Harold Hutchison

The more I think of it, the more Sal Frelick gives me Ichiro vibes. .300+ average, bunches of doubles, fair bit of steals, few strikeouts, but he may be better at drawing walks than Ichiro was. A fixture at the #1 or #2 hole of the lineup for a decade.

When it comes to the hot corner, the Brewers are deceptively shallow. They don’t have anybody officially listed at third base, yet some very capable players are spending time at that position and have in the past couple of years. Image courtesy of © Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports See Luis Urias, often officially listed as a shortstop, or Jace Peterson, who often was listed as a second baseman at the major league level in the past. The same holds in the minor leagues, where the options at third often have come from elsewhere on the diamond. AAA Nashville Weston Wilson, the primary third baseman for the Sounds in 2022, is now with Philadelphia. That said, the Brewers are not without options – Patrick Dorrian is one option, having posted a .868 OPS with Nashville in 2022. He also faces competition for playing time from natural shortstops Cam Devanney, Brice Turang, and Andruw Monasterio. Much of this will probably shake out when Turang goes to Milwaukee. Owen Miller and Abraham Toro could also be in the mix here. AA Biloxi Zavier Warren manned third base late in 2022 for the Shuckers and could easily start there. Still, Tyler Black and Felix Valerio could also be content for playing time at the hot corner down in Mississippi, where Ethan Murray could be on the outside looking in. All have something to prove – for Warren, it’s hitting for average to go with OBP skills and power. Valerio needs to rebound from a somewhat slump-y 2022. Black’s issue is staying off the IL, while Murray’s bat has been a question mark. A+ Wisconsin After being drafted in the 7th round of the 2022 amateur draft, Ben Metzinger jumped from the ACL to Wisconsin and flashed some OBP skills and power. Jheremy Vargas was a walk machine at Carolina in 2022 and could be the #2 third baseman, while Alberis Ferrer and Luis Silva could also be moved up to Wisconsin for the bench. A Carolina The hot corner is up in the air for the Mudcats, given the many players who cycled through the position in the two ACL teams the Brewers fielded in 2022. Luke Adams and Miguel Briceno performed well in small samples with the ACL Brewers Gold, while Ney Serrano was an OBP machine for the ACL Brewers Blue. Jadher Areinamo, Beyker Pastran, and Alexander Perez also could figure into the mix for the Mudcats. Rookie Leagues Johan Barrios and Erick Reyes, OBP machines for the DSL Brewers 2 in 2022, will likely face off with DSL Brewers 1 OBP Gery Holguin, with Jhonny Severino, Angel Pereira, and Richard Rojas also being in the mix. The stakes could be high since the Brewers cut to a single ACL team. Overview The Brewers may be short on “true” third basemen in the system. But Luis Urias has shown that a converted shortstop can work out quite well, which is a good sign for Devanney. Historically, Paul Molitor’s move from second to third offers Tyler Black and Felix Valerio hope. With the shift ban, the Brewers may be able to prevent more runs simply by moving bat-first shortstops to the hot corner while still getting some solid offensive performances. View full article

And a lot of these players could be factors at multiple positions.

Second base is becoming very intriguing in Milwaukee, not just with the major-league competition between Luis Urias, Brice Turang, and Abraham Toro. Image courtesy of © Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports The minors also have a lot of very interesting possibilities at the position, especially when looking at AA and below. What are these possibilities, and how good could they be? Let’s take a look. AAA Nashville Brice Turang and Andruw Monasterio both played shortstop and saw action at second base. Josh VanMeter, Owen Miller, and Toro also could see action at the position for Nashville if they do not make the major-league roster. Felix Valerio also could be in Nashville if he forces his way up. There could be a revolving door, due not only to the fact that many of these players could be in Milwaukee at some point during the season but also that many of those there could be highly talented options for Nashville. AA Biloxi Valerio could end up back in Biloxi after some 2022 struggles, but he has a track record of offensive performance after coming over in the 2019 Keon Broxton trade. That said, Valerio could face a lot of competition from Tyler Black and Jose Acosta. Black has been a professional hitter on the field but has had multiple injuries in the regular season and the Arizona Fall League. Acosta has flashed a lot of power, but he’s also struggled with getting on base. A+ Wisconsin Zack Rabbe and Robert Moore both flashed potential in 2022. Rabbe was an on-base machine that generated a .364 OBP with many doubles. Moore, though, made a case that he could be a real star, with the #72 overall pick in the 2022 June draft adding a dominating performance during the 2022-2023 Australian baseball season. Either way, the Brewers have some interesting options there. A Carolina Jose Caballero, Jadher Areinamo, and Alexander Perez all posted decent seasons with the Brewers in the Arizona Complex League in 2022 and will likely be the top contenders for the Mudcats. Areinamo put together the best offensive numbers in a relatively small sample size, but Caballero showed an intriguing OBP-speed mix. Jesus Parra could also be in the mix if he isn’t playing a lot of first base. Rookie Leagues Angel Pereira and Demetrio Nadal will likely be the leading candidates to handle second for the lone ACL Brewers team or 2023, with Jose Pena and Donis Rodriguez serving as competition. Pereira flashed some superb OBP skills with the DSL Brewers 1, while Nadal has an OBP-speed mix and also flashed a little power potential for the DSL Brewers 2. Juan Baez also saw time at second base with the DSL Brewers 2, albeit he spent more time between shortstop and third base. Overview The Brewers have questions at second base through their farm system. That said, these questions, like those surrounding the outfield for the major-league team, could have many good answers. Turang, Black, and Moore are all blue-chip prospects, but Valerio, Monasterio, Miller, and Toro could be valuable contributors for a period at the major-league level. Further down, the Brewers have other players who could make things interesting. Then again, many of the system’s talented shortstops could wind up at second. View full article

The Brewers have solid options at first base at the major league level between Rowdy Tellez and Keston Hiura, but how will this position look in the minors for the Crew in 2023? Image courtesy of © Curt Hogg / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK First base may often seem like an easy position to find someone to play – and the Brewers have received some good performances in the past from signings that didn’t generate a lot of waves: Eric Thames from the Korean Baseball Organization, the acquisition of Tellez, and even the pickup of Jesus Aguilar via waivers. But the best option is to develop from the minors. Who might emerge from the farm to be the next home-grown mainstay at first? AAA Nashville 2023 NRIs Jon Singleton and Luke Voit will likely be the primary options in Nashville. Both have major-league experience, and Voit did win the 2020 AL home run crown. Neither are young, and Singleton’s MLB track record is a three true outcome bat that struggles to reach the Bob Uecker line. If the Brewers see either of them in Milwaukee for an extended period, they could be in big trouble. AA Biloxi Ernesto Martinez is an under-the-radar prospect with power potential and good on-base skills. In 2021, he broke out, adding speed and showing the ability to play some outfield. The biggest question is if he can stay healthy. Wes Clarke, while a catcher, also saw a bit of time at first base, and with Darrien Miller and Jeferson Quero a potential 1-2 punch there, he may be moved to first if Martinez spends time on the injured list. A+ Wisconsin Jesus Chirinos, like Martinez, has quietly flashed real offensive potential. Beyond that, Australian Alex Hall saw limited action at first base in Wisconsin, while Luis Silva backed up Chirinos in Carolina in 2022. Here, Timber Rattler fans must believe in Jesus to continue his development. A Carolina Quinton Low, Jesus Parra, and Branlyn Jaraba will likely split time between first base and DH for the Mudcats, who will have depth here, thanks to the fact the Brewers had two teams with the Arizona Complex League in 2022. Low will likely see the bulk of playing time for the Rookie Leagues Yeison Perez and Arnys Rodriguez got most of the time at the DSL Brewers 2 and 1 teams, respectively. Perez performed very well offensively, while Rodriguez posted a .360 OBP due to a superb walk rate. While primarily catchers, Edgardo Ordonez and Eric Martinez saw time at first base in 2022. As with a catcher, having only one ACL team will make the competition fierce. Overview At AAA, the Brewers are banking on some folks whose MLB track records show potential and big questions. But at AA and below, the Brewers could have multiple options, which could be long-term answers at the position for Milwaukee, even if many of them have to prove a few things. View full article

As April approaches, it is time to start looking at the Brewers Farm system, see which players will be where, dive deeper into each position from AAA to the full-season A, and maybe even hazard a guess as to the rookie leagues. Image courtesy of © Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports While William Contreras and Victor Caratini will be handling the bulk of the starts at catcher in Milwaukee if all goes as planned, the minors will have a lot of potential depth. Let’s look at each of the full-season teams. AAA Nashville The primary catcher will be former Brewers prospect Payton Henry, who was dealt to the Marlins in 2021 for John Curtiss. That deal didn’t work out for the Crew, but they got Henry back for a rookie league OF Reminton Batista. Throughout his professional career, including two brief cups of coffee in Miami, he’s shown power and OBP skills. Alex Johnson and Brian Navaretto will likely be the backups there and will get lots of playing time if Henry is called up. AA Biloxi The starting job could be up for grabs. Jeferson Quero is a hot prospect, hitting pretty well with the Carolina Mudcats and Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. His only minus is a low walk rate in the small sample in Appleton. However, Darrien Miller has performed well at the plate, not just over his career in the United States but also during the 2022-2023 winter season as Brisbane, where he posted a .812 OPS, and his bat shows plenty of pop. Wes Clarke, who split time between first base and catcher with the Shuckers and Timber Rattlers, could also factor in behind the plate. A+ Wisconsin Quero could very well start in Wisconsin, despite a mostly superb performance in 20 games in 2022 due to the presence of Miller and Clarke. He would likely be joined by Jose Sibrian, who showed OBP skills and some doubles power, but will be 24 and looks more like an organization player. Australian Alex Hall could also see time in Wisconsin after a superb 2022-2023 “winter” season in Perth. A Carolina 2022 fourth-round draft pick Matthew Wood could end up the starter here. Still, the Brewers had four catchers at the ACL in 2022, including Jhonnys Cabrera, who looks to be a 3TO option that not only played catcher but also saw action at first base and took the mound occasionally in 2021 and 2022. Blayberg Diaz, Jason Ollarve, and Felipe Valderrama also could be factors at Carolina Rookie Leagues Wood did not see much professional action, so he could end up in Arizona, while Edgardo Ordonez and Eric Martinez look to be the most promising from the 2022 DSL teams – and with the Brewers cutting down to one ACL team, the competition will be fierce. Overview The Brewers look set for the short-term at catcher between Contreras, Caratini, and Henry. Down the road, though, there are a lot of options. Quero gets the spotlight in the minors, but Darien Miller’s left-handed power bat could be a good fit for American Family Field. At the same time, down in the lower levels, Wood, Cabrera, Ordonez, and Martinez could also become factors for the Crew. View full article

At this point, I think the position player group for the Opening Day 26-man looks like this: cf: Mitchell ss: Adames lf: Yelich c: Contreras dh: Winker 3b: Urias 1b: Tellez rf: Anderson 2b: Toro bench: Caratini, Perkins, Brosseau, Hiura

We’ve looked at the state of the Brewers on the field, but a crucial aspect of the team also warrants review: the decision-makers, both those on the field and those off the field. Image courtesy of © Ebony Cox / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK The Brewers are already looking at some turnover in the front office with David Stearns’s stunning decision to step aside with a year left on his contract. What will happen in 2023 and beyond? Let’s take a look. The Manager: Primary On-Field Decision Maker By about any measure, Craig Counsell can make a case for being the most successful manager in the 54-year history of the Milwaukee Brewers, holding the records for most wins and most playoff appearances. He has been the guy making the calls for what was the Brewers’ longest sustained run of success, making the most of the players the team had available at the time. His contract expires after this season, and there has been no visible move to extend him. The Brewers need to either have Counsell locked up as soon as possible or have a succession plan in place. The former would be ideal, as Counsell has handled roster turnover quite well. If the latter, we could be seeing the Crew decide to go into a rebuild or at least a step backward for a season or two, given the harsh economic realities exposed during the most recent hot-stove season. Switching a manager is a decision not to be taken lightly. The Primary Off-Field Decision Maker The stunning decision by Stearns to step down as President of Baseball Operations following speculation he could be going to either the Mets or Astros was a blow to the Brewers. Stearns was the architect who assembled and acquired the players who made the 2017-2022 run possible – a run that will extend at least one more season. Matt Arnold was elevated to replace Stearns and offers at least some continuity. Some brilliant moves marked his first offseason, and for the most part, they seem to have brought back some excellent pieces for 2023 and beyond, but like Counsell, his contract runs out after this year. To put it mildly, baseball is seeing some economic uncertainty, given that several regional sports networks could be facing bankruptcy. The ability to put together a competitive team in one of the smaller markets is a rare thing, and the Brewers need to do what they can to hold on to proven commodities. Dealing players is far preferable to losing front office talent. Overview While what the players do (or don’t do) contributes a great deal to the team’s success (or lack thereof), one cannot ignore the importance of the manager and the team's architect. A great manager and GM/president of baseball operations can maximize the team’s performance with the limited resources the Brewers have. The Brewers have great ones in Counsell and Arnold. The extensions of Counsell and Arnold – or locating their eventual replacements, if that is how things break – probably should be the top priority for Mark Attanasio. For the Brewers, the right manager and front office personnel are probably more crucial than almost any player on the field. Just look at the tenure of Sal Bando to see the alternative. View full article

Put it this way... it's worth seeing what the Brewers development team can do. I'd feel better if he were a NRI and Brent Suter was on the 40-man, to be honest.

To me, Wilson did show something over the last six outings after developing his splitter. Post-splitter Wilson posted a 4.05 ERA, which while not spectacular, is not bad for a back-of-the bullpen option for long relief.

The bullpen has historically been a strength of the Brewers over the years, even in the doldrums of the late 1990s. Today we'll take a look at how it stacks up in 2023. Image courtesy of © Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK Past Brewers teams may not have had the horses to take the lead in some years, but they often were able to hold the leads they did have. In 2018, Josh Hader, Jeremy Jeffress, and Corey Knebel were the Crew’s equivalent of the “Nasty Boys” the Reds turned to in 1990. With what we’ve seen from the infield, outfield, and starting rotation, the Brewers can take many leads. Will the 2023 bullpen hold them? Let’s look and find out. The 40-Man Roster Devin Williams has been dominating since his Rookie of the Year campaign in 2020, and after the Hader trade, he posted 15 saves. With the departure of Brad Boxberger as a free agent and the decision to put Brent Suter on waivers, the top returning relievers for the Brewers are Peter Strzelecki, Matt Bush, and Hoby Milner. Jake Cousins pitched well when he was healthy; it is a big question if he will need Tommy John surgery. Of the new acquisitions, Javy Guerra looks promising but only really settled in with the Rays last season. Justin Wilson could be a solid lefty, but he will be on the 60-day DL while recovering from last year’s Tommy John surgery. Joel Payamps, acquired in the William Contreras deal, looks solid. Rule V pick Gus Varland struggled in two years at AA since the pandemic. The Brewers have some other resources for bullpen help. Corbin Burnes and Aaron Ashby spent a lot of time in the bullpen when they first reached the majors, and some of those in the mix for rotation jobs could find themselves in the pen. One other note: Abner Uribe and Cam Robinson have both intrigued as relievers in the minors but are more likely to be Opening Day 2024 options than for 2023. Still, they look like a potent 1-2 punch for the Crew in the latter half of the 2020s. Non-Roster Invitees Alex Claudio was a valuable asset prior to the three-hitter rule as a LOOGY for the Crew. Lucas Erceg, a converted third baseman, has flashed potential as a reliever and could be an emergency bench asset in some situations. Thomas Pannone was a swingman in two seasons in MLB from the left side. Robert Stock was a swingman in 2022. Thyago Vieira spent the last three years in Japan and posted some good numbers. X-Factors/Potential Breakouts Aside from Uribe and Robinson, the Brewers could see some real breakouts in the minors. Clayton Andrews was a promising lefty out of the bullpen who also saw some time in center field and whose offensive profile was more of a slap-hitter, but he is coming off two injury-plagued years. Matt Hardy has posted solid numbers from the bullpen since being signed as an undrafted free agent. Michele Vassalotti sparkled in his first year from the bullpen after scuffling as a starter. Ryan Middendorf jumped from the ACL to Biloxi in 2022. James Meeker dominated from the mound at Brisbane this past winter. Pablo Garabitos was an outfielder but could be a future lefty from the pen. In contrast, 2017 25th-round pick Karlos Morales, another lefty, seemed to settle in the bullpen in 2022 between Carolina and Wisconsin. Then, of course, there is always the potential for prospects acquired in trades, given the uncertain long-term future of Willy Adames, Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, and Eric Lauer, among others. Overview The losses of Boxberger and Suter leave the Brewers with some uncertainty. The cash for the declined option of Boxberger and giving Suter some form of modest extension would have been relatively small; that said, the Brewers front office did very well in finding some potential replacements, and between the NRIs and the farm system, there are some very intriguing options. Williams has the ninth inning locked down, for sure. The question will be, who can step up to help the Crew get to the ninth? Right now, that looks a little thin. View full article

It is a low-risk pickup, especially if they can make a decent reliver out of Wilson. The splitter seemed to help, though, and over those last six starts, his ERA was 4.05. Not at the level of Burnes/Woodruff/Peralta, but not awful, either. It would be suitable for the back end of the bullpen, especially if a starter has one of those days that make him feel like a baby seal in the Arctic.

The starting rotation has been one of the biggest strengths of the Brewers since the 2020 season. That looks to be the case again in 2023; let's look at the options available to the team. Image courtesy of © Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports The top three of the rotation – Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, and Freddy Peralta – all would be aces on just about any other major-league team. But while the short-term situation looks very good, what happens to the Crew over the medium and long term as service time accumulates? The 40-Man Roster Burnes, Woodruff, and Peralta will be the Crew’s top three starters at the start of 2023. Put it in indelible ink. All three have dominated, and that dominance has fueled the latter half of the Brewers’ four consecutive playoff appearances, not to mention the near-miss of 2022. Eric Lauer, Adrian Houser, Aaron Ashby, and Wade Miley are right behind them. With Ashby likely headed to the disabled list with shoulder soreness, joining 2022 depth option Jason Alexander, who is already on the 60-day DL, the Crew’s depth is still okay. Still, already, an eye is looking to Nashville. The pitchers in this second tier could easily range from a high-end #2 starter (Lauer) to solid #3 pitchers (Ashby, Miley, and Houser). In Nashville, the Brewers have Ethan Small, who dominated in AAA but struggled in Milwaukee. Bryse Wilson and Janson Junk have primarily been starters in their major-league careers, giving the Brewers some additional options until Ashby and Alexander get healthy. The Non-Roster Invitees Robert Gasser is another young left-handed pitcher, the last player left on the Brewers from the infamous Josh Hader deal. He’s put up some solid numbers in his minor-league career and could be an option if the 60-day DL gets more occupants. J.C. Mejia has done both starting and relieving in his professional career, while Colin Rea put in a starter-like outing in 2021 for the Crew from the bullpen. Tobias Myers is only 23 but has a lot of experience in minor-league rotations. Tyler Herb is 30, with a long career of starting in the minors and independent-league ball. X-Factors/Potential Breakouts Justin Jarvis, a fifth-round pick in 2018, will likely start in AA but has looked solid and dependable. Victor Castenada has also emerged as a decent option who would move into the Brewers’ second tier by the end of 2023. Brandon Knarr, an undrafted free agent, has looked like an incredible Suter-esque find. Further down the minors, the Brewers have some exciting prospects in Stiven Cruz, Carlos Rodriguez, and Jacob Misiorowski. Cruz, an international free agent, and Rodriguez, a sixth-round pick in 2021, posted more strikeouts than innings pitched. Misiorowski had just two games, but his potential is already exciting some fans. Two others who could sneak into the discussion are Logan Henderson and Tyler Woessner. The former, a fourth-round pick in 2021, debuted in 2022 and posted Hader-like K/9s as a starter. The latter, a sixth-round pick in 2022, dominated in a brief sample. Then there are some true X-factors/unknowns: Who will come in what seems to be the inevitable Burnes and Woodruff trades, for starters? We have yet to learn who that could be or if a miracle extension happens for one (or both) of these players. We know the Brewers will insist on at least some young pitchers, but we don’t know who they will be or where they will be on the road to MLB. Overview For 2023, the Brewers are in excellent shape. There appears to be enough depth to overcome what looks like, for now, two of their second-tier starting pitchers going on the DL to start the season, while their top three look to be intact. The medium-term has questions, primarily due to the uncertainty of the Burnes/Woodruff/Lauer situation past this season. Will they stick around, or will they be dealt? There are some decent options in the upper minors, though, and for the long term, the Brewers could have some very excellent starting pitchers come down the pike. View full article

Yes, Chourio has had a meteoric rise. That said, I see nothing wrong with a full season in AA this year, especially given the way-below-the-Uecker-line BA. He's an excellent prospect. I think he could be extremely good. But I think that we have the depth to be patient.

The Crew has a lot of options. Urias/Turang/Toro/Miller/Brosseau are also in the field for playing time at second and third. Frelick, Wiemer, and Perkins could have a lot to say about what happens in right field as well. Even hirua could bump Yelich to right in some scenarios.

One of the more interesting battles the Brewers have will be between Tyrone Taylor and Brian Anderson in right field. Let's take a look. Image courtesy of © Joe Rondone / USA TODAY NETWORK Like the competition between Abraham Toro and Brice Turang, it is not strictly a head-to-head match-up. In some ways, Anderson and Taylor are not entirely in control of their destiny. Let’s look the two of them over. Tyrone Taylor Tyrone Taylor was an exciting prospect drafted in the second round of the 2012 amateur draft that saw the Brewers land Brent Suter in the 31st round. His arrival took a lot of time, but since his first call-up in 2019, he has performed somewhat above average, with a career OPS+ of 107, and has manned all three outfield positions. Taylor hits more home runs and posts a higher ISO (isolated power) than average MLB players on a percentage basis, but also strikes out slightly more often than your average player. But while his stolen base percentage is average, he is above average at taking an extra base. His BABIP is a bit below league average, so the question is whether he was unlucky. On defense, Taylor has seen plenty of time at all three outfield positions, so he has often been available if other players got hurt or needed time off. At 29, what you see is what you get with Taylor, and what you get is a capable player that is the perfect fourth outfielder in the best-case scenarios. Worst case, he’s a decent starter. Brian Anderson Brian Anderson is best known as a third baseman, but during his 2018 rookie season, he played more in right field than third base. He came to the Brewers as a free agent earlier this year and is now involved in competition for playing time in right field and at third base. Anderson posted a career OPS+ of 105, slightly lower than Taylor. That said, Anderson’s OPS comes from much better on-base skills than Taylor has shown (9.3% walk percentage to Taylor’s 6.2%), but Anderson doesn’t have the power that Taylor has shown. He strikes out about as much as Taylor, as evidenced by matching 23.3% strikeout percentages. On defense, though, Anderson has seen action at all four infield positions in the majors, as well as right and left field. In one sense, he could be seen as a replacement for the departed Jace Peterson, who covered multiple positions before Oakland lured him away with a two-year deal. Like Taylor, what you see is what you get with Brian Anderson, who will be 30 this season, and like Taylor, the best case is that Anderson is a solid bench option. Overview Both of these players would be acceptable starters in right field. That said, in a real sense, neither completely controls their 2023 destiny. Anderson’s playing time won’t be just up to his performance; it also depends on what happens with Luis Urias, Brice Turang, and several other players on the infield. Tyrone Taylor, similarly, will see his playing time affected by what happens with Sal Frelick, Garrett Mitchell, and Joey Wiemer, among others. There are all of those factors, plus the greatest variable for any team or player navigating the long baseball year: injuries. Taylor will be sidelined for almost the first half of the Cactus League schedule due to a sprained elbow, which tips things in the direction of Anderson but is mostly a reminder of how both players will be needed before the season is out. If both Taylor and Anderson play a lot, the Brewers will be fine in 2023. If they are riding the bench a lot, though, that may be one of the best-case scenarios for the Brewers because it will mean that the talent in the minors has forced the MLB team’s hand, which could be excellent news for the Brewers in the medium-to-long term. View full article

I'd be shocked if he even reaches Nashville. Let him do a full season in Biloxi, get used to a routine. He probably ought to have a NRI in 2024, just to get the big-league atmosphere, but really, there is no reason for him to be anywhere but Biloxi, with an AFL stint afterwards. Smae goes for Avina. No need to rush, just move him up one level a year.