Harold Hutchison

If they had taken some more time, perhaps the issues could have been noticed, and the Crew could have either addressed them or they could have traded Hiura before they were glaringly obvious to other teams. Hiura got the Brewers to the Wild Card in 2019 and 2020, but it is obvious that the Brewers bungled his service time and roster options to a degree. Chourio is obviously showing vulnerabilities in Biloxi and in this year's spring training. I, for one, think it may be a good idea to go full years in AA and AAA. He doesn't have to be added to the 40-man until after 2024.

While the Brewers' minor-league system looks very strong, several uncertainties could affect what the Brewers do, not just in the course of the season but for future years. Image courtesy of © Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports While the Brewers' minor-league system looks very strong, several uncertainties could affect what the Brewers do, not just in the course of the season but for future years. In this first part of a series, we will look at position players listed on the Brewer Fanatic top prospects list and MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 list, then discuss some of the uncertainties and questions around them. Now, one thing we will clarify: Uncertainties don’t mean that this is a bad player, and when there are questions about a player, the various possible answers may be good. With that in mind, let’s go: Jackson Chourio How can there be uncertainty around the consensus #1 prospect in the Brewers system? Consider this: He is 19 and slated to start with the Biloxi Shuckers in AA as a teenager. At AA in 2022, though, his OPS was .284, and in a 31-game stint at Wisconsin, Chourio’s OBP was .317, and he drew only 11 walks in 127 at-bats. It may behoove the Brewers to take the foot off the gas a little, given that Chourio doesn’t face Rule 5 eligibility until after 2024, especially since they have Garrett Mitchell, Sal Frelick, and Joey Wiemer, who appear very high on both prospects lists, either in Milwaukee or with the Nashville Sounds in AAA. Sal Frelick and Joey Wiemer Frelick and Wiemer have been impressive in either spring training or the World Baseball Classic. Frelick’s offensive profile of speed and spraying line drives is reminiscent of Ichiro, while Wiemer looks like Hunter Renfroe with better on-base skills. These two players will be in Milwaukee; the questions are when they get there and how the Brewers will clear the roster space for them. The likely answer to “how” would be to move offseason acquisitions Brian Anderson and Jesse Winker for whatever return possible. The “when” will be dependent on health and performance, with Tyrone Taylor’s season-opening disabled list stint leaving open the possibility that Wiemer could be with the Brewers on Opening Day. Brice Turang Here, the question is whether Turang will play alongside Willy Adames in a double play tandem or if he will replace Adames at shortstop. If the former, Turang will bring superb defense, speed, and OBP skills, with some gap power to second base. If Adames ends up leaving Milwaukee, then Turang is a very capable replacement. Tyler Black Black is a potential option at second base, and when he’s on the field, he’s very, very good. He draws walks, can steal bases, and has a potent bat that has delivered a lot of doubles. Think of a left-handed Jeff Cirillo with more speed, and that’s Black. But what makes Black an X-Factor is that in 2022, he only appeared in 64 of 129 games for the Timber Rattlers and 17 out of 28 games for Glendale in the AFL due to going on the injured list. So, his ability to avoid trips to the IL is up for question. The other one is where he plays. He could be at second base, but the Brewers could have other prospects there. Third base and the outfield could be a problem due to his arm. Could he be the answer at first base or designated hitter? Hendry Mendez and Hedbert Perez These two left-handed sluggers have a lot of potential, but each comes with a big question. For Mendez, it is whether he can tap into some serious power potential because his bat-to-ball skills and ability to draw walks are already superb. For Perez, who still hangs on in the MLB Pipeline list, the question is whether he can add some OBP skills to a bat that led the Mudcats in homers for 2022. Eduardo Garcia Overshadowed in the last couple of seasons by Brice Turang and Eric Brown Jr., Garcia was once a top prospect who seems to be developing an Orlando Arcia-esque offensive profile. Arcia was not horrible in his seasons with the Brewers, but there was still plenty of room for improvement. If he can improve his on-base skills, he could become a bargain version of Willy Adames since he is flashing power. He also has good stolen-base skills, something Adames hasn’t shown in his career. Robert Moore A switch-hitting second baseman with some serious power, his dominating AFL season is enough to propel him to the top prospect at second base over Tyler Black. The big question will be how fast he can rise through the system. The other question: Is the real Robert Moore the one who posted a solid .770 OPS at Carolina, or is the real Moore the one who ricked eight homers in 40 games at Brisbane? Overview For the most part, the questions surrounding the Brewers’ blue-chip hitting prospects are mostly the kind any manager or GM would love to deal with. If the answers go the right way, Brewers fans could see a lot of exciting stuff over the next few years. View full article

Hiura certainly was a disappointment from 2021-2022 (he still had a LOT of power in 2020, and I wonder if that messed him up). To me, it is a cautionary tale of moving a prospect too fast - and it's something I hope the Crew keeps in mind with Chourio. The lesson is obvious - especially given Chourio's struggles in Biloxi (small sample, I know), and how he did in spring training and in the VWL this year - take the foot off the gas. Keep Chourio at AA all year, and see if he can make the adjustments. I think Hiura's best shot is to be in Korea or Japan for a few years, and to take the Thames route. Hopefully, he will have a good career elsewhere. His 2019-2022 performance is not a bad return compared to some of the other players taken in the first round to date. https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?year_ID=2017&draft_round=1&draft_type=junreg&query_type=year_round

I was looking through various transactions, and the names hadn't come up as released when I did.

The bullpen has been a traditional strength for the Brewers, but with the big league bullpen transitioning over the off-season, what help can we expect from the farm system in 2023? Image courtesy of © William Glasheen / USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK The bullpen has been a traditional strength for the Brewers, but with the big league bullpen transitioning over the off-season, what help can we expect from the farm system in 2023? The bullpen has been a traditional strength for the Brewers. In a number of cases, they have built the bullpen from free-agent signees or acquisitions, but there have been a fair number of key contributors who the Brewers developed through the farm system as well. Dan Plesac, Devin Williams, Josh Hader, Brent Suter, Chuck Crim, and a host of home-grown talent, both closers and in roles other than closer, could soon be joined by other players who make their mark in Milwaukee. Who might that be? AAA Nashville The closer for Nashville will likely be Cam Robinson, who has emerged as a prospect over several years. Many other pitchers will come from the non-roster invitees, like one-time Brewer Alex Claudio, Lucas Erceg, Thomas Pannone, and Robert Stock. Clayton Andrews, who combined pitching with playing some center field in the past, might make his way to Nashville unless he repeats in Biloxi, and Matt Hardy could also vie for spots. AA Biloxi Abner Uribe will likely hold down the closer’s role. It is an open question whether Clayton Andrews will be in Biloxi or Nashville, and James Meeker, who is coming off a dominating season with Brisbane, also could hold down a late-inning spot. Taylor Lloyd and Brady Schanuel also could come up from Wisconsin to hold down spots, while Christian Tripp and Joey Matulovich could form the back end of the Shuckers bullpen. A+ Wisconsin Roles may be more up in the air at Wisconsin, with no clear front-runner to serve as the closer. That said, there is a lot of talent in the bullpen. Michele Vassalotti, Pablo Garabitos, and Karlos Morales are three top contenders to lock down the late innings. Still, Ryan Middendorf, Jeison Pena, Leoni de la Cruz, Brannon Jordan, and Junior Montero could also factor in. Think of it as a minor-league version of the “Nasty Boys.” A Carolina While primarily a first baseman, Quinton Low also put up credible numbers in the ACL as a reliever and could be a two-way threat for the Brewers. Raul Mendoza tied for the lead in saves with recently-released Trevor Tietz among ACL Brewers pitchers and crafted his way past a lot of hitters. Jakob Brustoski had many walks–and many more strikeouts – in the ACL, while Fraudy Maldonado posted a K-to-BB ratio of about 2 to 1. Anthony Perez, Brian Fitzpatrick, and Ryan Brady also could factor into the Mudcats’ bullpen equation. Rookie Leagues Nelson Cuevas will be the top contender to close for the ACL Brewers team after leading all DSL Brewers relievers in saves, with competition from Gregory Baez, Roman Perez, Manuel Rodriguez, and Waldin Rodriguez, who finished in a four-way tie for second. The ACL Brewers will also see Cristofher Carrasco, Jhofez Mejihas, and Franddy De Los Santos compete for bullpen roles. Overview When it comes to the future Brewers bullpen, its composition is always up for debate, one way or another. That said, there are some very real prospects in the system, some of whom have the potential to be as dominating as the bullpen legends of the past – whether it was Rollie Fingers, Dan Plesac, or Josh Hader. View full article

The Brewers' farm system has developed excellent starting pitchers in recent years, notably Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, and Freddy Peralta. Yet, on the farm, who is due to replace them in years to come? Let's take a look. Image courtesy of © Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports The Brewers' farm system has developed excellent starting pitchers in recent years, notably Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, and Freddy Peralta. Yet, on the farm, who is due to replace them in years to come? Let's take a look. It’s a far cry from relying on free-agent signings like Randy Wolf and Matt Garza to get some form of stability to one of the most crucial groups on a baseball team. Even with the “will they or won’t they” when it comes to extensions for Burnes and Woodruff, the Brewers have several players down on the farm who will likely be assets in the rotation. AAA Nashville Three likely starters for the Sounds, Ethan Small, Robert Gasser, and Janson Junk, are in MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 list for the Brewers. That’s not a bad anchor for the team. Bryse Wilson, Colin Rea, Tobias Myers, Brandon Knarr, and Tyler Herb are also in the mix, and let’s not forget Jason Alexander, who filled in gaps for the Brewers in 2022, but is on the 60-day injured list right now. AA Biloxi Knarr, who broke out big time in 2022, could be headed back to Biloxi, given that the Sounds are already seven deep in their potential rotation before Alexander returns from the IL. He’ll likely be joined by Justin Jarvis at the top of the Shuckers rotation. T.J. Shook and Nick Bennett could repeat in AA, while Russell Smith and Max Lazar could move up from Wisconsin. Some of these players are high-round picks, but others will have something to prove. A+ Wisconsin Stiven Cruz, Alexander Cornielle, and Carlos Rodriguez look to move up from the Mudcats to the Timber Rattlers this year. Joseph Hernandez, Israel Puello, and Edwin Jimenez will likely join them. The Mudcats could also see Logan Henderson, Ryne Moore, and Alexander Vallecillo compete for spots. Cruz, Cornielle, and Rodriguez all look very promising. A Carolina Given the tendency for the Brewers to have pitchers piggyback in the ACL, predicting Carolina’s rotation for 2023 will be tough. Jacob Misiorowski, who had two starts in Carolina, will likely return there. Henrison Mota, who had a 3.62 ERA and struck out 12.2 batters per nine innings in the ACL, is another contender, as are Kevin Briceno, Arielbi Gonzalez, Gerson Calzadilla, and Patricio Aquino. Beyond that, it remains to see who will emerge for the Mudcats. Rookie Leagues Osbriel Mogollon, Aneuris Rodriguez, and Wande Torres will likely start for the ACL Brewers in 2023 after posting solid seasons for the DSL Brewers 1 team. Anfernny Reyes, who posted a 1.54 ERA for the DSL Brewers 2, will likely take a spot. After that, Jeral Vizcaino leads a pack of other players who will be fiercely competing for spots on the only ACL team for the Brewers. Overview The Brewers have some blue-chip prospects in their system – some of whom could be as good as Burnes and Woodruff have been. If the Brewers secure one of Burnes and Woodruff beyond 2024 with an extension, they can fill in the back end of the rotation nicely. The Brewers have many options, though, if Burnes and Woodruff end up traded – and then we could see even more pitchers in the system. View full article

We look at the designated hitter role in our final roundup of the Milwaukee Brewers' farm system positional analysis. Image courtesy of © Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports We look at the designated hitter role in our final roundup of the Milwaukee Brewers' farm system positional analysis. In the minors, the designated hitter is often rotated among players – often to make sure players get their at-bats while others play the field. It can clear up a crowded situation (see the Nashville outfield, for example). So, who will be handling DH duties, and how often? Let’s take a look at each level. AAA Nashville In Nashville, the DH role will likely be split between Jon Singleton, Tyler Naquin, Luke Voit, Sal Frelick, and possibly some other players. The Singleton/Naquin/Voit trio will most likely be handling the duties, primarily because the Brewers will want Frelick and Joey Wiemer in the outfield as much as possible. Monte Harrison and Skye Bolt will also be factors at this position. AA Biloxi If Jeferson Quero is the primary catcher for the Shuckers, then Biloxi will likely see Darrien Miller, Ernesto Martinez, and Wes Clarke split a lot of time at first base and DH. Tristen Lutz and Je’Von Ward could also see some occasional time there if the outfield gets crowded, while Tyler Black could be an X-factor at that position. Some of these players have question marks – for Miller; it’s defense; for Martinez, Black, and Ward, it’s health. One thing is certain: Many talented hitters will be DHing for Biloxi. A+ Wisconsin Designated hitter gets murkier as we go lower down the ladder, and Wisconsin is one case in point. On the one hand, the Brewers have two very talented prospects, Hedbert Perez and Hendry Mendez, who clearly need to focus on offensive improvements – Perez needs to up his hitting for contact and OBP, and Mendez has to tap into his power. On the other hand, they may need to improve their defense so that it could rotate between other players. If Quero returns to Wisconsin, Jose Sibrian might also see time at DH. A Carolina If the Brewers want Eduarqui Fernandez and Luis Castillo to play the corners, they can use other corner outfielders from their 2022 ACL teams, like Jamal Zalm and Diego Larez, at DH. Jose Caballero, Jadher Areinamo, and Alexander Perez, all of whom had decent seasons while playing second base in the ACL, could also force their way into the mix. Rookie Leagues The ACL is quite murky at DH. Arnys Rodriguez could be one contender for DH, given he is behind Yeison Perez at first. Given their offensive performances in the DSL, Edgardo Ordonez and Eric Martinez could also see time there. In the DSL, there will likely be a mix of players from the signees and those who return for another season, manning the DH spot in the lineup for both affiliates. Overview The state of the Brewers' farm system at designated hitter is… complicated. The team in the past has often rotated the DH role due to liking a lot of positional flexibility. That said, looking at players like Tyler Black, Ernesto Martinez, Je’Von Ward, and Darrien Miller, there are some players for whom becoming a full-time DH might maximize their playing time – and, therefore, their value – to the Brewers. View full article

When it comes to right field, the Brewers are not as shallow as they are in left field or at third base. Then again, given how in practicality, the Brewers are not shallow at those positions, their situation in right field is quite good, even if it’s not as good as center field. Image courtesy of © Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports When it comes to right field, the Brewers are not as shallow as they are in left field or at third base. Then again, given how in practicality, the Brewers are not shallow at those positions, their situation in right field is quite good, even if it’s not as good as center field. In this case, the curve gets blown by the presence of a Top 100 prospect from the post-2022 MLB.com and Baseball Prospectus lists. Let’s look at this position a little more. AAA Nashville Joey Wiemer will likely be the Opening Day right fielder for the Nashville Sounds. That said, he could end up in right field for the Brewers by the end of the season. The exact timing will depend on Tyrone Taylor, Brian Anderson, and Blake Perkins, to a large degree, between disabled list stints and performance. Once Wiemer is up, non-roster invitee Tyler Naquin will likely take over in Nashville unless Tristen Lutz forces the issue. AA Biloxi Lutz will likely see some time in right field, along with Joe Gray Jr. and Je’Von Ward. The former’s question marks come from a sub-Uecker line batting average in Wisconsin, while the latter only saw the field for nine games in the Arizona Fall League, where he was a walks machine and flashed some power. Not a bad situation for the Shuckers, who may also see some help from utility player Noah Campbell. A+ Wisconsin If he isn’t promoted to AA, Gray will compete with Hendry Mendez for the right field job in Wisconsin. Gray’s batting average issues are apparent. For Mendez, the big question is whether he will figure out how to maximize the power potential. Hedbert Perez and Arbert Cipion, who tended to spend more time in left and center fields, will also compete for playing time. A Carolina Luis Castillo may be a top contender for left field, but he did get the most starts for the ACL Brewers Gold in right field. He will face competition from Eduarqui Fernandez, the top right fielder for the ACL Brewers Blue. Both put up solid performances in the ACL and will see some competition from Kaylan Nicasa (also a center fielder) and Luis Medina (also a left fielder). Rookie Leagues Duncan Garcia will be the front-runner to be the top right fielder for the Brewers’ lone team in the ACL in 2023, while Jose Gonzalez and Irving Igualas will also compete for playing time. Yeison Perez also saw some action in right field for the DSL Brewers 1 team but may be kept at first base. The DSL teams for the Brewers will likely be starting players from this January’s signing class. Overview Wiemer will likely be starting for the Brewers for a few years, but there is a lot of other talent in Mendez, Hedbert Perez, Castillo, Fernandez, Garcia, and even Yeison Perez. Given the wealth of talent at that position, this does not account for any displaced center fielders, either. In other words, there are many ways that the right field could go right for the Brewers in the future. View full article

It just means an offseason trade in 2023 just went to 100%. 😟

To say the Brewers are stacked at center field is to understate the issue. Garrett Mitchell will likely start in Milwaukee after being the Crew’s first-round pick in the 2020 draft. However, three other prospects are forcing their way to Milwaukee, and all are in center – for now. Image courtesy of © Curt Hogg / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK To say the Brewers are stacked at center field is to understate the issue. Garrett Mitchell will likely start in Milwaukee after being the Crew’s first-round pick in the 2020 draft. However, three other prospects are forcing their way to Milwaukee, and all are in center – for now. Let’s look over this very deep position for the Brewers. AAA Nashville If he’s not in Milwaukee, Sal Frelick could very well be in center field for the Sounds. Spring training non-roster invitees Skye Bolt and Monte Harrison also could see time in center for Nashville, as could Blake Perkins. Joey Wiemer, who primarily plays right field, is also a credible center fielder. Frelick and Wiemer could be in Milwaukee sooner rather than later, forcing the Crew to make some trades from their existing outfield corps. AA Biloxi Jackson Chourio will likely return to Biloxi after a meteoric rise through the Brewers system in 2022, putting him in the top ten of the MLB.com Pipeline Top 100. Terrence Dotson, a 22nd-round pick in 2019, had an aggressive jump in 2022 after showing superb OBP skills in the ACL in 2021 and didn’t embarrass himself in Biloxi. Joe Gray and his three true outcome bat could also factor in here, as could Tyler Black, also a second base and third base contender, but it is hard to imagine Chourio being displaced by any of them. A+ Wisconsin The Brewers will have an interesting choice in 2023. Do they hold Joe Gray back and see if he can reduce his strikeouts and get his average above the Uecker line? Or do they push Jace Avina, who had a superb 2022 in the ACL and Carolina League, to see if he can rise almost as swiftly as Chourio? Arbert Cipion, Eduarqui Fernandez, and Hedbert Perez could also be factored in center. The Timber Rattlers will have plenty of options, and all of them could be better. A Carolina Jace Avina rose to Carolina and did not embarrass himself. Still, he now faces competition from Kaylan Nicasia, who also saw time at shortstop and right field in 2022 with the ACL Brewers Gold, while Avina dominated with the ACL Brewers Blue. Diego Larez’s on-base and speed combination could make things interesting in Carolina. Rookie Leagues Luis Lara is coming off a superb 2022 in the Dominican Summer League. He will likely man center for the Brewers’ lone affiliate in the ACL, especially after Reminton Batista went to the Marlins in the deal that brought Payton Henry back to the Brewers. Mendy Ferreira looks to be the second-string center fielder in Arizona. In the DSL, the Brewers will cycle through their January signees. Overview By Opening Day 2025, the Brewers could see Frelick, Chourio, and Wiemer in the majors with Mitchell, with Avina and Lara having made their way well up the minor-league ladder. This position is where the Brewers boast a lot of depth and exciting talent, some of whom may move a little to the left – or right – depending on your perspective to provide Brewers fans plenty of excitement for years to come. View full article

As with third base, the Brewers are deceptively shallow in left field. Why? Because many of the team’s top outfield prospects, like Jackson Chourio, Jace Avina, Sal Frelick, and Garrett Mitchell, are all listed as center fielders. Likely, the future of left field in Milwaukee is not on this page, and that a center fielder will be moved over. Image courtesy of © Scott Paulus / Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via Imagn Content Services, LLC As with third base, the Brewers are deceptively shallow in left field. Why? Because many of the team’s top outfield prospects, like Jackson Chourio, Jace Avina, Sal Frelick, and Garrett Mitchell, are all listed as center fielders. Likely, the future of left field in Milwaukee is not on this page, and that a center fielder will be moved over. There is precedent: at the major-league level, Christian Yelich came to the Brewers via trade after being the primary center fielder for the Miami Marlins in 2017. He spent significant time there in 2015 and 2016. He spent lots of time in left and right field in 2018 and 2019 before taking the left field job in 2020 and staying there ever since. So, let’s look at the minor-league system and see who will occupy left field. AAA Nashville If he is not on the Opening Day roster, Sal Frelick could be one option in left for Nashville, where he spent most of his starts (22 in left vs. 17 in center). Tyler Naquin, Skye Bolt, and Monte Harrison, all non-roster invitees for the Brewers, could also spend time in left for Nashville, particularly when Frelick heads to Milwaukee. AA Biloxi It seems pretty likely that last year’s duo of Noah Campbell and Tristen Lutz will be the primary options for Biloxi. Both are very different players. Lutz, a right-handed power bat, once was a top prospect but has been overshadowed by Frelick, Avina, Chourio, Mitchell, and Joey Wiemer. Conversely, Campbell is a switch-hitter with on-base skills who spent time in the infield and outfield in 2021 and 2022. Ernesto Martinez may see some time here if first base and catcher become crowded with Jeferson Quero, Wes Clarke, and Darrien Miller. A+ Wisconsin Hedbert Perez will likely move up to take left field after flashing power at Carolina. Once a heralded prospect, his struggles vis-à-vis OBP mean he could face some real competition from 2018 draft picks Arbert Cipion and Micah Bello. Bello, a second-round pick, showed some real offensive potential in 2022, but his big problem since the 2020 pandemic has been spending a lot of time on the DL. Cipion, on the other hand, has struggled offensively. A Carolina Luis Castillo is the likely front-runner of several prospects from the Arizona Complex League. He flashed OBP skills and power between the ACL Brewers Gold and Carolina. OBP machine and speed merchant Diego Larez (.393 OBP in 36 games) from the ACL Brewers Gold could also force his way to some playing time. Another OBP machine with a lot of speed, Jamal Zalm from the ACL Brewers Blue, could also see playing time. Rookie Leagues Luis Watter looks to be the top contender to man left field for the sole ACL Brewers team in 2023, with Francisco Nina and Devin Gomez looking to rebound from rough years in the DSL. As for the DSL, the Brewers have a crop of new signees who could take lots of playing time. Overview Even though the top Brewers' outfield prospects mostly come from center field, the Brewers have some very credible prospects in left field. Frelick is clearly the best of the bunch, but Lutz, Perez, and Castillo all remain credible prospects, while Campbell is a potential bench asset, and Bello and Watter are sleepers. View full article

Turang's floor is an Arcia-ish OPS in the .700-.730 range, but the OBP will be pretty high, he'll provide excellent defense, and he'll steal 25-30 bases. Not bad for the bottom half of the order or even as a utility player on the bench at or near MLB minimum. Probably good for about 2 WAR as an every day player. His ceiling, with an OPS like he posted in Nashville (.772), might be 3 WAR as a solid everyday SS. At this point, I think unless Adames and the Brewers line up an extension, Turang's at worst competing with Devanny to be the opening day SS.

One position where the Brewers farm system is very deep happens to be shortstop, where the Brewers seem to be overflowing with good, and great, options. Let's look at the positional farm depth. Image courtesy of © Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports One position where the Brewers farm system is very deep happens to be shortstop, where the Brewers seem to be overflowing with good, and great, options. Let's look at the positional farm depth. Seven of the MLB Pipeline Top 30 Prospects for the Brewers are listed at that position, which should have Brewers fans breathing somewhat easier, even if a Willy Adames extension is not in the works for the Crew. AAA Nashville Will the primary shortstop be Brice Turang? Will it be Cam Devanney? Will Andruw Monasterio hold it down? Those three would be solid at the plate or in the field. Turang, a first-round pick in 2018, brings speed, on-base skills, and an excellent glove. Devanney has a power bat, can draw his share of walks, and has split time between shortstop and third. Monasterio has been at second, third, and short and probably has the weakest bat of the three. Turang’s eventual permanent rise to Milwaukee will sort things out. AA Biloxi Freddy Zamora spent more time on the DL than the field in 2022, but he showed a lot of promise in 2021. Ethan Murray has been solid, posting better numbers in Biloxi than Wisconsin in 2022, while Antonio Pinero appears to be on the outside looking in for time at the position in Biloxi. A+ Wisconsin Eduardo Garcia was once a hyped prospect and looked to repeat at Wisconsin. The defense is there; he has flashed some power over his career. But OBP is the big question – he drew no walks while at Wisconsin in 2022. Eric Brown Jr. could force his way into the conversation for the Timber Rattlers as well, given his performance offensively and the fact he was a first-round pick out of college in 2022. If he isn't at second base, Robert Moore could also be a factor. A Carolina Brown could be sent back to the Mudcats, given the desire to give Garcia and Brown regular playing time at shortstop. Jadher Areinamo also saw time at short with Carolina in 2022. However, OBP machine Daniel Guilarte, number 18 on MLB Pipeline’s top 30, Gregory Barrios, who flashed speed and on-base skills in the ACL, and Jose Caballero will also be making solid cases for playing time. Rookie Leagues The ACL and DSL teams could see a mix of players. Third-round pick Dylan O’Rae could get a start here. Barrios and Caballero could return to the ACL, given Brown’s presence in Carolina. Still, Jhonny Severino and Juan Baez also could force their way to some playing time with their solid DSL performances. Then there are the international signees, which could make things interesting in the Dominican Republic. Overview Could the Brewers have too many shortstops? In one sense, yes. There is going to be some difficulty getting them on the field at the premium position. On the other hand, solid shortstops can move easily to second base or third base and fill holes there. They have two solid options to replace Willy Adames in AAA in Turang and Devanney, while Zamora, Moore, Garcia, O’Rae, Brown, and Guilarte all seem highly regarded. Areinamo also is in the mix, even though he’s spent time at second and third. The Brewers may not just be set at shortstop – this glut of talent will help them at second and third base for years to come. View full article

Between defense, OBP skills, speed, and a lot of doubles, I see Frelick as a power for a long time, and definitely someone to extend long-term ASAP.

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 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. 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