Jackson Chourio Isn't The Only High Ceiling in the Brewers Farm System

[Jake McKibbin]

With Jackson Chourio on the verge of locking up his future with the Brewers, it's important to remember that one player alone won't win you a world series. Just ask Mike Trout. However, there are a number of potential superstars in the Brewers system who could help the franchise dominate in the next decade.

Image courtesy of © Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Milwaukee Brewers seemed to alter their approach this year in the draft, drafting high-ceiling players instead of their usual hit-over-power, solid-defense picks. On top of some high-caliber second-round picks in previous drafts, that shift in focus has provided a lot about which to be excited, both in the near and the distant future---just as Jackson Chourio (hopefully) hits his stride in the big leagues.

Jacob Misiorowski - RHP
An obvious place to start, Misiorowski has the type of arm that few outside Jacob DeGrom could compete with. He combines incredible spin rates with a 100-mph fastball, but his most devastating pitch is really his slider, a wipeout pitch at almost 90 mph. Generating great extension off the mound from his 6’7" frame and developing changeup and curveball toward the latter end of 2023 leave command as the only question mark attached to him. He showed it in fits and spurts--most notably a six-inning, 12-strikeout game to finish his season. With perhaps the best raw stuff in the minor leagues, he's a name on many people's lips.

Josh Knoth - RHP
At the other end of the development scale is 17-year-old Josh Knoth, who saw a big uptick on a fastball touching 97 mph at times. With incredible feel for spin that led to supreme success with both his four-seam fastball and a curveball which regularly tops 3,100 rpm, he left hitters floundering at the plate. This is a pitcher with exceptional command for his age, and without a high-effort delivery. He could storm through the Brewers' minor-league apparatus. He threw a 19-strikeout perfect game as an amateur, and although he's a little small, he's a superb athlete whom I, for one, can't wait to see get started next summer.

Eric Bitonti - SS/3B
At 6’4" and 215 pounds, Bitonti is a good defensive infielder, most likely to end up at third base due to his cannon of an arm. For a just-drafted high-school guy, he is a power prospect like few others. He has long levers but a short swing, and scouts feel he has the ability to make adjustments with professional tutelage to hit for both average and power. Considering his age and experience, he already has a good eye at the plate, but there is some swing-and-miss the Brewers will hope to iron out. Sprinkling plus defensive projections at the hot corner on top of it all makes him someone to watch. Along with Bitonti, Cooper Pratt deserves some discussion, but more on that next week.

Brock Wilken - 3B
A slightly surprising pick, Wilken had more walks than strikeouts, incredible power and a solid hit tool, coupled with surprisingly agile defense at third base. He demolished pitchers during his short stint in the minors, finishing with a .565 slugging percentage at Double A, while demonstrating a slight passiveness at the plate that he could tweak. Oddly, he doesn't have a lot of chase problems or swing-and-miss for a high-strikeout player, so he has the tools, and with some refining of his approach, we may see the power arriving in the major leagues toward the end of this season. Wilken set a record for home runs in Atlantic Coast Conference history with 71 during his time at Wake Forest, and he's showed a workability to develop and improve contact-wise during his time in college.

Yophery Rodriguez - OF
An international signee from the Dominican Republic, Rodríguez appeared to tire toward the end of the 2023 season. However, at just 17 years old, he showed the type of power and mature approach at the plate that scouts dream of. There's a belief that he could reach at least above-average thump as he grows into his frame, while projecting to stick in center field. He also has a hit tool that could carry him quickly through the minors in his Stateside debut next year. A Jackson Chourio comes along once in a blue moon, but there are people suggesting Rodríguez could follow his meteoric rise. An .842 OPS at his age (he was over 1.000 at some points in the season) is impressive, along with taking 41 walks to 40 strikeouts. Despite his poor finish to the year. Rodríguez has a huge ceiling, and only time will tell which affiliate he may finish at next season.

There are a ton of other names to be excited about, in Juan Baez, Luis Lara, Carlos F Rodriguez, Robert Gasser, et al, and it shows just how stocked the Brewers farm system is. Any one of these players could reach a level of stardom that allows the team to build a dynasty alongside Chourio, regardless of how they approach the 2024 season. There's plenty of reason to be excited, Milwaukee fans, with talent churning through the system at all levels and ages.

View full article

[Joseph Zarr]

Fun to dream indeed. Lotta lotto picks in the system right now.

I'm just curious, Jack, given this isn't an article solely focused on 'this year's draft' - tho, it does mention that in the opening paragraphs - why is INF Tyler Black not listed here? Literally just curioous.

If we're talking about a player who fits the very mold of "...drafting high-ceiling players instead of their usual hit-over-power, solid-defense picks...", this is the very definition of Black. Who, by nearly every measure, is likely the second most exciting offensive prospect in the entire system. Bat discipline? Check. Surging power stroke? Check. Hit to all fields? Check. Threat on the basepaths? Double check. Defensive 'Superunknown'? Check.😅 

Anywho, curious to hear your rationale/opinion/thoughts. 

As an aside, I'd throw some more 'lotto ticket' type names into that last paragraph beyond Baez and Lara if we're really digging for the nuggets:

Tier 1:

- Luiyin Alastre

- Filippo Di Turi

- Pedro Ibarguen

- Demetrio Nadal

- Edgardo Ordonez

 

---

Tier 2:

- Luis Lameda

• really impressive first DSL season given he just turned 17 this past late January

- Eric Martinez 

• my gut tells me this is the Brewers Jose Sibrian like up-and-comer. He 'should' be stateside with an opportunity to reach Low-A Carolina this year. Signed young. 3 successful seasons in the DSL. Clearly appears to have some pop and plus defense. Really want to see him play.

- Yannic Walther 

• do the Brewers have something with this young German backstop? Hard to tell but he flashed for sure in his first DSL season

- Christopher Vasquez 

• showcased a great power/OPS profile...can he show more plate discipline?

- Ramon Moreno

- Danny Puerta 

• like Lameda, extremely young, and flashed enough intrigue in roughly 90 AB's I want to see more. The young Colombian turned 17 yo just this past mid-April!

- Yeison Perez 

 

Anywho, FUN TIMES to be a Brewers Fanatic babayyyyyy😅

 

[Jake McKibbin]

55 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

Fun to dream indeed. Lotta lotto picks in the system right now.

I'm just curious, Jack, given this isn't an article solely focused on 'this year's draft' - tho, it does mention that in the opening paragraphs - why is INF Tyler Black not listed here? Literally just curioous.

If we're talking about a player who fits the very mold of "...drafting high-ceiling players instead of their usual hit-over-power, solid-defense picks...", this is the very definition of Black. Who, by nearly every measure, is likely the second most exciting offensive prospect in the entire system. Bat discipline? Check. Surging power stroke? Check. Hit to all fields? Check. Threat on the basepaths? Double check. Defensive 'Superunknown'? Check.😅 

Anywho, curious to hear your rationale/opinion/thoughts. 

As an aside, I'd throw some more 'lotto ticket' type names into that last paragraph beyond Baez and Lara if we're really digging for the nuggets:

Tier 1:

- Luiyin Alastre

- Filippo Di Turi

- Pedro Ibarguen

- Demetrio Nadal

- Edgardo Ordonez

 

---

Tier 2:

- Luis Lameda

• really impressive first DSL season given he just turned 17 this past late January

- Eric Martinez 

• my gut tells me this is the Brewers Jose Sibrian like up-and-comer. He 'should' be stateside with an opportunity to reach Low-A Carolina this year. Signed young. 3 successful seasons in the DSL. Clearly appears to have some pop and plus defense. Really want to see him play.

- Yannic Walther 

• do the Brewers have something with this young German backstop? Hard to tell but he flashed for sure in his first DSL season

- Christopher Vasquez 

• showcased a great power/OPS profile...can he show more plate discipline?

- Ramon Moreno

- Danny Puerta 

• like Lameda, extremely young, and flashed enough intrigue in roughly 90 AB's I want to see more. The young Colombian turned 17 yo just this past mid-April!

- Yeison Perez 

 

Anywho, FUN TIMES to be a Brewers Fanatic babayyyyyy😅

 

So Black was an interesting one, right on the cusp but also someone who's defensive ceiling may hold him back. I meant to include him as at least a footnote , so that's a mistake on my part.

Blacks success has been amazing, and I think he'll translate well to the majors with a high floor for his bat due to his contact, speed and eye at the plate, but I'm a little uncertain about the power ceiling as of yet, just a slight question mark in my head.

That bat also made him less of a high risk factor which potentially kept him more on the fringes for this particular article. I think he's a dead cert to find his feet in the majors, and if he can be average even at third base, he could be monumental for the Brewers moving forwards

 

Regarding some of the latter names I would agree, but could argue that most DSL propsects have at least question marks as to their ceiling. Obviously age and coaching can change things rapidly, however Nadals age in the DSL and di Turis lack of power would have me question their ceilings more.

I would agree there are a lot of names I could add to that honourable mentions portion however, and in particular the DSL pitchers are something I'm admittedly not so well versed on compared to yourself.

 

In summation, Black just seemd to reliable almost to make this particular list, but as I said, big fan! Can't wait to see him in the big leagues soon

[SF70]

Kevin Ereu for me.

I know he was injured for part of the year, but a SS with power potential gets my attention.

[Ro Mueller]

Bulletin board material for Logan Henderson 😁

[Joseph Zarr]

6 hours ago, damuelle said:

Bulletin board material for Logan Henderson 😁

I didn't even get into pitchers. I figgered I'd keep it a short long. 😆

[Joseph Zarr]

6 hours ago, SF70 said:

Kevin Ereu for me.

I know he was injured for part of the year, but a SS with power potential gets my attention.

The signing bonus and pre-DSL hype agree with you. Rough year for sure, unfortunately. Hopefully, he bounces back - the pedigree is definitely there.

[CheeseheadInQC]

It wouldn’t shock me if we are talking about Knoth and Rodriguez as top 100 prospects this time next year. 

[SF70]

8 hours ago, CheeseheadInQC said:

It wouldn’t shock me if we are talking about Knoth and Rodriguez as top 100 prospects this time next year. 

I’m adding Pratt as well. I think he’s ready to breakout after Ben Badler said he was one of the best hitters he saw at instructs.

[TURBO]

Mike Boeve.

[Jake McKibbin]

10 minutes ago, TURBO said:

Mike Boeve.

The sheer number of extra people I could have talked about here says everything about the strength of the brewers system right now
Boeves slower finish to the season kept him off my list, but I wouldn't be surprised if something caused it injury wise. Either way, just another exctiing name to pay attention to next season