Brewers Farm System X-Factors, Part Three: Other Hitters

Manny Pina, for instance, was never on an MLB Pipeline top prospects list, but he was a superb asset for the Crew from 2016-2021. So, which minor-league players could be X-factors this season? Let’s take a look.

C Darrien Miller
Among backstops, Miller is easily the one who could surprise everyone. A left-handed hitter with superb on-base skills, some power, and some sneaky stolen-base capability, Miller profiles as a superb fit for American Family Field. But is he a catcher? A first baseman? Left fielder? DH? The Crew will have to figure that out.

C/1B Wes Clarke
Put it this way, if Jeferson Quero was not in the system, Brewers fans would be debating between Miller and Clarke as the catcher of the future. Like Miller, Clarke has OBP ability and power but has spent more time at first base than catcher. That being said… Clarke’s more proven versatility makes him likely to be a bench asset, at the very least.

1B/OF Ernesto Martinez
The big question for Martinez is health. If he can play a full season, his left-handed bat looks to be a great fit for American Family Field, with OBP skills and power. In his breakout 2021 season, Martinez also showed he could play some outfield with a brief stint in center field, and he became a stolen-base machine. Think Eric Thames – but one playing a passable center field and able to steal 30 bases as a full-time player. If that is, he avoids the disabled list.

1B/DH/P Quinton Low
A bit lower in the system, Low isn’t just a threat at the plate; he can also be a shutdown reliever, as he proved in 2022. This could make things interesting – as a hitter, his left-handed bat profiles well for American Family Field, and he has on-base skills, too. Adding the ability to come in and pitch an inning or two in a blowout (either way, whether a win or a loss), at the very least, Low will be interesting to watch.

1B/C Jesus Chirinos
Chirinos is a right-handed hitter who has flashed OBP skills and power that make him look very solid. In a system that lacks a lot of pure first basemen, he is a contender for serving as the team’s best first-base prospect. Chirinos has shown he can stay healthy, and in the 2022-2023 Winter League, he appeared to improve his contact skills while drawing more walks than strikeouts.

SS/2B/3B Andruw Monasterio
With Brice Turang, Eric Brown, Robert Moore, Tyler Black, Eduardo Garcia, and Freddy Zamora in the system, Monasterio doesn’t get the hype, but he is the “store brand” version of Brice Turang, who bats right-handed. He’ll provide OBP skills, doubles, and can steal a few bases. He also played every infield position but first base in 2022. Maybe he sees the Brewers' dugout, but he could also easily be a guy the Crew can flip for a rental.

IFs Zavier Warren and Cam Devanney
The Brewers have had a revolving door at third base since they moved Ryan Braun from that position after 2007, with the fading Aramis Ramirez providing the most stability of the lot. But Warren and Devanney are both making cases that they could change that. Warren is a switch-hitter who saw action at first base, catcher, and second base over his minor-league career and the AFL. Devanney rebounded from a rough 2021 to show the potential he flashed in 2019 and has also played shortstop, second base, first base, and even some left field.

OF Joe Gray Jr.
Gray flashed potential in 2021, and the power was there in 2022; his batting average was looking up at Bob Uecker’s career average. Gray has power and speed, and if he can return to his 2021 form, he has a chance, given that he draws walks, as Uecker did.

UT Noah Campbell
Campbell was drafted by the Brewers in 2017 but didn’t sign then. After his college career, Milwaukee picked him up, and for two seasons, he has demonstrated OBP skills, the ability to make contact, gets a bunch of doubles, some speed on the basepaths, and is very versatile. He’s also done mop-up work in his minor-league career. 

Overview
These players don’t get the big write-ups from Baseball Prospectus or Baseball America, but for the Brewers, these players could become cornerstones of the team over the next few years. If the Brewers are to continue their success, these are the kinds of players who should emerge.

Interested in learning more about the Milwaukee Brewers' top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!