Five Under-The-Radar Positional Prospects Who Could Be On 40-Man Roster For 2025

Though they don't garner as much fanfare as the organization's top prospects or the parent club's top players, there are some players on the Brewers farm who are making very compelling cases for a spot on the 40-man roster, come November (if not sooner). Let’s take a look at five of these prospects.

IF/OF Isaac Collins
Collins was a waiver-wire pickup from the Colorado Rockies system in the 2022-2023 offseason. Since then, he posted an .855 OPS in the pitcher-friendly Southern League in 2023, and is posting a .905 OPS with Triple-A Nashville in 2024. His power has gone up a step (36 extra-base hits in 263 at-bats so far this year, compared to 25 in all of 2023), he’s adding speed (16-for-20 in stolen base attempts), and his OBP skills are superb. In addition, he plays multiple infield and outfield positions.

With this performance, he could entice a team to grab him in the Rule 5 draft, which would mean the only return the Crew gets is $100,000 cash. That’s not a good return for what could be a valuable bench asset, or even a little bit more. The Brewers could make sure that doesn’t happen by putting him on the 40-man roster this fall, although it would likely have to be at the expense of either Vinny Capra or Oliver Dunn.

UT Noah Campbell
Campbell was signed as an undrafted free agent following the truncated 2020 MLB Draft, but three years earlier, he had been picked by the Crew in the 19th round. He’s been a bit of a steal, providing all-over-the-diamond positional versatility. His offensive profile features the ability to get walks, some speed, and occasional power.

That competent bat is not his biggest virtue. His biggest virtue really is his defensive versatility. He can handle any position on the diamond – useful when a team has all of four bench spots. There are more paths to a big-league roster for someone who can move around that freely.

1B/C/DH Wes Clarke
Clarke is, perhaps, one of the Brewers' biggest late-round steals in recent years. In 2023, all he did was outperform Jackson Chourio in home runs, doubles, walks, and OPS, while splitting time between first base, catcher, and designated hitter. His three-true-outcomes bat (54 homers, 200 walks, and 349 strikeouts in 1,003 professional at-bats, as of Jul. 4) might make for a useful complement to Tyler Black at first base, if he can carry the same balance between those outcomes up to the highest level.

Clarke’s defensive abilities also should give him an edge. In 2023, he was Jeferson Quero’s main backup at Double-A Biloxi, after fulfilling the same role for Darrien Miller in Advanced-A Wisconsin. Come 2025, should the Crew go with William Contreras and Jeferson Quero in Milwaukee, it’s likely Contreras sees some time at DH, and having a third catcher like Clarke could come in handy--if he can handle that job at an MLB level, too.

1B/OF Ernesto Martinez
Martínez has had a long road to this point in his professional career, and the Crew re-signed him when he reached minor-league free agency in the 2023-2024 offseason. That decision has looked good, as Martínez has held down first base for Double-A Biloxi. While injuries have delayed his rise, he is still only 25. His tools and his production to this point leave the door open to a possible Eric Thames future, if things break right.

One bonus from Martínez is his speed. He has posted excellent stolen-base numbers since the pandemic, with 67 steals in 81 attempts. He’s also flashed greater defensive versatility than Jake Bauers or Thames, by filling in as a center fielder in 2024 (and 2021). If the Crew did decide to move some outfielders or a player like Black, Martínez is not a bad fallback option.

C Darrien Miller
While Jeferson Quero has generated the prospect accolades, Miller has quietly developed into what could be a solid number-two catcher, and he could be an excellent complement to Contreras and/or Quero. His left-handed bat has flashed power, but throughout his career, Miller has also displayed superb OBP skills (192 walks in 1,134 professional at-bats, as of Jul. 4). He’s also willing to get on base the hard way; he's been plunked 72 times in his career.

Miller is a potential minor-league free agent in the 2024-2025 offseason, but will only be 24 in the 2025 season. Brewers Player Development named him their Player of the Month for June. He’s a candidate for a 40-man spot, if only to have a little offensive variety with his lefty bat and OBP skills.

Overview
When the Brewers look at the upcoming offseason, these are players they could very easily lose to the Rule 5 draft or free agency. The Crew has done well with some not-so-heralded pickups in the offseason, luring them with 40-man spots (see Blake Perkins), but it may be time to do the same with homegrown talent.

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!