The Minor League Season Recap and System Extravaganza - Nashville Closes Out the Set

[Joseph Zarr]

Well, last year I am unsure if @Spencer Michaelis and I recorded a single episode under two hours. This year? Who knows what we have in store - one thing is certain, however...no more grainy lagging highlight videos 😅.

(1) When will the first episode(s) drop?

We can't reveal that because, well, we don't know! BUT, we have a tentatively agreed upon recording window of 12/5-through-1/15. Buckle up, I say! 

(2) PLEASE drop any and all question below. Ask any and all things as it pertains to the Brewers Minor League players, teams, staffs etc. Feel free to share your observations and opinions as well. This thread will serve as our collective open space forum for the 2026 calendar year system wide.

We hope you can join us on our 2025 wrap-up episodic journey. We will adjust the thread title to reflect upcoming episodes and focus any incoming questions in that direction.

We'll 'see' you soon!

[Austin Tatious]

Love baseball talk deep in the winter with the windows all iced up.  Honestly I think I like it better than in-season because it makes me wistful for spring and summer.   Appreciate the year round work you put into the Intel.  I also like you keeping it real yet optimistic.  

[duewizard]

Favourite part of the offseason! You two do amazing work.

I apologise in advance for all the questions I'll make (if I find the time)

 

[Joseph Zarr]

9 hours ago, duewizard said:

Favourite part of the offseason! You two do amazing work.

I apologise in advance for all the questions I'll make (if I find the time)

 

Fire away! Any and All are absolutely welcomed.

[harrydalton]

Best pitcher fastballs?

[Austin Tatious]

How about these:

1.  How do you feel about Bishop Letson’s injury history?  He’s yet to put together a good workload.  Obviously he’s going to need to prove it but are you seeing any limitations that concern you.  Are there other pitchers for comparison purposes who either overcame having trouble building innings or did not overcome it.  
2. Could Tyson Hardin emerge kind of like Woodruff did.  I see a similar background as far as history.  Drafted around the same area IIRC and from a similar collegiate background.  
3. How good can Ethan Dorchies be and what does he need to do to get there?

4. How are you seeing Marco Dinges developing, especially behind the plate?  
5.  Sticking with catcher, is there a feeling that Quero can get his arm strength close to what it was?   
6.  As an aside I wonder about the insane number of injuries we’ve suffered from guys diving back to a base.  Is there something to study there?  Jimmy Nelson. Quero.  Mitchell.   I think there have been others.  
7.  What might change with the affiliate in Carolina that we need to think about in terms of conditions or anything involving player development.  
8.  I find Luke Adams to be one of the oddest profiles I have ever seen. You see him get off the bus and he looks like a Paul Bunyan. Yet he’s got surprising speed.  His reputation is he lays off a lot of pitches.  As he goes up levels, pitchers have better command. Passive swing decisions concern me.  What is your feeling on how he needs to develop?  
9.  I’m really excited about Andrew Fisher. I think he’s the kind of bat we need.  Do you project him ripping through the system?  Do you think he can stick at third? 

10. Blake Burke.  I don’t get why MLB has him 29th in our system.  What are they seeing?  All I see is a productive hitter.  
11. Josh A.   I’m hoping he will turn out to be the hitter I always thought Keston Hiura could be.   Love that bat especially at a young age.  This is a guy I would not entertain trade offers.  How do you feel about him?  Also, do you see LF as his more permanent  home?

12.  Made vs Pena.  Pena really erupted at the start of the year but by the end of the season it sure looked like Made separated himself a bit.  How would you compare them?

13.  I know he’s a major leaguer but what are your thoughts on Garrett Mitchell?  This guy looks like a freaking Adonis.  He’s got the swing and miss problem but to me he could be a major talent on the level of Duran of Boston.  But I think it would be insane to count on him.  

14. Cooper Pratt.  Is he using the whole field offensively?  I feel like every highlight I see, he’s pulling it.  Is that how he can get his hit tool better, I.e., by using all fields?

15. Luis Lara.  The defense seems tremendous.  Sounds like he’s got range even though he’s not tall.  Do you see him as a utility OF, maybe like the next Blake Perkins?  Do you see a profile with some similarities to Frelick?

16. Brock Wilken, Lara, or anyone else you see jumping to Milwaukee this year especially in the position player ranks?
17.  Looking at the Pirates reportedly moving up Griffin as a teenager, how do you feel about the Brewers’ extremely disciplined approach to promotions?  They can be aggressive but it follows a pattern and looks very well thought out.  The ML team could use some juice at some spots but the brass knows a guy like Pratt or Made aren’t ready to be force fed.  
 

I realize that’s too many, but those popped into my head just as vague ideas.  

[SF70]

I’m interested in the young pitching throughout the system. Do you agree with me that the pitching is ready to explode?

I’m interested in hearing your thoughts on the TJ’s that missed last year’s season rehabbing. Knoth? Woodward? Galindez? Broughton? Are they all on track to be good to go entering ST?

With this being Woodwards 2nd TJ, and him being R5 eligible next offseason do you see MKE bullpenning or rotationing him? 

Thoughts on the pitchers signed and brought in from the 2025 draft-class. Who’s your favorite arm? Sleeper?

Personally, I like the left-handed arms they added. Went from a system weakness to potentially a strength if we include Broughton who should finally make his debut next season.

 

[ClosetBrewerFan]

What corrections does Ortiz need to make to at least replicate his batting line from 2024? What is the likelihood that he can do it?  I hear people saying that we have Pratt available if Ortiz fails.  Is Pratt a better prospect than what Ortiz was when he was on the top 100? I am willing to give Ortiz another shot as he could be a very good shortstop but just not sure if that ship has sailed already or not.

[MattK]

On 11/20/2025 at 9:54 AM, Austin Tatious said:

How about these:

1.  How do you feel about Bishop Letson’s injury history?  He’s yet to put together a good workload.  Obviously he’s going to need to prove it but are you seeing any limitations that concern you.  Are there other pitchers for comparison purposes who either overcame having trouble building innings or did not overcome it.  
2. Could Tyson Hardin emerge kind of like Woodruff did.  I see a similar background as far as history.  Drafted around the same area IIRC and from a similar collegiate background.  
3. How good can Ethan Dorchies be and what does he need to do to get there?

4. How are you seeing Marco Dinges developing, especially behind the plate?  
5.  Sticking with catcher, is there a feeling that Quero can get his arm strength close to what it was?   
6.  As an aside I wonder about the insane number of injuries we’ve suffered from guys diving back to a base.  Is there something to study there?  Jimmy Nelson. Quero.  Mitchell.   I think there have been others.  
7.  What might change with the affiliate in Carolina that we need to think about in terms of conditions or anything involving player development.  
8.  I find Luke Adams to be one of the oddest profiles I have ever seen. You see him get off the bus and he looks like a Paul Bunyan. Yet he’s got surprising speed.  His reputation is he lays off a lot of pitches.  As he goes up levels, pitchers have better command. Passive swing decisions concern me.  What is your feeling on how he needs to develop?  
9.  I’m really excited about Andrew Fisher. I think he’s the kind of bat we need.  Do you project him ripping through the system?  Do you think he can stick at third? 

10. Blake Burke.  I don’t get why MLB has him 29th in our system.  What are they seeing?  All I see is a productive hitter.  
11. Josh A.   I’m hoping he will turn out to be the hitter I always thought Keston Hiura could be.   Love that bat especially at a young age.  This is a guy I would not entertain trade offers.  How do you feel about him?  Also, do you see LF as his more permanent  home?

12.  Made vs Pena.  Pena really erupted at the start of the year but by the end of the season it sure looked like Made separated himself a bit.  How would you compare them?

13.  I know he’s a major leaguer but what are your thoughts on Garrett Mitchell?  This guy looks like a freaking Adonis.  He’s got the swing and miss problem but to me he could be a major talent on the level of Duran of Boston.  But I think it would be insane to count on him.  

14. Cooper Pratt.  Is he using the whole field offensively?  I feel like every highlight I see, he’s pulling it.  Is that how he can get his hit tool better, I.e., by using all fields?

15. Luis Lara.  The defense seems tremendous.  Sounds like he’s got range even though he’s not tall.  Do you see him as a utility OF, maybe like the next Blake Perkins?  Do you see a profile with some similarities to Frelick?

16. Brock Wilken, Lara, or anyone else you see jumping to Milwaukee this year especially in the position player ranks?
17.  Looking at the Pirates reportedly moving up Griffin as a teenager, how do you feel about the Brewers’ extremely disciplined approach to promotions?  They can be aggressive but it follows a pattern and looks very well thought out.  The ML team could use some juice at some spots but the brass knows a guy like Pratt or Made aren’t ready to be force fed.  
 

I realize that’s too many, but those popped into my head just as vague ideas.  

Bumping out of line, but completely love these questions!!

[MattK]

Ok, I guess I have some additions: 

Has Mike Boeve's hitting ability been maxed out now? Where he has reached the highest level he is going to hit .300(+)/.400/.450? I thought he had some Wade Boggs-ian potential, but now am concerned he will struggle to get higher than AA. Or is it only injuries which have stopped him? 

Not that it probably matters, as he seems he will hit, but what position do you think Luis Pena will eventually wind up in?  2B? CF? LF? 3B? (Unsure about Made's arm vs. Pena's to include 3B as an option) 

Also, do you know enough about Jesus Made's personality to say whether you think he would sign a 8yr/$100MM deal after the lockout, if he is in about Chourio's situation of a 2026 year in AA, and <may> be ready for the majors in '27? Or if Cooper Pratt is playing SS, will he be willing to play 2B or 3B, or will that be an irritation? 

 

Looking forward to whenever you all come out with this! 

[biedergb]

I love it. Can’t wait Jospeh and Spencer. And no need to worry about time limits 😂 I’ll listen for 4 hours!

 

I may come up with some questions- here is a start

Draft ‘25 - which of the HS arms has the best upside, and scouting reports on the late HS arms Route, Bentley and Holden particularly since no one thought Holden or Bentley would sign.

ACL/DSL - the ‘25 draft is less impressive than the historically good ‘24 IFA group.  Which players are likely to come stateside of the DSL group? And then how do we view some of the ACL standouts like Anderson, Encarnacion, Montero, Fielder? And any hope for Ereu?

Low A -that HS pitching group was impressive in Meccage, Dorchies, Dubanewicz and Renz. Did I miss someone? How much patience should I have with Bitonti and DiTuri or should I jump off the bandwagon already as they keep teasing with potential but never consistent and seem to struggle in the second halves.

High A - will Peña return? How do the pitchers here stack up - will the Dorchies/Renz/etc group start here? Or will we see returns of some pitchers ie Rodriguez and rehabbing Knoth wind up here?

Double A - that IF could be fun with Made, Fischer maybe Burke and O’Rae? And Dinges at C? 

Triple A - who is there? Wichrowski, Crow, C. Rodriguez, Hardin, Hunt and Kuener are the likely candidates I presume. Thoughts on the AAA rotation- all prospects or will there be a bet (Zimmerman or someone like that?)

[Austin Tatious]

Good questions.  I’d add your impressions of the key guys we are about to sign internationally.   How would you stack them with the ‘25 and ‘24 classes? Maybe it’s somewhere in the middle.  

[Austin Tatious]

18. I’d love to see Fischer, Made and Pratt move up to Milwaukee by 2027.  How do you see that and how would you handle the awkward timing regarding our prospects and readiness for 2026?  It seems like there’s a gap on the left side of the infield but maybe only for a year since we hope the cavalry is coming.  I feel like they could make a 1-2 year move on a ss or 3B to bridge the gap.

19.  Thoughts on Payne?  More pop than advertised but less bat to ball skills than I thought.  How do you project his development?
20. Lot of people harp on us having OF depth.  I actually am thinking the opposite.  I could see us making a sneaky move here to acquire an OF.  If we knew Mitchell would put in a full season, I might feel differently.  I like Lara in a year or so but I’m not sure as an everyday starter.  Josh A can be great but still speculative to me.  

21.  If you were going to make move for an OF or SS, which prospects would you deal?  Depending on the situation, I’d think about Adams and Wilken.  Possibly Pena if the return player is a huge pickup.  If a pitcher needs to be moved, I’d try to avoid it but Wichrowski would be the guy to me.   I wouldn’t touch any of Henderson, Letson, Gasser, Dorchies or Hardin. We don’t have margin for error with pitching. 
22.  I feel like relief pitching is one of our critical secret sauces.  You have a deep and stellar pen that can get you past the fifth and sixth day after day and you can build the makeup of your entire rotation off that.  Even psychologically as a pitcher you can let it hang out if you know you’re in good shape if you get through 5-6 strong innings.
 

You see it with a guy like Priester who can give you five and then start to wear down  like clockwork.  Patrick, Myers, Logan, Gasser.  Even Mis.   These aren’t the names the Dodgers use but you get 5-6 good innings and kill it with your pen, and the next thing you know, you’re a 97 win team.  You can max out guys like that.  Do you agree?  And then, besides Yoho, who do you see as key bullpen arms added to the mix from our system in the coming years?

[CheeseheadInQC]

Outside of being only one of five, I believe, from his signing class to tally 200+ at-bats above low-A, is there anything positive to take from Lluyin Alastre’s time with the Timber Rattlers?

[Joseph Zarr]

These are great so far, gents. Love these and could quite easily riff on these questions alone for a good hour (apiece!🤭).I Kid! 😮

[Jim Goulart]

7 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

I Kid! 😮

 No, he’s not kidding.

[Joseph Zarr]

23 minutes ago, Jim Goulart said:

 No, he’s not kidding.

I snuck it by you, Jim! Blue font! Sneaky!

[CheeseheadInQC]

I’m kidding

<TV narrator>He was not kidding 

[Joseph Zarr]

59 minutes ago, CheeseheadInQC said:

I’m kidding

<TV narrator>He was not kidding 

[duewizard]

1. Thought on what will happen to Quero? Can his defense bounce back? If not, how much do think it will regress? Are we able to tell anything from his playing time in Venezuela?
2. It seems like Wood figured something out in AA. Do you think he can keep it up?
3. Is an Ordonez bounce back in the realm of possibility? The Carolina League seemed to outmatch him but he mashed in the rookie leagues.
4. If Vaugh and/or Bauers suck, do you see Luke Adams getting a shot?
5. Any word on Quinton Low? If he ever returns, can he stick as a 2WP?
6. What are your thoughts on Wilken?
7. Thoughts on Henderson? I have loved the guy for years but without a third pitch I worry what his ceiling is. Do the cutter or slider look  like something that could develop decently enough?
8. What is that next step Yoho needs to take to excel at the MLB level?
9. Thoughts on Melvin Hernandez and Manny Rodríguez? Could we see their names in top 10 lists soon or am I too excited?
10. Any international signings that have caught your eye?
11. Any guys you think could be a surprise add to the 40 man/make the roster from camp/could get a shot later in the year? Zamora, Murray, García, etc.
12. Any aggressive promotions you think we might see?
13. Thoughts on Guilarte's future? It was a baaaad year

That's all I have, for now. Sorry if I repeated questions asked before I tried my best to avoid it.

[snoogans8056]

Our focus at the plate seems to be stressing plate discipline.

Our focus in the draft and IFA stresses youth, and pushing it aggressively.

Do you think the combination of those two philosophies tends to show more warts than preferable at the lower levels? Would Bitonti and Payne be much more highly thought of if they were more aggressive and not having to protect the entire plate at the end of every AB?

[Joseph Zarr]

UPDATE:

Spencer and I intend to record episode #1 next week Thursday (12/11). As per last year, episode one will be the full macro run down of affiliate season results; releases and trades; any ML free agent signings; brief Rule 5 recap, and then zeroing in specifically on the adSL/ACL squads and seasons etc. I'd say "We'll try to keep it short and sweet..." but, let's be real: this will likely be our longest episode.😅

 

[SF70]

On 11/20/2025 at 6:28 PM, SF70 said:

I’m interested in the young pitching throughout the system. Do you agree with me that the pitching is ready to explode?

I’m interested in hearing your thoughts on the TJ’s that missed last year’s season rehabbing. Knoth? Woodward? Galindez? Broughton? Are they all on track to be good to go entering ST?

With this being Woodwards 2nd TJ, and him being R5 eligible next offseason do you see MKE bullpenning or rotationing him? 

Thoughts on the pitchers signed and brought in from the 2025 draft-class. Who’s your favorite arm? Sleeper?

Personally, I like the left-handed arms they added. Went from a system weakness to potentially a strength if we include Broughton who should finally make his debut next season.

 

Just read Hogg’s column this morning where he gave updates from Flanagan on the injured prospects of note throughout the team’s system. 

According to Flanagan all 7 pitchers that had TJ in ‘24 will be a full go this ST, including the 3 I asked you about, Broughton-Galindez & Knoth.

That answered my first question. 

[SF70]

Do you like Matt Arnold’s draft-strategy of the last 3 years of going underslot early to be able to spend $ on HS pitching later?

 

[SF70]

Of the 4 full-season affiliates, which one are you most excited to watch in the early going next season?