Yolk

It’s pretty tough to rank guys this season, or tough to get excited about it I guess. Very disappointing year so far for a farm system I was hoping would make a leap.

The Brewers have got to find a way to get out of that Yelich contract. Eat some money for a year, give up a prospect or two to get someone to take him off our hands. That albatross of a contract is going to be the demise of this current team going forward once they are unable to re-sign players who actually help win games. Dude is garbage and has been for 2+ years now.

“A shorter ETA is not justification for ranking them higher. The ranking should be about their ceiling, shouldn't it? Can't you just admit that you enjoy being contrarian simply for the sake of being contrarian?” I don’t think ceiling should be the be-all-end-all but a combination of that and the likelihood to reach whatever that ceiling may be. Low ceiling/high floor types still have value, especially for small and mid-market teams.

1. Garrett Mitchell 2. Jeferson Quero 3. Hedbert Perez 4. Sal Frelick 5. Aaron Ashby 6. Joe Gray 7. Brice Turang 8. Antoine Kelly 9. Freddy Zamora 10. Ethan Small 11. Zavier Warren 12. Tyler Black 13. Hendry Mendez 14. Mario Feliciano 15. Alex Binelas 16. Luis Medina 17. Jackson Chourio 18. David Hamilton 19. Russell Smith 20. Felix Valerio 21. Dylan File 22. Carlos Roa 23. Korry Howell 24. Eduardo Garcia 25. Israel Puello 26. Noah Campbell 27. Tristen Lutz 28. Justin Bullock 29. Gregory Barrios 30. Micah Bello 31. Caden Vire 32. Max Lazar 33. Hayden Cantrelle 34. Quinton Low 35. Jesus Parra 36. Nick Bennett 37. Logan Henderson 38. Darrien Miller 39. Jheremy Vargas 40. Gabe Holt

Dag. Was really hoping we’d pull the trigger on Peyton Stovall though. Boring draft picks so far compared to who was still available when they’ve picked but high floor type guys with a good chance to make a major league roster.

I never like when the first things they bring up about a player are “clubhouse guy”, “scrappy gamer”. Seems like a safe bet to make the major leagues but with a low ceiling. Boring pick. Hopefully not a big whiff while leaving a much higher ceiling Watson on the board.

Dag. I’d rather have given up any other upper level RHP than Bowden Francis.

Well I think this is clearly wrong. He's 24 and if you even our small samples in either direction by just looking at his overall career stats, he has 689 PA hitting .250/.327/.472 with a 108 wRC+ His approach right now is definitely not cutting it though. I should have added a “right now” at the end of that first sentence but with his only average or above tool/s being tied to a bat that can no longer make contact, he’s among the least valuable players.

Hiura is nowhere near a major league caliber player. No glove, no arm, poor base runner, and now the literal worst hitter in MLB. He’s done if he doesn’t change his entire approach and swing path. Sucks to say but he’s just drowning at the major league level and needs a complete overhaul.

Yeah, this Yelich contract is going to make it pretty hard to compete after they’re unable to extend both Woodruff and Burnes unless their farm system is constantly churning out good major leaguers. Sucks.

Haines needs to be gone yesterday.

Hiura is not a major league caliber player anymore. Especially since he has no other redeeming qualities to make up for his 30 hit tool other than his power, which is not as impactful at 1B.

Yeah, I was more referring to them not giving him a roster spot in favor of guys like Robel Garcia but I’m sure they’d prefer he get consistent at bats. Still, I’d like to kick the tires on him.

Abraham Toro. The Astros seem to want to play less talented older players and the man is ready to hit major league pitching.

I like his swing. Seems to be able to hit it where it’s pitched. I’m sure he’ll get better at turning on some pitches as time goes on. Looks kinda like Chase Utley when he gets a little leverage in his swing.

While not loaded with blue chip prospects in the upper levels, I like the depth of the Brewers farm system. There’s a decent mix of high floor/low ceiling types, probable major league contributors, and high upside lottery tickets. And as you’ll see from my list, I absolutely loved the Brewers 2020 Draft. 1. Garrett Mitchell - Clear best prospect in the system in my eyes. Plus hit, run, and defense, with untapped power that may reach major league average. Has the look of a real deal lead off hitter. 2. Freddy Zamora - Missing 2020 with a torn ACL wasn’t as much of a development loss due to the pandemic. Very high defensive ceiling and already has shown good strike zone judgement and ability to work counts in the ACC. Good looking swing with room to grow into 20HR pop. 3. Brice Turang - Ranking based on pedigree and probable floor of major league utility player. Good glove, good base runner, and knows what he’s doing at the plate. He will need to show he can hit the ball with more authority in order for me to see a for sure regular but there is definitely time to do so. 4. Antoine Kelly - The only pitching prospect in the system who you can dream on becoming a front end starter, although he comes with a lot of risk. Will need to develop secondary offerings and better control but reports from fall camp are that he’s already begun making strides in those areas. 5. Mario Feliciano - Looks the part when he makes good contact, and when he does it goes a long way. Swings and misses a lot and most likely won’t be more than an average defensive catcher at best. Still, the bat potential alone is enough to place him here. 6. Tristen Lutz - Through slow starts, mid-season streaks, and late season fades, has shown flashes of becoming a power hitting RF with the arm to match. Moves pretty well for a bigger guy. Needs to keep the light on all season. 7. Hedbert Perez - I don’t like ranking kids without an at-bat so high but this is not a very top heavy system and there could not be more glowing reports about him. For some reason, I’m concerned that he’s already more maxed out than your average teenager but his base of tools and acumen should allow him to climb the ladder either way. 8. Ethan Small - Not as high on Small as most but could not bring myself to place him any lower than this due to his high probability of being a contributor to the big league club at some point in the next couple years. Without adding a couple ticks of velocity, his low ceiling prevents me from placing him any higher. 9. Zavier Warren - Fun prospect with real baseball athleticism. Great bat control and a real chance to stick at catcher with enough reps. Looking forward to seeing the strides he makes in his first full season. 10. Aaron Ashby - Top ten based on stuff and production up through the mid-minors, although his control has room for improvement and he looks a lot like a reliever to me. 11. Luis Medina - A swing both effortless and mighty. I’m really excited to see what Medina can show over the next few years. I have visions of the best lefty power bat off the farm since Prince Fielder. 12. Eduardo Garcia - Good glove with good plate discipline. Needs much more strength in his swing but he’s young and his other tools give him decent floor for a teenager, if there is such a thing. 13. Micah Bello - Plus speed, plus defense, plus arm. Has a good idea at the plate but seems stuck between being two different hitters. If he can start driving the ball more consistently without selling out to do it, he can have a breakout season. 14. Dylan File - Best command in the system. Was already an overachiever type who I would not have bet against making it to the show anyway, and is apparently now sitting 93-95mph. Expect to see him in Milwaukee in 2021. 15. Jeferson Quero - Defensive catcher who has already shown vast improvement with the bat, per reports. Had to rank him this high for that alone at such a young age. 16. Nick Bennett - Bulldog lefty who knows how to pitch. Strong understanding and command of his arsenal. Potential fast mover although ceiling may be limited. 17. Jackson Chourio - Ranked here purely off potential and reports of above average hit and power tools at SS. 18. Hayden Cantrelle - Gamer. Can run, work counts, and play both MI spots, although arm more suited for 2B. Got some Independent League at bats after the draft and held his own in a short sample. 19. Payton Henry - I’m starting to doubt Henry will ever make enough contact to matter. But he was always going to be a late bloomer as a cold state catcher and has already improved immensely on the defensive side the last couple years. Here’s to 2021 being the year the bat starts to come around. 20. Carlos Roa - My favorite under-the-radar international signed prospect in the system. Can hit and pick it. Curious to see if he can do both enough to be discussed along side the more heralded international signings by season’s end. 21. Bowden Francis - Nastiest right handed stuff in the system. With refined command and an improved changeup, could be the best starter on this list. Wanted to rank all the way up into the mid-teens but he needs to make the aforementioned improvements to avoid the bullpen, where his FB/SL combo would play. 22. Gabe Holt - Poor man’s Turang at the plate with better speed. Would rank higher if he had more pop and was more of an asset defensively at 2B/CF. 23. Alec Bettinger - Back end starter ceiling. Probable middle reliever. 24. Israel Puello - The most exciting of the pitchers acquired from the Phillies. Already getting swings and misses while locating the ball well as a teenager. Good bet to add velocity and possibly shoot up this list in the future. 25. Jesus Parra - Big swing, big arm. On defense, 3B almost seems like best case scenario as he already has heavy feet and hasn’t filled out yet. One of the few teenage power bats in the system though. 26. Noah Campbell - Wheels and defensive versatility. Hits better with wood bats. 27. Joe Gray - Really needs to improve his contact quality. Untapped power and great run, catch, and throw skills. 28. Max Lazar - Good numbers in low ball but needs to add velocity. 29. Noah Zavolas - Crafty righty, great command. Similar to File before the velocity increase. 30. David Hamilton - Another middle infielder with good plate discipline and speed but no power. 31. Phil Bickford 32. Brandon Ramey 33. Thomas Dillard 34. Gregory Barrios 35. Leo Crawford 36. Pablo Abreu 37. Reese Olson 38. Nick Kahle 39. Felix Valerio 40. Branlyn Jaraba

I’ve changed my position of wanting to wait a bit before trading Hader to hoping they trade him this off-season (or next year’s deadline at the latest if he can put up some good numbers). Relief pitchers are volatile and this dude looks like the worst reliever in baseball the last couple weeks. I know he’s better than this but he’s shown quite the propensity to implode lately. His reign of most dominant relief pitcher may very well be over. And there is no way San Diego would even consider trading Gore for Hader even straight up. I’d be hesitant to give of much of anything for him if I was another team’s GM at this point, let alone the best left pitching prospect in baseball.

I think this is a great trade. Three low level lottery arms while still keeping a strong bullpen. I’m really intrigued by Israel Puello.

I don't think Wiemer was a guy who would have been drafted in this condensed draft had he not already tentatively agreed to a way under slot range beforehand. He knew that and he's getting more than he would had he been a UDFA. Not saying Weimer can't adjust but that swing looks like he'll be striking out 40% of the time once he advances past A-ball if he's trying to tap into his power. Cantrelle seems like a much better prospect at this point. Edit: This assessment is purely opinion based solely off watching video of them hitting. Looks like Wiemer had pretty good K/BB at Cincy. Not much pop for a big guy at this point though. I'd imagine they'll want that to change.

I was initially a little disappointed in the 3rd round pick with guys like Petey Halpin (if you want to go the high upside route) and Jake Eder (college lefty with a decent floor and some upside) available but after reading a bit about Warren, I dig it. Not a fan at all of the 4th round pick unless it’s to save some cash to talk someone out of going to school in the 5th. Overall, I still love this condensed draft for the Brewers though.

After a 2019 in which the Brewers had disastrous showings by some of their more highly regarded prospects, there are plenty of breakouts and pleasant surprises throughout the system in 2020. SLEEPERS Micah Bello - Entering his third season and still 19 years old. Plus speed, plus defense, plus arm. Has a good idea at the plate but seems kind of stuck in between being a higher average singles hitter and trying to turn on pitches and do some damage. This year is the first that he begins a balancing act between the two. He becomes a steady into-the-gaps-with-authority kind of hitter who legs out plenty of two and three baggers while maintaining a respectable average in A-ball. Gabe Holt - The Turang-est prospect in the system with a little more speed but less defensive value. If the move back to 2B works out and gets on base like he should, he’s a consensus top 10 prospect in the system next Spring. Carlos Roa - Best teenage bat that no one talks about. Might take a couple years to really get moving but he shows enough this season to be discussed along side the much more heralded international signings of recent years. BREAKOUTS Tristen Lutz - Early career numbers are steady but not necessarily impressive. Has shown glimpses of being a burgeoning power hitter and had really nice stretches at each level once he gets acclimated. A shortened 2020 season will be enough for Lutz to show that he’s the best bat in the system and a top 50 overall prospect in 2021. Payton Henry - Cold weather kid, hard worker. Has improved immensely on the defensive side since signing. This is the year the bat comes alive as he trades some Ks for BBs and gets to that power consistently. Nick Bennett - College lefty knows how to pitch. Strong understanding and command of his arsenal. Come Fall, people will be surprised by how close he comes to matching Small’s performance in the same rotation. Luis Medina - A bit early on this one but my personal favorite international sign since ... Jean Carmona. Ha. A swing both effortless and mighty. Not sure if he’ll even be stateside for 2020 but I’m looking forward to witnessing the several leaps he makes over the next few years to become the best lefty power bat the system has produced since Prince... ... Now that that’s out of the way and since Medina hardly counts... Phil Bickford! He makes his mark as one of the best relievers in all of minors this season and puts himself on the brink of contributing to the major league pen. COMEBACK Jake Gatewood - I’d never removed Gatewood from my Brewerfan Top 25 until this Spring (I placed him as the first honorable mention at #26). Now comfortably removed from that atrocious display after coming back from injury last summer, he leads the the farm in home runs in 2020.

After a 2019 in which the Brewers had disastrous showings by some of their more highly regarded prospects, there are plenty of breakouts and pleasant surprises throughout the system in 2020. SLEEPERS Micah Bello - Entering his third season and still 19 years old. Plus speed, plus defense, plus arm. Has a good idea at the plate but seems kind of stuck in between being a higher average singles hitter and trying to turn on pitches and do some damage. This year is the first that he begins a balancing act between the two. He becomes a steady into-the-gaps-with-authority kind of hitter who legs out plenty of two and three baggers while maintaining a respectable average in A-ball. Gabe Holt - The Turang-est prospect in the system with a little more speed but less defensive value. If the move back to 2B works out and gets on base like he should, he’s a consensus top 10 prospect in the system next Spring. Carlos Roa - Best teenage bat that no one talks about. Might take a couple years to really get moving but he shows enough this season to be discussed along side the much more heralded international signings of recent years. BREAKOUTS Tristen Lutz - Early career numbers are steady but not necessarily impressive. Has shown glimpses of being a burgeoning power hitter and had really nice stretches at each level once he gets acclimated. A shortened 2020 season will be enough for Lutz to show that he’s the best bat in the system and a top 50 overall prospect in 2021. Payton Henry - Cold weather kid, hard worker. Has improved immensely on the defensive side since signing. This is the year the bat comes alive as he trades some Ks for BBs and gets to that power consistently. Nick Bennett - College lefty knows how to pitch. Strong understanding and command of his arsenal. Come Fall, people will be surprised by how close he comes to matching Small’s performance in the same rotation. Luis Medina - A bit early on this one but my personal favorite international sign since ... Jean Carmona. Ha. A swing both effortless and mighty. Not sure if he’ll even be stateside for 2020 but I’m looking forward to witnessing the several leaps he makes over the next few years to become the best lefty power bat the system has produced since Prince... ... Now that that’s out of the way and since Medina hardly counts... Phil Bickford! He makes his mark as one of the best relievers in all of minors this season and puts himself on the brink of contributing to the major league pen. COMEBACK Jake Gatewood - I’d never removed Gatewood from my Brewerfan Top 25 until this Spring (I placed him as the first honorable mention at #26). Now comfortably removed from that atrocious display after coming back from injury last summer, he leads the the farm in home runs in 2020.

1. Tristen Lutz 2. Brice Turang 3. Ethan Small 4. Aaron Ashby 5. Mario Feliciano 6. Antoine Kelly 7. Trey Supak 8. Drew Rasmussen 9. Luis Medina 10. Payton Henry 11. Micah Bello 12. Gabe Holt 13. Carlos Roa 14. Nick Bennett 15. Hedbert Perez 16. Joe Gray 17. Phil Bickford 18. Max Lazar 19. Bowden Francis 20. Eduardo Garcia 21. Felix Valerio 22. Noah Zavolas 23. Dylan File 24. Alec Bettinger 25. Carlos Rodriguez 26. Jake Gatewood 27. Pablo Abreu 28. Justin Jarvis 29. Branlyn Jaraba 30. Erys Bautista

Man, I came on here to read other fans thoughts about the game but stopped soon after because it sounded like a bunch of kids. Some of y’all need to chill. The team is better with both Hader and Grisham. Cheers to 2020.

The dearth of impact prospects at the upper levels and nice crop of younger talent made this a fun list to put together. 1. Trent Grisham 2. Tristen Lutz 3. Brice Turang 4. Aaron Ashby 5. Trey Supak 6. Micah Bello 7. Ethan Small 8. Antoine Kelly 9. Luis Medina 10. Payton Henry 11. Pablo Abreu 12. Devin Williams 13. Gabe Holt 14. Drew Rasmussen 15. Corey Ray 16. Carlos Roa 17. Mario Feliciano 18. Eduardo Garcia 19. Joe Gray 20. Zack Brown 21. Felix Valerio 22. Bowden Francis 23. Thomas Dillard 24. Carlos Rodriguez 25. Dylan File 26. Jake Gatewood 27. Troy Stokes 28. Nick Bennett 29. Noah Zavolas 30. Lucas Erceg