Harold Hutchison

The brewers could even add an option year or two as well. 2024: $10 million 2025: $15 million 2026: $15 million (team option with $5 million buyout, option becomes a guaranteed year if he pitches 150 innings in 2025) 2027: $17.5 million (team option with $5 million buyout, option become guaranteed if he pitches 150 innings in 2026) 2028: $20 million (mutual option with $5 million buyout) Woodruff could be guaranteed $30 million through 2026, but has the chance for as much as $87.5 million through 2028.

The whimper that the Brewers’ 2023 season ended with was disheartening, with some eyeing the potential departures of franchise mainstays. But could the Crew go for broke in 2024 with in-house improvements and make another run for the postseason? Image courtesy of © Reggie Hildred-USA TODAY Sports Let’s face it: the 2023 Brewers had some real weaknesses, notably in the offensive production department. First base, third base, center field, designated hitter, and second base were all offensive deserts for at least some portion of the season, and it showed. That said, there are some very plausible in-house options to improve those positions this season, giving the Crew one more year if they decide to keep Corbin Burnes and Willy Adames in Milwaukee for one more year to make that run. Designated Hitter Jesse Winker generated a lot of walks but little else for the Crew as the primary designated hitter, and he will depart shortly. One in-house replacement for him could be Mark Canha, who has a team option for 2024, costing Milwaukee $11 million. Another could be Christian Yelich – who is no slouch defensively in the outfield but may need to move due to the presence of Sal Frelick, Garrett Mitchell, Tyrone Taylor, Jackson Chourio, and Joey Wiemer. The team also used William Contreras at the position semi-regularly, which could be more frequent if Jeferson Quero forces his way to Milwaukee in 2024. First Base Rowdy Tellez started the season on pace for a career year, then a forearm injury he tried to play through derailed the season. While he could come back – a healthy Tellez in good form is a very dangerous threat, as seen in 2021, 2022, and early 2023 – the fact is, the Brewers could turn to one of the Canha/Yelich duo and get an uptick in offensive performance and defensive acumen at the position and land some return for Rowdy. Second Base Brice Turang provided Gold Glove-level defense at second base. However, his offense left much to be desired in 2023, with an OPS+ of 62. It was slightly better than Jesse Winker’s OPS+ of 60, and Turang helped the Brewers win in ways that didn’t show up in the box score, posting 1.6 wins above replacement, but he also was a black hole in the lineup for most of the year. The Brewers have some options for more offense – notably top rookie Andruw Monasterio, along with Owen Miller and Abraham Toro. Tyler Black could also see some time at the position if the Crew wants to go bat-first, and Cam Devanney is an arguable dark horse for some playing time after a superb 2023. Of course, Turang could take his offense up a level, as he did after initially struggling when he received mid-season promotions during his minor-league career. Third Base As with first base, the Brewers saw a hot start from Brian Anderson, who took over after Luis Urias was injured on Opening Day. However, Anderson cooled off after May and found himself on the bench as Monasterio took over at third. The Brewers later brought in former MVP Josh Donaldson for some extra power at the position, and he was solid, but he also cooled down a little near the end of the season. While Donaldson has a team option, 2023 was also the year that Black showed he could defend at the hot corner and demonstrated he had nothing left to prove offensively in the minors. Devanney, Miller, and Toro could also be contenders at third. Center Field Joey Wiemer flashed some power, demonstrated excellent defense, and swiped some bags after being called up following Urias’s injury. He ultimately delivered a 76 OPS+, good for 0.9 Wins Above Replacement. Like Turang, many of his contributions to the Brewers' 92-win season didn’t make the box score. The improvement here could easily be the return of Garrett Mitchell, who’s posted an OPS+ of 120 at the MLB level in a small sample size, or when Jackson Chourio makes his MLB debut. Wiemer, of course, could also develop and improve as well, leaving the Brewers with a plethora of good options. Overview The Brewers have no shortage of potentially significant offensive upgrades at the positions that were somewhat problematic in 2023. Could they be enough to help the team make another run at the postseason should Burnes and Adames stay? That answer could very well be a yes for the Brewers. View full article

Houser's worth it at that price. A solid starter who can hold down a 3/4 spot in the rotation. Take up the Miley option, too. As for Woodruff... I'd offer this deal: $12.5 million in 2024 $12.5 million in 2025 Team option in $15 million in 2026 that vests if he pitches 200 innings total in 2024-2025 or a $7.5 million buyout Team option: $20 million in 2027 or a $7.5 million buyout. Which is why I'm okay with going a little higher - 2/$25 million, but add a couple of team options. The Crew still gets the chance for a QO after 2025.

Offer him 3 years, $50 million ($15 million in 2024, $17.5 million for 2024 and 2025, team option for 2026 w/$5 million buyout). Worst case, by the end of that point, Baez is ready to take over at short.

Refining my thinking on the roster some more... LF: Frelick 3B: Black 1B: Yelich C: Contreras DH: Canha CF: Mitchell SS: Adames 2B: Monasterio RF: Taylor Bench: Caratini, Toro, Miller, Perkins Rotation: Burnes, Peralta, Miley, Houser, Ashby Bullpen: Uribe, Payamps, Milner, Megill, Vieira, Small, Rea, Bryce Wilson At this point, I'm inclined to make one more run - deal Devin Williams for a three-prospect package (all AA/AAA, a starter, a reliever, and a position player), make Uribe the closer. Plan to go QO with Burnes and Adames. Assume Woodruff's return will be the de facto starter acquisition - he'll get a QO as well, and I'd anticipate him taking it. I'd also flip Peguero for at least another AA/AAA prospect or some low-level lottery tickets. Try to see if I can get an Adam Lind-esque return for Tellez and Lauer. I figure at some point in the season, I'll flip Perkins when one of Chourio/Wiemer forces the issue from Nashville, and Tyrone Taylor becomes the 4th OF/DH. If both force the issue, then Canha can also be dealt. Tyler Black ends up the 3B. His bat has nothing left to prove in the minors. Let's get it to Milwaukee. I'm not going to sweat the defense - the Diamondbacks series (not to mention most of 2022) exposed the paucity of dynamic bats. So at the MLB level, Black is the 3B. In the minors, Juan Baez gets reps at shortstop, and Satchell Norman gets lots of time behind the plate.

Baez took his bat up a notch this year... and I'd like to see Adams get playing time at third - even with Boeve and Wilken there. That said... Brown's health is a huge question. Baez, on the other hand, is a very dynamic hit-for-contact bat who took it up a notch this year. I'd keep him at short. You don't often get a .900ish OPS at that position. The good-field, barely-hit Brewers fell to a Diamondbacks team that had a dynamic offense. Tyler Black could hold down third for a while. If Black's bat is MLB ready (no reason why it isn't), then why not keep Baez at short?

To me, the issue is offense. The good news: I see an in-house improvement at third in the form of Tyler Black. He's got nothing left to prove in the minors. First base gets improved by moving Yelich there. Frelick, Mitchell, and Taylor make for a good offensive/defensive OF. Second base will be improved with Monasterio moving there. Stand pat with Adames in 2024 at short - and hope Juan Baez has a Jackson Choruio-esque rise - his bat's been dynamic, and I'm ready to live with his ,871 fielding percentage at short if he can generate a .900+ OPS there. Devin Williams may be the best trade asset the Crew has. Deal Williams, get three good AA/AAA prospects in a team's top 30, and that could be very good. Uribe/Megill/Payamps/Milner/Peguero is an excellent front end of the bullpen, and the Crew has Rea/Brice Wilson/Ethan Small/Clayton Andrews as the top back-end options. As for Burnes... at this point, I lean towards keeping him and Adames, and going the QO route. I'm thinking Adames could be retained for $15 million a year - not cheap, but if he could be a bridge to Baez, that would not be the worst thing. Burnes... I worry the team will get an underwhelming return at this point, and I'd rather roll the dice. The Crew will have to keep Woodruff and offer the QO. It could enable one more run.

C: Contreras 1B: Yelich 2B: Monasterio 3B: Tyler Black SS: Adames LF: Frelick CF: Mitchell RF: Taylor DH: Canha Bench: Caratini, Miller, Toro, Perkins Rotation: Burnes, Peralta, Ashby, Houser, Miley Bullpen: Uribe, Megill, Payamps, Peguero, Milner, Small, B. Wilson, Rea Probably the best 26-man the Crew can get in-house, given Woodruff's injury. Given the state of the farm, I think it may be better to go the QO route with Adames and Burnes. OTOH, I think the Crew could get some good help by putting Devin Williams on the market. It's probably time to move on from Tellez and some others.

Tyler BlackJuan BaezJackson ChourioYophery RodriguezMelvin HernandezSatchell NormanJeferson QueroJacob MisiorowskiCam DevanneyRobert GasserMike BoeveBrock WilkenCarlos F RodriguezLuis LaraDemetrio NadalLuke AdamsCooper PrattEric PradoWes ClarkeEdgardo Ordonez

Today, Brewer Fanatic is handing out more hardware for the players at all levels who distinguished themselves. Who was the best pitcher among those who played in the Dominican Summer League and the Arizona Complex League? Yesterday, we presented shortstop Juan Baez, one of the standouts on the ACL Brewers, with Short-Season Hitter of the Year. Today, we’ll discuss the top pitchers in the short-season complex leagues affiliated with the Brewers. These teams didn’t get started until June and finished early in September. The ACL team saw a lot of flux between major-league rehab assignments and promotions, but the two DSL squads were quite stable. Brewers fans saw the importance of having a lot of pitching depth this season across the system. Whether it was having promising talent who filled crucial roles (see Abner Uribe) or who could help fill holes in other ways (see the Justin Jarvis trade for Mark Canha), pitching depth is important. There were a lot of outstanding performances in the minors, including these short-season leagues. Writers for Brewer Fanatic were asked to vote on these awards. Before we discuss the top three, here are the other pitchers who got votes: LHP Anthony Flores, 18, DSL Brewers 1, 11 games, 11 starts, 3.22 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 44.2 IP, 33 H, 16 BB, 57 K RHP Gerson Calzadilla, 20, ACL Brewers, 16 games, 0.98 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 36.2 IP, 25 H, 10 BB, 36 K Short-Season Pitcher Of The Year Here are the top three vote-getters for Brewers Short-Season Pitcher of the Year: 3. RHP Melvin Hernandez, 16, DSL Brewers 2 10 games, 7 starts, 2.06 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 35 IP, 33 H, 9 BB, 30 K Hernandez did not turn 17 until after the DSL season started and is listed as being 5-foot-11 and 139 pounds. On paper, that doesn’t sound imposing, and one would expect the debut to pro baseball to be rough. Instead, Hernandez became the undisputed ace of the DSL Brewers 2 squad. He averaged almost four innings a start, but what was notable was the signs of advanced command and control, allowing only nine walks and one home run all season, despite being over two and a half years younger than the average DSL player. His stuff is likely to get better as he fills out and gets professional conditioning. 2. RHP Eric Prado, 17, DSL Brewers 1 11 games, 7 starts, 1.54 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 41 IP, 24 H, 14 BB, 37 K Prado put in a strong case to be considered the ace of the DSL Brewers 1 squad, allowing less than one baserunner per inning. In particular, he was unhittable, giving up 5.3 hits per nine innings, and only allowed two home runs all season. His control was also solid, plunking only one hitter in 2023. He averaged four innings a start, and also had several multi-inning relief appearances. He’s made a case as one of the top pitching prospects in the Brewers system. 1. Enniel Cortez, 17, DSL Brewers 1 11 games, 8 starts, 1.58 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 45.1 IP, 35 H, 5 BB, 49 K Cortez was signed out of Nicaragua in this international season, and prior to the DSL season, he pitched briefly in the Nicaraguan winter league. Once with the DSL Brewers, he wasn’t just unhittable, he displayed incredible control and command – the five walks he allowed was almost as impressive as the fact he gave up only one home run. He averaged over four innings an appearance, and most impressively, pitched a complete game. If he stays healthy, he could be an incredible asset for the Brewers. The Brewers had some very strong standouts this year in the short-season minors – and these pitchers could be as good as Jacob Misiorowski, Robert Gasser, and Carlos F. Rodriguez in the next year or two. View full article

Shortstops posting a .952 OPS do not grow on trees... I'd keep him there, and can live with the ,871 fielding percentage. Best not to repeat the "move Braun from third" drama when you have a bat that incredible.

It isn’t just the starting nine on which a baseball team has to rely. They also need a deep bench to obtain the necessary postseason victories. Bench players have been heroes in playoffs past. Perhaps one of the more notable performances was that of Mickey Hatcher in the 1988 World Series. Filling in for the injured Kirk Gibson, Hatcher hit two home runs during that Fall Classic. As the Brewers chase the 13 wins needed to become World Series champions, who will be on their bench? Image courtesy of Brock Beauchamp & Brewer Fanatic Bench construction is not an exact science. Some players will be obvious locks for the bench. Others will be there because they start a fair bit of the time. Still others will be on the bubble. So, who will be filling which role? We are going to assume that the Brewers will take 12 pitchers into the first round of the playoffs, so there will be five bench spots. The Obvious Bench Players Victor Caratini Caratini is the No. 2 catcher for the Brewers, and more importantly, he's the Corbin Burnes whisperer. His .253/.327/.382 line (as of September 22) is not horrible, and his defense is okay (no passed balls, only one error, and catching 14 percent of baserunners trying to steal). There are worse backup catchers in the majors. The Part-Time Starters These are players who are likely to see time starting games, but who aren’t the everyday players like Christian Yelich, Willy Adams, or William Contreras. There may be more players mentioned here than the number of bench spots as a result. Brice Turang Turang’s defense has helped the Brewers pitching staff prevent hits and runs at an historic rate. The glove is why he's generated 1.5 Wins Above Replacement, despite posting an OPS+ of 62 in his rookie year. At the very least, he is a valuable defensive replacement for Josh Donaldson (who’s not doing a bad job at third base or at the plate), with Andruw Monasterio's versatility allowing the indirect substitution positionally. Rowdy Tellez Tellez’s injury earlier this season led to the acquisitions of Carlos Santana and Mark Canha. As a result, in the postseason, he is likely to share DH at-bats with Canha and William Contreras (the latter on days when Burnes is pitching, assuming that the team doesn't end up letting Contreras catch Burnes in October). Tyrone Taylor Taylor has been red-hot as he filled in for an injured Christian Yelich, after dealing with injuries and a slump earlier this season. Taylor can play all three outfield positions and he adds right-handed power, which could be useful against lefties like Clayton Kershaw, Justin Steele, Jesus Luzardo, and Max Fried. Andruw Monasterio The surprising rookie hero of 2023, Monasterio has seen action at second, third, and shortstop this year, and has been capable at all three positions. While his OPS is down from the highs of .773 as of August 15, he’s still posting a respectable .337 OBP and has delivered 1.4 Wins Above Replacement. Mark Canha Canha has been a big bat for the Crew, but is more limited defensively than the other Brewers outfielders. Should defense be at a premium, Canha may be on the bench against tough right-handed pitchers, allowing the Crew to use Taylor in the field. Josh Donaldson Donaldson has been a boon for the Brewers offense, posting a .793 OPS, and shifting Monasterio to second base. That said, he sometimes may need a day off, or the Brewers will want to focus on run prevention, so he could be saved on the bench or used as a DH. Overview The part-time starters really break down into three categories. Two of the Turang/Monasterio/Donaldson trio will start at third base and second base. Canha and Taylor will probably split time in a corner outfield spot, while Canha and Tellez also split duties at DH with Contreras and Donaldson in the mix. The Bubble These players could be on the roster or not, but if they are, they will be vital players on the bench. Joey Wiemer Wiemer came up to take over in right field (while Brian Anderson handled third base) in the aftermath of Luis Urias getting injured on Opening Day. After Garrett Mitchell was hurt, he took over center field and held it down defensively to the tune of 0.8 Wins Above Replacement. He also flashed some power (19 doubles and 13 homers) and speed (11-for-15 in stolen bases). Brian Anderson He cooled off after a hot start to 2023, helping carry the Brewers following injuries to Taylor, Luis Urias, and Garrett Mitchell while splitting time between third base and right field. With the emergence of Monasterio and the acquisition of Donaldson, he is on the bubble, and has been on the outside looking in for a month or more. Blake Perkins Perkins was signed to the 40-man roster after being granted minor-league free agency, and rode the Nashville-Milwaukee shuttle a couple of times. He provided decent offense and defense, and filled in when injuries hit the team. As a switch-hitter, he would deprive opposing teams of a platoon advantage. Garrett Mitchell When he’s been in Milwaukee, he’s hit well, but he had only 58 at-bats in 2023 and is currently rehabilitating in Nashville. Could he spend the last week of the season in Milwaukee getting tuned up? Possible, but the Brewers have players with much less rust to shake off. Owen Miller Another man who has piled up miles between Nashville and Milwaukee, Miller provided some offensive help earlier in the season before cooling down. He provides positional versatility, playing multiple infield and outfield positions. Abraham Toro The other player acquired in the Kolten Wong trade, Toro spent most of the season with the Nashville Sounds. His limited time in Milwaukee was very productive, though. A switch-hitter who played third base, second base, and first base in 2023, Toro will be available if the Crew needs depth. Overview One of these “fringe” players will likely end up on the playoff roster, at least through the first round. Going by their time in Milwaukee, it will likely be Perkins, but there are strong arguments to be made for the other players. Summary The Brewers have a lot of good players on the bench, which gives them options to match up against starters and relievers who might come at them during the course of a playoff series against any given opponent. Even some of the players on the bubble have had big moments for the Crew in 2023. So, the Brewers can feel very good about their bench. View full article

The Brewers have a very deep outfield mix. Several players have emerged as solid options for the long term. But with the Brewers needing to secure 13 playoff wins to come out as World Series champions, which of those guys will likely be on the postseason roster? Image courtesy of Brock Beauchamp & Brewer Fanatic We can put those outfielders who are on the 40-man roster into three groups: Those definitely on the roster, those who will be on the bubble, and those who probably will not be in the dugout. So, who falls into which category? Stats are as of the morning of September 20. The Locks Christian Yelich Yelich has rebounded more from two subpar full seasons, posting a .272/.363/.432 line over the regular season, good enough for a 117 OPS+. He’s also provided excellent defense in left field. A recent flare-up of back troubles has had him resting, but if he is healthy, he will be on the roster. He certainly looked good upon his return to the lineup in Miami. Mark Canha Canha has provided a solid veteran bat since his acquisition at the trade deadline. He slashed .313/.394/.465 since coming to the Crew, for an OPS+ of 135. He’s limited to the corner outfield spots and first base or DH, but he hits well enough to fit at any of those slots. Sal Frelick Frelick had a hot start this spring and at the World Baseball Classic, but didn’t make the 26-man group out of Spring Training. Then he got injured, after slumping at Triple A. He’s rebounded with a 111 OPS+, flashing OBP skills (.374 OBP), speed (seven-for-seven in stolen bases), excellent (if sometimes worryingly reckless) defense, and even some pop. Tyrone Taylor Taylor also slumped early, after missing considerable time with multiple injuries. Over the last two weeks, however, he has been scorching hot–posting a .310/.341/.571 line. Taylor is getting untracked just as the Crew is heading for the postseason. On The Bubble Joey Wiemer Wiemer stepped in after injuries to Luis Urias and Taylor, and held down center field defensively for most of the season after Garrett Mitchell’s injury. He showed some power and speed, and he drew some walks, but he generally struggled against MLB pitching. He did much of the heavy lifting, and in one sense has earned the spot, but he is an offensive liability, and his defense grew slightly shakier late in the season. Blake Perkins The switch-hitting Perkins was on the Nashville-Milwaukee shuttle a lot in 2023, and was solid in the field while adding some occasional pop and good OBP skills. He struck out 41 times in 122 at-bats, though, and his batting average of .213 is a liability. His OPS is actually lower than Wiemer’s. Garrett Mitchell The Brewers’ 2020 first-round pick has hit well when he’s been in Milwaukee–between his 2022 callup and his 2023 season, he’s posted a .286/.341/.462 line, good for an OPS+ of 121. However, he’s had a lengthy layoff due to a shoulder injury, and just now started a rehab assignment in Nashville. No Chance To Be On The Roster Jesse Winker The offseason trade acquisition of Winker did not go well for the Brewers. He posted a .199/.320/.247 line, which left him at a 59 OPS+. If he is on the roster, things have gone very badly on the injury front. Darin Ruf Ruf struggled with the Brewers after signing as a free agent, before an injury sent him to the 60-day injured list. He is not likely to be on the postseason roster, given the presence of Mark Canha. Final Prediction The Brewers, at least for the first round of the playoffs, will likely go with Canha as the designated hitter (possibly splitting time with Rowdy Tellez), while having Yelich, Frelick, and Taylor as their starters in the outfield. The last outfield spot will probably end up going to Perkins, although Mitchell could make a case for it. View full article

The Nashville Sounds had a pretty good season (even if they missed the playoffs), going 82-65. This was with a roster in constant flux, due to the Milwaukee-Nashville shuttle and some opt-outs. So who were the biggest standouts? Image courtesy of © Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports Of the players who stood out for the Sounds in 2023, some are traditional prospects, while others are… not so much. So, this will probably wind up a more eclectic group than when we reviewed the other minor-league squads. Tyler Black A familiar name from our review of Biloxi, Black was promoted to Nashville on Aug. 6, and responded with a .304/.426/.507 line while splitting time between third base and first base. With his performance in such a short time, he’s made a strong case to be Milwaukee’s Opening Day third baseman in 2024. Cam Devanney Devanney served as Nashville’s primary shortstop after returning from an injury earlier this year. He delivered 39 extra-base hits en route to posting an .824 OPS. He also saw action at second and third. A 15th-round pick in 2019, he’s been a steal from that draft class, which featured Ethan Small and the overlooked Darrien Miller. Patrick Dorrian Dorrian handled three infield positions with the Sounds in 2023, while also delivering a lot of power (21 homers). While his bat isn’t as high-average as Black's or Devanney’s, he held down all four infield positions this year, notably with the most extensive time at shortstop he's seen in his professional career, making a case for at least an invite to spring training. Keston Hiura Hiura’s made the case for consideration for a 2024 roster spot in Milwaukee, after he performed solidly in the outfield, at first, and second for the Sounds. He was also a solid DH. The .960 OPS included 31 walks, to go with power (23 homers), and he was even willing to take a few plunkings (17 of them) to get on base. Abraham Toro Toro may end up the best player involved in the Kolten Wong-for-Jesse Winker deal from this past offseason. He displayed excellent OBP skills, hit the ball with authority (44 extra-base hits), and handled three infield positions. Toro has made the case for a bench spot on the 2024 Brewers--or, at the very least, being at the top of the list of names when the Crew needs to make a call to Music City. Clayton Andrews Andrews rebounded from injury-plagued seasons and earned a spot on the shuttle to Milwaukee. With the Sounds, he posted a 6-0 record with a 2.53 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 57 innings pitched, with 74 strikeouts to 31 walks and five saves. Andrews has made a strong case to replace Andrew Chafin in the 2024 Brewers bullpen. Robert Gasser Acquired in the Josh Hader trade, Gasser emerged as a potential rotation option for 2024, posting a 9-1 record with a 3.79 ERA and 1.28 WHIP in 135 1/3 innings pitched for the Sounds. Gasser racked up 166 strikeouts and cut his walk rate by 40 percent from his numbers down the stretch upon joining Nashville in 2022. Ethan Small After some struggles in 2022, Small emerged as a solid reliever in the bullpen, posting a 2-4 record with a 3.18 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP over 51 innings pitched. He notched 61 strikeouts and gave up only 24 walks in 2023. Small could find himself on the Milwaukee-Nashville shuttle in 2024. Thyago Vieira While he’s not a prospect, technically (his rookie status ended in 2019 with the White Sox), Vieira, a minor-league free agent signee, was superb for the Sounds, and found himself returning to the big leagues late in 2023. He led the Sounds with eight saves while posting a 2-2 record with a 3.35 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over 37 2/3 innings pitched for the Sounds. Who do you think were the biggest standouts for the Sounds in 2023? View full article

Two way Tellez for 2024?

With the end of the season coming up, and the Brewers almost a virtual lock to make the playoffs for the fifth time in six years and heavy favorites to notch their third National League Central division title in that timespan, there is one major question: How should Craig Counsell handle the last week of the season? Image courtesy of Brock Beauchamp & Brewer Fanatic The short answer: It depends. Why those two words? Let’s recap the situation for the Brewers as of the morning of September 20: They are six and a half games ahead of the Cubs for the NL Central crown, needing a combination of eight wins and/or Cubs losses to secure the title. This is a very good spot to be in for the Brewers. The Brewers have a total of nine games left: three games in Miami against the Marlins, then following a day off; there is a six-game home stand with three games each against the Cardinals and Chicago Cubs to conclude the regular season. Given that the Cubs slid backward while the Brewers were surging, it is extremely likely that the Crew could clinch the division before that final home stand. In that case, the Brewers will want to set things up so that their “Big Three” starters, Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, and Freddy Peralta, will be set to handle the first-round playoff series, a best-of-three matchup with the number six seed, which would be whoever comes ahead in the tiebreakers between the Cincinnati Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks. Barring an epic collapse, that objective should be easy to reach. That would mean the team can spend the last week focusing on preparing for their first-round playoff series. If the current trends hold and the Brewers clinch the NL Central on the road this week, then the best option for the Brewers will be to use that last week of the season to tune up players who are missing time and to rest others. This last week could be an extended rehab stint for Garrett Mitchell, for example, and a chance to let Joey Wiemer try to get a bit more into the groove. It could also let veterans like Christian Yelich and Mark Canha get much-needed rest before the playoff push if necessary. In addition, it is also a good chance to figure out who should go onto the bench and in the bullpen for the playoffs. Can Brice Turang hit well enough to start? Or should the Crew use rookie hero Andruw Monasterio at second? Will Mitchell or Wiemer be the reserve outfielder? Can Andrew Chafin be the second lefty in the bullpen, or should Eric Lauer, Ethan Small, or Clayton Andrews get a shot? The Brewers also get to figure out how to construct their batting order. It could include some experimentation with the batting order. For instance, Sal Frelick is proving to be a very capable leadoff hitter, which could allow the Crew to move Yelich to third in the order and push Carlos Santana, Canha, Rowdy Tellez, Willy Adames and Josh Donaldson down a space – making the lineup more dangerous. Given the situation as it is right now, the Brewers have a chance to answer a few questions for the 2023 playoffs in the last week of the season, and getting those answers should be the primary goal when Craig Counsell makes his managerial decisions. View full article

The Biloxi Shuckers had some real heartbreak this season, falling just short of the Southern League playoffs. While it is heartbreaking, there are some things worth recognizing. Which players helped push this team to the cusp of post-season play? Image courtesy of Biloxi Shuckers The fact is, Biloxi fielded a very talented squad – and many of those who started the season there ended up earning promotions to Nashville and reaching the cusp of the major leagues. Let’s look over some of the Shuckers standouts. Tyler Black Black moved to third base this season, and not only did he avoid the injuries that plagued him in 2022, but he also developed into a legitimate all-around threat, cutting short the regular minor-league season and the Arizona Fall League. He posted a .273/.412/.513 line, added 47 stolen bases and earned a promotion to Nashville on August 6. Noah Campbell Campbell has been quite versatile over his career and is one prospect often neglected in many write-ups. In Biloxi, it manifested in him seeing time at four positions in the field and substantial work at designated hitter. During that stint, he posted a .255/.394/.431 line and saw a power surge, hitting more home runs with Biloxi in 2023 than he did in any previous season. He did all that while shuttling between Biloxi and Nashville, too. Jackson Chourio Chourio initially struggled in his first full season at AA at 19 but rebounded to post a .280/.336/.467 line, with 22 home runs and 43 stolen bases. He also provided value in center field defensively, tying for the team lead in outfield assists with six. Chourio is one of the top prospects in all minor league baseball and will likely start the 2024 season in Nashville. Wes Clarke Clarke split time between catcher and first base, handling the former due to top prospect Jeferson Quero’s multiple injured list stints. Clarke brought a legitimate “three true outcome” bat – posting 26 home runs, 89 walks, and 147 strikeouts, leaking the Shuckers in all three categories. His .241/.392/.498 line is even more impressive, given the ball the Southern League used early in the season. Isaac Collins Collins was a minor-league waiver-wire claim but proved to be another versatile asset – much like Campbell has been. He saw time at all three outfield positions, third base, and second base, while posting a .269/.424/.431 line. His plate discipline and speed were excellent, but he also provided pop in 25 extra-base hits in 290 at-bats. Jeferson Quero Quero has been a top prospect for years – but his bat leaped upward this year, with power (16 home runs) and on-base skills (38 walks in 3336 at-bats). Quero’s defense has also drawn high marks – he nailed 35% of would-be base stealers with the Shuckers. The big issue was staying on the field, but by 2025, he could provide some interesting options for the Brewers. James Meeker Meeker broke out big time in Brisbane over the 2022-2023 Australian baseball season following a solid showing in 2022. This year, he did even more. He was a shutdown reliever and filled in capably as a starting pitcher when injuries depleted the Biloxi rotation. Meeker likely has earned consideration for a spot on the Nashville-Milwaukee shuttle for 2024, where he could be a cheap but crucial contributor. Carlos F. Rodriguez Rodriguez was the undisputed ace of the Shuckers rotation, posting a 9-6 record and a 2.77 ERA across 123 2/3 innings pitched over 25 starts. Rodriguez racked up 152 strikeouts this season and only allowed 53 walks. He will likely start 2024 in Nashville, where he could get a call-up to the Brewers bullpen, following in the steps of other Brewers mainstays like Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff. Who do you think stood out for the Shuckers in 2023? View full article