biedergb

the old adage is you can never have too many pitchers or catchers. The new adage is you can have too few third basemen 😉

Black has been very poor defensively at 3B, and even at 1B. His hitting took a big step back last year, but he is probably LF/DH occasional 1B type of player. If he could find that swing again, we can find room for him as DH/LF but that is already taken by Yelich, so I still think he only path to Big Leagues is show he can hit and he can go to another organization who needs a DH/LF. \ sorry didn't mean to hijack this trade thread \ I am still flabbergasted. They either see something in Harrison or expect to trade some pitching for more bats. Or maybe this is the "punt" year that most were expecting last year. Just go and do what you can and really try to get prepared for 2027-2029 when a lot of core players are under control (basically all but Contreras and Megill) to go with all the A+/AA/AAA prospects we have. I guess Pat Murphy wanted another starting pitcher and whether he knew it would be more a prospect than MLB talent maybe he didn't know that was coming

My final question is an off topic for prospects- Spencer and Joseph - what is your baseball background and how did you get into this prospect/minor league evaluation part of your life. I know Spencer you are a baseball coach- did you play etc? Joseph as a humble farmer - did you play and how did you learn how to analyze these young kids?

Of all the great trades the Brewers have executed the Haniger + Banda for Gerardo Parra was one of he worst in the recent past, and it is the starting point of a not so great trade tree that involves Mr. Herrera: Haniger/Banda for Parra; Parra for Z. Davies. Then Z. Davies + Grisham for Lauer/Urias. Urias into Blalock, and Blalock + Herrera into Mears; finally Mears plus Collins for Zerpa. So Haniger, Banda, Grisham, Herrera, Collins have netted a couple of good years of Davies, Lauer, Urias, and Mears, and Zerpa is left standing for now. Not awful as the downside of that trade tree was in the first trade, but the end of it so far will be Zerpa v Herrera now that most other parties have moved on.

@edfunderburk I’d say Contreras and (TBD) in MLB AAA: Quero, Wood , ? miller AA: Dinges maybe, Miller if not in AAA, and R. Rodriguez or Nava High A: D. Garcia, Diaz and maybe Walther. Nava if not in AAA Low A: Corobo and K. Garcia So really need a MLB back up or AAAA catcher. Domino effect will fill lower levels assuming good health all around.

Interesting discussion. So is it fair to say that the lab itself is not unique albeit more developed, but the organizational philosophy and teaching is more unified and/or ingrained. Even the idea of prioritizing defense and it’s a combination of these factors that has generated results? And that is a long process that requires patience, and organizational systems like this are not always easy to copy with a technology, a person, or a trait alone. I mean the Yankees or Cubs could easily try to replicate it but it takes years to develop, and buy in, and many teams like that are more likely to go with a quicker fix like sign or trade for a good pitcher than wait a years to a decade to see the results.

Wow. I don’t think I realized the WAR for these 3 pitchers. Two SPs with one year in the staff, and a RP with 2-3 years, that is a lot of added value

Yes it was. And I was among that crowd pretty loudly. Not excited by this return, would have preferred Ewing or Clifford with Sproat; or Jett/Tong. But I obviously know nothing. Although I still have irrational love for our prospects (like Areinamo, Collins, Myers, Jorge Quintana who I still view as overpays like I felt Yophery was). Hope I’m wrong again. so other than Woodruff, the SPs are pretty much are now 8 deep with current pitchers and upper level prospects who are all under control through around 2030 (or later).

Unless his defense has picked up I don’t see him as a viable MLB catcher. He was bad in 2024, and was better last year, but his receiving did not look good (some WPs may really have been on him), and I can’t recall but I didn’t recall his arm being great either. Maybe someone who knows this more than me can answer but he didn’t look the part on my eye test. Wood seemed like a better catcher. Both are still a year away from MLB action barring injuries I think. Not sure how but I would still imagine a AAA or MLB catcher is yet to be acquired - either FA or maybe trade some infield or SP depth for a catcher?

Yup. And Frontado/Rodriguez/Moneys - one of whom could realistically be the guy in DSL.

So without signing any other FAs other than a MLB back up catcher (vs AAAA catcher), I see every level as full with 12-14 hitters at each level (batting injuries or trades). MLB - Vaughn, Turang, Ortiz, Durbin, Chourio, Perkins, Frelick. Contreras, Yelich; Mona, Bauer, Mitchell, Lockridge (or Baddoo or Seigler or Black), and catcher (Quero or signing). For depth below I will assume Lockridge for now- not that I expect him but just that spot as placeholder. AAA - Adams, Jett Williams, Wilken, Pratt (that would be such a cool prospect laden IF), Baddoo, Lara, Jones, Wood, Black; Seigler, Leonard, Murray, Zamora, Bertha; and either Quero or a milb FA catcher. AA - Burke, EBJ, Fischer, Made (again a cool prospect laden IF), Vargas, Dasan Brown, Garcia, Dinges/Miller, Boeve (DH);Ramon Rodriguez (if healthy) and Dylan O’Rae. Maybe a prospect from AAA bumps down, or a milb FA signing here. High A - Bitonti, Adamczewski (give him 2B reps for now), Baez, Pena, Nicasia, Ragsdale, Castillo, and Alastre . David Garcia, Tyler Rodriguez, Blayberg Diaz, Andrick Nava, Guilarte, Hall as bench roles and one could bump up as AA depth/bench. Low A - Ordonez, Dickinson, Ebel, DiTuri, Handelfry Encarnacion, Payne, Anderson, K. Garcia, Lameda, Ortuno, Walther. Q. Low if healthy. And a ACL player could bump up like Nadal or Ibarguen or Fielder ACL -E. Martinez, Ereu, Montero,Hughes, Nadal/Ibarguen, Paulino, Haltermann, Rojas, Corobo, Mills, Flores, Mobile, Fielder. And possibly a DSL promotion like Frias, Juan Martinez, Antunez, or a catcher (Chavez/Rangel) So no holes, but likely 2 spots to fill for now barring injuries. IF depth is now great and at a the upper minors.

for pitching here is a stab at the starters at least, as bullpens can be in flux and usually reliever prospects, some starters in piggyback or can be NDFA / indy signings. But not really any "openings" that need to be filled. Here are my views as the potential starting rotations (6-8 in upper levels; then 10-12 in lower levels with a lot of uncertainty): MIL Freddy Peralta RHP - if not traded Brandon Woodruff RHP Jacob Misiorowski RHP Quinn Priester RHP Chad Patrick RHP Robert Gasser LHP - him or Henderson giving Gasser the go given age and he is LHP Aaron Ashby LHP- likely reliever but could spot start D.L. Hall LHP - last chance to claim starter pedigree AAA Tobias Myers RHP Carlos Rodriguez RHP Logan Henderson RHP Coleman Crow RHP Tate Kuehner LHP K.C. Hunt RHP Brett Wichrowski RHP- crowded field and could wind up in bullpen AA Tyson Hardin RHP Bishop Letson RHP Jaron DeBerry RHP Manuel Rodriguez RHP Ryan Birchard RHP Tanner Gillis RHP - could be starter vs reliever Anthony Flores LHP - could be starter vs reliever High-A Travis Smith RHP J.D. Thompson LHP Melvin Hernandez LHP Bryce Meccage RHP Wande Torres LHP Josh Knoth RHP - returning from injury Yorman Galindez RHP - returning from injury Will Rudy RHP - returning from injury Sam Garcia LHP - could be starter vs reliever Chandler Welch RHP - could be starter vs reliever Low-A Jacob Morrison RHP Ethan Dorchies RHP Jayden Dubanewicz RHP Tyler Renz RHP Jack Hostetler RHP - returning from injury Griffin Tobias RHP - returning from injury Enderson Mercado LHP Carlos Carra RHP Enniel Cortez RHP - returning from injury Daniel Corniel RHP - returning from injury Jason Woodward RHP - returning from injury Miqueas Mercedes RHP ACL Joey Broughton LHP 20 Joshua Flores RHP 19 Hayden Vucinovich RHP 19 Ma'Kale Holden RHP Luke Roupe RHP Chase Bentley RHP Diustin Mayorquin RHP 18 Hayden Robinson RHP 20 Joan Pena LHP 18 Gustavo Garcia RHP 18 Raymond Sarmiento RHP 18 Gabriel Colmenarez RHP 20

I see Moneys in the 22-26 range like Antunez last year based on potential. Frontado could be fringe top 30 and hold a spot based upon potential and reputation like DiTuri did But yes seeing who will likely be in the 21-30 slots and how they could be 11-20 on most lists including Brewers from 2-3 years ago.

I suspect that bonus money and the possible lack of many '25 DSL players may be returning. But it does seem small and un-Brewers-like, as we expected to see about 30 players sign. Also what gives - no one from Nicaragua? Final thoughts - am I remembering correctly, or did the org sign several pitchers at the end of 2025 IFA period (like a Tawainese pitcher, and 2 pitchers signed like right before 12/15), so while not part of this class, it bumps the '26 DSL "Signings" to closer to like 25-28. Maybe that was a factor too?

Looking @CheeseheadInQC and @jay87shot lists, it does seem like there aren't as many vacancies in the minors as I thought. With AAA having Burke or Adams joining likely Wilken, Pratt, Wood and possibly Quero (if a vet catcher is signed) along with all the 40 man players (Siegler, Baddoo, Berroa, Lockridge, Black), and Leonard, Jones as MiLB FA signing, and holdovers Zamora and Murray, that is 14 positional players, with another player maybe added. That leaves AA as one of Burke or Adams returning with EBJ likely (unless he is the 15th in AAA but good glove and better to keep giving him reps as a former 1st rounder maybe) along with Boeve, Dinges, Made, O'Rae, E. Garcia, D. Garcia, Dasan Brown and one of Vargas or Baez, this has the most need with only 10 players. But last year Biloxi ran with like 12 position players I think. SO will need probably OF depth, and they will also have Fischer, Adamczewski as possible players or early call ups. High A should feature Bitonti, Dickinson, Pena and FIscher to start the year, with Ragsdale and Nicasia in the OF and likely Alastre, Payne, Hall, Adamczewski, with bench roles to Baez, Castillo, Guilarte, and some combination of catcher that gives you 13-15 players right there. DiTuri could be pushed back down, but would be here if Baez is pushed up. Low A will then be super young again with Ebel, Encarnacion, Anderson, Fielder, Lameda, Nadal, Montero, T. Rodriguez, Ortuno, and then DiTuri will be the old guy. C will be K. Garcia and Luis Corobo likely. Then '25 ACL players Paulino and Roderick Flores, or even big IFA money Kevin Ereu could squeeze onto that roster. That is 12-14 position players there as well. So Biloxi will need bench and OF depth (2-3 guys), and AAA needs a C (Quero, or a AAAA catcher), and Low A will likely find another depth signing. SO really not as many jobs as I thought. I was expected like 10-15 needs, and after Jones/Brown/Leonard/Baddoo, we really have like 5-7 holes to fill, and those aren't even necessary as the organziation does seem to be OK with a bench of 1-2 players as Biloxi and one of the A clubs had for a while last year. Pitching is much more cloudy since we have no idea on the health of a ton of players to start the year - Knoth, Galindez, Woodward, Corniel, Tobias, Episcope, H. Robinson, Hostetler and NDFA Niemann; and the potential debuts of Thompson, Morrison, J. Bonet and even Flores. That's 13 pitchers who if able to pitch create a log jam. If questionable or held back, then there could be 5-10 slots to fill throughout the organization.

Wow. Yeah. Let’s hope he takes that gamer mentality and uses the chip on his shoulder to force his way into the top 10 prospects discussion. Man you can imagine an infield with the elite prospects with like Turang, Pratt, Made, Peña, and then the infield of just all out gamers with Adams, Dickinson, Wilken, Durbin, and then those with a little of both Adamczewski, Fischer. Depth in the dirt.

Agree. I was higher on Quintana and still believe he was a massive overpay to get a 5th OF. Still I would say in our system he would have wound around 20 - on par with Bitonti and several pitchers. But still even if we think he was 18th ahead of Wilken, that is some jump. San Diego has a solid top 3 and then it seems to be more question marks. Ours is a solid top 10, but next level is 11-19 who can all be interchangeable, and then it is more like #20-40 who would make most organization's top 30 lists.

Wow. From outside the top 30 here to #5. Yeah our depth is good, really good, and the Padres depth is um …. Not so great. Yikes

In this poll of the categories I would rate as most important (best system, best use of draft, best international, best developing pitchers, best developing hitters, finding sleepers) and ignoring the 2 that I don't value as much (obtaining prospects in trades and hoarding prospects), the Brewers rank in all of the former categories (4th, 3rd, 1st, tied 5th, tied 3rd, 1st) and a few of the better known clubs join them in several categories (LA, Sea, Det, TB). They don't rank as high in the most underrated system but that is by default I think, although Pittsburgh is both top 5 system and under-rated probably by different people. But that is impressive that the organization is highly regarded in drafting, international market, developing pitchers and hitters both, and obviously 1st in finding sleepers. Not a surprise to anyone here. Now we are not the best at obtaining prospects in trades mostly because they do so well at the other things they try to get more MLB ready talent in trades and rarely looks to add future talent as often. Only can hope that this can continue for a few more years. Great times to be a Brewers fan (says the guy who has been a fan since 1987)

Hopeful for all the best to this young man, wishing he has a full recovery first and foremost and that he is able to live out his dream of professional baseball. And a huge thank you to whomever it is that is willing to speak to ARobs to relay the information. Thanks @ARobsBrewCrew for posting this. Hopefully knowing there is a community of die hard Brewers fans spread throughout the country pulling for him will add even a tiny bit to his recovery process. I can only dream on the day that we see him on the mound in Milwaukee - could you imagine the story if he is pitching and Marco Dinges is catching, where two young men overcome such adversity in their 19-20 year old years? That would be inspirational. All the best to Frank, and to his family. Cheers BrewerFanatic minor league fanatics

agree with your start. I think Frederi MOntero will likely be in low A, and Jadyn Fielder will be there too maybe Corobo too? And some repeaters in Lameda and Ibarguen (they are still with the club right??)

I am looking forward to this one. Can't wait. I just watched the first episode, man it was a great 3+ hours. loved every minute of it. I also noted you guys alluded to a trade you missed, and I forget which one it was, but my mind went straight to a different one - the Priester for Yophery/Holobetz trade. I haven't watched this episode #2 yet to see if there is any discussion on Holobetz, or if Yophery will be discussed briefly in Wisconsin, knowing they are gone, not much to say really, so no big deal. Thanks for doing this. Hoping one of my questions makes the final cut Anyway these are the Highlight of the offseason for me!!

so that leaves Chourio, Miz, Turang, Contreras and Peralta s the remanding top 5? And if so, probably in that order (or maybe chourio, turang, contreras, miz, peralta) based upon age, team control and production. The team is Chourio and Miz's for the next 5-6 years. I would love to see one or two of Turang/Frelick/Contreras join that core, which will have Pratt/Pena/Made and Henderson/Patrick/Priester around for several years as well. There should be (and stress should be) a competitive window for another 5+ years assuming health, and no major issues with players. Please, oh please baseball gods smile down on this club.

My Carolina questions. So that first question about the HS pitchers is who are your top 3 to watch from that group? Now additional questions: Braylon Payne - he had so much hype going into 2025, and so little at the end of the season - injuries played a role, but was he overhyped by us (brewers prospects fans), or does he have the chance to move up the prospect ladder if he remains healthy. Finally which of the non-Payne OF prospects wowed you the most (Anderson, Encarnacion, Ragsdale or IF-turned-OF Rodriguez and Alastre)? EDIT: one more question - what is the plan with Bjorn Johnson do you think? He pitched exclusively out of the bullpen but often multi-innings and is a young former HS pick. Did he have an arm injury that I overlooked, or why pitch only as a reliever at this point of his career?

that's a really solid point. Thanks! Again incredible stuff putting together the list. Hopeful this year's IFA players will have a better debut year than last years. And I am already counting down to the 2029 DSL season 🤣