-Richardson is an uber athletic righty who touched 97 in his pro-debut. He usually sits low 90’s with the fastball, and his curveball is an absolute hammer that flashes 12-6 with good shape and bite. The key to his remaining a starter will be developing his change-up. Woods-Richardson throws from a high 3/4 slot and gets good downhill plane. There is a ton of projection left so it will be fun to see how he develops. ETA: 2023
A prototypical starting pitching prospect with an exciting pitch mix.
Acquired from the New York Mets in July along with lefthander Anthony Kay in exchange for Macrus Stroman, SWR had a breakout 2019 campaign as he impressed during a six game stint in the Florida State League.
A University of Texas commit out of high school, Richardson struggled his senior year as his velocity dipped below the mid-90s he flashed on the previous summer’s showcase circuit. Despite the red flags the Mets liked Richardson enough to take him in the second round and pay him above slot. Thus far it’s looked to be a wise pick, the trade to the Jays may prove otherwise.
A tall, athletic, broad shouldered frame, Woods-Richardson has the ideal pitcher’s build. He gets excellent extension and hip shoulder separation in his very repeatable delivery. There’s some effort but it’s more a product of explosiveness versus unnatural movement.
His pitch mix features two variations of his fastball, a curveball, and a changeup. Each fastball pairs with a secondary giving him an easy plan of attack against batters of each handedness. His four-seam fastball tunnels with his 12-6 curveball, as its backspin causes rise and life, making it deadly when paired with his bender. Conversely his two-seam and its armside run pair well with his changeup, which shows similar movement. The 2-seam+changeup sequence gives Woods-Richardson a natural plan of attack against lefthanders, and the results showed in his final six starts with Dunedin, where he allowed just 7 hits to lefties.
In summary, Woods-Richardson repeats his mechanics, flashes above average stuff, throws strikes and possesses a starters build. This gives him a pretty safe floor as a starter with room to grow into more than his mid-rotation realistic grade.
Cole Winn TEX #6 Age 20 ETA: 2022 (2018 FYPD) The pitch mix starts with the fastball. In a scrimmage vs ASU this fall it was low 90s, touching 94, and the pitch reportedly touched 96 in the spring. Winn has the ability to operate it up in the zone where it can generate swing and miss largely due to high spin rates. I checked the Trackman data after NHSI and saw it maxed out at 2660 RPM, placing him in elite company. There are three fastball variants: straight 4 seam, a 2 seam, and a cutter. With added weight, it is not unreasonable to expect another tick or two on the pitch. The curve is his best secondary with sharp spin and 11 to 5 shape. The FB and CB both project to plus. While less consistent, the changeup also flashed 55 this fall. The slider could play to average. I love the depth of his arsenal and Winn’s present feel for it, especially considering his age.
Overall, he could projects to be a #2-#3 starter and 200 innings a year guy. Considering the changing roles of pitchers in today’s game, pitchers with a legitimate chance to stick as a starter gain more value. Winn falls into that category, which is a large part of why he falls #1 on this list. The Rangers’ decision to not pitch Winn following the draft may allow for a narrow buy-low opportunity in fantasy leagues. I expect him to start in Hickory and excel there. He is very polished for his age and could be a fast mover.
One of the nicest deliveries in the minors, Winn needs to start stringing together some results in 2020.
You see the build and the smooth delivery and it’s easy to understand why Winn was so highly touted coming into the 2018 draft out of high school. The arsenal is there too. His fastball sits in the band around 95 mph and can touch higher. It spins well (2350 rpm according to FanGraphs) and he can generate whiffs with it. His curveball is a present plus “true curve”, generating foolishness from hitters. It pairs with the 4-seamer really well. Then he also throws a changeup that can be at least average when it’s on, and he throws it with about 10 mph separation from the fastball.
The results didn’t follow in Winn’s first trip to full season ball in 2019. He posted a 83 ERA+ in his 18 starts, 17 percent below the league average. He limited hard contact well. Hitters only managed a .288 batting average against, a 285 foot average flyball distance, and he produced a 47.6 GB%. This is all good, but the flip side is that Winn had a hard time hitting the zone, and when he did, he left a lot of pitches over the heart of the plate. His 67 BB%+ was tied for 21st worst in the South Atlantic League last season.
2020 will bring his command and control into sharper focus. The tools are there; it’s one of the nicest deliveries in the lower levels and he repeats well. It’s now his “age 20″ season. Will the results follow?
Zack Brown MIL #4 Age 24 ETA: 2020 (2016 Draft) Brown was the Brewers fifth round selection out of the University of Kentucky in the 2016 draft. Productive at every stop, the six-foot-one righty now finds himself on the cusp of the big leagues due to his ability to fill up the strike zone with his three pitch mix. The best pitch here is the curveball, which has emerged since turning pro. He he has an average changeup and a two-seamer that gets ground balls to go with his 92-94 MPH fastball. It’s not hard to see the Brewers breaking Brown into the majors much in the same was as they have with arms like Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff and using him as a multi-inning reliever initially. While he doesn’t have the upside of the two previous arms, Brown should settle in as a number four starter in Milwaukee in as soon as two years after getting his feet wet in the bullpen. ETA: 2019.
Quirky right-hander with a plus curveball.
Brown is an interesting prospect in his own right simply because he’s ranked fairly highly in this team’s farm system, but wasn’t protected by the Brewers from the Rule 5 draft. It’s very possible that in the coming weeks, Brown finds himself on the big league roster of another team.
Regardless of the team, Brown is a quality pitching prospect with some promising offerings. His fastball works between 92-95 mph with natural sinking action that works down in the zone to induce ground balls. His best, and go-to, pitch is a plus curveball that he’ll use to put hitters away. Brown also showed some promise in a changeup with natural downward actions that plays well off his fastball.
Brown did show some command issues in 2019 and his quirky delivery doesn’t make me feel good about him improving that. He does have the potential for three above-average pitches if that changeup develops, however, which would clearly give him starter upside. If not, Brown’s fastball/curveball combo would make him a lethal weapon at the back-end of a bullpen.
Aaron Ashby MIL #4 Age 21 ETA: 2021 (2018 Draft) Ashby was the top JUCO arm in the 2018 draft class and the Brewers gave him $438,300 to get him to forego a commitment to the University of Tennessee. The nephew of former big leaguer Andy Ashby, the lefty found an extra tick on the radar gun with the Brewers and now bumps the fastball up to 94 MPH. He also throws two breaking balls and a changeup. The curveball is the best pitch and it gets plus grades. His seven start stint in the Midwest League was dominant with over 11 K/9 and a walk rate around 2 per nine. Ashby was the talk amongst the scouts at a few of the different games I went to, and his performance warranted it. The Brewers might have something here. ETA: 2022.
Deceptive left-hander with a legit swing-and-miss curveball.
Ashby was selected by the Brewers in the fourth round of the 2018 MLB Draft from the JUCO ranks, where he was arguably the best pitcher in the nation for Division I JUCO.
Ashby’s calling card is a soul-stealing 65-grade curveball that could easily be one of the best curveballs across Minor League baseball. It’s a legit swing-and-miss pitch that he can throw whenever he wants and will play at the big league level against any type of competition. His fastball will work anywhere between 90-93 mph and can reach upwards of 96 mph from the left side. Ashby showed improvements in his changeup this past season, which would give him three big league caliber pitches.
Ashby works from the third base side of the rubber and creates deception with a funky delivery. He’s athletic enough to repeat it consistently, however, and it does give hitters some trouble, making him that much more effective. I truly think he has middle-of-the-rotation upside, but it’s more likely that we see him working in the back-end of a rotation like a Joey Lucchesi type.
Keegan Akin BAL #10 Age 24 ETA: 2021 (2016 FYPD) After reports of falling velocity toward the end of 2017, the former second round pick’s prospect stock was trending downward. Faced with a crossroads in his development, Akin met the call in 2018, leading Double-A Bowie’s staff in Innings, starts, and strikeouts, posting a 3.27/4.13/4.02 pitching slash, with a 25% strikeout rate. His velocity returned in 2018, sitting low-mid 90’s. He pairs his heater with an above average slider, and fringe-average changeup. His success versus right-handed batters, and ability to generate swings and misses (his 11.9% swinging strike rate was the second highest in the Eastern League among qualified pitchers) should set his floor at an above average middle relief arm. ETA: 2019
Three-pitch repertoire helped him miss plenty of bats in 2019.
Of all the pitchers in the top 10 of the Orioles list, Akin has possibly the widest range of outcomes. Is he a mid-rotation starter with three quality pitches who can rack up strikeouts or is he a swingman with command issues and the lack of sufficient secondary stuff? The answer to those questions might vary depending on whom you ask and the realistic potential is probably somewhere in between.
After leading the International League in strikeouts and an improved strikeout rate in 2019, he seems poised for a call-up sometime in 2020. While he doesn’t have a true plus pitch at this point, the slider is above average sitting in the low-80s with good movement. Like most pitchers on this list, the development of a serviceable changeup will certainly help his case but it’s the command that will ultimately determine how successful he is. He had an ugly 4.89 BB/9 last year which won’t play well in the hitter friendly AL East. If he can cut down on the walks he could be a back of the rotation starter.
Mick Abel PHI (2020 FYPD)
Daxton "Dax" Fulton MIA (2020 FYPD)
Tink Hence STL (2020 FYPD)
Dylan File MIL #17 Age 25 ETA: 2021 (2017 Draft) - File has been able to put himself on the radar as a prospect in a very short amount of time. After being a 21st round pick in 2017, File was added to the Brewers 40 man roster this winter. Reports indicate he added velocity in 2020, sitting more around 93-95 MPH on his fastball now instead of the 90-92 he was at before. The slider is his best offspeed pitch, and he also works in a curveball and changeup. File’s command is incredible and probably the best in this system allowing just a 1.72 BB/9 in his minors career. File had a 3.24 ERA across two levels in 2019, including a 2.79 ERA in 14 starts in Double-A. File has gotten better every year he’s been a professional and appears poised for a strong 2021 season with a good chance to make his major league debut and could be a back-end rotation option going forward.
Alec Bettinger MIL Age 25 ETA: 2021 (2017 Draft) - Bettinger also came out of almost nowhere as a 10th round pick in 2017 and turned himself into a budding prospect. Bettinger also has very good command and turned in a 3.44 ERA in 26 starts at Double-A in 2019 with just a 2.15 BB/9 and a 9.66 K/9. With a slightly more deceptive delivery than File’s, Bettinger has been able to get more strikeouts than File. Bettinger was a reliever in college, which makes his run of success as a starter in the minors a little surprising, but he could stick as a back-end starter going forward or work as a versatile reliever out of the bullpen in the big leagues. Look for him to get an opportunity in the big leagues in 2021.
Braden Webb MIL #18 Age 24 ETA: 2021 (2016 Draft) Webb had Tommy John his senior year in high school which made him draft eligible as a redshirt freshman in 2016, and the Brewers drafted Webb in the third round. Webb has three pitches that have all flashed plus, but the changeup lacks the consistency that the fastball and curveball have. The command is poor and needs improvement. It may push him to the bullpen long-term. He struggles to repeat his slightly unorthodox delivery. It starts off with a weight transfer and over the head motion that would fit in with the dead ball era, but he then stays compact and finishes with a high 3/4 slot. The stuff is loud and deserving of an important role on any staff. Unfortunately if the command doesn’t improve Webb will top out as a bullpen piece, but he tops out as a mid-rotation arm if he can improve. ETA: 2020.
Power right-hander with a plus fastball/curveball combination.
Webb reminds me of another power right-handed pitcher that currently calls Miller Park home: Brandon Woodruff. He doesn’t have the stuff that Woodruff has, but the physicality that he has in his 6-foot-3, 200 pound build and his power pitch mix reminds me of the current Brewers’ ace.
The 24-year-old Webb’s fastball/curveball combination is legit, as both grade out as above-average offerings. His fastball stis in the mid-90s with real life and there’s room for that velocity to improve. The curveball is impressive, as it’s an absolute hammer that is a true swing-and-miss pitch. Webb needs to improve his changeup overall in order to have a three pitch mix, but it could be really scary if that actually does happen.
This is a guy to keep your eyes on for both dynasty and prospect reasons given the lack of true talent in the Brewers’ starting rotation.
Yovanny Cruz CHC #20 Age 21 ETA: 2022 (2018 DD) The walk numbers in a short stint of 2019 don't reflect well on his ability to locate. He's not wild, but tends to bury pitches and miss when trying to clip corners. It was rare to see a pitch get away from him. Sinker heavy approach results in a lot of groundballs. Creates whiffs with a slider and changeup. Despite the velocity his best chance to make an impact is in a rotation with three potential average or better pitches.
Quentin Torres-Costa MIL #28 Age 24 (2015 Draft) Torres-Costa was a 35th round draft pick out of the University of Hawaii in 2014. The lefty comes at hitters with an almost sidearm delivery, and has posted strong strikeout numbers for the last two seasons. Torres-Costa likely would’ve pitched in Milwaukee last season but an elbow injury that will require Tommy John put an end to that. QTC also won’t pitch in 2019 due to the injury. He destroyed lefties last year as they hit a combined .167/.287/.202 line against him but he was somehow even tougher against righties as they hit a cumulative .133/.261/.143. The stuff isn’t nearly as eye-popping as the numbers though, as the fastball sits in the upper 80s and he pairs it with a sweeping slider. Torres-Costa will see Milwaukee late in 2020. ETA: 2020.
Justin Jarvis MIL #29 Age 19 (2018 Draft) The North Carolina prep product was the Brewers 5th round selection in this past June’s draft. The 6-foot-2 righty gets good sink on his 91-94 MPH fastball. His sweeping curveball is an above-average offering that flashes plus, and he has some feel for a changeup with depth. The command gets above-average grades, and there’s a chance the stuff ticks up when he adds weight to his 170 pound frame. Jarvis looks like a future big league starter. ETA: 2023
Cole Ragans LHP (TEX-A+) (2016 FYPD)
Nick Travieso (CIN-AA) (2016 Trade with White Sox)
Zack Trageton (TB-A) (2018 Trade with Rays)
Johan Dominguez CWS AA (2016 IFA)
Willy Ortiz (?) (2018 Trade with Rays)
Blake Bivens (?) (2018 Trade with Rays)
Tristan Archer (?) (2013 Draft)
Barrett Astin (?) 8 IP (2013 Draft)
Ryan Eades RHP (?) 11.1 IP
Drew Gagnon (?) 35.2 IP
RP-
Clayton Andrews MIL #27 Age 22 ETA: 2021 Left/left two-way prospect.
Andrews is one of the more interesting prospects in this system, given the fact that he’s 5-foot-6 and does it on both sides of the ball.
On the mound, Andrews works his fastball in the high-80s with two quality secondary offerings, including a potential plus changeup. He’s clearly more of a pitcher than a thrower, but he’s going to need complete refinement of both his off-speed pitches given the lack of fastball velocity.
Offensively, the 22-year-old demonstrates a quality hit tool with feel for his bat despite having literally no power at all. He’s athletic enough to stick in center field should he continue playing the field at the next level.
Nick Ramirez (SD-AAA) $0 (2024) (2011 Draft)
Jojanse Torres HOU AA (2015 IFA)
MJ Melendez KC #9 Age 22 ETA: 2023 (2017 FYPD) Melendez is a lock to stay behind the plate, and he projects out to be a plus defender that blocks well and controls the running game with his laser arm. There’s some work to do offensively, but his plus raw power and plus defensive skills give him the tools to be a MLB backup if the hit tool doesn’t come around. When you watch Melendez you notice it right away. He completely sells out for power. Take it away JP!
“Exudes leader vibe in interactions with teammates. Frame is starting to fill out. Looks significantly stronger than 2017 Instructs MJ Melendez. Still adroit and flexible behind home. Does not get cheated on his swings, appears to be deliberate choice to exchange strikeouts for hard contact. Utilizes leg kick early in counts and shortens stride with two strikes. Still swings hard in two-strike counts, though.”
Melendez will always be fantasy relevant as a backstop with 20-plus homer pop. ETA: 2021
Blessed with massive power upside and athleticism, Melendez’s huge strikeout problems could hold him back from reaching his potential
Back in July, I tweeted about MJ Melendez, and how a large blame for his struggles can be put on the harsh environment of Wilmington. I cited how his elite power was still present, his HR/FB% had plummeted, and even mentioned how in the weeks prior to that tweet he had been showing improvements in his approach. While “improvements” for Melendez meant his K% was still around 35 percent, any amount of improvement is a good thing for a young hitter, and I was hoping that brighter days were ahead. Unfortunately, Melendez didn’t end the season on a good note.
In the 27 games leading up to that tweet, Melendez had posted a .754 OPS. From that date until the end of the season, Melendez had a .499 OPS with a strikeout rate well above 40 percent. While in that time Melendez still experienced the hardships of Wilmington, and still displayed the plus raw power he possesses, you can’t blame a strikeout rate that high on bad luck. I still love Melendez’s power, and he’ll only be 21 for all of next year so he has plenty of time, but he’s going to need to make some improvements next year to keep warranting a ranking this high.
If he doesn’t put it all together offensively, Melendez still has a chance to be an asset on the defensive side. Melendez is very athletic for a catcher and is extremely nimble behind the plate. He also has an absolute cannon, which helped him throw out 60 percent of baserunners this year. Like his offense however, Melendez’s defense isn’t devoid of flaws. If he’s going to be an impact defender behind the plate, Melendez needs to improve in the technical aspects of catching; namely framing, blocking, and game-calling. While any young catcher could use work in these aspects, Melendez’s showings have called some to question his future behind the plate. I believe that working with Sebastian Rivero has helped Melendez build in these areas, and it should continue to as they move up together, but he’s certainly not guaranteed to fulfill his potential on the defensive end.
Josh Breaux NYY #10 Age 22 I know what you’re thinking…Breaux over Seigler? In essence, it boils down to the more polished power hitter. Breaux is a physical specimen at the plate. Yes, his swing gets long and there are some swing-and-miss concerns, but his power projection is his stand-out tool. He isn’t the athlete that Seigler is. But at this stage in their development, he is the better overall hitter. ETA: 2021
Mario Feliciano MIL #12 Age 21 ETA:2021 (2016 Draft) The Brewers took Feliciano with their pick in Competitive Balance Round B at 75 overall in the 2016 draft. Feliciano started 2018 in extended spring training and dealt with injuries all season and only had 165 plate appearances over 42 games. Feliciano is more talented than his career numbers indicate, and the batted ball numbers show more here. To put everything into context it’s important to note that the Brewers have pushed Feliciano aggressively through their system and that makes the tough offensive numbers easier to swallow. There’s plus raw power here, and a strong throwing arm and I feel like we’re waiting for the rest of the skills to catch up. There’s always an enormous amount of risk in prep catching prospects and Feliciano is no different. The fact that the Brewers keep aggressively pushing him up through their system speaks volumes about his makeup and how they believe he handles pitchers despite his raw defensive skills. The Brewers sent Feliciano to the AFL to get some much needed reps, but he was shut down due to right shoulder discomfort after just two games that ended up with him getting arthroscopic surgery. He’s expected to be ready for spring training. ETA: 2022.
Volatile catching prospect with a strong arm behind the plate.
The Brewers selected Feliciano in the Competitive Balance round of the 2016 MLB Draft from Puerto Rico. Milwaukee was impressed with his athleticism behind the dish and offensive upside, but injuries have plagued the 21 year old since making his professional debut.
When he is on the field, however, Feliciano has shown well at the plate. He’s shown barrel feel and the ability to barrel up the baseball on a consistent basis, but there’s some real swing-and-miss to his game that worries me for when he reaches the big leagues. He hasn’t really tapped into any of his raw power quite yet, but he’s still only 21 and is still maturing.
Defensively, Feliciano has shown quality actions behind the plate. He’s a quality receiver, frames the ball well, and comes out of the crouch quickly with an above-average arm. There isn’t many question marks as to how he’ll bode as a big league catcher, but he’s a virtual unknown in regards to his offensive profile. We don’t really know what kind of hitter he is going to be, or if he’ll even be able to have success against quality big league pitching. The potential is there, but so are the question marks.
Payton Henry MIL #17 Age 23 ETA: 2021 (2016 draft) The Brewers snagged Henry in the sixth round in what has turned into a strong 2016 draft. The prep backstop from Utah had a strong commitment to BYU and it was surprising that the Brewers were able to get him signed. The best tools here are the plus power and equally impressive throwing arm, and the other tools are beginning to take shape around them. Henry utilized all fields better than ever last year with a 38.5% pull rate and a 36.7 opposite field rate according to Fangraphs. He also improved his defensive game. He needs to make some adjustments at the plate though, as a quick look at his batted ball data shows a groundball-heavy approach, which will make it tough to tap into his raw power. Henry was actually a prep backstop taken in the same draft as Mario Feliciano despite being a year and a half older, so he needs to keep improving at every stop. ETA: 2022.
Defensive minded catcher with some power.
Henry is a relatively safe bet to be a backup catcher at the big league level that can hit for power. His hit tool lacks, and likely always will, but there is some raw power in his swing that is starting to translate into gameplay. There is some swing-and-miss to his game and he likely won’t ever hit for much contact at the next level.
Behind the plate is where Henry will make his money. He’s a quality defensive catcher with quality actions and a strong arm behind the dish. Teammates have praised Henry for his leadership behind the plate and he has the makings of a Major League defensive backstop.
Jeferson Quero MIL #18 Age 17 ETA 2024 (2019 IFA) A member of Venezuela’s Little League World Series team in 2015, Quero continued to improve in the subsequent years and was regarded by scouts as one of the better catching prospects in the 2019-20 international class. Intrigued by his potential to contribute on both sides of the ball, the Brewers signed Quero for $200,000 at the outset of the July 2 period.
Quero stands out most right now for his hitting ability, but he also has a chance to be a good defensive catcher. He has an advanced approach and makes a lot of hard, consistent contact for a young player, barreling the ball to all fields from the right side of the plate. He has good raw power that plays to his pull side right now, and it’s easy to envision Quero applying it to all fields as he gets stronger and matures as a hitter.
Defensively, Quero is an athletic backstop who already receives high marks for his receiving, blocking technique and feel for handling pitchers. His plus arm headlines an impressive catch-and-throw skillset that should allow him to combat the running game. The Brewers are eager to see how Quero’s advanced tools and skills translate in game action in 2020, when he will make his pro debut at age 18.
Mitch Ghelfi (MIL-A+)
Andres Melendez
1B -
Matt Thaiss LAA #9 Age 23 (2016 FYPD) He did it. Thaiss finally found a way to hit for more power. The former Virginia Cavalier was the Angels first rounder in 2016, and the Angels immediately removed him from behind the plate and moved him to first in an attempt to draw as much as possible out of the bat. He was able to up his flyball rate to around 41-42% without altering the plate approach too much. He did walk less, but the trade off is still one the Angels and Thaiss would make again and again. I don’t think Thaiss ever becomes a star, but a first baseman in the Mitch Moreland mold is a realistic outcome here. A valuable asset through his controllable seasons. Thaiss should see Anaheim sometime in 2019. ETA: 2019.
Thomas Dillard MIL #25 Age 22 ETA: 2022 (2019 Draft) Switch-hitting corner outfielder with real power potential.
Dillard was a recent draftee by the Brewers in this past draft and is a relatively impressive prospect from a power standpoint. He has legit raw power and can do some real damage at the plate when he runs into one. The overall hit tool isn’t anything to go crazy about, but his power can’t be ignored.
The problem with Dillard is where to play him on the field. He’s currently an outfielder right now, but the athletic profile suggests that he’s going to eventually move to either first base or a DH role. The Brewers have also experimented with using him behind the dish, where he saw some action in high school.
2B -
Nate Orf OAK AAA
SS -
Alika Williams TB (2020 FYPD)
Eduardo Garcia MIL #8 Age 17 ETA: 2024 (2019 IFA) The Brewers couldn’t sign Garcia on the July 2 signing date because he was only 15, and you can’t sign an International Free Agent until they turn 16, which he did eight days later. The Brewers gave Garcia $1.1 million, and early returns from instructs make that sound like a good deal so far. Garcia was regarded as one of the slickest defenders at the six in this class, and has the hands, range, arm and footwork to be a plus defender there in the big leagues. He needs to add strength and is far from a finished product physically, but there’s a lot to like here. To put it into context, if Garcia was in high school right now he wouldn’t be draft eligible until 2020, and he still wouldn’t even be 18-years old. It feels aggressive putting such a young player here, but when you know, you know. ETA: 2024.
Quality defensive shortstop with some pop at the plate.
Garcia was one of the youngest players in his international class and signed with the Brewers for $1.1 million the day he turned 16 years old. He has a fantastic frame, standing at 6-foot-2 and only 160 pounds as a 17-year-old kid.
There’s clear room for him to physically mature and add more to that build, which means there’s likely more power and durability to come as we continue to see him grow. Garcia has sound hitting mechanics for a 17-year-old and his swing shouldn’t have an issue translating to the minor league ranks. He projects as a more contact oriented player at the current moment, but there will always be that power potential until he fully matures.
Garcia was well regarded as one of the premiere defensive shortstops in his international class, and rightfully so. He’s well advanced with his glove for his age and has all the necessary tools to stick at shortstop in the long run. He will likely always be a glove first, bat second guy, but the ability to defend at a high level at an up-the-middle position gives him a fairly good chance of reaching the big leagues.
Hayden Cantrelle MIL Age 22 (2020 Draft) - A switch-hitter, Cantrelle was the Crew’s 5th round pick in 2020 and he has an intriguing blend of tools. In independent ball in 2020, Cantrelle put up a solid .264/.393/.345 slash line and then played well at Instructional League in the fall. Cantrelle profiles as a leadoff hitter, spraying the ball all over the field, hitting for a high average, possessing plus-speed, also with some sneaky pop. Historically, Cantrelle has gotten off to slow starts at the plate, hitting below .200 for the first month of the season each year of his college career. Right around the time he normally gets on a hot streak, the season shut down in 2020, leaving him with a .136 average his Junior year. That dropped him to the 5th round, but he’s much more talented than that and should outplay his draft position long-term.
Chris Seise TEX #26 Age 21 ETA: 2022 (2017 FYPD) The Rangers drafted Seise 29th overall in 2017. He was sent to the short season Northwest League and performed ok but not great. Last March a shoulder injury necessitated rotator cuff surgery, and his recovery sidelined him for entirety of 2018. Seise drew disparate reviews on his defense, ranging anywhere from above average to below average. There is more of a consensus opinion on his bat, which features easy loft and power projection. The 6’2” frame 175 lb frame looks primed for more muscle. He has loose hands, a fluid swing and uses his lower half well. From all accounts Seise has a shot to play every day, but the injury history and limited track record of performance make him somewhat of a risky proposition.
Shortstop with a deep pool of tools has been sidelined with injury issues.
Chris Seise was the Rangers’ first round selection in the 2017 draft. They landed on Seise as he was a prep shortstop who was likely to stick at the six and displayed some electric athletic tools.
Seise did not play in 2018 due to rotator cuff surgery. In 2019, he only pieced together 92 plate appearances before missing the remainder of the season due to a torn labrum in his left shoulder. In his time at A-Full Hickory, the tools were loud and the plate approach was rough (32.6 K-BB%).
Assuming the shoulder heals, he’s still only just now turning 21 years old, putting him on par with most college bats in this summer’s draft. Hopefully he gets a full season of full health and torches the South Atlantic League to start the year off, giving us a glimpse of that first round promise.
Zack Short CHC #15 Age 24 ETA: 2020 (2017 DD) The Cubs system has a few guys who project to be super utility types and Zack Short is probably the best of the bunch. He can hold it down at…..short……and was voted best defensive…..short……stop in the Southern League according to a Baseball America industry survey last August. Offensively, he has a very disciplined, patient approach and walks at a high rate. In fact, he walked more than he struck out in his first two pro seasons. In 2018 his strikeout rate spiked to 26%, a full 8% higher than 2017. Also noteworthy, he lead qualified AA hitters with a 54.9% FB rate. He is trending in the direction of a three true outcome type guy, but the power/hit tools will likely not be good enough to play every day. Think super utility guy who fills in three our four times a week at different positions.
Utility future awaits elite glove guy with potential fixable offensive flaw
Many in the Cubs organization believe that Short is the best defender in the system, and some have compared him to the Cardinals’ Paul DeJong with a straight face when talking about his potential. While he may have potential to get to that level, Short has some serious work to do.
Currently, Short at the plate is incredibly pull-happy. He does pack more power into his sub-200 pound frame than one would believe. Yet, he attempts to pull the ball so much that he gets his lower half out of position, especially on breaking stuff. In 2019, he pulled more than 50 percent of his balls in play in Triple-A, but that has led to a significant infield fly ball rate. Short does have a good eye, as evidenced by his consistent double-digit walk rates, so he could see some major changes if he could work over his swing.
The glove is certainly elite and works well around the infield. He also has above-average speed, though he rarely takes off to steal a base, so that is something that could show up in his game more along the way as well.
Shay Whitcomb HOU Age: 22 (2020 DD)
Blake Allemand (?)
Luis Aviles Jr (LAA-AAA)
3B -
Jesus Parra MIL Age 18 (2018 IFA) - Parra is one of the few corner infield prospects the Brewers have in this system, although he is several years away from the big leagues. Parra has plenty of raw power that he’s already shown some ability to tap into with six homers and 15 doubles in 65 games in the 2019 DSL season. He does have a little bit of a strikeout issue and may not hit for a super high average, but his power profile and strong arm make him a solid candidate to stick at third base going forward. He should be ready for Rookie ball in Arizona in 2021 and could possibly make the jump to Low-A.
Casey Schmitt SF (2020 FYPD)
Weston Wilson (MIL-AA) (2016 Draft)
OF -
Hedbert Perez MIL #9 Age 17 (2019 IFA) The son of Robert Perez, an outfielder who played six Major League seasons (1994-2001) with five different teams, Hedbert Perez received the second-highest bonus ($700,000) among players signed by Milwaukee during the 2019-20 international period after he impressed scouts with his athleticism, tools and advanced feel for the game as a Venezuelan amateur. The Brewers brought him to Miller Park for batting practice after he signed, and Perez made the most of the opportunity by hitting some long, big league-esque home runs before opening even more eyes during instructional league.
Across-the-board tools highlight Perez’s impressive profile and fuel his impact potential on both sides of the ball. One of the better pure hitters in his class, Perez has a pretty swing for a player his age, combining bat speed and feel for the barrel with a quick, compact left-handed stroke. Those qualities, along with his discerning eye, have led scouts to project Perez as a future above-average hitter, and the fact that he already shows above-average raw power as a teenager makes it easy to dream on his offensive ceiling.
More than just a promising young hitter, Perez has the potential to remain in center field long term with his blend of athleticism, plus speed and range, and it certainly doesn’t hurt that he also has great instincts and gets good jumps. His accurate, above-average arm is a weapon up the middle and qualifies him to play either outfield corner. Overall, Perez has one of the highest ceilings in the Brewers’ system and should offer a glimpse of that potential when makes his highly anticipated debut in 2020.
Austin Beck OAK #4 Age 20 (2017 FYPD) Some context is needed when evaluating Beck’s 2018 season. The A’s had him make pretty significant alterations to his swing involving quieting his hands and eliminating his leg kick, which our own Lance Brozdowski broke down here. The goal was to get Beck to make more contact, and then they can re-introduce the leg kick later on to generate more power. The early results were positive as the strikeout rate dropped from 29% to 22% and his contact rate improved from 66% to 76%. The plus bat speed is still there, but the plus speed doesn’t play on the base paths as he’s only 15-for-22 in his career. The plus speed and plus arm do play in centerfield though and he projects as a plus defender there. Look for Beck to repeat Low-A in 2019. ETA: 2023.
Griffin Conine TOR #17 Age 22 ETA: 2022 (2018 FYPD) The son of former All-Star Jeff Conine, the Jays selected Griffin in the 2nd round of the 2018 MLB draft. He has strong athletic build. Swinging from the left side, Conine looks to launch everything. That leads to a long swing at times and a lot of swing and miss in his game. The power projection is there. He grades at 55 game power. His lack of a hit tool will limit his game power though. ETA: 2021
Power over hit corner outfield prototype coming off a rebound season in 2019.
The Blue Jays love their MLB bloodlines and Conine, their 2018 second rounder, is the next in line to feed Toronto’s legacy fetish. A player of some pedigree as not only the son of former MLB All-Star Jeff Conine, but also a former standout for Duke. He broke out over the summer of 2017, pacing the Cape Cod League circuit in homers, showing off impressive power in the historically power-starved environments of the Cape.
Riding the high of the CCBL breakout, Conine’s spring was tumultuous as he struggled with strikeouts, lending credence to lingering hit tool concerns. Toronto however was not deterred as they plucked Conine in the second round and paid him $1.35 million.
Conine appeared in two rookie leagues games out of the draft before he was assigned to Toronto’s short season affiliate in Vancouver. Over 55 games Conine put up a league average line, flashing his prodigious power, and worrisome swing and miss. Things got off to a sour note in 2019 as he tested positive for Ridilin and served a 50 game suspension to begin the season.
Assigned to the Midwest League in the final days of May, Conine hit well through three months of action producing strong power numbers. The production was once again marred by concerning strikeout rates. Even beyond his 35%+ K-rate, Conine’s 20.8 SwStr% was the worst among Lansing batters with 300 PAs or more despite being on the older end of competition.
Many saw the slashline and joined the gravy train, but I’d caution against overzealous reactions. Advanced college players with big conference experience don’t typically spend the first full season post draft in low-A ball unless there are serious concerns. Conine’s power is easy plus with the ability to drive pitches to any part of the ballpark. His splits are fine from a power standpoint, though his approach is noticeably worse against lefthanders. Overall a future 40 hit/60 power bat seems realistic.
At the moment a 30 hit tool grade might be generous, but his quality of contact and his strong batted ball profile leave hope for the optimist in me. Conine is adequate in either corner with a strong throwing arm, his bat and defensive profile fit in right field long term and he reads the ball off the bat well enough to compensate for below average foot speed. Likely a second division regular peak, but there’s a shot he only develops into a platoon corner outfield bat. Not a profile in high demand these days.
Carlos Rodriguez MIL #17 Age 18 ETA: 2022 (2017 IFA) The Brewers grabbed Rodriguez during the 2017 J2 period by signing him for $1.355 million. Rodriguez is a left-handed slap hitter without much power or the ability to drive the ball. He’s an ultra-aggressive hitter whose game is putting the ball in play, and he takes full advantage of his plus-plus wheels. Rodriguez projects as a plus defender in center. He’s a fourth outfielder for me unless he adds strength or learns to drive the ball more. ETA: 2023.
Contact oriented outfielder with real athleticism.
Rodriguez signed with the Brewers for $1.35 million despite him not being a highly ranked prospect in his international class. That being said, he does have some fairly interesting skills with big time potential.
Rodriguez is only 18 years old, but his short, compact swing consistently makes contact with the baseball and he could potentially have a 55-grade hit tool as he continues to progress. His calling card is his speed/defense combination, however, as Rodriguez is both a plus runner and defender. He’s going to stick in center field moving forward and should excel there.
He’s an interesting prospect because of his plus speed and defensive value. If the hit tool comes around, however, we’re talking about a kid that can hit at a fairly high rate with great speed and strong defense at a position of need. Given that potential, he’s certainly someone to keep an eye out for.
Lewis Medina MIL #12 Age 16 ETA: 2024 (2019 IFA) Left/left power prospect with an intriguing frame.
Medina was a signee of the Brewers in this recent draft class, signing for $1.3 million out of Venezuela with the club. He was one of the top outfield prospects available in this recent J2 market.
Medina stands at 6-foot-2 and roughly 170 pounds as a 16-year-old kid. He has so much room to grow and develop that it’s actually really intriguing to imagine what he’ll look like in a few years. The more he matures, the more power he’ll add to an already impressive raw power tool. He has a pretty swing that creates elevation and drives the ball to all fields, making him a legit power threat.
Defensively, Medina profiles best as a corner outfielder that won’t blow you away with his glove, but should get the job done. He’s relatively raw from a prospect standpoint, but we need to see more from him to get a better evaluation.
Eduarqui Fernandez MIL #13 Age 18 ETA: 2024 (2018 IFA) The Brewers signed Fernandez for $1.1 million this past July. At 6-foot-2, 176 pounds, Fernandez has a nice projectable frame and even if he adds weight like I expect him to, he should still be agile enough to play center. Fernandez drew compliments for his ability to make hard contact consistently during the showcase circuit. It’s a potential plus power tool to go along with an average hit tool with above average speed and arm strength. He’s worth a late flier in your FYPD for dynasty leagues. ETA: 2024.
Toolsy outfielder with big time potential
Fernandez signed with the Brewers in the 2018 J2 market for a little bit more than a million dollars out of Venezuela. Fernandez boasts a fairly projectable frame for an 18-year-old, standing at an athletic 6-foot-2 and roughly 175 pounds.
The biggest thing that stands out to me when evaluating Fernandez are his tools. He projects to be average both in his hit tool and power, but his aggressiveness at the plate means he could eventually become an above-average power hitter. He’s shown a plus run tool and profiles as a legit threat to swipe a bag when he reaches base. This also aids him in the outfield, as he’ll likely be a center fielder in the long run given his athleticism and ability to play the position well.
Fernandez is a toolsy kid with legit potential, but there’s always risk with 18-year-old kids which makes him difficult to predict. He could certainly be a contributing everyday outfielder if he clicks, but the likelihood of that happening isn’t higher than the possibility that it doesn’t. Expect him to likely be a competitive fourth outfielder for a quality playoff team.
Micah Bello MIL #16 Age 19 ETA: 2022 (2018 Draft) Contact oriented, athletic outfielder.
The Brewers drafted Bello in the second round of the 2018 draft and added another prospect from their burgeoning Hawaiian pipeline. Bello has average tools across the board with the hit tool, speed and power. He’s a tick better defensively with an above-average arm, but he should add some weight to his athletic frame which could dramatically alter the skill set. At 6-foot, 165 pounds Bello is a bit on the smaller side, but the body has some room for his “man muscles.” Bello works out with big-leaguer Kolten Wong in the offseason, and hopefully he can add strength and jump the power and speed tools up a grade. He has good instincts and a strong eye at the plate, so the foundation is here. ETA: 2022
Bello being this low on my list is solely because of the fact that he’s 19 years old and prospects like this tend to be more volatile. The skill set, however, is impressive and could play at the big league level.
Bello swings a quick, simple bat that just makes contact with the baseball to all fields. His bat-to-ball skills and quality approach at the plate give him an above-average hit tool, in my opinion, but the power just doesn’t seem like it’s ever going to be there. Bello’s run tool is also worth noting, as he is an above-average runner that can swipe bags and cover some serious ground in the outfield.
He’s athletic and has a strong enough arm to stick in center field moving forward, which is actually the best for Bello. Corner outfielders tend to hit for more power at the next level and that’s something that Bello isn’t going to do. He’s certainly an interesting prospect that I think could improve his prospect status next season.
Hudson Haskin BAL #16 Age 22 ETA: 2024 (2020 FYPD)
Nelson Velazquez CHC #19 Age 21 ETA: 2022 (trade with Pirates, 2020) Former overslot draftee has struggled to develop eye at the plate, but legit power still remains.
Drafted as an elite raw athlete with double plus raw power and plus raw speed, Velazquez became a darling of many Cubs backers who wanted to believe in the tools. However, he’s struggled to develop the most important tool of all- his hit tool.
He’s still an above-average runner as he’s filled out some, but he’s yet to get beyond Low-A at this point. The defense is still very impressive at a corner with a big arm, but he’s still raw in his reads and jumps on balls.
The aggressive approach Velazquez uses can still find success at times, as seen in his .286 batting average in the Midwest League in 2019. However, to have success up the ladder, he will need to work counts and develop his zone judgement in order to access the impressive raw power he has.
Pablo Abreu MIL #21 Age 20 ETA: 2022 (2016 IFA) Abreu is yet another projectable athletic outfielder in a system full of them. He was an $800,000 signing out of the Dominican Republic in 2016. His above-average bat speed stands out, but it’s necessary due to the long swing. Abreu has the skills to stick in center long-term but won’t stand out like several others in the organization so he fits best on a corner. Like many athletes in this system there’s extreme risk attached to this profile because if the hit tool doesn’t develop he won’t be able to tap into the rest of his above-average skill set. ETA: 2023.
Athletic outfielder with a strong arm.
Abreu is signed with the Brewers as an international signee in the 2016 J2 signing period as a 16-year-old kid with average or better tools across the board.
The hit tool isn’t necessarily there yet, but he’s made strides at the plate in terms of his plate recognition and feel for the strike zone. He has a visible approach when he gets up to bat and is actually really good at working deep into counts. The power is more advanced at the current moment and there still may be more to desire given his ongoing maturity.
Abreu is an impressive athlete with an above-average run tool and arm. He’s currently a center fielder, but as he matures, I think it’s more than likely we see him make a move over to right field given his arm strength.
Larry Ernesto MIL #22 Age 19 ETA: 2022 (2017 IFA) The Brewers gave the switch-hitting teenager $1.8 million to sign as part of their 2017 J2 class. Ernesto brings plus raw power to the table, but an immature hit tool and undeveloped plate approach stand in the way here. Like many other athletes in the system Ernesto could stick in center long-term, but this organization is ripe with athletes and he will likely be a better fit on the corner, and his average arm makes him a potential right field fit. Every other tool has a chance to project out as average, but the hit tool needs the most work right now. ETA: 2024
Je'Von Ward MIL #23 Age 18 The Brewers grabbed Ward in the 12th round of the 2017 draft. It often takes taller, long-limbed baseball players time to figure it out, and I’m not saying Ward has it all figured out yet, but 2018 was a very encouraging year for him. At 6-foot-5, 190 pounds Ward doesn’t have the traditional baseball player body, but the frame and skills make him an interesting lotto ticket. Ward has strong foundational skills with the walk and strikeout rates, and those aren’t numbers you normally associate with long-limbed athletes that are this raw. He’s an above-average runner with potential plus raw power, but the speed likely drops closer to average as he adds strength and mass. There’s some significant emerging power here. If he can figure out how to tap into this power more consistently watch out. It will be a slow rise through the system, but Ward is an interesting prospect. ETA: 2023.
Athletic switch-hitting outfielder with some true power.
Ernesto was arguably the most coveted Brewers’ prospect in the 2017 J2 class, signing for nearly $2 million from the Dominican Republic. He’s an athletic 6-foot-2 with some clear projectability in his build.
He showed well in his professional debut, putting up some quality numbers, but there are some concerns at the plate. Ernesto is a switch hitter, which is obviously a valuable thing, but he’s way too aggressive offensively and doesn’t have a quality recognition of the strike zone. There is legit swing-and-miss concerns here from a 19-year-old kid who has all the makings of a free swinger.
Ernesto runs well and is a quality athlete that could potentially stick in center field moving forward. He’s young and still makes some mistakes from a pure defensive standpoint, but he’s going to play out of that as he develops. He is a high-risk, high-reward type of prospect.
Korry Howell MIL #23 Age 21 ETA: 2022 (2018 Draft) Raw offensive profile with game changing speed.
Howell was a shot-in-the-dark 12th round pick by the Brewers in the 2018 MLB Draft and really only has one impressive tool. He is a plus-plus runner that can has legit game changing speed both in the field and every time he puts the ball in play.
Outside of that, however, he’s really raw as an overall prospect and is going to take some major development from the Brewers to ever be something. His hit tool lacks, there isn’t much power, and his defensive actions at shortstop are questionable.
Garrett Whitley TB #18 Age 21 (2015 FYPD) Whitley missed all of 2018 recovering from a torn labrum. When he is going good, he is a dynamic athlete and a patient hitter. The hit tool is plagued with swing and miss which limits his ceiling to a fourth outfielder, quad-A type. ETA: 2021
Je'Von Ward MIL #28 Age 20 ETA: 2021 (2017 Draft) Athletic outfielder with an impressive frame.
From an athletic standpoint, Ward is essentially a modern day scout’s dream. He’s 6-foot-5 and only 190 pounds with plenty of room to mature and grow into this build. He’s an above-average runner that gets to first base quickly from the left side of the batter’s box.
Ward struggles to elevate the ball offensively, as nearly 70 percent of the balls he put in play this season were hit into the ground. That doesn’t play in the modern day big leagues and it won’t play as he continues to progress through the minors, so he needs to start elevating the baseball on a more consistent basis.
He’s set for a corner spot moving forward, with the athleticism to play center field but the instincts and defensive profile have him set for a corner spot.
Troy Stokes Jr. DET #30 Age 24 ETA: 2020 (2014 Draft) Stokes narrowly missed his second straight 20/20 season as he compiled 19 homers and 19 stolen bags in Double-A in 2018. Stokes has transformed himself since the Brewers used their fourth round pick in the 2014 draft on this kid from Baltimore. He began hitting for more power in 2017 when he hit 20 homers despite coming into the year with only nine to his name. The heavy pull/fly-ball approach has caused the strikeout rate to head the wrong direction and also ensures that he won’t be much of a batting average asset, but the change has been an important one for Stokes prospect status. As a speed only player that’s limited to left due to an almost unplayable throwing arm, he needed to make a change. Stokes now has a future as a second division regular in left for a big league club where he can hit 20-25 homers and steal 15-20 bags due to his above-average speed. Much better fantasy player than a traditional one. He’s put himself in position to potentially get a late season call-up if needed. ETA: 2019.
Athletic power/speed combo with a tendency to pull the ball.
After nearly posting two straight 20/20 seasons in the minors, Stokes Jr. took a big statistical step back once he hit Triple A, with nine homers and 14 steals in the PCL. The Brewers had to make room for some pitching to return, so after a down year Stokes Jr. was DFA’d in September and the Tigers claimed him.
The speed with Stokes Jr. is obvious, in fact, that’s what got him drafted in the first place, but the power is what developed as he progressed. That pop is going to be limited by a below average hit tool. There is a lot of movement pre-swing that at times seems to hinder his ability to stay on time. His tendency to pull the ball is going to keep his batting average down, but he has displayed a good eye at the plate. The strikeouts took a small step forward in the PCL, but that will always be a part of his game.
Stokes Jr. doesn’t have the arm to play anywhere except for left field. He does a good job of using his speed to cover ground though so he can become a second division regular at the position. The 20/20 ceiling is what the Tigers are hoping to re-capture with Stokes Jr. in their farm system. Realistically, his hit tool will likely hold him to a fourth outfielder role.
Wes Rogers MIL (2014 FYPD)
Michael Reed (?) 43 AB
Stephen Wrenn (HOU A+) (2016 DD)
SP -
Simeon Woods-Richardson TOR #5 Age 19 ETA: 2022 (2018 FYPD) Woods-Richardson is an uber athletic righty who touched 97 in his pro-debut. He usually sits low 90’s with the fastball, and his curveball is an absolute hammer that flashes 12-6 with good shape and bite. The key to his remaining a starter will be developing his change-up. Woods-Richardson throws from a high 3/4 slot and gets good downhill plane. There is a ton of projection left so it will be fun to see how he develops. ETA: 2023
A prototypical starting pitching prospect with an exciting pitch mix.
Acquired from the New York Mets in July along with lefthander Anthony Kay in exchange for Macrus Stroman, SWR had a breakout 2019 campaign as he impressed during a six game stint in the Florida State League.
A University of Texas commit out of high school, Richardson struggled his senior year as his velocity dipped below the mid-90s he flashed on the previous summer’s showcase circuit. Despite the red flags the Mets liked Richardson enough to take him in the second round and pay him above slot. Thus far it’s looked to be a wise pick, the trade to the Jays may prove otherwise.
A tall, athletic, broad shouldered frame, Woods-Richardson has the ideal pitcher’s build. He gets excellent extension and hip shoulder separation in his very repeatable delivery. There’s some effort but it’s more a product of explosiveness versus unnatural movement.
His pitch mix features two variations of his fastball, a curveball, and a changeup. Each fastball pairs with a secondary giving him an easy plan of attack against batters of each handedness. His four-seam fastball tunnels with his 12-6 curveball, as its backspin causes rise and life, making it deadly when paired with his bender. Conversely his two-seam and its armside run pair well with his changeup, which shows similar movement. The 2-seam+changeup sequence gives Woods-Richardson a natural plan of attack against lefthanders, and the results showed in his final six starts with Dunedin, where he allowed just 7 hits to lefties.
In summary, Woods-Richardson repeats his mechanics, flashes above average stuff, throws strikes and possesses a starters build. This gives him a pretty safe floor as a starter with room to grow into more than his mid-rotation realistic grade.
Cole Winn TEX #6 Age 20 ETA: 2022 (2018 FYPD) The pitch mix starts with the fastball. In a scrimmage vs ASU this fall it was low 90s, touching 94, and the pitch reportedly touched 96 in the spring. Winn has the ability to operate it up in the zone where it can generate swing and miss largely due to high spin rates. I checked the Trackman data after NHSI and saw it maxed out at 2660 RPM, placing him in elite company. There are three fastball variants: straight 4 seam, a 2 seam, and a cutter. With added weight, it is not unreasonable to expect another tick or two on the pitch. The curve is his best secondary with sharp spin and 11 to 5 shape. The FB and CB both project to plus. While less consistent, the changeup also flashed 55 this fall. The slider could play to average. I love the depth of his arsenal and Winn’s present feel for it, especially considering his age.
Overall, he could projects to be a #2-#3 starter and 200 innings a year guy. Considering the changing roles of pitchers in today’s game, pitchers with a legitimate chance to stick as a starter gain more value. Winn falls into that category, which is a large part of why he falls #1 on this list. The Rangers’ decision to not pitch Winn following the draft may allow for a narrow buy-low opportunity in fantasy leagues. I expect him to start in Hickory and excel there. He is very polished for his age and could be a fast mover.
One of the nicest deliveries in the minors, Winn needs to start stringing together some results in 2020.
You see the build and the smooth delivery and it’s easy to understand why Winn was so highly touted coming into the 2018 draft out of high school. The arsenal is there too. His fastball sits in the band around 95 mph and can touch higher. It spins well (2350 rpm according to FanGraphs) and he can generate whiffs with it. His curveball is a present plus “true curve”, generating foolishness from hitters. It pairs with the 4-seamer really well. Then he also throws a changeup that can be at least average when it’s on, and he throws it with about 10 mph separation from the fastball.
The results didn’t follow in Winn’s first trip to full season ball in 2019. He posted a 83 ERA+ in his 18 starts, 17 percent below the league average. He limited hard contact well. Hitters only managed a .288 batting average against, a 285 foot average flyball distance, and he produced a 47.6 GB%. This is all good, but the flip side is that Winn had a hard time hitting the zone, and when he did, he left a lot of pitches over the heart of the plate. His 67 BB%+ was tied for 21st worst in the South Atlantic League last season.
2020 will bring his command and control into sharper focus. The tools are there; it’s one of the nicest deliveries in the lower levels and he repeats well. It’s now his “age 20″ season. Will the results follow?
Zack Brown MIL #4 Age 24 ETA: 2020 (2016 Draft) Brown was the Brewers fifth round selection out of the University of Kentucky in the 2016 draft. Productive at every stop, the six-foot-one righty now finds himself on the cusp of the big leagues due to his ability to fill up the strike zone with his three pitch mix. The best pitch here is the curveball, which has emerged since turning pro. He he has an average changeup and a two-seamer that gets ground balls to go with his 92-94 MPH fastball. It’s not hard to see the Brewers breaking Brown into the majors much in the same was as they have with arms like Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff and using him as a multi-inning reliever initially. While he doesn’t have the upside of the two previous arms, Brown should settle in as a number four starter in Milwaukee in as soon as two years after getting his feet wet in the bullpen. ETA: 2019.
Quirky right-hander with a plus curveball.
Brown is an interesting prospect in his own right simply because he’s ranked fairly highly in this team’s farm system, but wasn’t protected by the Brewers from the Rule 5 draft. It’s very possible that in the coming weeks, Brown finds himself on the big league roster of another team.
Regardless of the team, Brown is a quality pitching prospect with some promising offerings. His fastball works between 92-95 mph with natural sinking action that works down in the zone to induce ground balls. His best, and go-to, pitch is a plus curveball that he’ll use to put hitters away. Brown also showed some promise in a changeup with natural downward actions that plays well off his fastball.
Brown did show some command issues in 2019 and his quirky delivery doesn’t make me feel good about him improving that. He does have the potential for three above-average pitches if that changeup develops, however, which would clearly give him starter upside. If not, Brown’s fastball/curveball combo would make him a lethal weapon at the back-end of a bullpen.
Aaron Ashby MIL #4 Age 21 ETA: 2021 (2018 Draft) Ashby was the top JUCO arm in the 2018 draft class and the Brewers gave him $438,300 to get him to forego a commitment to the University of Tennessee. The nephew of former big leaguer Andy Ashby, the lefty found an extra tick on the radar gun with the Brewers and now bumps the fastball up to 94 MPH. He also throws two breaking balls and a changeup. The curveball is the best pitch and it gets plus grades. His seven start stint in the Midwest League was dominant with over 11 K/9 and a walk rate around 2 per nine. Ashby was the talk amongst the scouts at a few of the different games I went to, and his performance warranted it. The Brewers might have something here. ETA: 2022.
Deceptive left-hander with a legit swing-and-miss curveball.
Ashby was selected by the Brewers in the fourth round of the 2018 MLB Draft from the JUCO ranks, where he was arguably the best pitcher in the nation for Division I JUCO.
Ashby’s calling card is a soul-stealing 65-grade curveball that could easily be one of the best curveballs across Minor League baseball. It’s a legit swing-and-miss pitch that he can throw whenever he wants and will play at the big league level against any type of competition. His fastball will work anywhere between 90-93 mph and can reach upwards of 96 mph from the left side. Ashby showed improvements in his changeup this past season, which would give him three big league caliber pitches.
Ashby works from the third base side of the rubber and creates deception with a funky delivery. He’s athletic enough to repeat it consistently, however, and it does give hitters some trouble, making him that much more effective. I truly think he has middle-of-the-rotation upside, but it’s more likely that we see him working in the back-end of a rotation like a Joey Lucchesi type.
Keegan Akin BAL #10 Age 24 ETA: 2021 (2016 FYPD) After reports of falling velocity toward the end of 2017, the former second round pick’s prospect stock was trending downward. Faced with a crossroads in his development, Akin met the call in 2018, leading Double-A Bowie’s staff in Innings, starts, and strikeouts, posting a 3.27/4.13/4.02 pitching slash, with a 25% strikeout rate. His velocity returned in 2018, sitting low-mid 90’s. He pairs his heater with an above average slider, and fringe-average changeup. His success versus right-handed batters, and ability to generate swings and misses (his 11.9% swinging strike rate was the second highest in the Eastern League among qualified pitchers) should set his floor at an above average middle relief arm. ETA: 2019
Three-pitch repertoire helped him miss plenty of bats in 2019.
Of all the pitchers in the top 10 of the Orioles list, Akin has possibly the widest range of outcomes. Is he a mid-rotation starter with three quality pitches who can rack up strikeouts or is he a swingman with command issues and the lack of sufficient secondary stuff? The answer to those questions might vary depending on whom you ask and the realistic potential is probably somewhere in between.
After leading the International League in strikeouts and an improved strikeout rate in 2019, he seems poised for a call-up sometime in 2020. While he doesn’t have a true plus pitch at this point, the slider is above average sitting in the low-80s with good movement. Like most pitchers on this list, the development of a serviceable changeup will certainly help his case but it’s the command that will ultimately determine how successful he is. He had an ugly 4.89 BB/9 last year which won’t play well in the hitter friendly AL East. If he can cut down on the walks he could be a back of the rotation starter.
Mick Abel PHI (2020 FYPD)
Daxton "Dax" Fulton MIA (2020 FYPD)
Tink Hence STL (2020 FYPD)
Dylan File MIL #17 Age 25 ETA: 2021 (2017 Draft) - File has been able to put himself on the radar as a prospect in a very short amount of time. After being a 21st round pick in 2017, File was added to the Brewers 40 man roster this winter. Reports indicate he added velocity in 2020, sitting more around 93-95 MPH on his fastball now instead of the 90-92 he was at before. The slider is his best offspeed pitch, and he also works in a curveball and changeup. File’s command is incredible and probably the best in this system allowing just a 1.72 BB/9 in his minors career. File had a 3.24 ERA across two levels in 2019, including a 2.79 ERA in 14 starts in Double-A. File has gotten better every year he’s been a professional and appears poised for a strong 2021 season with a good chance to make his major league debut and could be a back-end rotation option going forward.
Alec Bettinger MIL Age 25 ETA: 2021 (2017 Draft) - Bettinger also came out of almost nowhere as a 10th round pick in 2017 and turned himself into a budding prospect. Bettinger also has very good command and turned in a 3.44 ERA in 26 starts at Double-A in 2019 with just a 2.15 BB/9 and a 9.66 K/9. With a slightly more deceptive delivery than File’s, Bettinger has been able to get more strikeouts than File. Bettinger was a reliever in college, which makes his run of success as a starter in the minors a little surprising, but he could stick as a back-end starter going forward or work as a versatile reliever out of the bullpen in the big leagues. Look for him to get an opportunity in the big leagues in 2021.
Braden Webb MIL #18 Age 24 ETA: 2021 (2016 Draft) Webb had Tommy John his senior year in high school which made him draft eligible as a redshirt freshman in 2016, and the Brewers drafted Webb in the third round. Webb has three pitches that have all flashed plus, but the changeup lacks the consistency that the fastball and curveball have. The command is poor and needs improvement. It may push him to the bullpen long-term. He struggles to repeat his slightly unorthodox delivery. It starts off with a weight transfer and over the head motion that would fit in with the dead ball era, but he then stays compact and finishes with a high 3/4 slot. The stuff is loud and deserving of an important role on any staff. Unfortunately if the command doesn’t improve Webb will top out as a bullpen piece, but he tops out as a mid-rotation arm if he can improve. ETA: 2020.
Power right-hander with a plus fastball/curveball combination.
Webb reminds me of another power right-handed pitcher that currently calls Miller Park home: Brandon Woodruff. He doesn’t have the stuff that Woodruff has, but the physicality that he has in his 6-foot-3, 200 pound build and his power pitch mix reminds me of the current Brewers’ ace.
The 24-year-old Webb’s fastball/curveball combination is legit, as both grade out as above-average offerings. His fastball stis in the mid-90s with real life and there’s room for that velocity to improve. The curveball is impressive, as it’s an absolute hammer that is a true swing-and-miss pitch. Webb needs to improve his changeup overall in order to have a three pitch mix, but it could be really scary if that actually does happen.
This is a guy to keep your eyes on for both dynasty and prospect reasons given the lack of true talent in the Brewers’ starting rotation.
Yovanny Cruz CHC #20 Age 21 ETA: 2022 (2018 DD) The walk numbers in a short stint of 2019 don't reflect well on his ability to locate. He's not wild, but tends to bury pitches and miss when trying to clip corners. It was rare to see a pitch get away from him. Sinker heavy approach results in a lot of groundballs. Creates whiffs with a slider and changeup. Despite the velocity his best chance to make an impact is in a rotation with three potential average or better pitches.
Quentin Torres-Costa MIL #28 Age 24 (2015 Draft) Torres-Costa was a 35th round draft pick out of the University of Hawaii in 2014. The lefty comes at hitters with an almost sidearm delivery, and has posted strong strikeout numbers for the last two seasons. Torres-Costa likely would’ve pitched in Milwaukee last season but an elbow injury that will require Tommy John put an end to that. QTC also won’t pitch in 2019 due to the injury. He destroyed lefties last year as they hit a combined .167/.287/.202 line against him but he was somehow even tougher against righties as they hit a cumulative .133/.261/.143. The stuff isn’t nearly as eye-popping as the numbers though, as the fastball sits in the upper 80s and he pairs it with a sweeping slider. Torres-Costa will see Milwaukee late in 2020. ETA: 2020.
Justin Jarvis MIL #29 Age 19 (2018 Draft) The North Carolina prep product was the Brewers 5th round selection in this past June’s draft. The 6-foot-2 righty gets good sink on his 91-94 MPH fastball. His sweeping curveball is an above-average offering that flashes plus, and he has some feel for a changeup with depth. The command gets above-average grades, and there’s a chance the stuff ticks up when he adds weight to his 170 pound frame. Jarvis looks like a future big league starter. ETA: 2023
Cole Ragans LHP (TEX-A+) (2016 FYPD)
Nick Travieso (CIN-AA) (2016 Trade with White Sox)
Zack Trageton (TB-A) (2018 Trade with Rays)
Johan Dominguez CWS AA (2016 IFA)
Willy Ortiz (?) (2018 Trade with Rays)
Blake Bivens (?) (2018 Trade with Rays)
Tristan Archer (?) (2013 Draft)
Barrett Astin (?) 8 IP (2013 Draft)
Ryan Eades RHP (?) 11.1 IP
Drew Gagnon (?) 35.2 IP
RP-
Clayton Andrews MIL #27 Age 22 ETA: 2021 Left/left two-way prospect.
Andrews is one of the more interesting prospects in this system, given the fact that he’s 5-foot-6 and does it on both sides of the ball.
On the mound, Andrews works his fastball in the high-80s with two quality secondary offerings, including a potential plus changeup. He’s clearly more of a pitcher than a thrower, but he’s going to need complete refinement of both his off-speed pitches given the lack of fastball velocity.
Offensively, the 22-year-old demonstrates a quality hit tool with feel for his bat despite having literally no power at all. He’s athletic enough to stick in center field should he continue playing the field at the next level.
Nick Ramirez (SD-AAA) $0 (2024) (2011 Draft)
Jojanse Torres HOU AA (2015 IFA)