Joseph Zarr

Interestingly, fwiw, Henderson had a slider when he first arrived at Low-A Carolina. However, it had essentially been cast to the wayside as he worked through injury and the development plan as he returned. Very very nice to see it return if true. @Jake McKibbin talks about his outing HERE. I am hoping (wink wink) Brewer Fanatic reporters who have locker room access expressly ask about this early development in 2025.

Welch didn't even throw his best pitch if that read out is accurate. His curveball, by my eyes (granted only 1 2/3 2024 IP post-draft 😆), is his clear most dangerous offering. Nasty pitch. Sweeper is a newish offering (?) and he does (did?) have a seldom used change-up. I wonder aloud if they are junking that for the sweeper? In his brief appearances with Carolina at Low-A, Hardin also made 'messes'. His control was an issue last summer. I am hoping he has tightened things up. He has what I would call young expression on his tools. His mechanics appeared unrefined when I watched him. Hoping he is more dialed in to start 2025 but this outing gives me slight pause.

3-0 in 'The Jericho Sims Era' Where were you when the culture shifted?

Grab a cup of Yoho. You won't regret it. Glorious!

Posted by Jim HERE. As I've been saying for the past season plus: RHP Chase Costello has filth. Will hurl it.

Career High 25 last night for the Capital City Go Go for AJ Johnson. A rare highly efficient 8-for-17 and 5-for-11 from deep 3-for-3 from the charity stripe. 2 boards and 6 dimes. It's pretty clear the Whiz were targeting Johnson all along - I certainly don't blame them - given where Midds is in his career. As I said previously, trading him when we did when he was just starting to get it (given his immense on ball tools) was the real basketball asset loss at the Deadline. Obviously, losing Midds was sad and the nostalgia there is very real but given his ongoing health concerns and age it makes sense. Losing AJ as a 'throw in' was painful. Still is from a basketball POV in an org consistently lacking youth with big upside.

That's amazing. 😅 Glad he didn't get hurt!

They do not own any picks in 2025. As you note, they can very readily buy a 2nd Rd pick if they so chose and another team was willing. Edit: Wait a minute. Scratch that. None of the draft pick trackers appear to have updated post-trade deadline. The Bucks DID in fact receive two 2nd rd picks. The 2026 Spurs pick most likely never materializes due to caveats like top 55 protections and the fact they have 5 2nd rd picks possible with other hoopla surrounding them. The pick that will translate is indeed a 2nd rd pick for this 2025 draft. It will essentially be the 2nd most favorable pick amongst The Pistons, Suns or Warriors. .So you were indeed correct @CheezWizHed.

2-0 in what will be remembered as 'The Jericho Sims Era' There is PS (Pre-Sims). There is AS (After Sims). Where were you? I am curious if the Bucks will be able to keep KPJ after he opts out. Like a Bobby prove it deal handshake deal? It is clear he likes his new situation and he has fans in the org. Most importantly, he has a big fan in the GM...errr...I mean Giannis

Alright, alright, alright...

Capra has serious intense vibes. The man is ready - for 2025 MLB baseball and maybe a bar fight.

He certainly is a talented enough player to put himself in a serious position to do so. He is definitely this good - ie what you saw today. He's been this baseline of a player (and getting better) for essentially two consecutive seasons. Tis why I've been saying he is the best pure first baseman in the system for over a year now. More than anything, tho, if he continues having a productive ST he is firmly placing himself on the 40-Man radar. As a sidebar, with Perkins' injury I personally think the Brewers 'should' start giving Tyler Black more regular work on the OF grass. He is a sneaky good defensive OF'er and I think he merits more time out there. This is the perfect time to do so.

Where were you during what is now historically referred to as 'The Vinny Capra Game'? My grandkids will ask me about this historic day. I, for One, will be ready.

Followed by a prime RHP Tyler Woessner experience inning. Sighs.

Indeed. ACL can be wacky. AND, every player has a different path and a different timing in their careers. The Jackson Chourio path is not normal as we know. Heck, the KC Hunt and Craig Yoho paths aren't normal - even for Minor League players in their age group. There are very plus attributes to Di Turi's game that likely endeared him to the broader organization - his overall discipline, his zone recognition and swing decisions, his general fluidity, and I would opine the way he carries himself. He seems like a very level-headed young man and player. His first stint was mired in one long slow-to-adjust Low-A slump for the most part. Even tho, and I obviously saw this and 'contend' this, the first exposure speed of play was a tick too fast for where he was in his development arc, I appreciated he didn't change who he was. His swing path and his swing, by and large, remained the same. This does give me hope that with an off-season of strength and conditioning work he can have a bounce back season where he re-establishes himself. A worthy add to anyone else's 'Sleeper' list. 😉

I know you do my friend. Do you think I also don't know who I'm talking to in addition to not knowing what I'm saying? LOL. Riddle me this: Did you see anything remotely close to Payne's impact in Di Turi's 66 game sample? I think we both know the answer. Again, this isn't an apples-to-apples thing you are trying to get across here. As I said: completely fine to disagree with you on what you are attempting to assert I'm saying. Despite what you seem to think, oddly, as I've state numerous times: I actually just want all the players to achieve the best versions of themselves. It still won't change my opinion of what I saw at Low-A Carolina in Di Turi's 2024 output. This isn't rocket science. ( @CheeseheadInQC: At this point in time I'm simply adding to your comments to try and attract you more views 😜)

Man, words can not express how excited I am to see Ernesto Martinez get his due respect. So fun to see him in the Brewers clubhouse. Such a likable young man:

I know you love doing this when you are really trying to prove your point with me. If you're going to tout your Baez assertion here you are comparing an original late season 9 Game sample size to a mid-season 66 Game sample size. This just isn't apples to apples. It isn't. Baez was also 18 years old quite a bit of last season when he was very much a lifeblood spark plug of a playoff contending team before his unfortunate shoulder injury. And then further solidified what I saw with a very solid AFL even making Propsects Worldwide's Top 20 list (above Durbin, no less😅). These two players are only five months apart in age. And, their development curves are in different stages. And, as you know, I watch these games. I am discussing the players and their output. And, that's really it. Obviously, age is a factor. Plenty of runway left for both players. I don't know why you are overly harping on this. Here's another way of saying this: I don't care if we disagree on what we're saying and how we're saying it. I hope both players have fantastic 2025's.

I'm really not being dismissive. I'm actually just sharing my observations and how those formulated my opinion. I know he was younger and that's always a valid point when discussing full-season players. My observations were and are (until the 2025 season kicks off, as I said): the Low-A Level speed of play in pretty much every facet was a step too fast for him in 2024. There is nothing dismissive in this statement based on his output and what we observed. It's as easy as: that is what I saw. Counter that with Braylon Payne (granted shades of talent and pedigree differential here) who met the level and absolutely impressed and excelled and imparted his speed of play into games and who will be 18 years of age until mid summer. AND, as I stated above: 2025 is a different season. I love the swing decisions. Incredibly sound. He has a smoothness in his game. I did not enjoy the contact quality. And, it's absolutely more than fair to share: he was behind the ball and behind the speed of play nearly his entire time at Low-A in 2024. I just don't think this is a contentious thing to say whatsoever. And, again, I hope he hits the ground running in 2025. Just as I hope Dylan O'Rae learned from his considerable struggles in his first exposure at Double-A. Which also isn't dismissive but rather based in what I saw: Dylan O'Rae really struggled to meet the strength and speed of Double-A ball his first go around.

Precisely. The 7/24 outing @ Beloit was the pinnacle.. I watched the game and wrote the report:

Quality signing for Nashville. Granted his speed and defense have suffered measurably since his patella injury some years back and he's on the wrong side of 30, but for a shot in the dark at AAAA depth this is a nice add.

Now that I've responded above, I'll give it my own go off the cuff here. As you know, I love this type of exercise. Position Players: Josh Adamczewski: The Brewers invited him down to ST earlier than most of the Minor League ST'ers. He was asked down by the 17th from what I heard - early by those ML standards. His bat is an absolute weapon. I said it last season. I am a big believer in that swing path and that type of contact. It has that sound, that trajectory, and that pop that jumps off the screen for me. Is he positionally limited? Likely. BUT, I personally see such an upside in the bat this is a young man who will fill in adequately enough at a few positions to warrant more serious consideration as he ages, fills out, and matures. So much to like here. Tyler Rodriguez: I'm a bit ride-or-die with Rodriguez 😅. I've kind of jumped on this train quite awhile back and it's like 'Snowpiercer' - I can't find my way off! And, why is that? The movement profile. Every Brewers PD clip I've seen and every small piece of film I've seen outside that realm via various Complex contacts I've spoken to shows a young man with the type of athletic profile I absolutely love in the middle infield. He's agile. He has good hands. He only just turned 19 years old in early February. What's more? He's carried over a very solid K:BB ratio through the DSL and an entire ACL season. He had measurably better BABIP in 2024 than he did in 2023 so I do have reservations at the dish. BUT, this is just a player I've grown to quite like in nearly every viewing I've been afforded. He's definitely my guy 'on the outside', so to speak, who is knocking on the door. Tayden Hall: I'm going to go ahead and give Tayden Hall a High-A pass for his struggles upon promotion. He's too good an athlete with too pretty a swing to let his lesser work in his first exposure to High-A to carry into an entire season in 2025. I still saw the same fluidity of movement everywhere - at 1B and in the batters box. I still saw the same consistent form and habits. I still believe there is an even better overall player in here beyond what we've seen to date - and, for the most part, we've seen a very solid player. I continue to have a hard time seeing a broader baseball future where Hall doesn't access more power. This is a young man who nearly every season to date I've left room for a precipitous leap in the power department. Pitchers: Yerlin Rodriguez: I am ready to be hurt again 🤭. Anyone who has seen Rodriguez pitch when he is right (yes, oh my so sadly, in those 3-4 outing per year), knows the raw tools are absolutely MLB-caliber. I see it. Opposing announcers see it. BUT, boy oh boy, talk about zero consistency or control over any prolonged stretch. This is the season I'm going to guesstimate Rodriguez starts putting together longer stretches of impact with shorter-term struggles and regressions. This is the year he makes the Double-A leap and starts entering the conversation. (At least I'm going to say that to try and speak it into existence) Jesus Rivero: Let's double down on the wildly inconsistent with tools category. I'm going to opine Rivero fine-tunes the aspects of his delivery that become erratic and lead to stretches of inefficiency and too many men on base. We all know he has a very deep toolkit of pitches and savvy. We have not seen any prolonged consistency here either. I'm going to try and speak into existence a consistent season that carries into High-A ball. Nobody has really hit Rivero at any level. His strikeout abilities are very plus. It's all about controlling the tools consistently. Chase Costello: I'm just going to give Costello some shine here because, well, I love Chase Costello. He's a bulldog. He has that classic marriage of size; build; and rip I absolutely love in high-leverage relievers. He's got that long hair and IDGAF my stuff is better than yours appearance on the mound to piggy-back off my personal fave in RHP KC Hunt. He has incredible ride and run on his heaters. He is distinctly (and has been) in my 'knocking on the door for actual MLB conversations' down the line. Everything is there. I really am looking forward to further solidifying his place on the Brewers pitching map in 2025.

Having watched how players like Yophery, O'Rae, Guilarte (in his debut promotion), Baez (for the most part), Adams, Pratt, Adamczewski, Bitonti, Payne and Areinamo handled their initial Low-A work as young players, it was a significant regression in terms of what I expected given his previous body of work. Does it mean all that much in the grand scheme of things? Hard to tell today. That 2024 season is long gone. BUT, if Di Turi picks up where he left off those last two months through the playoffs...that is extremely noticeable from my vantage point with the number of players nipping at his heels. All I can truthfully say from my POV in terms of watching the vast majority of Mudcats games is I was unimpressed with 2024 Di Turi. I know he has the prospect pedigree. I know he makes very sound swing decisions. It's very fair to simply state through observation: the game moved too fast for him in his initial Low-A introduction. That means something. It certainly doesn't mean everything. And, 2025 is a new season. I sure as heck hope he attacks it and we see a player who learned from his previous exposure. The tools are there.

Love the pitching names here. As you know I am consistently in awe of how Flores makes it all work. He is savvy savvy savvy. Really underrated hook. I keep hoping he add a few ticks of velo. If he could just get his stuff to that 91-93 mph range. None the less, highly impactful at every level so far. Rudy was phenomenal in that road Game 3 Championship series. Phenomenal. Would be such a boon to the system if he could keep growing into his young pitching career. I think we can pair Childers with Costello as two of the higher upside arms in that strong Biloxi Pen. The fastball growth we've seen in Childers, in particular, since his first days as a Mudcat is nothing short of astounding. Pitching Lab go Brrrrrr. As to DiTuri, the main thing I'll be watching for in 2025 is has his game sped up to the speed of Low-A. He was making solid swing decisions, yes, but everything (and I personally include his defense) appeared a step slow at Low-A. We know the Brewers think very highly of him - see his PT in the post-season over the red hot (and now ML Rule 5 add for the Twins) Miguel Briceno as a small example - and he had really solid DSL and ACL bodies of work. The first go at Low-A was his first plateau as a professional. He's had an off-season. Let's see how he looks in those first few Low-A months. All in all, I like your list!