Underrated 2024 Milwaukee Brewers Prospects: Relief Pitchers

[Harold Hutchison]

It's very rare for relievers to get a lot of love on top prospect charts, but the bullpen is an important part of any major-league baseball team. The Milwaukee Brewers need theirs to be excellent this year. What underrated prospects might help that come to fruition?

Image courtesy of © Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Relievers are more likely to be underrated than starters, and the Brewers system boasts a lot of depth in the bullpen. Just how deep is it? Let’s look at a few of the underrated relief options in the system.

Darrell Thompson (Double-A Biloxi/Triple-A Nashville)
5-4, 4.12 ERA, 1.32 ERA, 49 hits, 29 walks, 77 strikeouts, 59 innings pitched in 48 games
Thompson might be 29, but he posted very good strikeout numbers across two upper-level minor-league stops in 2023 – primarily in Nashville. While the numbers look rough at first glance, Thompson was playing his first full season of affiliated professional baseball in 2023; some adjustments could turn him into a potential replacement for Hoby Milner.

James Meeker (Double-A Biloxi/Triple-A Nashville)
8-4, 3.39 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 97 hits, 15 walks, 81 strikeouts, 93 innings pitched in 36 games (8 starts
Meeker was a shutdown relief pitcher, bridging the gap for closers before stepping into the rotation for the Shuckers after multiple starters (including underrated starting pitching prospects Brandon Knarr and Adam Seminaris) went on the injured list, where he was solid. Perhaps the Crew got lucky this offseason, as Meeker was Rule 5 eligible, but wasn’t drafted. While Meeker is also older (this will be his age-29 season), he could still fill the Bryse Wilson role for the Crew in an injury pinch.

TJ Shook (Double-A Biloxi)
7-5, 4.62 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 83 hits, 36 walks, 107 strikeouts, 97 1/3 innings pitched in 25 games (12 starts)
Shook split time between the bullpen and the rotation for the Shuckers, and the numbers were solid. Notably, he struck out more than one hitter per inning, and improved the hit, walk, and home run rates from 2022. Like Meeker, Shook could be valuable simply for the versatility he displayed.

Nick Bennett (Double-A Biloxi/Triple-A Nashville)
4-3, 4.43 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 65 hits, 25 walks, 64 strikeouts, 65 innings pitched in 33 games (3 starts)
Bennett posted decent numbers for Biloxi before getting a late-season call-up to Nashville. He averages just a hair under one strikeout per inning, and his metrics were on par with 2022’s. Bennett faces a lot of competition, but he has past starting experience, so he could still be a depth option, especially if the Crew is trying to maximize their team control over top pitching prospects.

Blake Holub (Advanced-A West Michigan [DET]/Double-A Erie [DET])
6-4, 3.03 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 53 hits, 17 walks, 76 strikeouts, 65 1/3 innings pitched in 48 games
Holub was acquired in the deal that sent Mark Canha to the Tigers, and the Crew got a guy who could be a late-inning asset, averaging 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings. Holub also kept walks down, but gave up the occasional go-fer ball. Interestingly enough, Holub was a two-way player in college, serving as a right-handed first baseman with some pop when not on the mound.

Justin King (Advanced-A Wisconsin)
1-2, 2.91 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, 23 hits, 25 walks, 54 strikeouts, 30 2/3 innings pitched in 28 games
King has seen multiple stints on the injured list since the Brewers signed him as a free agent in June 2022. But when he is on the mound, he has simply dominated, averaging just under 16 strikeouts per nine innings. His big weakness is the free pass. If he can reduce the walks, the Crew could have an electric arm here.

Tanner Shears (Single-A Carolina/Advanced-A Wisconsin)
4-2, 1.45 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 26 hits, 42 walks, 77 strikeouts, 49 2/3 innings pitched in 41 games
Shears was unhittable in 2023, allowing one hit for every two innings pitched. He also racked up 14 strikeouts per nine innings pitched and 10 saves. Shears, a free-agent signee from independent ball, could benefit from an offseason in the pitching lab to help cut down on the walks he issued.

Shane Smith (Single-A Carolina/Advanced-A Wisconsin/Double-A Biloxi)
7-4, 1.96 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 36 hits, 21 walks, 86 strikeouts, 59 2/3 innings pitched in 38 games
Smith joined with Shears and King to form a lethal 1-2-3 punch out of the Timber Rattlers bullpen, and even pushed himself to Biloxi for a couple of games after he lost a lot of time to injury in 2022. Smith, a free-agent signee in 2021, did just about everything one would want from a fireman, notching 10 saves while averaging 13 strikeouts per nine innings.

Who do you think could step up big-time in the bullpens down on the farm? Let us know in the comments below.

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[Cambo888]

It is too bad that all the stats from spring training are not provided.  Here is a summary of the data from just the pitching while called up to the Brewers Games during spring training.  The interesting stat is the Opportunity/Quality stat for each of the pitchers you reference.  I could not see any stats for Darrell Thompson?

[jay87shot]

We are loaded with upside relievers, maybe not much in the way of late innings mlb talent but there are 10ish guys that I could easily see as long term mlb relievers in our system. I would add Tobias Myers to this list, I know he has been a starter and will be to start the year but I feel like his path to a productive career is in the bullpen. Maybe a young guy like Quinton Low will fit into a reliever mold after he recovers from his injury as well.

[Jim Goulart]

17 hours ago, Cambo888 said:

I could not see any stats for Darrell Thompson?

As noted in the article from our prior report, sports hernia surgery.

Expected back soon.