The Offseason State Of The Brewers Farm – Relief Pitching, Part Two

The fact is, starting rotations are not the only place where exciting pitching talent can be found in the lower levels of the minors. There are interesting arms in the bullpens, too. Having a constant pipeline of talent can be valuable in more ways than one. The Brewers used prospects to get some potential 2024 help in the last month.

So, which relievers really delivered in the lower minors in 2023? Let’s take a look.

Kaleb Bowman (High-A Wisconsin/Double-A Biloxi)
2-1, 5.94 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 35 hits, 11 walks, 41 strikeouts over 33 1/3 innings pitched in 29 games
Bowman was a lights-out closer for the Timber Rattlers in Appleton, earning a promotion to Biloxi, where it got a little rougher. Still, for his first season in affiliated baseball, Bowman proved to be a credible pitcher, and an offseason in the pitching lab could build on an 11.1 K/9.

Brannon Jordan (High-A Wisconsin)
3-0, 3.21 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 31 hits, 13 walks, 39 strikeouts over 33 2/3 innings pitched in 26 games
Jordan was a ninth-round pick in 2021, and has shown strikeout capability. He served as a closer in the past. In 2023, he cut his walk rate down by 37 percent. Similar development in 2024 could make him a real asset for the Brewers’ bullpen.

Justin King (High-A Wisconsin)
1-2, 2.91 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, 23 hits 25 walks, 54 strikeouts over 30 2/3 innings pitched in 28 games
King has seen multiple stints on the injured list since the Brewers signed him as a free agent in June 2022. But when he is on the mound, he has simply dominated, averaging just under 16 strikeouts per nine innings. His big weakness is the free pass. If he can limit the walks, the Crew could have a Josh Hader-type closer on their hands.

Karlos Morales (High-A Wisconsin)
4-6, 4.91 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, 39 hits, 40 walks, 54 strikeouts over 47 2/3 innings pitched in 33 games
Morales proved to be a solid multi-inning reliever in 2023, even though he issued a few more free passes. Morales spent four seasons in the Arizona Complex League, then repeated in Wisconsin in 2023. He averages more than one strikeout per inning. Morales could be a left-handed version of Bryse Wilson, and that can be a very valuable bullpen asset.

Tanner Shears (Low-A Carolina/High-A Wisconsin)
4-2, 1.45 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 26 hits, 42 walks, 77 strikeouts over 49 2/3 innings pitched in 41 games
Shears was unhittable in 2023, allowing one hit for every two innings pitched. He also racked up 14 strikeouts per nine innings pitched and 10 saves. Shears, a free-agent signee from independent ball, could benefit from an offseason in the pitching lab to help cut down on the walks he issued.

Shane Smith (Low-A Carolina/High-A Wisconsin/Double-A Biloxi)
7-4, 1.96 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 36 hits, 21 walks, 86 strikeouts over 59 2/3 innings pitched in 38 games
Smith joined with Shears and King to form a lethal 1-2-3 out of the Timber Rattlers bullpen. He even pushed himself to Biloxi for a couple of games, after he lost a lot of time in 2022 due to injuries. Smith, a free-agent signee in 2021, did just about everything one would want from a fireman, notching 10 saves while averaging 13 strikeouts per nine innings.

Chase Costello (Low-A Carolina)
9-4, 3.76 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 52 hits, 20 walks, 53 strikeouts over 64 2/3 innings pitched in 28 games
Costello, an offseason free-agent pickup who spent 2022 in independent ball, handled a Bryse Wilson-esque long relief role for the Mudcats, averaging over two innings an outing. While he wasn’t overpowering, he limited both hits and walks. Like Wilson, Costello was an effective bridge to the late-inning relief corps.

Gerson Calzadilla (Rookie ACL Brewers/Low-A Carolina)
4-0, 2.11 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 35 hits, 13 walks, 38 strikeouts over 42 2/3 innings pitched in 18 games
Calzadilla was a terrific multi-inning option for the ACL Brewers in 2023, posting four saves and notching just under one strikeout per inning. He struggled a little in a brief call-up to the Mudcats, but he could be exciting to watch in 2024.

Osbriel Mogollon (Rookie ACL Brewers)
2-3, 3.72 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 35 hits, 24 walks, 43 strikeouts over 38 2/3 innings pitched in 11 games (five starts)
Mogollon showed he could still punch hitters out, but was a bit more hittable in the Arizona Complex League than he was in the DSL. That said, he cut down the wild pitches and hit batsmen, which compensated somewhat for the increased walk rate. Notably, in the more offense-friendly ACL, he only allowed one home run.

What do you think of these pitchers? Are there others in the low minors you think could break out big-time? Let us know in the comments!

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!