Brewer Fanatic 2025 Brewers Minor League Starting Pitcher Of The Year

[Harold Hutchison]

Image courtesy of © Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Milwaukee Brewers have become very proficient at developing starting pitchers. Just look at their starting rotation during the last five years. Many of the mainstays of that rotation were either purely homegrown (draft picks), or they were acquired while still in the minors, meaning the Brewers still had to develop them and maximize their talent. They've done that as well and as consistently as any team in the majors.

The list of names is impressive: Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, Freddy Peralta, Adrian Houser, Robert Gasser, Aaron Ashby, Tobias Myers, Logan Henderson, Chad Patrick, and Jacob Misiorowski readily come to mind. Will that list grow? Let’s look at the standout starting pitchers in the Brewers’ system for 2025.

The High Minors
Misiorowski and Henderson are two of the top stars. Misiorowski pitched enough that he’s no longer a rookie, but Henderson only amassed 25 1/3 innings, keeping his rookie status intact. Carlos Rodriguez posted a solid 3.82 ERA in Triple-A Nashville, averaging more than a strikeout an inning.

At Double-A Biloxi, Coleman Crow flashed signs of why (other than to save money) the Brewers traded two solid major leaguers (Adrian Houser and Tyrone Taylor) for him, posting a 2.50 ERA in 10 starts before getting a promotion to Nashville. Tate Kuehner also provided dominance with a 2.51 ERA in 21 starts, posting 10.0 strikeouts per nine innings. Tyson Hardin, a 12th-round pick in 2024, posted a solid 3.29 ERA in 10 starts at Biloxi after dominating at Advanced-A Wisconsin (2.34 ERA in 11 starts). Brett Wichrowski was also solid for the Shuckers.

Full-Season Class A Leagues
Hardin was not the only starter who performed well in Appleton. Bishop Letson missed about three months with shoulder trouble, but posted a 1.69 ERA when he was on the mound. Ryan Birchard posted a solid 3.91 ERA while striking out 10.5 batters every nine innings. Manuel Rodriguez racked up a 3.01 ERA and 0.99 WHIP, and was arguably the Timber Rattlers’ staff ace, despite missing about eight weeks—and he did it in his age-19 season.

In Carolina, Melvin Hernandez emerged as the Mudcats’ ace, posting a 10-5 record and a 2.00 ERA. He amassed 121 2/3 innings, allowing only three home runs and posting a WHIP of 0.99. The Mudcats also got a great deal of help from three 2024 late-round picks. Ethan Dorchies (10th round) posted a 3.27 ERA after dominating with the ACL Brewers. Travis Smith (15th round) posted a 3.20 ERA in 19 starts and allowed just one home run in 76 innings pitched before being promoted to the Timber Rattlers. Jayden Dubanewicz (16th round) delivered a 2.30 ERA over 58.2 innings and walked only 11 batters while in Zebulon.

Rookie Leagues
Tyler Renz, an 18th-round pick in 2024, put up solid numbers in Maryvale (3.50 ERA over 54 innings pitched) before earning a late-season promotion to Carolina, where he pitched even better.

In the DSL, Steven Duran posted a 2.77 ERA and didn’t allow a home run for the Brewers Blue squad—and did so despite being 16 years old when the season started, 2.5 years younger than the average DSL player. Diustin Mayorquin was one of four players tied for second in starts for the Brewers Blue team, and posted a 2.45 ERA over 47.2 innings, and also didn’t allow a long ball.

Minor League Starting Pitcher Of The Year
The Brewers have a lot of pitchers who can make their case to be the pitcher of the year. Kuehner dominated at Biloxi, serving as the ace of the Shuckers’ staff. Rodriguez did the same for the Timber Rattlers in Appleton. Henderson was superb before the flexor strain ended his 2025 season. Hardin also has a strong case.

But there is one pitcher whose performance stands above the others. Melvin Hernandez didn’t just become Carolina’s ace, he did so despite being over three and a half years younger than the average player in the league. He doesn’t even turn 20 until July 2026, yet he hasn’t merely survived; he’s thrived on the mound.

Congratulations to Melvin Hernandez, Brewer Fanatic’s 2025 Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Year!

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[snoogans8056]

Impossible to argue. What he did this year at 18 years of age is insane.

This offseason is a huge one in the grand scheme of Brewers baseball. The wagon has been hitched to these high spin kids and if we can get the stuff brought up to the same level as their production…. sheesh.

[jay87shot]

I 100% endorse this article, Hernandez was exceptional. If he threw harder he would be one of the fastest risers in the minors. I doubt there have been many better seasons in the minors from an 18 year old in the past 20 years.

[SF70]

18 hours ago, snoogans8056 said:

Impossible to argue. What he did this year at 18 years of age is insane.

This offseason is a huge one in the grand scheme of Brewers baseball. The wagon has been hitched to these high spin kids and if we can get the stuff brought up to the same level as their production…. sheesh.

I’m right there with you.

The pitching this organization is going to unleash on the baseball world starting next year is going to be incredible. 10 HS arms brought in from the ‘23 & ‘24 drafts will have had multiple offseasons working with maybe the best pitching lab/PDS in the game. Then there’s 6 more HS arms and 2 upside college arms yet to make their official debuts.

Then on top of all that projectable arm talent we have the rest of the 27 arm’s brought in from the aforementioned ‘23 & ‘24 draft-classes including 2 big arms from the ‘23 class now ready to pitch again after missing time from TJ,  Woodward-Knoth. And then we get Galindez back from his TJ, and I haven’t even mentioned international arm talent like the aforementioned Melvin Hernandez.

I can’t imagine any team in the game that has more solid or better arm talent in their organization than this team.

[biedergb]

This shows what the organization has done in terms of prospects - the depth.

I know we all have the sentiment that we will be flush with high end pitching, but the reality is most of these kids won't pan out for various reasons, but the best way to counteract that is depth. If Melvin Hernandez stalls out at high A for some reason, I will be sad to see it, but there will be Jayden Dubanewicz, Ethan Dorchies, among a dozen of pitchers who could fill that void of next years A ball ace pitcher in Wilson or Wisconsin.

Now teams like the PIrates and several other have better pitching prospects than the Brewers with a few high end elite prospects, but as far as depth of solid pitchers who have the ability to become more than that, I can't imagine another organization has that. You think big picture of controllable pitching (assuming current CBA rules into the future), and the Brewers have from Priester, Henderson, Miz, Patick through Cairone, Thompson, Morrison, Bentley, Holden, Roupe, Vucinovich, Flores, Episcope, its dozens of talented arms who can fill out a roster for a decade and a half.

Only hopeful for continued improvement and health of these young kids. As the injury bug seemed to sap some of the excitement of this year (hitters and pitchers), but that is the risk with pitchers and why the adage is "there is no such thing as a pitching prospect". Which is mostly true, but if you have the depth you hedge your bets and set yourself for a higher chance of success.

[SF70]

The Brewers have taken advantage of their incredible PDS with their unique draft strategy of the last 3 years — sign more projectable HS pitching than any team in baseball and develop them like no other.

But it’s their entire pitching system that is separating itself from most or all of the MLB world — The amateur scouting and evaluation is off the charts elite, and the combination of the two is going to lead to a system bursting with solid or better starter arms over the next few years that will allow them to trade from their excess like no team in the game, maybe even no team ever — I know that’ sounds like a hyperbolic statement, but that’s what I see ahead.

When a team has among the best, if not the best, multiple pitching departments in the game they should continue to use that advantage in a dogged attempt to roster the most talented team in the game and for the longest time possible. I don’t see the team changing this draft strategy any time soon.

As far as future potential TOR-type starters are concerned — Peralta-Woodruff-Burnes weren’t high draft-choice signings but became TOR starters with the help of the team’s PDS, which is what is going to happen all over again because of the boatloads and boatloads of talented arms the PDS has to work with.

Having six, 5-6 years controlled starters with BL experience, (Miz-Patrick-Priester-Henderson-Gasser-Myers), all of them with the potential to be solid or better rotation mainstays has changed everything for this team. They can now take their time developing their minors arms, first adding depth, with options, stashed in the uppers, then trading off the excess.

 

[biedergb]

20 hours ago, SF70 said:

Having six, 5-6 years controlled starters with BL experience, (Miz-Patrick-Priester-Henderson-Gasser-Myers), all of them with the potential to be solid or better rotation mainstays has changed everything for this team. They can now take their time developing their minors arms, first adding depth, with options, stashed in the uppers, then trading off the excess.

I think this is the key. By having several controllable major league quality starters, with potentially 2 front of the rotation arms at least, the organization can both 1) focus on improving the roster as a hole and not have to chase pitching (this is like a nfl team having a qb, they don’t waste time/resources/money on looking for their guy), and 2) allows them to develop the pitching at their pace no needs to rush them.

i agree that there are likely some high end pitchers in our system, and the developmental program can hopefully work on a few of these molds of clay. I do think the organization is in an enviable position with the depth at every level, and who knows who the next Woodruff (average “prospect” who exceeds all evaluators predictions)

[Harold Hutchison]

The crazy thing is... Hernandez doesn't even appear in the MLB Pipeline Top 30 or the Brewer Fanatic Top 20.

Yet he was arguably the best pitcher in the system in 2025.

He was an outlier - and the thing is, he probably hasn't fully developed physically yet, At this point, Hernandez is one of several prospects I'd consider untouchable in trade talks (only possible deal I'd take is the Dodgers sending Otani and Sasaki, and picking up all of Otani's deferred salary).

[SF70]

Hopefully he can add a few ticks moving-forward so with his pitchability and moxie he can really be something special.

[snoogans8056]

Along with the depth of everything, I’m very excited for what it all means down the line as all these teenage pitchers start bunching up.

Wouldn’t be surprised if we had 6 man rotations (to go with 6 day game weeks) along with piggy backing starters in the very near future. Allow for more inning management and time to work on stuff between starts. A perfect set up for bringing guys back from injury or even drafting potential steals like Broughton and Episcope.

Would also be nice to start adding dedicated fast moving college bullpen types in the draft to add to these hard to crack A-ball rosters made entirely out of starters.

[Jake McKibbin]

On 11/1/2025 at 2:50 PM, Harold Hutchison said:

The crazy thing is... Hernandez doesn't even appear in the MLB Pipeline Top 30 or the Brewer Fanatic Top 20.

Yet he was arguably the best pitcher in the system in 2025.

He was an outlier - and the thing is, he probably hasn't fully developed physically yet, At this point, Hernandez is one of several prospects I'd consider untouchable in trade talks (only possible deal I'd take is the Dodgers sending Otani and Sasaki, and picking up all of Otani's deferred salary).

What if they only offered Ohtani without the deferred money being paid?

[Jason Wang]

11 minutes ago, Jake McKibbin said:

What if they only offered Ohtani without the deferred money being paid?

not enough, that kid is washed I have NEVER seen him make a play in the infield or outfield. defensive liability.

[BrewerFan]

On 11/1/2025 at 9:50 AM, Harold Hutchison said:

The crazy thing is... Hernandez doesn't even appear in the MLB Pipeline Top 30 or the Brewer Fanatic Top 20.

Yet he was arguably the best pitcher in the system in 2025.

He was an outlier - and the thing is, he probably hasn't fully developed physically yet, At this point, Hernandez is one of several prospects I'd consider untouchable in trade talks (only possible deal I'd take is the Dodgers sending Otani and Sasaki, and picking up all of Otani's deferred salary).

He looks like a great young prospect, but what made people really take notice of Made and now think Made is one of the ELITE prospects in the game?

His exit velocity.

Why was Misiorowski a top prospect. He threw 104 MPH, his stuff was absolutely filthy.

Hernandez is a very mature pitcher, but... he's throwing 90-91, correct? And by all means, correct me if he took a jump and I missed it.

I hope he adds some weight and matures and can throw in the mid 90s. He's only 19, so it's possible. And I know(or... assume) you're being a bit hyperbolic... but I think the reason he doesn't appear that high is because.. those levels aren't really results based. They're driven by stuff.

 

I hope he becomes a crafty pitcher. I think being a RHP it'll be a bit tougher and his smaller frame(5'11 155 is... small). But maybe he's Freddy Peralta. 

[BrewerFan]

13 hours ago, Jake McKibbin said:

What if they only offered Ohtani without the deferred money being paid?

I know this is all obviously a joke, but... do you think there's any chance we'd make that trade?

I would REALLY be curious to see if we would. Take Ohtani with the promise of paying him 680M?

 

Someone on here said the Dodgers reportedly recouped his whole contract in the first year with sponsorships or corporate deals(and I decided to just Google it so I didn't have to rely on "someone said.")

https://www.si.com/mlb/dodgers/onsi/news/dodgers-made-back-shohei-ohtani-s-entire-700-million-contract-in-his-first-season-report

I wonder how big that'd number be with the Brewers. Ohtani is THAT big in LA, but surely the Dodgers already had massive deals. 

 

Again, just curious what people think as we know this is not going to happen. Aside from a NTC and being the biggest star in the world and Melvin Hernandez on his way to be the Brewers next(and only) homegrown HOFer... we'd have to take that, right?