Article: Revisiting the State of the Farm – Right Field

[Harold Hutchison]

Like third base, the Brewers are living in a very different right-field world than they were looking at in March. At that time, it looked like Tyrone Taylor and Brian Anderson were going to split the playing time, with Joey Wiemer handling right field in Nashville. Things have played out very differently.

Image courtesy of © Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Injuries to Luis Urias, Tyrone Taylor, and Garrett Mitchell changed everything. Joey Wiemer is now handling center field, and doing so quite well. Taylor is seeing time in right with Anderson, Blake Perkins, and Raimel Tapia. So, how did that shake things out on the farm?

Nashville Sounds

Monte Harrison has the most starts in right for the Sounds, but Sal Frelick has surprisingly manned right field a lot, too. This could make things interesting in 2024, when the Brewers will have to juggle Mitchell, Wiemer, Frelick, Taylor, and Yelich in the outfield. 

Biloxi Shuckers

Carlos D. Rodriguez has taken the bulk of the starts in right field for the Shuckers, with Lamar Sparks and Noah Campbell also seeing time there. Rodriguez’s primary tool is OBP, and he adds a fair number of doubles. Campbell has emerged as a legit offensive threat under the radar as an undrafted free agent pickup, after he failed to sign as a 19th-round pick in 2017.

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

Hendry Mendez missed a lot of time with injuries, forcing Je’Von Ward and Joe Gray to handle the bulk of the duties in right field. Mendez brings OBP skills and physical talent, and in a small sample, appears to have improved his power numbers somewhat. Gray has always provided power, while Ward is trying to rebound after missing almost all of 2022.

Carolina Mudcats

Kay-Lan Nicasia has been under the radar, making a full-time move to the outfield after having played all over the infield for 2021 and most of 2022. As of July 16, he’s second on the Mudcats in walks and stolen bases. Jace Avina has also seen significant time in right field in Zebulon while also playing left field and center. Hedbert Perez, Eduarqui Fernandez, and Luis Castillo all spent time in right as well.

ACL Brewers

Reece Walling has been the primary right fielder in Maryvale, and he’s generating a lot of walks on the offensive side of things. Angel Pereira, who has also played in left and center, also is racking up the OBP by taking the free passes. Duncan Garcia has seen some limited action but has arguably shown the most well-rounded offense in a small sample size.

DSL Brewers 1

Irving Igualas and Pedro Tovar have alternated as the primary right fielder for the first of the Brewers two DSL affiliates. Tovar has demonstrated some serious OBP skills, while Igualas had been involved in one double play.

DSL Brewers 2

Ramon Moreno and Christopher Vasquez have split right field for the second Brewers affiliate in the DSL. Moreno is flashing power and OBP skills, plus solid defense. Vasquez’s 1.147 OPS as of July 16 is making its own case for playing time – if not in the outfield, then at first base, perhaps.

Overview

On one hand, right field looks like a poor relation compared to shortstop or center field. That quick judgment is a mistake, though. In recent years, the Brewers have preferred to move players from center to right. But even with that in mind, there are some potential breakout prospects in the lower levels, while the upper levels have a couple of players who could be very credible options.

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[Lou Buell]

They had a solid power hitting and clutch hitting right fielder with arguably the best arm in the league in right field last season who has averaged 36 HR's and 90 RBI's for his career in Hunter Renfroe and made him a salary dump.  In addition they traded a multi Gold Glove second baseman for Jesse Winker who is a liability in the outfield and has produced 1 Home Run and is making $8.5M this year for that massive contribution to the team.  You can bet at year end Renfroe will be right around his average production number and like he did for the Brewer's when Hot he will Carry His Team for a Week.  Can you imagine with the Brewer's 2023 pitching and defense levels what Renfroe would mean to this team.

[sveumrules]

28 minutes ago, Lou Buell said:

They had a solid power hitting and clutch hitting right fielder with arguably the best arm in the league in right field last season who has averaged 36 HR's and 90 RBI's for his career in Hunter Renfroe and made him a salary dump.  In addition they traded a multi Gold Glove second baseman for Jesse Winker who is a liability in the outfield and has produced 1 Home Run and is making $8.5M this year for that massive contribution to the team.  You can bet at year end Renfroe will be right around his average production number and like he did for the Brewer's when Hot he will Carry His Team for a Week.  Can you imagine with the Brewer's 2023 pitching and defense levels what Renfroe would mean to this team.

Renfroe is at 101 wRC+ and 1.0 WAR so far. That'd be a boost over what we've gotten from RF, but he'll need to get pretty hot to match last year's 124 wRC+ and 2.5 WAR.

Given the depth of OF in the system, I'd rather have Peguero 38 IP | 65 ERA- | 75 FIP- | +1.88 WPA at the minimum with the additional years of team control.

Wong is at -1.2 WAR and a 33 wRC+, he's been even worse than Winker (66 wRC+, -0.8 WAR).

[CheeseheadInQC]

3 minutes ago, sveumrules said:

Renfroe is at 101 wRC+ and 1.0 WAR so far. That'd be a boost over what we've gotten from RF, but he'll need to get pretty hot to match last year's 124 wRC+ and 2.5 WAR.

Given the depth of OF in the system, I'd rather have Peguero 38 IP | 65 ERA- | 75 FIP- | +1.88 WPA at the minimum with the additional years of team control.

Wong is at -1.2 WAR and a 33 wRC+, he's been even worse than Winker (66 wRC+, -0.8 WAR).

Is it possible the guy with nine big league plate appearances this year is the best player in the Wong-Winker trade?

And yah, the Brewers made out OK getting Peguero as well.

Back on topic, I am still bullish on Mendez. I think he figures out a way to turn enough ground balls into line drives for his profile to play.

[Harold Hutchison]

I'm thinking the Crew deals Mendez for a rental or a couple of nuggets, and clear a corner OF spot for Darrien Miller (left field, most likely). Miller's bat is quite good, but he may not be a great fit for catcher.

[wiguy94]

16 minutes ago, clancyphile said:

I'm thinking the Crew deals Mendez for a rental or a couple of nuggets, and clear a corner OF spot for Darrien Miller (left field, most likely). Miller's bat is quite good, but he may not be a great fit for catcher.

Why would the Brewers trade a super high ceiling teenage prospect to clear a space for a super low ceiling 22 year old prospect?

[Harold Hutchison]

2 minutes ago, wiguy94 said:

Why would the Brewers trade a super high ceiling teenage prospect to clear a space for a super low ceiling 22 year old prospect?

I think Miller's got the better chance at actually reaching his ceiling. Mendez's swing still seems funky, but Miller's offense is good. He just needs to move to LF/1B full-time.

[CheeseheadInQC]

5 hours ago, clancyphile said:

I think Miller's got the better chance at actually reaching his ceiling. Mendez's swing still seems funky, but Miller's offense is good. He just needs to move to LF/1B full-time.

If the Brewers trade Mendez it will be because of the return, not Miller.

1. Mendez is one of just 11 teenagers to get at least 50 at bats at high-A or above this season. Of those, he has the lowest K rate.

2. Injuries and other issues have actually left the Brewers without a ton of organizational outfield depth. There has been plenty of outfield time available throughout the year if the Brewers wanted to move Miller. The fact that they haven’t shows it isn’t a priority, definitely not one worth dealing the organization’s No. 5 outfield prospect.