Spencer Michaelis

Welcome back to Brewer Fanatic's 2023 top 20 prospect rundown! In this edition, we will be taking a deep dive look at Brock Wilken. Wilken slots in as the number six prospect in the system, as voted on and compiled by the Brewer Fanatic community. Image courtesy of Carlos Hurtado, Biloxi Shuckers #6 3B Brock Wilken (ACL Brewers, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, Biloxi Shuckers) Wilken, the Brewer's first-round selection in the most recent 2023 draft, had an extremely successful career at Wake Forest. The career home run leader for the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) with 71, Wilken set that record over the course of only three seasons as a Demon Deacon. What to Like: As one might gather, based on the home run record mentioned above, Wilken possesses a ton of raw power. At Wake Forest, he posted multiple exit velocities over 115 MPH and carried a 90th percentile exit velocity of over 108 in his final season. His 71 career home runs were topped off with 31 in his draft year, which was second in the country behind potential top-five pick in 2024, Jac Caglionne of Florida. Power carries the profile in many evaluators’ eyes, but the hit tool also looks like it could be at least average. He makes fantastic swing decisions, and while it’s only an average contact rate, he has been posting plus exit velocities and barrel rates in his first 203 professional plate appearances. On the defensive side, Wilken has a plus throwing arm and decent enough hands to handle third base. He had some issues with errors during his time in Appleton and Biloxi, but they were largely the product of fixable mistakes with his footwork. Wilken has below-average speed overall, but he shows signs of being a smart baserunner. He had a couple of good dirt ball reads in Appleton, where he could advance a base on a ball most players with his speed wouldn’t have been able to. He also took advantage of pitchers being predictable with their timing when the opportunity would arise, going four for four on stolen base attempts. What to Work On: When it comes to the offensive side of the ball, there aren’t many concerns. One that may pop up the higher he climbs is a propensity for taking hittable pitches early in counts. During his time at Wake Forest, Wilken became much more patient. Patience is good, to be sure, but at times, that patience would turn to passivity and cause himself to get buried in pitcher counts. When he does that, he puts himself in a situation where he will see the pitcher’s best secondary offerings and already has his back up against the wall. We will need to keep an eye on the strikeout numbers, as they did climb during his short stint at Double-A. It was far too small a sample to jump to any conclusions because of, but it will be something to monitor in 2024. On defense, while he has the arm and the hands for third base, there is a definite lack of range. In particular, he struggled to go to his backhand in his pro debut. He appears to get better reads on balls hit to his left. Perhaps the Brewers will have him play closer to the third baseline to counteract that. What’s next: Wilken is well developed already, being drafted out of a school with as many, if not more, resources as some MLB organizations. He will likely begin 2024 back in Biloxi, but the bat could push him to Triple-A quickly, and it would be hard to rule out an MLB debut during the 2024 season. Wilken has middle-of-the-order potential at one of the two corner infield spots. It’s something the Brewers have been struggling to find at first base since Prince Fielder and at third base since Aramis Ramirez. Wilken could be the guy to hold down one of those spots for the next 6-7 years. What are your thoughts on Brock Wilken? What are you hoping to see from him in 2024? Let us know in the comments! View full article

That's definitely not a bad comp. A couple extra pitches for Rodriguez and Chacin used the changeup pretty sparingly, but I can 100% see that one.

I would definitely agree with that. I do worry that the strikeout numbers will come down a bit at the MLB level and walks are less likely to naturally decline at higher levels than strikeouts, so I think it will take genuine improvement in that regard to keep the K/BB ratio looking as good as it did this year.

To be clear, I'm not including players who debuted or are in MLB! Among the actual prospects still out there, I would put him first. If I included, Mitchell, Wiemer, Perkins, etc, then he would not be first.

Welcome back to Brewer Fanatic's 2023 top 20 prospect rundown! In this edition, we will be taking a deep dive look at Carlos F Rodriguez. Rodriguez comes in as the number seven prospect in the system, as voted on and compiled by the Brewer Fanatic community. Image courtesy of Biloxi Shuckers #7 RHP Carlos F Rodriguez (Biloxi Shuckers, Nashville Sounds) The Brewers selected Rodriguez in the sixth round of the 2021 MLB Draft. They took him out of Florida Southwestern State Junior College, adding him to a growing list of Junior College pitchers that have succeeded, or are on their way to success, in the Brewers system. Rodriguez is a six-pitch pitcher who throws the kitchen sink at hitters and keeps them off balance, but he is more than a “junkballer.” A number of his pitches come in as above-average offerings. What to Like: Rodriguez throws three different “fastballs.” He throws a four-seam fastball, a sinker, and a cutter. The four-seamer is a riding fastball with which he can throw up in the zone and miss bats. He throws the four-seamer in the 90-93 range and can get up to 96 on occasion. His sinker moves quite a bit, and it is the pitch he gets most of his ground balls. The sinker sits in a similar velocity band to the four-seam. His cutter is a bit slower, usually in the upper 80s, around 86-88 most days. He uses it to keep the ball off the barrel. It isn’t a big swing-and-miss offering for him now, but he can get soft contact with it, especially against left-handed hitters. He also throws three different offspeed pitches along with the three fastballs. His offspeed offerings include a changeup, two different breaking balls, a slider, and a curveball. The changeup is probably his best pitch out of any of the six. Usually thrown in the 82-85 MPH range, it’s his go-to swing-and-miss pitch, and he can generate ground balls with it. It pairs well with his sinker. The slider is his second-best offspeed pitch. With a velocity usually hovering around 80 MPH, it shows flashes of being another big-time swing-and-miss pitch, but with some inconsistencies in the command of the pitch, the results he gets have a lot of variance. His curveball is mainly used to “steal a strike” by landing a slow one in the zone. When he’s throwing it as a swing-and-miss pitch, the velocity is usually around 73-75 MPH. When he wants to land it for a strike, he has dropped into the 60s at times. It isn’t a great pitch on its own, but he can use it to help all his other offerings and to give a hitter more velocity bands to think about. What to Work On: As mentioned earlier, Rodriguez’s slider is on the precipice of being a really good pitch. Continuing to build consistency with that pitch will be very important for him, as it can be his best put-away offering against right-handed hitters. Cutters and curveballs are two pitches the Brewers have done a great job developing during the Stearns/Arnold Era, and for Rodriguez, there is room to grow with both of those pitches. Sharpening up the curveball, in particular, would go a long way toward adding another swing-and-miss offering to his repertoire. With his feel to spin the ball, that type of improvement isn’t out of the question. Rodriguez’s walk numbers improved dramatically after the Southern League went away from the pre-tacked baseball and back to the MLB baseballs. However, his season total walks per nine number of four is probably too high for a player who doesn’t throw in the upper 90s with his velocity. His number of 2.9 per nine, after they changed the baseballs, would be much more in line with where he will likely need to be at the MLB level. What’s Next: Sans the pitch-timing theatrics, Rodriguez shows some traits similar to Johnny Cueto on the mound. He received some invaluable experience by pitching for Nicaragua in the World Baseball Classic this past spring and doing quite well against an MLB-laden Puerto Rico lineup. Rodriguez made one start in Triple-A to finish the 2023 season, and it seems likely he will find himself back there to start 2024. He will almost certainly be in Major League camp this spring, and it will be a great opportunity for him to get continued reps against MLB level hitters and to work with the MLB catchers. Assuming he does return to Triple-A to begin the season, Rodriguez’s fastest path to an MLB roster spot is likely by proving that the walk numbers, after the change in baseballs, are more indicative of what he truly is as a pitcher than the ones he had shown with the pre-tacked balls. What are your thoughts on Carlos F Rodriguez? What are you hoping to see from him in 2024? Let us know in the comments! View full article

Oh this is definitely nit-picky and partially to list something to work on, for the defensive side of the ball haha. I did notice it a couple of times though, and also like I said, it's the type of ball a lot of fielders can struggle on at times. Even the best in baseball. I would personally call Lara the best defensive outfielder in the system, and that is definitely saying something, given there's a lot of defensive talent at every level.

I think he's a future 70 grade glove, and that he gets absolutely great reads. But the only slight concern (which has been backed up by a couple in person looks) is really the reads he gets on balls hit right in front and right over his head. I'm not sure the first video that cuts to Lara 2 seconds after it's hit is able to show that he got a good read. The last one he definitely got a good read on. But highlights will tend to be showing the good ones haha.

Welcome back to Brewer Fanatic's 2023 top 20 prospect rundown! In this edition, we will be taking a deep dive look at our number eight prospect, as voted on and compiled by the Brewer Fanatic community, Luis Lara. #8 OF Luis Lara (Carolina Mudcats, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers) The Brewers signed Lara in their 2022 International signing class, and he was one of the bigger signings for the Brewers in that class. He received the third-highest bonus in the class at $1.1 Million, behind only shortstops Jhonny Severino and Johan Barrios. After getting off to a scalding hot start in the DSL, Lara slowed down dramatically for a few weeks before a strong finish. While his 2022 stats didn’t look all that special, a 12% K-Rate and 9% BB-Rate were great signs for a player his age. He began 2023 in Extended Spring Training but soon proved too talented to be sent to the Arizona Complex League and was promoted to Low-A Carolina a month into the season. What to Like: Lara has the potential for a plus hit tool, potentially even elite. A switch hitter from the left side, he has a very compact swing. He appears to have very good rotational mobility, and that mobility helps him swing his bat at an elite rate of speed. That bat speed, combined with his hand-eye coordination, gives Lara tremendous bat-to-ball skills. He posted a 90% contact rate on pitches in the zone in 2023, which would have been a top 25 number among qualified MLB hitters. His swing can look Ronald Acuna-esque from the right side at times, though the results were not very good against left-handed pitchers this year. As for the defensive side of the ball, Lara combines his plus speed with good reads and routes. At his peak, he could be an elite defender in center field. His arm is borderline plus as well, and because of that, if he needs to, he could also handle right field with no issue. The aforementioned speed also comes in handy on the offensive side of the ball. It especially shows when he puts a ball in the gap or goes first to third on a hit. He did have a pretty successful season stealing bases, with 30 overall. However, while certainly not bad, a 75% success rate for a guy with plus speed isn’t exactly what you’re looking for. What to Work On: Power is the biggest question mark for Lara moving forward. Despite his diminutive stature, Lara has shown flashes of raw power in a batting practice setting and even some in-game power from both sides of the plate. However, both of his home runs in 2023 were from the right side, and he possesses more of his in-game power from that side. His swing from the right side is much more aggressive and has more moving parts than the left. It allows him to get to his power more, but as mentioned earlier, his results from that side could have been better in 2023. His OPS of .593 from the right side was nearly .200 points lower than the .770 OPS he posted from the left. The one thing Lara will be looking to improve upon defensively is on batted balls that are hit straight at Lara. He sometimes struggles to get good reads on a ball hit directly over his head or in front of him. Many consider that particular part of playing the outfield the most difficult part of the position, so this isn't abnormal, but he will need to get better at it if he wants to stick in center field full-time. Lara's other “weakness” is the lack of baserunning instincts, which results in being caught stealing 25% of the time. As a younger player, pitchers often struggle with the concept of holding runners, allowing a baserunner to build some bad or lazy habits. Catchers also don’t possess the same type of arms they see in full-season ball. There’s a very real chance that Lara will improve greatly in that regard simply by getting more and more reps on the bases against professional pitchers and catchers. What’s next: Lara was 18 years old for the entirety of the 2023 season, and after his birthday in November, he will spend all of 2024’s season at 19. The Brewers have generally been extremely aggressive with their prospects the last couple of years, and Lara was no exception. Being pushed to High-A at 18 shows how much they believe in him. However, a Double-A assignment would seem over the top to start 2024. It seems likely that Lara will begin back in Appleton, WI, next spring. Barring a power breakout, he probably won’t ever be a top 10-20 prospect in baseball. However, Lara could find himself in the Sal Frelick territory of the top 50 if he continues to perform as one of the youngest players at each level. What are your thoughts on Luis Lara? What are you hoping to see from him in 2024? Let us know in the comments! View full article

Welcome back to Brewer Fanatic's 2023 top 20 prospect rundown! In this edition, we will be taking a deep dive look at Cooper Pratt. Pratt comes in as the number nine prospect in the system, as voted on and compiled by the Brewer Fanatic community. Image courtesy of © Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports #9 SS Cooper Pratt (Arizona League Brewers) The Brewers selected Pratt in the sixth round in 2023, a pick that many evaluators considered the steal of the draft at the time. Pratt was ranked the 25th overall prospect in the draft by Fangraphs, 45th by MLB Pipeline, and 63rd by Baseball America. Much like Mike Boeve, Pratt was a pick that was based on a mix of analytics and pure scouting. He would stand out in most teams' models, but he also stood out to the pro scouts watching him on the prep circuit over the last few years. What to Like: On the defensive side, Pratt has a good chance to stick at shortstop despite his 6’4 build. He has good hands and solid actions at the position. He gets good reads off the bat and does especially well when coming in on the ball. If he does have to move off of shortstop, he should be a plus defender at third base. Offensively, Pratt’s approach at the plate was considered one of the best among all the high school selections. During his time on the tournament circuit, according to Baseball America, “Over a 668-pitch sample, Pratt had just a 12% overall miss rate and 17% chase rate. His miss rate falls to just 6% on pitches in the zone.” Those are fantastic numbers for a player his age. Pratt has a small leg kick and extremely quick hands. Those traits combine to form a smooth swing that keeps the barrel in the zone for a long time and allows him to hit the ball with some authority to all fields. Currently, Pratt is not providing too much in-game power. Still, his frame shows the potential to grow into much more, and evaluators say he is already showing it in batting practice, especially to the pull side. What to Work On: As mentioned, on the defensive side of the ball, a move to third base is still well within the range of possibilities for Pratt. The main reason he may not be able to stick at shortstop is that he struggles to move laterally at times. Going side to side is incredibly important at the shortstop position, but at third base, you don’t need that same level of range. It is something that a player can get better at by increasing their mobility, but a player of Pratt’s size will have a harder time making those improvements. At the plate, Pratt’s improvements are most likely to come in the form of adding power. Beyond that, simply adjusting to professional pitching will be the biggest thing for Pratt in 2024, as he did struggle with strikeouts in his pro debut, not to an extreme degree, but a bit more than his profile would suggest. Remember that the 26.6% swinging strike rate Pratt shows in his 54 PAs at the Complex level likely isn’t correct, as the pitch-by-pitch data at the rookie levels isn’t very accurate. What’s next: Pratt received Gunnar Henderson comps throughout the draft process, and it’s easy to see why, given his build and fluidity at that size. Henderson only hit one home run in his first 121 plate appearances in rookie ball, but he started tapping into his power during his first full season in pro ball, and the hope is that Pratt will do the same. Pratt’s assignment next season will likely depend on how he looks in spring. It seems most likely that he will stay in extended spring training for a while and then either be assigned back to the ACL Brewers or pushed to Low-A Carolina if he is showing what the Brewers hope to see. What do you think about Cooper Pratt? What are you hoping to see from him in 2024? Let us know in the comments! View full article

As far as I know, it’s pronounced BO-vee. That’s how I’ve been saying it, how the T-Rats broadcaster and PA announcer said it, and it looks like the Journal Sentinel reported it as BO-vee as well in their draft article

Just to clarify, I do believe that Joe Ayrault mentioned on one of the post game shows that Boeve was, in fact, injured and that was what caused the assignment. Probably just figured it wasn't worth a true designation at the very end of the season, and given that he was probably going to spend time in the Instructional League either way.

Agreed. I like Boeve quite a bit, and even listed him as a guy I thought the Brewers should draft and as someone I thought they would like quite a bit. But I think people got a little high on his ACL start and bumped him up way too far, way too fast.

Welcome back to Brewer Fanatic's 2023 top 20 prospect rundown! In this edition, we will be taking a deep dive look at Mike Boeve. Boeve comes in as the number ten prospect in the system, as voted on and compiled by the Brewer Fanatic community. Image courtesy of Omaha Baseball #10 IF Mike Boeve (Arizona League Brewers, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers) The Brewers' second-round selection in the 2023 MLB Draft, Boeve stood out as a player the franchise could have interest in. Even going back before the draft, he possessed some analytical traits that any team would like. The Brewers aren’t one of the franchises that are strictly model-based when making draft decisions, but they value them quite a bit, and Boeve was a model darling. What to Like: Boeve is the definition of what one would consider a “Moneyball” profile. He's not a “good-looking” player, but he's pretty good at everything he does. He was always known for making a lot of contact during his time at Nebraska-Omaha. He was actually hit by the same number of pitches in 2023 as his strikeout total, both of which were nine. That strikeout total resulted in a minuscule 4% strikeout rate, which paired extremely well with his 15.2% walk rate. While he struck out even less than he had in the past, he wasn't sacrificing any of his power to get the bat on the ball. Boeve’s contact quality also took a major step forward this past spring. Coming into the season, he was viewed as a bit of a punchless bat, but he hit his first ball over 110 mph in college during the 2023 season and posted a 90th percentile EV above 105 mph. His home run numbers actually dropped from eight in 2022 to four in 2023, but the quality of contact is more likely to translate to pro ball than his home run numbers. While he wasn’t putting up the exit velocity numbers of a future 40-home-run hitter, he showed that he is more than a punchless bat. After signing and reporting to the Arizona Complex League, Boeve posted wood bat exit velocities of up to 112 MPH in his few weeks down there. His build should also be able to add power to the profile as he gets stronger and continues to adjust to pro ball. What to Work On: Defensively, Boeve isn’t the most graceful-looking player on the infield, but he does appear to get good reads at third and second bases. His arm is around average for third and a little above average for second. He struggles at times with keeping his feet moving on grounders, especially when he is at second base. He was caught flat-footed and ended up fielding the ball off to his side more than a couple of times during his time with the Timber Rattlers. On the offensive side of the ball, as mentioned above, Boeve got off to an incredible start with the Arizona League Brewers, hitting four home runs in what essentially amounted to his first week's worth of games with the team. He was quickly promoted to High-A Wisconsin, completely passing by Carolina. He hit another home run in his first game with the Timber Rattlers but struggled to close out the season. While he had seen some higher velocity and good secondary pitches at times in college, he did play in a smaller conference at the NCAA level. He certainly hadn’t seen that level of stuff with such regularity as he did at High-A. The strikeout rate of nearly 21% in pro ball, compared to that measly 4% in college, illustrates the difference in the quality of pitchers he was seeing. Boeve has been said to be great at making adjustments, so it would not be a surprise to see things revert to somewhere in between the pro ball numbers and the college ones. What’s next: Overall, there are a lot of Tyler Black similarities at the plate, including his swing. Black is a much faster player than Boeve, but Boeve would get the nod on the defensive side of the ball. Given his struggles toward the end of the season, Boeve is a clear candidate to begin 2024 back at High-A Wisconsin. During his time there, he will most likely spend time at third and second bases as he continues to work through his footwork and consistency in the field. Boeve will be getting more reps against this higher-level pitching, and the Brewers hope to see him tap into more of his power. This could be tough to do, as the cold and the wind throughout the Midwest League in April and May can present a very tough-hitting environment, especially in terms of power output. As a college draft pick who moved quickly to High-A, early success next year could place him on a fast track up the minor league chain. We will learn more about Boeve in 2024, but he made a strong first impression. What are your thoughts on Boeve? What are you hoping to see from him in 2024? Let us know in the comments! View full article

Yeah, I had somewhat forgotten about the potential first round pick if he makes the OD roster and then win ROY. I am going to change my guess to Opening Day. The potential for an extra first is worth an incredible amount to a team like Milwaukee.

I have Moore about 15 spots lower than Boeve. I've been a big believer in him since before the draft, but I do agree with the premise on EBJ being a pretty easy choice over Boeve. I was pretty shocked by that one... Just don't agree with it at all. But a full breakdown on Boeve is forthcoming. The Top 10 all will have their own individual, deeper dives coming out over the next few weeks.

Agreed completely. My personal top 20 actually has EBJ 8th. I really like Boeve, but like you said, there’s a much higher floor with Brown due to the other things he does well.

Welcome to Brewer Fanatic's 2023 top 20 prospect rundown! The Brewers graduated a number of their top prospects throughout the 2023 season, so there are some new names to look at heading into the offseason. Let's look at the second installment of prospects, which will cover 11-15, as voted on and compiled by the Brewer Fanatic community. Image courtesy of © Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports #15 OF Yophery Rodriguez (DSL Brewers) The Brewers handed Rodriguez their biggest signing bonus in the 2023 international class, giving him $1.5 million to join the system. Rodriguez doesn’t have one standout tool. Instead, he has one of the most balanced skill sets you will find from a player his age. A patient hitter with an average ability to make contact, Rodriguez is very young and has plenty of projection ahead of him as he matures. He has already shown some in-game pop, but it’s safe to project even more in the future. He has a flat swing path, which is part of the reason the power hasn’t quite come around yet. That swing path also allows him to make such consistent contact, though, and reports have him handling velocity and spin extremely well early in his career. His BABIP of .289 in the DSL is abnormally low, especially for a guy who hits the ball as hard as he does and only carries a 10% infield fly ball rate. He likely had some bad luck this year, and his numbers could have looked much better. Rodriguez isn’t the fastest center fielder around, but he still has above-average speed overall, and he will likely be a capable base stealer as he advances through the system. Defensively, Rodriguez has excellent instincts and gets great jumps. He will have a chance to stick in center, but he also has a good enough arm to handle right field if needed. Rodriguez could have 55-grade tools across the board at his peak, making him a Top 100 prospect at minimum. His combination of advanced hitting skills and physical upside give him a pretty high floor, which is rare for his age, but also gives him a significant ceiling. Look for Rodriguez to follow the Luis Lara route next year, potentially skip the Arizona Complex League altogether, and make his full-season ball debut a month or so into the season. #14 RHP Logan Henderson (Carolina Mudcats) Henderson was the Brewers'. A fourth-round selection in 2021 out of McLennan Community College in Texas, and thus far, he’s looking like another fantastic find in the Junior College pitching ranks by the Brewers. He was committed to Texas A&M at the time of the draft, but Henderson chose to sign with the Brewers. Unfortunately, most of his first year and a half after signing was spent continuously bitten by the injury bug. Before the 2023 season, Henderson had only thrown 15.2 professional innings. Equipped with a low 90s fastball coming out of McLennan, he has raised his average velocity to a little closer to 93 and has even reached back for 97 MPH a few times. The fastball plays especially well when thrown up in the zone due to its high spin and spin efficiency. He spins his slider at nearly 3000 RPM, and it shows signs of being a nice pitch. At times, however, it seems that he loses the angle/tilt on the pitch, and in that scenario, the slider doesn’t move much. His best pitch, though, is his changeup. You would be hard-pressed to find a better changeup in the Brewers system. It has some airbender qualities when he’s really got it going. Like Devin Williams, the changeup is a great pitch on its own, but it also helps his fastball to play above the velocity readings. Striking out over twelve batters per nine innings while walking fewer than three per nine, Henderson showed exactly what the Brewers saw in him at McClennan to use a fourth-round pick on him. Henderson mixed all his pitches with regularity and used them all in tandem to have a fantastic and, more importantly, healthy season. Given all of that success in 2023 and that he’s a bit older than the average prospect at Low-A, it would not be a huge surprise to see him skip High-A altogether and the Brewers have him begin 2024 in Double-A Biloxi. #13 1B/3B Luke Adams (Carolina Mudcats) The Brewers twelfth-round pick in the 2022 draft. Adams was drafted out of Hinsdale Central High School in Illinois and appeared to have been a nice find by Area Scout Ginger Poulson. Adams spent the first few weeks of the 2023 season still an 18-year-old before turning 19 in late April. Standing 6’4, 210 pounds, he comes with a rare blend of patience at the plate to go along with his plus raw power and surprising speed for his size. Adams has played a very solid third base where he has the arm to handle the position and has shown an early ability to make off-platform throws, which is not easily done at 6’4. He also spent some time at first base, where he is a definite above-average defender. His plus arm would be a good fit in right field as well, which he has the athleticism to handle. At the plate, Adams has an… interesting swing, to say the least. It’s a very violent swing with a ton of moving parts. Yet, at the same time, he also shows an impressive amount of patience. The key for him will be continuing to find the balance between being passive and patient. Otherwise, that may be something that pitchers will be able to take advantage of as he begins to climb the organizational ladder. His loudest contact so far has been on the ground, though his overall batted ball profile suggests he has no issues getting the ball in the air. Early in the season, he struggled with hitting a lot of infield pop-ups, but he corrected that as the season progressed, and that was when he started to see his average climb. When you hit the ball as hard as Adams does, a pop-up is the only ball in play that doesn’t have a chance. His 90th percentile exit velocity this year was 106 MPH. The MLB average for 90th percentile exit velocity in 2022 was 103.7 MPH. As an 18 and 19-year-old hitter, fresh out of high school, Adams posted exit velocity data that would have been well above average in MLB. While the swing isn’t the most visually appealing operation, his results, and batted ball data all point to a very good offensive prospect. Combine that with his stealing 30 bases this year and some interesting defensive skills; Adams will almost certainly have some ups and downs over the next few seasons, but he has an extremely high ceiling if he can put it all together. If Adams had not signed with the Brewers as a twelfth-round pick and had gone to Michigan State and posted batted ball data like this, he would likely already be generating first-round buzz in the 2025 draft. #12 RHP Josh Knoth (Yet to make pro debut) The Brewers Competitive Balance Round A selection in the most recent draft, Knoth has arguably the highest ceiling of the Brewers' day one selection. Knoth has a smooth delivery that is easily repeatable. Going back to the summer of 2022, his profile was extremely enticing, even though he only threw his fastball in the 90-93 range and was topping out at 95 at the time. This past spring, however, he was up to 98 on occasion and sitting more in the 93-96 range. The fastball has a good life at the top of the zone and pairs extremely well with what might be the best secondary offering in the entire system. That offering is his hammer curveball. It’s a 3000 RPM pitch with a late bite and a ton of vertical movement. His slider could also be a plus pitch, coming in on a different plane than his curve but also having sharp movement and a spin rate of around 3000 RPM. Knoth also mixes in a changeup that shows some interesting fade but doesn’t take as much velocity off of it as you would hope. The Brewers will likely work with him to create more separation between the fastball and changeup. Knoth will be 18 for the majority of next season, and barring an incredible spring training showing, the Brewers will likely keep him in extended spring training next year before he makes his debut with the ACL Brewers in mid-summer. Knoth’s upside on the mound might be second only to Jacob Misiorowski in the Brewers system, and the Brewers will likely be careful with his innings load at the beginning. Knoth is far from a finished product, but if he can stay healthy and they can maximize the pitch mix he already has, the Brewers could have a top-of-the-line starter on their hands in a few years. #11 SS Eric Brown Jr (Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, Biloxi Shuckers) Brown Jr, the Brewers' first-round pick in the 2022 draft, is a premium athlete at a premium position. He plays a strong shortstop defensively, where his arm is above average, especially with the quick release he uses to get his throws off. His quick-twitch athleticism, good range, and good hands have allowed him to make impressive defensive plays. At times, he has seemed to lose concentration and make some errors in some of his routine plays, but that is not uncommon for younger players. On the offensive side of the ball, Brown came out of Coastal Carolina with a very low strikeout rate and an even lower chase rate, to go along with some pretty intriguing exit velocity numbers. Brown Jr fell slightly and further than his numbers indicated, mainly due to his peculiar-looking load and stance in college and some concerns about elevating the ball. He was an analytical darling, but traditional scouts weren’t as convinced due to his stance. Last offseason, he made some changes and came into 2023 with a load involving much less movement than the one he was sporting in 2022. With his new load, his hands are still starting in an awkward position, out in front of his head, but his big change was with his lower half. No longer using his big leg kick (he has gone to a much quieter leg lift), Brown seemed to have a bit of an adjustment period to get used to this new load in games. His wRC+ through the end of April was 39. He was hit in the face by a pitch on April 26th but luckily avoided major injury, and after returning on May 3rd, he started hitting much more like one would expect a first-rounder to hit. From May 3rd through the end of the season, Brown Jr would post a 122 wRC+ and an OPS of .781 in that span. The Midwest League is a tough-hitting environment, and Brown Jr did pretty well when he was healthy. He limited his strikeouts to a very reasonable 17.2% rate and walked at a high rate. While he didn’t tap into the power that he has shown flashes of with much regularity, he did steal 39 bases while only being caught five times. Brown Jr is taking part in the Arizona Fall League this offseason, and the hope is that he can take that experience to go along with what will hopefully be a healthier season in 2024 and show why the Brewers took him in the first round. His path thus far has been very similar to Tyler Black’s through Black’s first year and a half of pro ball. The hope is that Brown Jr will follow Black’s footsteps even further on his way to a breakout in 2024. He will likely begin next season in Double-A Biloxi. What stands out from 11-15 in this list? Let us know your thoughts in the comments! View full article

Welcome to Brewer Fanatic's 2023 top 20 prospect rundown! The Brewers graduated a number of their top prospects throughout the 2023 season, so we have some new names to look at heading into the offseason. Let's take a look at the first installment, as voted on and compiled by the Brewer Fanatic community. Image courtesy of © Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports 20. Juan Baez, IF (Arizona League Brewers, Carolina Mudcats) Baez was signed in the 2022 international class out of the Dominican Republic for only $10,000, one of the lowest bonuses in the entire class. After a run-of-the-mill showing in the Dominican Summer League (DSL) in his debut season, he was given a surprising assignment to the Arizona Complex League as a soon-to-be 18-year-old. Baez did his part to show why the Brewers were so aggressive with him, despite the numbers he had put up in the DSL. Equipped with plus feel for contact, he is said to have above-average speed as well, which shows in his 19 stolen bases in 21 attempts. Reports coming into the season suggested a strong defender up the middle, but he did end up finishing the season with 18 errors, while only playing 45 games in the field. A large majority of his errors were of the throwing variety, which is a bit easier to fix than errors that come with the glove. His arm is pretty strong, so it would seem likely that his footwork is not where it needs to be, and there could be a lack of focus as well. While the offensive profile is pretty interesting, the defensive side of the game is going to be something that will need to be monitored. On the offensive side, one thing Baez is going to have to work on is his patience at the plate. His bat-to-ball skills did all of the heavy lifting on his way to an extremely successful season in 2023, but succeeding at the MLB level with a 4.2% walk rate would make him a major outlier, as only three qualified hitters finished 2023 with that low of a rate. Baez was certainly able to make it work at the Complex level and in his short cup of coffee with Low-A Carolina, due in large part to his ability to get the bat to the ball so consistently. He has a pretty big leg kick and a swing that is somewhat reminiscent of Alfonso Soriano's. With that leg kick and swing path, he is more than a slap hitter, despite what the rest of the profile might suggest. He showed a decent amount of extra-base pop, with 27 total, including four home runs. He will, most likely, begin 2024 with Carolina, which will be his first year of full-season ball. He will have the opportunity to answer the questions about his defense, and to continue to develop his swing decisions a bit. If he can see more pitches and potentially draw more walks, this is the profile of a future MLB hitter. 19. Bradley Blalock, RHP (Boston Red Sox organization, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers) Acquired from the Boston Red Sox at the 2023 trade deadline in exchange for Luis Urias, Blalock is a bit more than a lottery-ticket arm. The Red Sox’s 32nd-round selection in 2019 had struggled with injuries early in his career, and returned from Tommy John Surgery this season after missing all of 2022. Throwing from an over-the-top arm angle, he came back this season throwing 93-95 on his fastball, even getting up to 97 at times. Due (in part) to that high slot, his fastball has really good shape, and it plays well up in the zone. He throws three secondaries: curveball, slider and changeup. The quality of the pitches goes in that same order. His curveball is a hammer that comes in around 77-82, with a ton of depth on it. The fastball and curveball are both plus pitches. His slider is the third offering. It’s a firmer breaking ball, getting into the upper 80s, and has more horizontal movement than vertical. It hasn’t been completely dialed in yet, and it can be inconsistent from start to start, but it has the makings of being a pretty good tertiary pitch for him. His changeup is a distant fourth pitch at the moment, and given his arm slot, that will likely remain the case. It can be hard to throw a changeup from that angle. The Brewers like their splitters, and that is often the changeup that works best from an overhand slot, so perhaps that will be something they work on moving forward. Blalock got fantastic results prior to the trade, posting a 2.19 ERA and nearly 10 strikeouts per nine innings with the Red Sox's Low-A and High-A affiliates and limiting his walks to only 2.2 per nine. The results did not carry over in his first four starts after the trade. He walked over four batters per nine frames, and his ERA was 5.27 in that stretch. Unfortunately, he left his final start after recording only two outs, and ended up being placed on the IL to finish the season. We don’t know the extent of that injury at the moment. Blalock is Rule 5-eligible this offseason, and since his fastball and curveball could play up out of the bullpen, it wouldn’t be a complete shock to see him get selected if the Brewers leave him unprotected. He will likely receive heavy consideration for a 40-man roster spot. 18. Daniel Guilarte, IF (Carolina Mudcats) Guilarte was an international signing by the Brewers in 2021, and is somebody the organization appears to be very high on. Guilarte can really pick it at shortstop, as well as third and second base. He has clean actions, good range and a strong arm. Offensively, Guilarte has a patient approach, though that patience may border on passivity at times. He struggles to tap into power, though he does hit the ball with some authority. He will need to do a better job elevating the ball in order to get to the extra-base power. His speed is above-average, and he’s a strong baserunner in general. The previously mentioned patience showed up for Guilarte in a strong 12.5% walk rate, but it also shows up in his batted-ball profile. Slight indecisiveness can lead to a profile such as Guilarte’s, in which he does not pull the ball much, and is often hitting it on the ground. Despite the profile not being exactly what you’re looking for, Guilarte got off to a pretty good start to his full-season career in 2023, and as he matures more, there is definitely the potential for more pop there. His 111 wRC+ means he was an above-average hitter for the level, and he did that while being about two years younger than the league's average. Even if he struggles to develop that power, Guilarte’s above-average-to-plus speed, defense and hit tools will keep him on prospect radars. 17. Dylan O’Rae, IF/CF (Arizona League Brewers, Carolina Mudcats) The Brewers selected O’Rae with their third-round pick in 2022, to the surprise of pretty much everyone. Unranked on all of the major publications at draft time, the MLB Pipeline gurus struggled to find information on him. The Brewers clearly dug deep for the pick, and the early returns have been very good. O’Rae is small in stature, standing only 5-foot-7, and is listed at 160 pounds--though he appears to have bulked up this offseason and that weight might no longer be accurate. It isn’t out of the realm of possibility that he has gotten taller, either, as he’s still a teenager. Even if the growth spurt never hits, O’Rae has the potential to be a top-of-the-order hitter, as well as handling the middle infield or center field defensively. He possesses an elite eye at the plate and very good bat-to-ball skills, but he is severely lacking in the power department. Even if he can't clear or dent the fences, though, he does have the ability to turn singles into doubles by stealing bases with his plus speed. In 2023, he showed his well-measured approach by posting a 20% walk rate and only a 6.7% swinging-strike rate to go with his 13% strikeout rate. All of those would be elite numbers for anybody, but especially for a teenager in his first real taste of pro ball. The absence of power does show in the numbers as well, with only nine total extra-base hits, none of which were home runs. However, an on-base percentage of nearly .500 and 44 steals is a good way to bring production without hitting the ball hard. On the defensive side, he mainly played second base early in the season, but as the year progressed, he spent some time in center field. After his promotion to Low-A Carolina, he actually spent more time in center than on the dirt. His speed, instincts and the fact that he has a decent arm should allow him to handle either of them without issue. There are a lot of Sal Frelick similarities with O’Rae, but Frelick had more juice in his bat, even at this young age. If he can continue to put on some good weight and deliver just a bit more thump, O’Rae has the makings of someone who could make a career out of annoying the heck out of opposing pitchers. 16. Eric Bitonti, 3B/SS (Arizona League Brewers) Selected in the third round of the Brewers' most recent draft, Bitonti won’t turn 18 until mid-November. Equipped with some of the biggest raw power in the high school class, Bitonti has a sweet-looking left-handed swing. Despite being a pretty good athlete for his size, it’s unlikely he will be able to stick at shortstop. He should be a pretty strong defender at the hot corner, however, and he certainly has the arm to handle the position. The question for Bitonti will come with his hit tool. He has some holes in his swing, and he has struggled with making solid contact on breaking balls. His issues there seem to be more aligned with his feel to hit them, rather than a failure to recognize them, as he doesn’t chase them much. This is a good sign. It means he likely just needs to get more comfortable with his bat path against spinners. He crushed fastballs in the prep circuit and should have no issues handling professional velocity. His short stint in Arizona started really well, as he hit two home runs in the first three games of his professional career. After that, he experienced some struggles. In his final eight games, he went a combined 2-24, though he did draw eight walks in that stretch. Brewers fans will need to remember to be patient with Bitonti. He’ll be 18 for the entirety of the 2024 season and he’s got a lot of development in front of him. This is a bit of a boom-or-bust pick, but the upside is a big-time, middle-of-the-order bat. What stands out from 16-20 in this list? Let us know your thoughts in the comments! View full article

Thanks! I personally would have chose Rudy over Jarvis as well, but these were voted on by all the writers, so the honorable mentions were those that fell outside of the top 4 but received at least one vote.