Article: Brewers Farm System X-Factors, Part Four: Other Pitchers

[Harold Hutchison]

Brewers fans are rightly excited about the team’s top pitching prospects. Some of them are very, very good. But that doesn’t mean others, much less heralded, don’t deserve a closer look.

Image courtesy of © USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Take, for instance, Brent Suter. An unheralded 31st-round draft pick in 2012, he ended up being arguably the best pitcher to emerge from that draft class, and he outperformed the more-heralded Jed Bradley, picked in the first round the prior year. Who might emerge as Suter did and become a valuable member of the Brewers' pitching staff?

Brandon Knarr
Between Wisconsin and Biloxi, Knarr posted an 11-8 record and a 2.89 ERA, with 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings. Knarr was not even drafted – he was an amateur free agent signed in 2020 after the pandemic-shortened 2020 draft. But he has easily become the Brewers’ best left-handed starting pitching prospect over the past two years. Knarr will need to be added to the 40-man roster after 2023.

Justin Jarvis
Jarvis rebounded to an extent from a tough 2021 and was decent in Wisconsin before he did a little better in Biloxi. Jarvis has been workmanlike and eats innings, which the Brewers often turned to high-priced free agents for as late as 2019. Could the 2018 fifth-round pick sort things out in 2023, or is he headed to the bullpen?

Max Lazar
Prior to the pandemic, Max Lazar was an up-and-coming prospect with a 2019 season that was dominating. Then, he spent most of the next two seasons on the disabled list, returning to action late in 2022 with some decent numbers, given his long layoff. Then, he went to Brisbane for the 2022-2023 winter season and looked closer to his pre-pandemic form. Lazar must be added to the 40-man after this season, so he could face a make-or-break season.

Pablo Garabitos and Christian Morales
These left-handed relievers seemed to be breaking out in 2022 with the Carolina Mudcats. Both showed some multi-inning capability, missing since Josh Hader became a strict ninth-inning closer. They may still be a few years away from Milwaukee, but their ability to contribute to the big-league team in 2023 is a potential trade asset.

James Meeker
While Anber Uribe and Cam Robinson drew much of the attention as potential closers, Meeker dominated, and his 2022-2023 Brisbane season put him on the map. While he is older, Meeker could, if he keeps at either pace, be a valuable reinforcement for a few seasons. Meeker also played infield in college and could be an emergency asset on the bench.

Clayton Andrews
Like Lazar, Andrews was an intriguing prospect for Brewers fans before the pandemic. Andrews looked like a very solid multi-inning reliever; he even saw some time in the outfield and posted a .811 OPS. After the pandemic, he had a lot of time on the disabled list and struggled, but in spring training, he showed signs of being the old Clayton Andrews, which could be very good for the Crew’s bullpen and bench. Who says the two-way player has to be a slugger?

Quinton Low
A potential closer? Slugging first baseman? Both? Low’s bat is quite good; he can handle first base and batting left-handed… well, that could be very good on the offensive side of things. In a sense, the Brewers could bring back their old #PitchersCanRake trend, once shown by Brandon Woodruff, Adrian Houser, and Brent Suter in recent years. In another sense, Low could be a guy who could be used regularly in a blowout (either wins or losses) to save the bullpen.

Ryan Middendorf
Middendorf rocketed up the ladder in 2022 after being signed from an independent league team and didn’t look bad anywhere from the complex lead to Biloxi. He held up well in the Arizona Fall League, too. His K/9 ratio was no lower than 11.2 in each stop, except for Biloxi, and his K/BB ratio was no lower than 3.20. Teams always need relief pitchers, but cheap relief pitchers are very valuable.

Michele Vassalotti
Vassalotti struggled as a starter but turned around when he went to the bullpen with the Mudcats in 2022. He, Morales, and Garabitos could share the late-inning duties in Wisconsin, but the Brewers will need to work fast to keep him around if he shines in the role.

Overview
The Brewers’ pitching depth in the minors is quite deep, with many good players out there. Among the pitchers, some could shine – and if not be a direct replacement for Burnes and Woodruff, they can be solid performers or key assets in a trade that improves the team elsewhere.

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