Brewers Farm System 2024 Preview: Carolina Mudcats

[Harold Hutchison]

The 2024 Carolina Mudcats look to have some exciting prospects on their roster – at least for the start of the season. Who is going to headline this team? Let’s take a look.

Image courtesy of © Curt Hogg / USA TODAY NETWORK

Great talent passes through the Low-A level more often than it did before some recent changes to the structure of the minor leagues. It doesn't always stay very long, though; many players quickly prove themselves worthy of a sterner test.

Starting Pitching
The biggest names on the 2024 Mudcats pitching staff will be 2023 draft picks Josh Knoth and Bishop Letson. The former, selected with the Crew’s Competitive Balance Round A pick, started on Opening Day and held his own (even if he only went three innings). Letson, an 11th-round pick whom the Crew inked to a deal with a $482,600 bonus, will likely also see some action in the rotation.

Joining them in the rotation will be Daniel Corniel and Yorman Galindez, who primarily started with the 2023 Arizona Complex League champion Brewers. Osbrial Mogollon and Manuel Rodriguez also saw rotation action in the ACL. Aidan Maldonado returns after spending 2023 in the Mudcats rotation (for the most part). Some of these players could work out of the bullpen in a “piggyback” role.

There are some players seemingly in limbo – Ryne Moore (Who was with the ACL Brewers in 2023) and Alexander Vallecillo (who made 11 starts) aren’t on minor-league rosters and didn’t get released.

Bullpen
Five players the Brewers either signed or drafted in 2023 may end up in the bullpen. Morris Austin, a 10th-round pick, 16th-round pick Josh Timmerman, and undrafted free agent Blake Whiting saw brief action with the ACL Crew in 2023. Whiting also appeared in a couple of games with the Mudcats. Two other pitchers, 5th-round pick Ryan Birchard and undrafted free agent Harrison Durow, will make their pro debuts in Zebulon. It should be noted that in Carolina, the Brewers will piggyback pitchers, so a pitcher starting in the pen may eventually make some starts, and vice-versa.

Jesus Rivero looks to be the closer for the Mudcats. Bayden Root and Jeferson Figueroa also look to be late-inning options for Carolina, while K.C. Hunt and Jeison Pena look to round out the relief corps. Fray Morelo is starting the year on the injured list after missing all of 2023.

Catcher
The Mudcats may be somewhat unsettled here. Blayberg Diaz was called up to Triple-A Nashville after Jeferson Quero’s injury. That left Satchell Norman and David Garcia as the primary options (with Tayden Hall also listed as a catcher on the Mudcats website) until Diaz returned to the roster April 5 following the Brewers’ signing of Francisco Mejia to the Sounds roster.

There are few questions about Norman’s bat. It was a major contributor to the ACL Brewers' championship run. The questions are how Norman can settle in behind the plate, however (11 passed balls and five errors in 28 professional games as a catcher). Brewers coaches have their work cut out for them with Norman’s defense.

Garcia is a minor-league veteran who can probably mentor Norman – or help bring along a very raw pitching staff. Hall’s experience behind the plate is very limited.

Infield
Juan Baez and Cooper Pratt are taking their battle for Shortstop of the Future to Zebulon; Baez handled the hot corner on Opening Day. Both have bats that could explode and lead to rapid climbs up the minor-league ladder in 2024. Baez’s has shown a more dynamic profile in the pros, while Pratt holds an edge on defense (with a solid bat to date).

Daniel Guilarte was on the roster, but was reassigned to the ACL Crew after Díaz returned from his Triple-A stint. Miguel Briceno, who has shown he can hit for average, started at second for the Mudcats on Opening Day, despite being officially an outfielder.

Tayden Hall will primarily handle first base for the Mudcats, after a solid 2023 split between Maryvale and Zebulon and some bigger numbers at Brisbane over the winter.

Outfield
Yophery Rodriguez will get his chance to match Jackson Chourio’s rapid 2022 rise through the minor-league system, starting with the Mudcats after a superb DSL season. He’s flashed power, OBP skills, and some speed in the DSL, and the Crew’s aggressive assignment could make things very interesting.

Hedbert Perez, Reidy Mercado, Luis Castillo, and Kay-Lan Nicasia will all be returning to Zebulon. Nicasia is very intriguing, not just for his potential three-true-outcome bat, but also because he has a cannon for an arm (10 assists in 84 outfield games). Castillo looks to have a promising power bat of his own, while Perez is looking to break out in 2024 at age 21.

Overview
The 2024 Mudcats have a lot of exciting talent, from highly-touted pitchers (Knoth, Letson) to position players with superstar potential (Pratt, Báez, Yophery Rodríguez), not to mention some potentially solid players who could break out, like Hall, Briceno, Castillo, and Nicasia. The pitching staff, in particular, could be incredibly exciting for Brewers fans to watch.

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[wiguy94]

1 hour ago, clancyphile said:

Juan Baez and Cooper Pratt are taking their battle for Shortstop of the Future to Zebulon; 

 

 

[Kellerowl]

Pratt is the shortstop. He has been nothing short of phenomenal in two games offensively and defensively. 

[Jim Goulart]

RHP Ryne Moore is not in limbo - he was released last September as indicated on his MiLB Player Page.

[Jim Goulart]

Despite the MiLB.com position designation at catcher, Tayden Hall indicated that he’s no longer scheduled for time behind the dish in this recently posted interview.

[JohnBriggs12]

I was at Maryville last spring (23) and saw a 20 year old Tayden Hall step to the plate in a big league game and stroke a hit to the gap.  I think this is the year he climbs up the ladder in the Brewer system.