A Way-Too-Early Look At The Bright Side In the Brewers Farm System

[Harold Hutchison]

The Milwaukee Brewers got some bad news from the farm right away this spring, with injuries to three key prospects. But do they have reasons to feel good about some of the prospects in their minor-league system, despite top guys being sidelined?

Image courtesy of © Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK

The minor-league system plays a vital role for any major-league team – one far more important for the Brewers than other teams, due to the harsh hot-stove economic realities they are facing. Its purpose is to develop players so that they can contribute to the major-league club. This isn’t just by them reaching or returning to MLB, but also for them to become an asset another team might want enough to give the Brewers something valuable in exchange. So, what can Brewers fans feel good about in the minor-league system, despite worrisome injuries to Jeferson Quero, Brock Wilken, and Cooper Pratt?

Joey Wiemer Is Taking Walks
Joey Wiemer’s complicated swing was exploited by pitchers during his rookie year in MLB, so much so that he was sent back to Nashville to finish implementing the changes he made this winter. In a very small sample (50 at-bats), though, we are seeing some good signs. He is tied with Tyler Black with eight walks through the games of April 13, and his strikeouts are down to 28% of his at-bats. This is a good sign that he may be resolving the swing into more of an asset to do with outstanding defense and some speed, and now, he's getting a chance to show off that newfound plate discipline in the big leagues.

Carlos F. Rodriguez Is Punching Hitters Out
Carlos Rodriguez (the pitcher) has struggled in his first three Triple-A starts, with an 8.03 ERA and posting a 1.87 WHIP. The good news, though, is that he is punching out hitters at his best rate in three professional seasons. Rodríguez is one of the contenders to be the Brewers’ Ace of the Future, but since he is just 22, there is no need to rush (although it would be nice to have him help fill out the rotation). Keep in mind, he is about five years younger than the average Triple-A player.

Francisco Mejía May Be An Option
In some ways, Mejía is a very potent might-have-been for Brewers fans; he was once the centerpiece of a trade sunk by Jonathan Lucroy’s refusal to play in Cleveland. That failed deal worked out well for the Brewers, as Lewis Brinson eventually became the centerpiece for the Christian Yelich trade. Now, Mejía is in Nashville, seeking a return to the majors, and both his bat and defense are making a case. At 25, he could be a good backup option for the Crew if more injuries strike.

Ernesto Martinez Is Smoking The Baseball
Ernesto Martínez has been an under-the-radar prospect at first base for a while, and he is off to a huge start with the Shuckers. He doesn’t have any home runs, but he’s hitting .346 and has drawn four walks in 26 at-bats through the games of April 13. Four of his nine hits have gone for extra bases. The jacks will come eventually, but so far, things are looking good for Martinez to possibly take a 40-man spot. The battle for Under-the-Radar First Baseman of the Future may have been resolved.

Wes Clarke Is Holding Up As A Catcher
Clarke has spent a lot more time behind the plate than at first base for the Shuckers, but it’s not hurting his bat in a sample of 22 at-bats. He’s walked six times to five strikeouts and has three doubles. Ignore the lack of homers and the .182 batting average. Behind the plate, he’s also holding up, boosting his caught-stealing percentage to 15% and posting a .980 fielding percentage.

Bradley Blalock Is Dominating
The Brewers acquired Blalock for Luis Urías in 2023. At this point, the Crew may be winning the trade, as the Red Sox shipped Urías to Seattle for reliever Isaiah Campbell, who’s been getting clobbered, while Urías’s bat is scuffling a little in Seattle. Blalock has yet to allow a run for the Shuckers, and if that keeps up, he may be headed north to Nashville soon.

Nate Peterson Looks Nice
Peterson had a rough 2023, with an injured-list stint and ugly results in Appleton. That said, he still ended up in the Double-A Biloxi rotation, and the initial results look very good for the one-time college hurler, whose WHIP and strikeouts per nine innings are looking close to what he posted pre-injury in Carolina.

Yophery Rodriguez And Juan Baez Are Adjusting Nicely To Full-Season Ball
Rodríguez and Báez are two prospects who have the potential to rocket up the minor-league ladder for the Brewers, the way Jackson Chourio did. So far, both are showing the reasons why such a climb is possible. Báez’s bat-to-ball skills have not gone away, as he has only four strikeouts in 35 at-bats, and he’s smacked a few extra-base hits. Rodríguez’s OBP skills have held up, he is providing great defense in center field, and he’s also punished the ball in Zebulon.

Brett Wichrowski Is Wiping Out Hitters
The Brewers can also be very excited about Brett Wichrowski, who headlines a group of pitchers in the lower rungs of the full-season minors who have gotten off to hot starts. Wichrowski’s stuff is electric, but he is also NOT walking hitters, either.

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What do you think are some of the bright spots in the Brewers system early on? Let us know in the comments below!

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[Jim French Stepstool]

I don't know how one can say that Clarkes' CS% is 'boosted' up to 15% when it's been worse than that last season & so far this season. 

Why should his BA & lack of HRs be ignored?

[jay87shot]

We have a bunch of pitchers turning heads Myers, Blalock, Woessner, Wichrowski, and basically everyone in Carolina. Tyler Black, Owen Miller, Brewer Hicklen, Mike Boeve, Matt Wood, Yophery, Juan Baez, and Tayden Hall look to be off to good starts at the dish.

[Sixtolezcano]

Why wasn’t Pratt wearing one of those oven glove when he broke his finger. And why was Quero, a catcher mind you, leading off so far he had to dive back into first base. I blame the Brewer FO not taking some intellegent, simple precautions that would mitigate some of these injury risks. Seems like they never learn from past injuries (i.e.: Sheets).

[markedman5]

 

[Outlander]

Mejia is 28 not 25.