The Brew Crew Just Might Have Done it Again

[MilwaukeeBeers]

 

 

It is no secret that the Milwaukee Brewers have quietly built an absolute powerhouse of a scouting pipeline in Latin America. Much of the credit belongs to the vision of former Brewers IF Taylor Green, the Director of International Scouting and Player Personnel, and Luis Pérez, the Director of International Player Evaluation and Global Crosschecker. Their track record in recent years is undeniable. To highlight a few of their successes would almost not do them justice entirely. They have brought in elite talent like Jackson Chourio, Jesus Made, Luis Lara, Jeferson Quero, Yophery Rodriguez, and Luis Pena to name a few. These players have become the lifeblood of a system that continues to churn out off the radar impact talent and valuable assets at a rate few other organizations can match.

Now, it looks like they have struck gold again with 18 year old outfielder Alexander Frias.

After proving there was nothing left for him in the Arizona Complex League, Frias recently earned an aggressive (based on age) promotion to Low-A Wilson after a dominant tenure in the ACL. Frias is far from a finished product, but his raw tools are staggering. He stands 6 foot 2 and is listed at 177 pounds, possessing a fairly scrawny frame that projects for physical growth as he ages. He pairs this physical projection with already plus bat speed and a plus plus arm in the outfield, making him one of the more exciting prospects in the lower levels of the system. There are legitimate outcomes where he can reach 70 grade raw power. Now the question is will he ever be able to tap into that kind of power potential.

Early in his transition to full season ball in Wilson, Frias is working through the growing pains of facing more advanced pitching and spin. He has a steep, long swing, which has led him to be late with timing and his current average launch angle results in a high volume of ground balls. Which in all honesty is a fairly common developmental hurdle for young power hitters. While there was chatter about a 117 mph exit velocity recorded in Goodyear Ballpark (Reds AZ Complex) earlier this year, it is safe to assume the radar gun was running a bit hot that night. Even so, his ability to generate bat speed is genuine and remains a standout trait.

When it comes to addressing these mechanical hurdles, the Brewers don't operate by forcing a "one-size-fits-all" swing. Minor League Hitting Coordinator Brenton Del Chiaro emphasizes an organizational philosophy of "you be you," focusing on individual player identity while ensuring they are in the right position to hit. As Del Chiaro has noted, the goal is for players to "know how to get the barrel to the ball" while maintaining the unique traits that make them successful.

However, this doesn't mean the staff is hands-off regarding development. Del Chiaro’s approach is deeply data-informed, specifically focusing on "contact rates, mostly in-zone contact rates" and ensuring hitters are "putting the ball in play in the air". When he visits affiliates, his primary focus is evaluating "what we are doing from a swing path perspective" to ensure prospects like Frias are effectively combating the issues that will be exacerbated as competition gets stiffer.

When you look at his profile, you see a familiar recent blueprint. We are talking about a tall, athletic, left handed hitting outfielder. He has shown an incredible ability to drive the ball, though his current focus is shifting toward learning how to consistently lift the ball to his pull side. In the complex league, he utilized an all fields approach (likely due to his long swing), but in Wilson, you have to imagine the team making an emphasis with him to pull the ball in the air. If he can master that adjustment, he will be a nightmare for opposing pitchers. In fact in a *very small sample the data shows this as an emphasis. 

Batted Ball Data *from Fangraphs	Frias 2026 ACL	Frias 2026 Wilson
Pull%	27.6%	41.1%
Cent%	28.6%	25.0%
Oppo%	43.9%	33.9%

This trajectory bears a striking resemblance to the early career path of top Dodgers prospect Josue De Paula. When De Paula was navigating the California League with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, he faced similar questions about his launch angle and batted ball distribution. Like Frias, De Paula had to refine his path to unlock his massive raw power and move from being a hitter who could just make contact to one who could drive the ball with authority. De Paula did have a better knack for pulling line drives right when he started pro ball though. 

The Brewers have a proven history of success in this area. They have shown they can refine bat paths to decrease ground ball rates and unlock natural loft, most notably with Jackson Chourio. During his rise through the minor leagues, Chourio also battled a tendency to pound the ball into the dirt before the staff helped him flatten and optimize his swing. Now he is one of the best young players at the Major League level. 

Here is a look at the statistical comparison between Frias in his current 2026 campaign and De Paula’s 2023 Low A season.

Metric	Alexander Frias (2026 ACL)	Alexander Frias (2026 Low A)	Josue De Paula (2023 First year Low A)
wRC+	189	99	117
OPS	1.196	.764	.768
K minus BB%	3.6%	9.2%	4.4%
K%	15.3%	17.1%	17.9%
BB%	11.7%	7.9%	13.5%
GB%	44.4%	63%	46.1%

NOTE: Data From Fangraphs and a very small sample for Frias in Low A

Frias is still in the early stages of adjusting to the rigors of full season ball, but his early production is encouraging. Despite the steep swing and the high ground ball rate in Low A, he has already collected three home runs in just 17 games. The tools are loud, the approach is improving, and he is clearly being challenged by the organization. If the Brewers can help him replicate the developmental arc we have seen from other elite international signees, Frias has every chance to rocket up prospect rankings by the end of the year with some serious helium.

For fun I synced up some low A footage of De Paula and Alexander Frias (most recent grand slam). Both batters crushing a hanging inside breaking ball during a lefty on lefty matchup. In no way shape or form am I calling them the same player. De Paula current day probably is a 99th percentile outcome for Frias, but when you see the tool package man is it fun to dream. 

 

 

[Stealofhome]

Really good work here pulling these numbers and especially the sync'ed up video. The big difference between the two that I see is the walk rate. Even though Frias had that 11.7% rate in the ACL, he's been right around league average in all three of his appearances so far, but De Paula has had multiple well-above average walk rate performances.