Top 10 prospects in Need of a Promotion

[jay87shot]

I think this might be a fun exercise as most minor league regulars are getting to 100 abs or the 30-40 inning marks.

1. Justin Yeager

2. Jadher Arienamo

3. Blake Burke

4. Jacob Misiorowski

5. Josh Adamczeski

6. Marco Dinges

7. Tanner Gillis 

8. Logan Henderson/Carlos Rodriguez

9. Brock Wilken/Mike Boeve

10. Jesus Made/Luis Pena

There are probably a few more relievers in the Yeager, Gillis mold that deserve a promotion. I could easily see a dozen or so othe deserving options. 

 

[Ro Mueller]

15 minutes ago, jay87shot said:

I think this might be a fun exercise as most minor league regulars are getting to 100 abs or the 30-40 inning marks.

1. Justin Yeager

2. Jadher Arienamo

3. Blake Burke

4. Jacob Misiorowski

5. Josh Adamczeski

6. Marco Dinges

7. Tanner Gillis 

8. Logan Henderson/Carlos Rodriguez

9. Brock Wilken/Mike Boeve

10. Jesus Made/Luis Pena

There are probably a few more relievers in the Yeager, Gillis mold that deserve a promotion. I could easily see a dozen or so othe deserving options. 

 

Thanks for this.

Great cases for Coleman Crow, Tyson Hardin and Bryce Meccage as well.

[jay87shot]

So on that list it would be one of Boeve or Wilken to get an upside 3B to AAA, both of Made and Pena maybe like June, and I put Henderson and Rodriguez there because they have been very good but likely won't get a shot for a while with Woody, Civale, Hall, and Ashby all on rehab. I left Yoho off as well but think a couple good AAA appearances should get him back in the bigs. I could see EMJ, Liranzo, Longhorn, Garcia, Hardin, Pratt, Crow, Peguero, Letson, Meccage, among others as deserving.

[biedergb]

1 hour ago, jay87shot said:

1. Justin Yeager

2. Jadher Arienamo

I agree here 100%. My only caution is the others on the list - are you thinking now, or later?

I mean Blake Burke is having his first real stint (last season was cut short with injury) and a bump up creates the log jam on Wilken/Adams/Boeve.  But he is next if he keeps going.

The rest are still too early on.  Last year we saw Woessner, O’Rae and a few other (I’m too lazy to look up now but will later) early promotions that did not pan out as the first month or so of baseball.  And maybe last year was a little aggressive- and I’m going off memory/subjective feeling, as I do need to look that up. First month last year Blalock, Woessner looked like solid prospects (as did Yoho and Hunt) so it’s still early .

Some like Peña/Made still are so young and adjusting to ball stateside. Adamczewski needs to stay healthy. Dinges - could use more time at low A to work on catching if that is the route for him, but if they are going to move the bat and not worry about D, then he can move for sure. Pitching wise I do think college arms like Gillis, Langhorne (UDFA) could move quickly. I think mid-season would be great for a guy like Hardin who was a reliever in college (at least last year) so first year starting in pro ball should give him time,  But overall yes if they stay consistent I’d hope all these guys get a promotion at some point. Meccage would like,y take the Knoth/Letson track of low A all year.

[jay87shot]

I kind of was looking at as who deserves a promotion. I was thinking Made and Pena would be a month or so away but both are showing the upside that they will get a promotion by at least half way. I would move Burke to AA and then one of Boeve or Wilken to keep playing time available in AA and move and get an upside prospect to AAA. I think Dinges and Josh A can still work on some weaknesses at Appleton so a promotion based on the advanced bat still makes sense. I was kind of hoping some others would make lists just to see how you all evaluate who is most ready for promotions as well.

[CheeseheadInQC]

Yeager probably gets the first shot at the AAA bullpen, but if Stiven Cruz keeps stacking scoreless outings, he’ll be in the conversation as well.

[wiguy94]

Not going to include AAA to MLB promotions just because that's a different scenario than minor league promotions.

AA to AAA

Zavier Warren - He's over 1000 PA in AA at this point and looks like he's conquered AA. BBs up, Ks down. Line drives up, pop ups down. Contact rate is up. He looks like he belongs in AAA.

Brock Wilken - Doesn't to be immediately especially if they don't view him as a serious MLB roster candidate this season but things are trending in a very good direction for him.

Coleman Crow - Once his arm is built back up for a starter's workload he should be on his way to AAA. AA does not appear to be enough of a challenge for him at this point.

Justin Yeager - RP who is pushing 110 IP in AA. K's are up, BB's are down. He's throwing tons of strikes. Get him to AAA

A+ to AA

Jadher Areinamo - Hasn't been an amazing start to the year for him but he was worthy of a promotion to AA to start the season and has been a bit more patient at the plate this year.

Tyson Hardin - Doesn't need to be immediately but as a 23 year old who has mostly overmatched the competition at A+, a promotion to AA might be in store for him.

A to A+

Josh Adamczewski - Give him a week or two when he returns from his back issue. If he continues to mash move him up.

Marco Dinges - Depends on how they view his defense. Offensively he needs a bigger challenge. If the defense is ready move him up.

Tanner Gillis - Turns 25 in August. Needs a bigger challenge.

[Matt]

Hardin is the one that screams promotion to me. As exciting as it would be to get some of those Carolina kids to Wisconsin, I've watched a lot of very bad defense out of the Mudcats. I don't really have a problem ironing that out in A-ball. 

As for Wilken, it's been great to see him finally tap into that power over the last couple weeks. But I think more than anyone he needs his confidence boosted. Let him continue to hit bombs in Biloxi for a while. 

[BrewerFan]

16 hours ago, biedergb said:

Some like Peña/Made still are so young and adjusting to ball stateside.

I'm most worried about the blue chip prospects(which I don't suppose is a hot take). Let them put up just...ridiculous numbers in A ball ALL YEAR. Let them get comfortable, get used to playing full-season Baseball. They'll go through struggles(or...maybe they won't). 

But then next year, start them in Appleton, if they perform well, Biloxi end of June or so and...play it by ear. 

Even on that timeline, you've got two MIFers who would be on the doorstep at 19/20 years old. And then you just leave Made and potentially Pena in AAA until they agree 10 year extension as well! 

I'm not 100% serious, but thinking about what that dude is capable of as a SS/3B, a SHer, the easy bat speed and exit velocity like he's using metal bats. Love to see him and Jackson playing 5-6 years together! 

[Ro Mueller]

Last year, the final ACL Brewers’ game was on a Wednesday (July 24) and a number of organizational promotions followed on Monday (July 29).

If we follow that pattern, we should see promotions on Monday, July 28 this year, following the final ACL Brewers game on Wednesday, July 23.

[jay87shot]

9 hours ago, Ro Mueller said:

Last year, the final ACL Brewers’ game was on a Wednesday (July 24) and a number of organizational promotions followed on Monday (July 29).

If we follow that pattern, we should see promotions on Monday, July 28 this year, following the final ACL Brewers game on Wednesday, July 23.

That makes a lot of sense we should have a majority of the draft signed then and probably a couple Arizona guys moving then as well.

[jay87shot]

I think Fischer goes to Appleton after a few Arizona games if he signs soon enough. Ebel and maybe Coraine maybe follows Payne and could get a few games in Carolina. Thompson maybe just pitches a 5-10 innings in 1-2 innings stretches but could get to Appleton. Raigsdale should probably start in the OF for Carolina the rest of the year, Dickenson as well especially if there are IF promotions. Morrison to Carolina for a few innings would be fine, not sure how many innings and overworked he was from the CWS. I would guess the resto of the HS guys just stay in AZ. Maybe the other college arms throw a couple innings in Carolina.

 

[Joseph Zarr]

This thread reminds me of how much a player can change in a year. RHP Tyson Hardin was just not all that good in his brief Low-A stint post-draft 2024. Now he's had one of the best seasons of any Brewers Minor League starter - what a difference a year and a professional off-season can make!

This also just got me thinking about LHP Mason Molina who was a fun follow in his brief post-2024 Draft as a Brewer (before getting shelled in his lone High-A post-season game and consequent off-season trade for RHP Grant Anderson). How's he doing I says to myself.

15 GS for Texas between their Low-A Hickory and now High-A Hub City Spartanburgers in the South Atlantic League. He's pitched the majority of his season in Low-A where he pitched to a 3.82 ERA in 11 GS with a very healthy 62 K in 46 2/3 IP. He had a healthy 0.225 BAA with a healthy 1.19 WHIP. Molina's change-up dominated Low-A hitters last season in the same Carolina League. High-A is his first real test at 22 years old, imho, given what we saw last season and what the peripherals of his 2025 first half seem to reveal. He's pitched four games to date in the High-A South Atlantic League - all Starts as well. BAA is down but the walks are way up: 10 BB already in just 15 1/3 IP (he tallied only 16 BB in Low-A in those 46 2/3 IP). 4.11 ERA. 15 K:10 BB in 15 1/3 IP. This will be an interesting peripheral follow me thinks. I personally think Molina's career trajectory entirely comes down to whether he can solidify and develop a true third and fourth pitch. His heater isn't good enough to solely rely on that zesty change-up. Anywho, he's no longer a Brewer but like so many former Brewers I love to keep tabs on their career arcs.

[Joseph Zarr]

Also, I should add:

Given what we've seen from Ethan Murray since regaining full healthy, it is quite obvious he needs to face the challenge of Triple-A. He's an unbelievably underrated prospect given the tools and growth he's showcased in 2025. I've said it numerous times over the past month. I'm going to say it again here: in this form, he is absolutely a serious candidate for a meaningful MLB utility role at the least. He's really really really good. If this is his floor - he's added very noticeable mass and build to his frame and hasn't lost a step while adding power - what else can he do? So pumped about the season he is having. 

[jay87shot]

1 hour ago, Joseph Zarr said:

Also, I should add:

Given what we've seen from Ethan Murray since regaining full healthy, it is quite obvious he needs to face the challenge of Triple-A. He's an unbelievably underrated prospect given the tools and growth he's showcased in 2025. I've said it numerous times over the past month. I'm going to say it again here: in this form, he is absolutely a serious candidate for a meaningful MLB utility role at the least. He's really really really good. If this is his floor - he's added very noticeable mass and build to his frame and hasn't lost a step while adding power - what else can he do? So pumped about the season he is having. 

Agreed, it's not like there is anyone at 2B/SS/3B in AAA that is holding him back either.

[Ro Mueller]

I count 14 promotions over an 11-day period last year: Misiorowski Henderson Yoho + CD Rodriguez, Hunt + Kuehner, Pratt Bryant + Figueroa, Adamczewski Bitonti Rivera + Floresx2.

I don’t see anywhere near 6 starting pitcher promotions this year. Even a deserved player like Melvin Hernandez might just be shut down for hitting an innings limit.

To me, top promotion candidates include Wilken, Murray, Warren, Areinamo, Burke, E. Garcia, Adamczewski, Made, Pena, Bitonti, Payne, Encarnacion, Fielder, Yeager, M. Hernandez, Renz, Mercado.

[wibadgers23]

Do we think Made and Pena to the Rattlers at some point this season is a lock? I guess my thinking all along has been that they'd keep them in Carolina all year.

[Ro Mueller]

15 minutes ago, wibadgers23 said:

Do we think Made and Pena to the Rattlers at some point this season is a lock? I guess my thinking all along has been that they'd keep them in Carolina all year.

To me, it’s not a lock, as we need to move Murray and Areinamo up to make it work.

But we’ve historically moved up our 18-year old studs in-season: Chourio (July 25), Lara (August 14), Yophery (September 15), so the odds seem high to me. 

[ClosetBrewerFan]

Do we think any DSL players will go stateside after their season ends?  Guys like Rangel, Polanco, maybe Tovar?  Its very likely they will hit the stateside roster limit so that may hinder any promotions.

[Ro Mueller]

5 hours ago, ClosetBrewerFan said:

Do we think any DSL players will go stateside after their season ends?  Guys like Rangel, Polanco, maybe Tovar?  Its very likely they will hit the stateside roster limit so that may hinder any promotions.

The ACL Brewers’ final game is on July 23, while our DSL clubs play until August 19 (plus possible playoffs), so I’d expect the DSL players to stay put for the next 5 weeks.

Beyond July 23, there will be a sort of Extended Summer Ball in Arizona - unofficial, with no statistical record, involving recent draft picks, non-drafted free agent signings and ACL players which are not promoted or assigned to Carolina or Wisconsin. If we’re lucky, @BrewersPD and/or other media visitors will share a few videos spotlighting players.

And then some of the DSL players will in fact come stateside after their own season finishes, but we’re unlikely to see any transactions to that effect. Even guys like Made and Pena weren’t officially logged as being promoted stateside until March 31, 2025, despite probably being physically here (working out and even playing some unofficial games at the Arizona Complex) 6 months earlier.

[Jenkins5]

21 hours ago, Ro Mueller said:

The ACL Brewers’ final game is on July 23, while our DSL clubs play until August 19 (plus possible playoffs), so I’d expect the DSL players to stay put for the next 5 weeks.

Beyond July 23, there will be a sort of Extended Summer Ball in Arizona - unofficial, with no statistical record, involving recent draft picks, non-drafted free agent signings and ACL players which are not promoted or assigned to Carolina or Wisconsin. If we’re lucky, @BrewersPD and/or other media visitors will share a few videos spotlighting players.

And then some of the DSL players will in fact come stateside after their own season finishes, but we’re unlikely to see any transactions to that effect. Even guys like Made and Pena weren’t officially logged as being promoted stateside until March 31, 2025, despite probably being physically here (working out and even playing some unofficial games at the Arizona Complex) 6 months earlier.

I strongly dislike all the changes to Rookie ball last few years. Give me back R+ & full summer of ball. 

[wibadgers23]

On 7/16/2025 at 11:36 PM, Jenkins5 said:

I strongly dislike all the changes to Rookie ball last few years. Give me back R+ & full summer of ball. 

Yeah it's really a shame and makes very little sense that rookie ball season ends just a couple weeks after the draft.

[wiguy94]

1 hour ago, wibadgers23 said:

Yeah it's really a shame and makes very little sense that rookie ball season ends just a couple weeks after the draft.

They still play baseball down in Arizona after the season ends, it’s just instructional league not official Complex League games.

[wibadgers23]

Really thought we'd see some promotions by now with the draft over and those guys signed.  Perhaps after this week we'll see a slew of guys bumped up?

[Mr Southpaw]

I think they will keep all of the A ball players together, maybe Adamczeski moves up to A+.  I don't think they will move Made and Pena up this year since they skipped a level. I would expect them to do a A+ 1/2 AA 1/2 next year.