Fri. 5/1: Brewers Hoping for Heavenly Priester Performance

[Jim Goulart]

This thread will be utilized for any minor league news Friday.

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[Jim Goulart]

MLB Pipeline Newsletter Notes:

Luis Lara/Braylon Payne, OF, Brewers (No. 11, No. 13): Lara and Payne are both speedy outfielders in the Milwaukee system, and that’s about where the similarities end. Standing at 5-foot-7, Lara was more of a high-floor, low-ceiling type entering this season with his plus-plus defense and a severe lack of power. The 6-foot-2 Payne had a higher ceiling with 70-grade speed and loud contact, but his 30.1 percent strikeout rate at Single-A last season brought some concerns that the bottom could fall out of his profile if he never made adequate contact. 

The story for both early in 2026 has been significant jumps in slugging output. Lara’s five homers in 26 games for Triple-A Nashville are already a career high. His general contact still isn’t truly loud with a 90th-percentile exit velocity of 102.3 mph and a 54.3 percent groundball rate, but he is making tons of contact on pitches inside the zone. Adding a modest amount of strength and becoming even just a 10-12-homer threat as a switch hitter is huge for his outlook as a potential everyday player who provides more than the glove. 

Payne, on the other hand, already has a 115 mph homer that trumps any Brewers dinger in the Major Leagues for exit velo since Avisaíl Garcia’s 116.7 mph shot on Sept. 12, 2021, but we knew impressive high-end EVs were in the tank. His six homers -- only two fewer than his 2025 total in 63 fewer games -- and .796 slugging percentage have come because he’s putting that loud contact in the air more; his groundball rate has fallen from 50.3 percent in ‘25 to 38.2 percent in ‘26. The contact issues are still worthy of further study, as he’ll leak out early in his swing and become vulnerable to sliders, but the power-speed combo is entering rare territory.

[Ro Mueller]

RHP Quinn Priester makes his 3rd rehab start (2.1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 2 Ks in last outing) for AAA Nashville, who lead their home series over Norfolk 2 games to 1. 1B Brock Wilken’s on-base streak has reached 19 games. 

[Ro Mueller]

 

[Ro Mueller]

High-A Wisconsin find themselves in an 0-3 series hole at home against Quad Cities and look to RHP Yorman Galindez (7.27 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 10.4 K/9 in 8.2 IP) to snap the skid. The team leads the Midwest League in OPS, homers and OBP, but is 4th in runs per game.

[Ro Mueller]

19-year old, 6’4” RHP Tyler Renz (2.45 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 9.8 K/9 in 18.1 IP) has been solid thru 5 outings and can lead Low-A Wilson to even their home series against Salem. SS Juan Ortuno is 5-for-7 with 2 doubles, an HBP and SB over his last 2 games.

[RedStickBrew]

 

[duewizard]

Priester is really battling out there. 30 pitches and counting in the first. Missing the zone.

[duewizard]

Got out of it eventually. Rough inning.

[Joseph Zarr]

I do believe @wiguy94was on to something during Priester's Rehab debut. It sure as heck does not appear we will see him in a Brewers uniform for quite awhile. 

I don't know if Jose Nova allowed inherited runners to score for the T-Rats and Galindez but it's nice to see him K 2 while allowing 2 H in 2/3 IP to lower that ERA to 25.31. 🫣

[RedStickBrew]

Priester was all over the place with his command again. It was pointedly out in the broadcast that he did not have a spring training so it stands to reason that he will need time to build up and get a feel for his pitches again

[RedStickBrew]

Sounds on the comeback thanks to Lara and Williams each with a three hit night. Down by one now, 6-5.