Milwaukee Brewers 2026 Top Prospects Rankings, #16-20

[Spencer Michaelis]

Image courtesy of © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images (Craig Yoho)

The Brewers graduated a number of their top prospects throughout the 2026 season, including Jacob Misiorowski. They also had breakouts throughout the farm and made some trades involving prospects, so there are some new names to look at heading into this season.

Let's take a look at the first installment of prospects number 16-20, as voted on and compiled by the Brewer Fanatic writers.

#20 LHP JD Thompson (Vanderbilt)

Thompson was the Brewers' second-round pick in 2025, where he struck out 122 batters in only 90 innings, while only walking 30 along the way.

A strike-throwing lefty, Thompson features strong pitchability, interesting underlying data, and a deep arsenal. There's not a ton of projection remaining physically, but what stands out most is his overall feel for pitching. He throws a ton of strikes, sequences well, and shows the type of command and pitchability you expect from an advanced college arm.

The fastball sits 92–95 MPH and plays extremely well for its velocity, generating roughly 18 inches of vertical break from a lower 5.6-foot release height. He was consistently in the zone with the pitch, but the whiff rate was still north of 30% at Vandy, which tells you the shape and deception are doing a lot of work. 

His changeup is his best secondary in terms of shape, coming in about 10 MPH slower than the fastball with strong vertical and arm-side movement, giving it real bat-missing potential. However, he does lose his command of it at times, which has turned some evaluators off to the pitch. The slider sits in the low-80s with some cut action, and it will be interesting to see if the Brewers try to push it toward a more cutter-like profile in pro ball, with a little more velocity, or perhaps add a cutter separately. He also mixes an upper-70s curveball that produced big whiff numbers in college thanks to its two-plane shape, and while the lower spin could lead to less swing-and-miss in pro ball, it has a chance to be an above-average offering for him as well.

Given his age and experience, Thompson is a candidate to move faster than most pitchers in the system. He is a good candidate to skip Low-A and start his professional career in Appleton in 2026, and potentially push toward the upper minors sooner rather than later. Barring a velocity jump, the ceiling probably looks like a back-end starter, but he has flashed higher velocity in college. However, the combination of strike-throwing, feel, and pitch mix gives him a safe path to contributing in some form. This is the type of arm the Brewers tend to get more out of than other organizations.

#19 SS Brady Ebel (Carolina Mudcats)

PA	H	2B	3B	HR	OPS	wRC+	wOBA	K%	BB%	SwStr%	Whiff%	PULL%	CENT%	OPPO%	LD%	GB%	FB%	IFFB%	SB	CS	SB%
66	14	1	0	0	.592	79	.308	25.8%	9.1%	11.0%	27.1%	39.0%	17.1%	43.9%	37.5%	42.5%	20.0%	0.0%	0	1	0%

Drafted in the Competitive Balance Round A in the 2025 draft, Ebel entered pro ball with a high level of experience and polish for a player his age. His background includes spending a lot of time around big league players and the game, as his father, Dino Ebel, has been the Dodgers' third base coach for an extended period.

The early stat line comes from a very limited sample size, so it's unfair to read too much into it, especially given that several underlying traits have stood out, going back to his prep days. He's shown strong swing decisions, consistent bat-to-ball ability, and an overall offensive approach that looks more advanced than most prep hitters at this stage of development.

The profile is built around contact ability, with the chance for a strong hit tool and the possibility of average or better power down the road. For the moment, Ebel's power shows up more in batting practice than in games. He's an average runner who likely won't make a major impact with speed, but he moves well enough to handle multiple positions defensively.

On the defensive side, Ebel played third base in high school, as he shared the left side of the infield with 2025 number 10 pick Billy Carlson. In pro ball, though, he has primarily played shortstop, with his long-term home still up in the air. The range is solid, and he shows good instincts along with clean infield actions, but as he continues to fill out physically, a move to second or third base remains possible. His arm strength projects to be a clear plus tool and should be more than enough for either spot on the left side of the infield.

There's still plenty of development ahead, but the combination of baseball awareness, offensive foundation, and defensive versatility gives Ebel a strong starting point. He went through some adjustment periods in his first exposure to pro pitching, and a return to Low-A for a full season in 2026 should provide a clearer picture of how quickly the bat might progress.

#18 RHP Craig Yoho (Nashville Sounds, Milwaukee Brewers)

ERA	FIP	xFIP	IP	G	GS	SV	BS	K%	BB%	K-BB%	HR/9	SwStr%	Whiff%	WHIP	BABIP	LOB%	LD%	GB%	FB%	IFFB%	HR/FB
0.99	2.53	3.62	45.1	41	0	8	2	31.7%	10.9%	20.8%	0.00	14.8%	36.9%	0.99	0.248	85.7%	19.8%	51.5%	28.7%	27.6%	0.0%

Yoho moved quickly through the Brewers' system in 2024, reaching Triple-A in his first professional season after signing for just $10,000 as an eighth-round pick. He returned to Triple-A in 2025 and continued to dominate, posting a sub-1.00 ERA with a 31.7% strikeout rate while missing bats at an elite level. 

At 26 years old and already on the 40-man roster, he is much closer to a finished product than most players in this range. His brief struggles at the major league level came in a very limited sample and did little to change the overall outlook.

The standout pitch in Yoho's arsenal is his changeup, a true plus-plus offering and one of the most effective pitches in the minor leagues. It generates high swing-and-miss rates due to its significant movement and spin characteristics. Early in his Triple-A run in 2024, the pitch even got tagged as a left-handed curveball by Statcast because of its shape. 

He complements the changeup with a low-to-mid 90s four-seam fastball that features heavy run and often resembles a two-seam profile. He also throws a sweeping breaking ball that underwent adjustments late in the season, tightening its movement while increasing velocity by several miles per hour. These changes aim to improve the pitch's command, above all else. Yoho will also mix in a cutter in the upper 80s, though it currently serves more as a secondary option within the arsenal.

While his walk rates at Triple-A Nashville were manageable, major-league hitters showed an ability to stay off his pitches when they fell out of the strike zone. That ability to consistently locate his stuff remains the main hurdle preventing him from securing a long-term role at the big-league level. The recent adjustments to his breaking ball and continued refinement of his command will likely determine how quickly he establishes himself.

Yoho's raw stuff is clearly major league caliber. With improved strike-throwing, he has the tools to develop into a leverage reliever for Milwaukee, potentially as soon as this season.

#17 RHP Tyson Hardin (Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, Biloxi Shuckers)

ERA	FIP	xFIP	IP	G	GS	CG	ShO	K%	BB%	K-BB%	HR/9	SwStr%	Whiff%	WHIP	BABIP	LOB%	LD%	GB%	FB%	IFFB%	HR/FB
2.72	2.35	2.66	96.0	21	21	1	1	24.7%	4.4%	20.4%	0.28	12.9%	26.9%	1.18	0.346	74.2%	26.7%	48.1%	25.2%	22.4%	4.5%

A 12th-Round pick in the 2024 draft, Hardin emerged as one of the biggest surprises coming out of 2025 spring training. He continued that success into the regular season, making it all the way to Double-A and winning Brewers Minor League Pitcher of the Year.

After working primarily as a two-pitch reliever in college, he showed up with a much deeper arsenal, flashing an intriguing five-pitch mix and reaching the upper-90s with his fastball at times. That peak velocity didn't consistently carry over into a starting role, where he generally sat in the 93–95 MPH range, but the ability to reach back for more velocity remains notable.

There are some similarities in Hardin's development path to Brandon Woodruff's early career. Both pitchers showed more arm talent than production during their time at Mississippi State and were selected in the middle rounds of the draft, with Woodruff going in the 11th round and Hardin in the 12th. Woodruff initially operated in a similar velocity range after being drafted before gradually adding more consistent upper-90s velocity as he developed, providing a general framework for what Hardin's progression could look like. Hardin, however, is moving much faster through pro-ball than Woodruff did.

Hardin's four-seam fastball stands out as the foundation of his arsenal. The pitch generates good carry for his arm slot, producing roughly 15 inches of vertical break from a 23-degree arm angle. He shows a consistent ability to elevate the fastball, leading to a very flat vertical approach angle that can reach extreme levels, recorded at -3.6 degrees during his lone spring training Statcast appearance. The overall shape and velocity of the pitch resemble Bryan Woo's four-seam fastball in Seattle, which has generated strong swing-and-miss results at the major league level. 

Hardin's cutter also shows traits comparable to Woo's slider, and the movement profiles of his changeup and sinker, along with his arm slot, are similar as well. Hardin also generates above-average spin across his arsenal, adding to the effectiveness of his pitch mix. Command played a big role in Hardin's success as well, as he limited his walks to a stellar 4.3% rate.

Hardin experienced some arm fatigue late in the season, which was not a shock given his limited experience handling a starter's workload. How he manages durability and adapts to a full season will be an important area to monitor moving forward. If he remains healthy and continues to refine his arsenal, the profile points to a pitcher with major league starter potential and the upside to develop into a significant rotation piece.

#16 CF Braylon Payne (Carolina Mudcats)

PA	H	2B	3B	HR	OPS	wRC+	wOBA	K%	BB%	SwStr%	Whiff%	PULL%	CENT%	OPPO%	LD%	GB%	FB%	IFFB%	SB	CS	SB%	90th EV
342	69	9	4	8	.736	113	.364	30.1%	15.2%	14.5%	35.8%	51.1%	24.5%	24.5%	16.4%	50.3%	33.3%	23.0%	31	10	76%	105.1

The Brewers surprised many when they selected Payne with the 17th overall pick in the 2024 draft, though Curt Hogg has reported that the Dodgers would have selected him in the first round if he had still been on the board.

At the time of the draft, Payne was widely viewed as more of a speed-first, slash-and-dash type of player. Since entering pro ball, however, he has shown significantly more raw power than expected. He posted a 105.1 MPH 90th percentile exit velocity in 2025, an impressive mark for a player who spent roughly 90% of the season as an 18-year-old. While the powerful output was encouraging, it also raised some concerns. Payne posted a 35.8% whiff rate, much higher than anticipated entering the year, and also produced ground balls at a very high rate. His elite speed helps offset some of the impact of the ground-ball profile, but it can limit the value of his hard contact.

Defensively, Payne showed his upside, but also some areas for continued work. He played over-aggressively early in the season, which occasionally led to miscommunication in the outfield, but his range and willingness to make difficult plays were evident. His top-tier speed helps compensate for the currently underdeveloped jumps and reads, and those aspects did show improvement as the season progressed. The tools point to potential plus defense in center field, supported by an arm that currently grades around average.

At the plate, Payne's profile shares similarities with Garrett Mitchell, particularly in batted-ball tendencies, walk rates, and swing-and-miss numbers. The defensive skill set also follows a similar path, with Mitchell representing a more developed version of the same general profile. Payne's early professional career has also been marked by health concerns, contributing to an uneven 2025 season. He opened the year strongly before experiencing a downturn that led to adjustments in his stance and load. The changes appear aimed at creating a more stable base and improving consistency, though injuries limited extended game action following the adjustment. The 2026 season should provide a clearer picture of how the new setup affects his performance.

As one of the youngest players in full-season ball, Payne's up-and-down results were not unexpected. Despite the inconsistency, he still finished the season roughly 13% above league average offensively. Continued refinement of his swing path and overall contact ability will be key areas of improvement for him moving forward. His speed and defensive value provide a strong foundation, and if the bat develops, the overall profile carries significant upside. If the hit tool does not progress, his athleticism and defensive ability could still allow him to maintain a role in professional baseball, but reaching the big leagues could prove difficult.

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What stands out from 16-20 in this list? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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[Tedaldtada]

Fun times. We have seen so many pitchers throw over the last few days. To think guys like Torres and Kuehner won’t be in the top 20 is wild. 

Ebel should open some eyes early especially if he looks good at SS. My guess is he is better than advertised on D. 

[SF70]

Longenhagen was impressed with Thompson at instructs, so that has me excited.

I think we see a pitching explosion in this team’s system this coming season.

[Soupy]

What would define a pitching explosion?

5 or 6 guys ranked in the top 100?

Several pitchers contributing at the major league level. 
 

Both?

I think it’s possible 

[wallus]

16 minutes ago, Soupy said:

What would define a pitching explosion?

5 or 6 guys ranked in the top 100?

Several pitchers contributing at the major league level. 
 

Both?

I think it’s possible 

I think a pitching explosion would be the team having to trade good major league arms so you don't lose them in the Rule 5. 

[Jason Wang]

Figured that Yoho would be higher. I know he didn't do great in his eight big league appearances but his 21 ERA- and 55 FIP- across 43 appearances in Triple-A are still pretty mind-blowing to me.

 

[snoogans8056]

3 hours ago, Soupy said:

What would define a pitching explosion?

5 or 6 guys ranked in the top 100?

Several pitchers contributing at the major league level. 
 

Both?

I think it’s possible 

I don’t think we will have many top 100 guys. Top 100 is all hype and velo.

We are starting with 17th round picks that throw 90. It’s an uphill climb.

Letson needed top 1% extension with 97mph (and health) to break in.

[SF70]

My definition of a pitching explosion is having each affiliate packed with real pitching prospects to the point of excess where the team can trade-off pitching without depletion.

I think they get there before the trade-deadline.

[SF70]

2 hours ago, snoogans8056 said:

I don’t think we will have many top 100 guys. Top 100 is all hype and velo.

We are starting with 17th round picks that throw 90. It’s an uphill climb.

Letson needed top 1% extension with 97mph (and health) to break in.

Agree we don’t have the prospect-pedigree for multitudes of top 100 pitching prospects. But we will have multitudes of Holobetz’s we can trade-off to strengthen other areas of the team. Having a boatload of solid or better starters with BL experience all controlled for 5 & 6 years will make it easier to trade-off the excess.