Caution Lights for Top Brewers Prospects - Part 1

OF Jackson Chourio – Low Walk Rates

Jackson Chourio is an exciting prospect to be sure, but like Keston Hiura, who rocketed through the system five years ago, he is showing a low walk rate along the way. This could be a concern, as we see from how Hiura struggled in 2021 and (to a lesser extent) 2022. Chourio’s youth means there is a lot of time for him to develop, but this has to be a concern for Brewers fans.

OF Sal Frelick – Thumb Injury

A thumb injury can wreck a hitter for a while. Just look at Ryan Braun’s 2013-2014 odyssey following his injury. While Frelick’s injury doesn’t seem as severe, it could delay his MLB debut to 2024.

IF/OF Tyler Black – Injury History/Batting Average Drop

Tyler Black’s play at third base with Biloxi has been a very bright spot for the Brewers farm system. His injury history, particularly 2022, is a worry. The other concern has to be the fact that his batting average has dropped to .234. While Black has OBP skills (he’s walked more than he’s struck out), he can do far more for the Brewers offense as a left-handed Jeff Cirillo with speed than by trying to be the next Russell Branyan.

C Jeferson Quero – Walk Rate

Quero’s got great defense, and his bat certainly is showing pop. The worry here can be expressed by the number seven. That’s how many walks he has through the games of June 1. Like Chourio, he is young and can develop, and he is not rocketing through the system like Chourio did in 2022 and Hiura did in 2018-2019. But if he can’t walk, the Crew may want to bank on Matthew Wood and Darrien Miller for the future.

RHP Jacob Misiorowski – Can He Start?

Misiorowski has Brewers fans who follow the farm system seeing a new ace in the late 2020s. But the real question is whether he can actually be a starter. To date, he has averaged less than three innings per outing in his eight starts. That puts a lot on the bullpen. Getting him to where he can go 6-7 innings will be crucial.

RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez – Walks

Rodriguez has dominated since his promotion to Wisconsin in 2022, but at the same time, he has walked 33 batters in 81 innings, adding five hit batsmen and a wild pitch to the total. If Rodriguez can lower the walks, he could be a very nice piece of the rotation in 2025 – or even 2024. But walks can kill a team.

LHP Robert Gasser – High WHIP

Gasser was part of the return for closer Josh Hader. While he’s striking out a lot of hitters, he’s also walking a lot and giving up hits. Are his struggles in Nashville an attempt to work on some stuff, or is it a sign hitters at the AAA and MLB levels have figured him out? Gasser could always be a bullpen option, but that would make the Hader deal look a little worse.

RHP Abner Uribe – Health and Walks

Uribe, with a lot of heat in his fastball and a devastating slider, is reminiscent of Derrick Turnbow, who was a late-inning mainstay for the Brewers in the mid-2000s. Turnbow’s Achilles heel, though, was walks, meaning that at times, hits were much more devastating. Uribe also spent time on the injured list this season.

SS Eric Brown Jr. – Power

If there is caution light for Brown, it’s a lack of power. To date, he has only five home runs in 232 at-bats in the minors. Otherwise, his defense, speed, and on-base skills look quite strong, but pitchers may decide to risk contact if he isn’t able to punish them for it–see how Brice Turang is doing in Milwaukee.

IF Daniel Guilarte – Power

Guilarte is in the same boat as Brown, only more so. Brown at least has hit some home runs. Guilarte has none, in 254 at-bats. Like Brown, his defense, OBP skills, and speed contribute to wins, and Guilarte is hitting for average. But this profile, similar to one-time second baseman Jeff Pickler, may not be enough to get Guilarte to the majors.

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