Prospect Showdown: Under-the-Radar First Baseman: Wes Clarke vs. Ernesto Martinez

[Harold Hutchison]

Looking at the latest ZIPS projections, one might expect the Brewers will need a lot of help at first base. But could there be some answers for first base down on the farm?

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

When we discussed the battle for Third Baseman of the Future, it was noted that both Tyler Black and Brock Wilken could be options at first base and designated hitter. Neither of them would be atrocious options at the position, but let’s look a little more below the radar of top prospects lists–or even the fringes. The Brewers have two prospects who could make the situation at first interesting.

Andruw Monasterio is, perhaps, the best reason why it never hurts to look past the top prospects list. He won the title of Brewer Fanatic Top Rookie in 2023, having never appeared on MLB Pipeline or the BF list. He was a minor-league signee a year and a half before making his impact in the majors. The Crew has two candidates to replicate Monasterio’s surprising contributions and cult hero status in the upper minors, Wes Clarke and Ernesto Martinez. Let’s look them over.

The Case For Wes Clarke
Here’s a bit of trivia for you: Between Wes Clarke and Jackson Chourio, who had the higher totals for OPS, home runs, doubles, and walks in 2023? It wasn’t the guy who signed a record contract this offseason.

That’s right. Clarke, a 10th-round pick in the 2021 draft, topped Chourio in those four categories, and finished a respectable second in RBI. Clarke primarily manned first base for the Shuckers, but also saw a lot of time behind the plate when Jeferson Quero was on the injured list. As if his monster season in Biloxi wasn’t enough, Clarke then went to the Arizona Fall League and posted a 1.002 OPS, with another three doubles, five homers, and 17 walks.

Clarke is a fairly extreme three-true-outcomes bat, with 45 homers and 172 walks in 806 professional at-bats. That also means he strikes out a lot–272 times in that sample. Still, he did hit for a ,297 average in the AFL. Even if his bat doesn't ultimately reach its ceiling, his ability to fill in behind the plate gives him a chance to be a solid bench asset, with the departure of Victor Caratini.

The Crew’s need for a right-handed power bat, though, could get Clarke some at-bats in Milwaukee, especially since William Contreras spends a lot of time at designated hitter, and Eric Haase has been very inconsistent at the plate. Clarke should start the season in Triple-A Nashville, but his relatively rapid rise through the system could point to him being in Milwaukee soon.

The Case For Ernesto Martinez
Martinez hasn't matched Clarke's smooth, fast progress, partially due to the pandemic in 2020 and a lost 2022 season (he totaled 78 at-bats). But when he has been on the field, the hulking Martinez (6’5”, 250 pounds) flashed a very solid left-handed power bat that looks like it would work well at American Family Field.

An international free-agent signing, Martinez first showed promising power and OBP in the Dominican Summer League in 2017, before muddling through in the Arizona Complex the following year, where his OBP skills stayed solid despite a downturn from his DSL stats. In 2019, he posted strong numbers with the Rocky Mountain Vibe before the pandemic. In those years, Martinez looked like a version of Eric Thames, who provided the Crew with solid production at the major-league level between his power and OBP skills.

In 2021, he had a huge breakout, posting a .862 OPS with Low-A Carolina after earning a call-up from extended spring training, and proved he was more than just a slugger by stealing 30 bases in 32 attempts and seeing action in center field as well as holding down first base, despite a frame that suggests the former would be difficult. However, Martinez also began missing time with injury–something that turned up big-time in 2022.

Martinez, however, rebounded from the lost season in 2023, posting a .754 OPS and solid power numbers with High-A Wisconsin before earning a promotion to Double-A Biloxi and holding his own (.704 OPS). More importantly, he cut down on strikeouts. From 2017-2022, he struck out in 33.5 percent of his at-bats. Given his power and OBP skills, that was understandable, but it made him essentially non-viable as a big-league prospect. But in 2023, he cut that down to 79 strikeouts in 349 at-bats, while still generating good power numbers in pitcher-friendly leagues.

Martinez has had a long road, but he’s beaten some long odds and persevered through injuries, and could be a contender for a 40-man spot in the 2024-2025 offseason, a path similar to that of Tyrone Taylor, albeit with far less pedigree.

Breakdown
While both players have been at the fringe of prospect consideration, the numbers indicate that they could be a decent platoon for the Crew in the 2025 timeframe at a very cheap price (you can thank the Bally Sports bankruptcy for the financial uncertainty). It would not be a horrible option at first base; both have been solid defensively, but they also backfill other positions (Clarke is a decent backstop, and Martinez showed he can handle the outfield in a pinch) and they hit well enough to be plugged in at designated hitter.

In essence, like the case of Ace of the Future and somewhat similarly to Third Baseman of the Future, the Brewers may not be faced with a strict either/or choice here. The platoon option could work well for the team, and these somewhat versatile players, like Cooper Hummel, could even be flipped for help at the trade deadline.

Do you view Clarke and/or Martinez as future big-league options? Can they help fill gaps left by the team's reluctance to spend more money for more talented alternatives? Let's discuss it in the comment section.

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[jay87shot]

Clarke is probably a safe bet to at least be a productive platoon/bench player. If we want to keep Quero and Contreras, Clarke is a perfect 3rd catcher who can play elsewhere.

Martinez probably has more upside with his athleticism and defense upside. However he is way lower floor and more subsequent risk not making the bigs.

Maybe if things go really well for both they could combine to make a nice 1B platoon in a few years. Black maybe to 2B, Wilken to 3B, Turang/EBJ SS. 2026? Unlikely but maybe.

My vote is that Clarke is better but I could see Matinez making a big jump.

[Joseph Zarr]

A few things to add more depth beyond the greater whole of this article - a solid read 🙂:

(1) Clarke is very much primarily a DH/1B. He plays a competent back-stop in the lower level but he'll very likely never be more than a 3rd or Emergency option in the MLB. The Brewers hitting coordinator, in this very off-season, has gone on record stating what those of us who watch his games regularly know: he is already a MLB player. This past year's growth (and it was major at the dish) really solidified this. 

(2) Martinez's first calling card at 1B is really how easy he makes it for the rest of his infield and pitching staff. He shows really nice coordination and he possesses such a distinct frame and wingspan he catches nearly everything. We start there as his foundation - I've seen the young man make so many full stretch splits for improbable outs it still makes my groin hurt. The offensive growth this season was quite nice and it is very likely the reason he was re-signed. I personally feel the Brewers likely want to see him build from there. He still has quite a bit of free wheeling unrefined-ness in his overall swing path I personally still have hesitation or a reluctance to fully buy in to the season he had. It was fantastic, yes, but I'd like to see that as his baseline. The Double-A work was fantastic to this end, however. He wasn't overmatched. A huge first step.

3) 

Quote

Andruw Monasterio is, perhaps, the best reason why it never hurts to look past the top prospects list. He won the title of Brewer Fanatic Top Rookie in 2023, having never appeared on MLB Pipeline or the BF list

I highlighted Monasterio in a four-part series last year - my now annual 'Undervalued, Undersold, et al' piece. It was quite apparent his bat had the potential to make a mark but the real surprise (for me, at least) at the MLB level was his consistent defensive work. He had never showcased any type of consistency at the MiLB level before and, actually, had essentially developed a reputation as a middling infielder. We saw consistent solid work throughout the infield for the Brewers - a truly wonderful surprise!

Regardless, I had both Monasterio and Clarke in last year's series. Oh, I also had now MLB pitcher Lucas Erceg in there. This past 2023 Brewers Minor League season, I spent over 1200 hours watching the collective Brewers affiliates (and AFL). I'll be publishing another four-part series at the end of February. Stay tuned. There will be more nuggets in there once again.  

[CheeseheadInQC]

I’m still skeptical that he will make enough contact, but man Martinez was fun to watch in person when Wisconsin came to the Quad-Cities. He had one mishit with absurd spin on it that was still probably traveling faster off the bat than 80-90% of the contact the Rattlers made that day.

[sveumrules]

2 hours ago, clancyphile said:

Andruw Monasterio is, perhaps, the best reason why it never hurts to look past the top prospects list. He won the title of Brewer Fanatic Top Rookie in 2023,

Wow, that is some dubious voting.

Sal Frelcik (1.4 WAR), Abner Uribe (+1.27 WPA), Blake Perkins (1.2 WAR) and Joey Wiemer (1.1 WAR) all handily out-performed Monasterio (0.4 WAR) last year.

Garrett Mitchell was able to match that 0.4 WAR in 242 fewer PAs. 

[Playing Catch]

I agree with Jay87.  I think Clarke is a good bet to have a decent MLB career -- even if it's just a Luke Voit-style RH slugger 1B/DH type of career.

Martinez has intrigued me for years. It would be pretty fun if he turned in a 20/20 season this year, and makes for a tough decision for Brewers brass to keep/lose him.

[Matt Breen]

2 hours ago, sveumrules said:

Wow, that is some dubious voting.

Sal Frelcik (1.4 WAR), Abner Uribe (+1.27 WPA), Blake Perkins (1.2 WAR) and Joey Wiemer (1.1 WAR) all handily out-performed Monasterio (0.4 WAR) last year.

Garrett Mitchell was able to match that 0.4 WAR in 242 fewer PAs. 

Was there really a vote for top rookie last year? And Monasterio won? Wow. I don't recall that.

[Jim Goulart]

Was there really a vote for top rookie last year? And Monasterio won? Wow. I don't recall that.

2023 Milwaukee BBWAA Award winners

At first I thought Rookie of the Year was part of the above vote, but that's not the case. Yet I do remember Monasterio receiving year-end recognition of some sort.

Found it, it was here at BrewerFanatic.

Ten writers from Brewer Fanatic voted for the team’s top rookie. 

I personally remember voting on our MiLB awards, but not MLB.
 

[Joseph Zarr]

2 hours ago, Mass Haas said:

Ten writers from Brewer Fanatic voted for the team’s top rookie. 

I personally remember voting on our MiLB awards, but not MLB.
 

Ditto here, Jim. I watch the Brewers when I can. Big series etc. But I spend the significant majority of my time watching the affiliates.

Frankly, I didn't feel I qualified to vote on the MLB Brewers awards by season's end. 😅