Top 25 Milwaukee Brewers Player Assets of 2026: 16-20

[Michael Trzinski]

I'm gonna steal this (more or less) from Nick Nelson of Twins Daily. He said it better than I could.

The idea of this exercise is to take stock of the organization's talent through the scope of team-building. Our goal is to answer this question: Which current players in the organization are most indispensable to fulfilling the vision of building a champion?

We account for age, contract, controllability, upside, etc. It's not strictly a ranking of trade value, because that would be more team-agnostic, whereas this list aims to capture a very Brewers-specific point of view. As such, players at areas of scarcity (i.e., catching) get elevated, while those at areas of abundance (i.e., relief pitchers) get downgraded a bit.

Without more ado from afar, here is Part 2 of the Top Brewers Players Assets of 2025.

Part 1: #21-25

20. Logan Henderson, RHP

2026 Season Age: 24
Controlled through: 2031
Jason's rank: 18 | Michael's rank: 17 | Steve's rank: 18

After moving up in the Brewers chain for four years, Henderson made his highly awaited debut in Milwaukee in 2025 and didn’t disappoint. He earned wins in his first three decisions and struck out batters at a rate of 33% while walking only eight percent. He suffered a flexor tendon strain in August and missed the balance of the season.

Henderson features two plus pitches: a fastball in the 92-95 MPH range with over 17” of Induced Vertical Break (IVB), and a changeup that comes to the plate at 80-82 MPH and has an average of 18” of arm-side movement. He also throws a cutter and slider a combined 10% of the time, but he needs to work on those pitches.

The right-hander is expected to be healthy coming into the 2026 season and is a frontrunner for a spot in the Brewers' starting rotation.

Here are some of the highlights in Henderson's start against Washington on August 3, his last appearance of the season.

19. Jeferson Quero, C

2026 Season Age: 23
Controlled through: TBD
Jason's rank: 11 | Michael's rank: 15 | Steve's rank: NR

Quero returned in 2025 from the torn labrum in his right shoulder that sidelined him for all of 2024. He split time between the Arizona Complex League and Triple-A Nashville in 2025. Quero caught 34 games at Nashville and threw out only 19% of baserunners, dropping from 35% in his last full season. Opposing teams ran 50% more than they did in 2023; is the arm healthy?

Although he had only 250 trips to the plate at Nashville, I feel he has little to prove in the minors. His batting mark of .255/.336/.412 shows a good eye and decent pop. He could benefit from learning nuances of the catching job from ‘Wild Bill,’ and short of an injury, slump, or significant free agent/trade at the ‘2’ spot, Quero should be the primary back-up behind the plate this year.

Quero's three-run homer against Louisville in September 2025.

18. Cooper Pratt

2026 Season Age: 21
Controlled through: TBD
Jason's rank: 10 | Michael's rank: 16 | Steve's rank: NR

Pratt’s batting numbers dropped off from 2024, but two things have remained constant: speed and defense. His combined 2024 batting numbers were .277/.362/.406, compared to last year’s .238/.343/.348. His stolen base number improved from 27 to 31 last season. With a Gold Glove already on his résumé and 60 grades for fielding and arm, defense is not a problem.

Pratt is a line-drive hitter, but with his size (6-foot-3, 205 pounds), he should grow into his power. Once the face of Milwaukee’s future shortstop, he has been passed up by Jesús Made and Luis Peña. Those two are probably a year behind Prat, but are coming fast. Our own Telemachus opined that Pratt might be a trade chip in the future. Having too many players at the same spot is a good thing. Or is it?

All things staying the same, Pratt should make his big-league debut sometime this season.

A nice leaping grab by Cooper Pratt.

17. Aaron Ashby

2026 Season Age: 28
Controlled through: 2028
Jason's rank: 17 | Michael's rank: 20 | Steve's rank: 13

It seems hard to believe, but Ashby will be entering his fifth year as a Brewer in 2026. Last year, he was a major part of the mid-to-high leverage relief corps and set career highs with 43 appearances, three saves, 193 ERA+, and a 2.70 FIP. The Brewers have vacillated between using the left-hander as a starter or reliever, but smart money has Ashby in the pen, unless he is needed in the rotation in an emergency.

Last season, Ashby used his sinker 40% of the time with a velo of about 96 MPH. The slider (23%), curve (16%), and change (18%) are all formidable weapons. Just to keep batters honest, he has a fastball that also arrives at about 96 MPH.

Ashby will once again be a major part of the Brewers pen, either with multiple innings or as a late-inning guy if needed.

Aaron Ashby strikes out Freddie Freeman in the NLCS.

16. Andrew Vaughn

2026 Season Age: 28
Controlled through: 2027
Jason's rank: 24 | Michael's rank: 11 | Steve's rank: 15

Last year was a ‘tale of two cities’ for Vaughn after playing in Chicago and later in Milwaukee. It was the best of times (.308/.375/.493 in Milwaukee), and it was the worst of times (.189/.218/.314 in Chicago). Vaughn slumped in August (.695 OPS) but rebounded in the last month of the season (.942 OPS). Like the rest of the Brewers, Vaughn struggled in the NLCS against the Dodgers, taking a 0-for-12 collar.

Vaughn was a decent fielder according to FanGraphs, with a Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) of zero and an Outs Above Average (OAA) of +4 while playing for the Brewers.

The powerful righty is expected to, at the very least, split the job with southpaw Jake Bauers. But a hot start by either one of them could put the other on the bench.

Here's Vaughn robbing Max Muncy in the NLCS.

Next up, Part 3 (11-15). Enjoy!!

Let us know how we are doing. Did we miss anyone? Somebody rated too high or too low? Start the conversation in the comments section below!

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[rafa79]

Pratt isn't going to be traded, that borders on absurd.  Yes, virtually any player can be traded for the right price but it would have to be MORE than a Godfather deal.

Luis Pena is a great prospect but struggled for the first time and has an ETA no sooner than 2028.  I agree that you have a little logjam but I'm quite sure it will work itself out. 

I remember the impending OF logjam of just 3 years ago with Yelich, Frelick, Mitchell, Weimer and an upcoming Chourio.  We all know what happened: Yelich back issues, Weimer flamed out, Michell constantly hurt.  Yes, I know the infield guys we're talking about are overall more talented than the OF guys I mentioned (except for Chourio of course) but it worked out nonetheless.

[Michael Trzinski]

56 minutes ago, rafa79 said:

Pratt isn't going to be traded, that borders on absurd.  Yes, virtually any player can be traded for the right price but it would have to be MORE than a Godfather deal.

Luis Pena is a great prospect but struggled for the first time and has an ETA no sooner than 2028.  I agree that you have a little logjam but I'm quite sure it will work itself out. 

I remember the impending OF logjam of just 3 years ago with Yelich, Frelick, Mitchell, Weimer and an upcoming Chourio.  We all know what happened: Yelich back issues, Weimer flamed out, Michell constantly hurt.  Yes, I know the infield guys we're talking about are overall more talented than the OF guys I mentioned (except for Chourio of course) but it worked out nonetheless.

One of the three (Pratt, Pena, Made) could wash out...it happens. Hopefully not here. Otherwise, there is the possibility of a position change. If trading one of them would net a big bat, it could be worth it. Time will tell...

[sveumrules]

Andrew Vaughn at #16 is probably a little rich. No doubt he was integral to the success of the team last year, but doesn't feel like there is a lot of a juice there as an asset. Pretty sure every team in the league would pound the under on repeating his 142 wRC+ from last year with the Brewers (and especially his Judge-ian 202 wRC+ vs LHP).

Trading a disgruntled Aaron Civale for him is one thing, but if we traded any of the other four guys in this article for two years of a 1B/DH with a career 101 wRC+ and 0.0 WAR that was already projected for seven million plus in Arby's this year...I'd think a sleeper cell infiltrated the Brewers FO.

A guy like Ryan O'Hearn who has been much better (121 wRC+ | 6.1 WAR last three years) just signed for two years and $29M. Granted he is older than Vaughn, but Andrew is slated to make around $20M in Arby's the next two years and has a three month track record instead of a three year one.

Guess if one thinks he is a true talent 120 wRC+ kind of guy moving forward there is a little meat on the bone, but I'd imagine most teams internal projections would have him closer to a 110 wRC+ at best (Steamer says 104, ZiPS says 99) which makes him pretty much a neutral value asset at that point.

[MattK]

5 hours ago, rafa79 said:

Pratt isn't going to be traded, that borders on absurd.  Yes, virtually any player can be traded for the right price but it would have to be MORE than a Godfather deal.

Luis Pena is a great prospect but struggled for the first time and has an ETA no sooner than 2028.  I agree that you have a little logjam but I'm quite sure it will work itself out. 

I remember the impending OF logjam of just 3 years ago with Yelich, Frelick, Mitchell, Weimer and an upcoming Chourio.  We all know what happened: Yelich back issues, Weimer flamed out, Michell constantly hurt.  Yes, I know the infield guys we're talking about are overall more talented than the OF guys I mentioned (except for Chourio of course) but it worked out nonetheless.

Sorta funny that I noticed today. Pratt is still age 21. Likely will be starting next season in Nashville due to his D and the system probably wanting Made back at SS in Biloxi. 

Yet for some reason, probably due to Chourio, Made, and Pena, Pratt seems somehow that he is a disappointment right now. At age 21. With a platinum glove in the minors in his past. Age 21 has him right in line along with Turang as young guys moving through the system at a good pace. And, as ever with these young guys, there are more playing levels they likely will jump yet. 

I need to stop thinking of him as disappointing. He probably would be the top or second highest prospect in many systems.

[duewizard]

I like Vaugh but putting him over two consensus top 100 prospects feels wrong. Especially if the question you seek to answer is "Which current players in the organization are most indispensable to fulfilling the vision of building a champion?".