Jake McKibbin

Haha me either! Nice to know he's off the board

I'd be all for this, I couldn't agree more. I think his floor is really sizeable, he's got a ceiling that could still be reached (genuinely unsure if the concussion did have a large effect on him for a while) but the question is whether or not he would sign low, or want to wait on a better 2024 season. He's been very durable, but maybe the Woodruff injury can show that the sport is fickle and one injury could cost him a lot. I wrote about it in the free part of the handbook, but I could see a six year deal (buyout out this years arbitration) in the $100-110m range being good for both parties. Adames set up for life, and will be an incredible second basemen if age hits him. Maybe people have different valuations, but coming into the season he seemed like a six year $135-140 guy for me, and last year maybe took a dent in that value I totally agree, it depends on the value offered, and the Brewers have stipulated they won't trade unless they feel they win that trade. They almost have in every Arnold trade so far, even the Winker vs Wong deal If they go for it, it may click, especially if Chourio tears up and has a promotion in early May, but I feel he'll be down until late June/July until he has a stretch like EDLC last year. He has enough workons still If he did get aggressive, I wondered about Chapman coming in, but I'm not sure they'd want a longish deal if they believe in Wilke or even Black developing at the hot corner defensively. It's if there's a second baseman or maybe even first baseman on the market that would really push them forwards. I don't know if there's many middle infielders, but Rhys Hoskins would definitely make the list if they wanted to make a splash

Between developing teams in their division that look ready to strike, a new manager at the helm of the organization, and the specter of more big losses of star players this offseason, should the Brewers rest in 2024, or still stick to their “bites of the apple” approach? Image courtesy of © Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports The very young offseason has been one disappointment after another, from Brandon Woodruff’s surgery to Wade Miley’s declined option, and now Craig Counsell is leaving to work for the enemy. The foundation of their 2023 season on which they may have hoped to build has crumbled. Is there any point in trying to compete with the big boys in 2024? The Absentees Anyone who denies the impact held by Miley, Woodruff and Counsell on last season has their head in the sand. Woodruff joined Peralta and Burnes in August to provide some of the most dominant pitching in MLB, while Miley covered 120 ⅔ innings at a 3.14 ERA. That just doesn’t grow on trees, and it underestimates the impact Miley had off the field, which brings us to the biggest loss perhaps of the lot: Counsell. For the last nine years, Counsell has emerged as one of the best managers in the major leagues, blending the front office with a seamless clubhouse environment that allows players to enjoy playing in Milwaukee while getting the most out of them, particularly in high-pressure situations (playoffs aside). Adding to this is the possibility of a trade off of Willy Adames, Corbin Burnes, or even both this offseason. Burnes racked up almost 200 innings last year with a 3.39 ERA, has made every start over the last two seasons, and still flashes his Cy Young upside for prolonged periods at times. In total, on the starting rotation side of things, the Brewers will need to replace 381 ⅓ innings at a 3.12 ERA--a monstrous task. To put that in context, it would be akin to finding and acquiring the 2022 Zach Wheeler and Aaron Nola combo, something the Brewers can’t afford to buy on the open market. Adames, on the other hand, was supposed to have been covered by the emergence of Brice Turang. The eye test said that Turang’s defense was Gold Glove-worthy at second base, and that showed in his Defensive Runs Saved total at the end of the season, but Adames is one of the premier defensive shortstops in the league, with a cannon of an arm and incredible range. Turang is capable over there--maybe even above average--but he's no Adames. Add to that a bat that produced a 62 OPS+ in 2023, and it’s clear that Turang will need to develop considerably at the plate to be an everyday infielder for the Brewers. This development may come next season, but it’s unlikely to occur straight out of the gate in March or April. The returns from an Adames or Burnes trade could be high enough to obtain a high-upside pitching prospect, or several newish mid-rotation major leaguers, but there are going to be a lot of question marks behind Freddy Peralta next year in this event. Robert Gasser spent all of 2023 in Triple A, and now looks ready for a shot in the rotation. Adrian Houser is as mercurial as they come. Colin Rea may be asked to eat innings, and many expect some regression from last year with him. Aaron Ashby was not the same post-injury in his rehab starts, and a big question mark remains over whether he can reacquire the vicious movements that give him such high potential, or even if he can stay injury-free in 2024. If everything goes right for the Brewers--even if they keep Adames and Burnes, Ashby and Gasser perform at or above expectations and Houser and Rea can pitch well enough to keep the Brewers in games--then they’ll be very much in contention. However, that's a lot of ifs, buts and maybes on which to stake a season, and a gamble (depending on offers coming in for Adames and Burnes) that may have severe repercussions down the line. The Rising NL Central Amid the Brewers' turmoil, some foes are rising on the east. The Cubs have been heavily linked with both Juan Soto and Pete Alonso this offseason, while currently possessing the best defensive infield in baseball, and with some rookies coming through with various levels of hype. Pete Crow-Armstrong is yet to show signs of any hitting ability against major-league pitching, but his defensive capabilities in center field are mind-boggling. They also may get reinforcements later this season in the form of Cade Horton, who’s been confounding hitters all of 2023, as well as outfield power in the form of the exciting Owen Caissie and Kevin Alcantara. They may lose Marcus Stroman this winter, but an acquisition of a first baseman and a starting pitcher to go with the Counsell switch puts the Cubs in a great position. Also in contention will be the Cincinnati Reds, who through promotions during the season found themselves in contention for a playoff spot. Few prospects can do what Elly De La Cruz is capable of, and in addition, they have Spencer Steer, Matt McLain, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Noelvi Marte and Andrew Abbott (each with several years of team control remaining) to form a devastating lineup. If their cheapskate owners get involved at all this offseason for some pitching reinforcements, they’ll be a force to contend with. The Pittsburgh Pirates felt some hope for the future at the beginning of last year, when they surged to lead the NL Central, but even after their June swoon and second-half slump, they do have bright spots coming into 2024. Henry Davis could develop into a regular at catcher, or even playing a capable right field. The return of Oneil Cruz will lend their lineup new upside and dynamism. If Ke’Bryan Hayes manages to get the ball in the air and access his in-game power more often, they'll have rounded out nicely. They still have holes to fill, with their starting rotation faltering around the struggles of Roansy Contreras, but they have shown themselves perhaps a light at the end of the tunnel. The St. Louis Cardinals, who struggled mightily in comparison to their expectations last year, will have a final year of Paul Goldshmidt to use, and have some stirring from the depths themselves. Jordan Walker improved significantly as the year went on, although his defense was holier than Swiss cheese, and Masyn Winn provided supreme coverage at shortstop. Victor Scott II has looked electric in the minors so far, but otherwise, their farm system isn’t in the same league as the Brewers, Cubs and Reds. However, they do have deep pockets, and a few free-agent signings (particularly to reinforce that starting rotation) will be all they need to get right back into contention. In short, all four other teams could contend in the Central this season, with the Cubs in particular looking like they could become a 100-win team if they make the right moves. The Brewers will not be able to scrape into the playoffs next year; they might need as many as 95 wins to claim the division. Can the Brewers Farm Have the Same Impact? The Brewers have some developing superstars in their system, in the form of Jacob Misiorowski (if you haven’t yet, this video will explain all the hype here) and the phenom that is Jackson Chourio. Neither are going to be up to start next season, with Chourio needing to lower his chase rate and Misiorowski still refining his command, but both could catapult the Brewers forward. That being said, most prospects need an adjustment period at the majors before they find their feet, so it’s unlikely that either would be able to contribute fully until perhaps 2025. Add any reservations about Chourio's 2024 to the concerns around Sal Frelick (lack of power), Joey Wiemer (swing and miss), and Garrett Mitchell (injuries and strikeouts), and the Brewers outfield picture may not be as crowded as once thought. It’s likely one of these three will also be traded this offseason. Then there’s the next tier of prospects. Tyler Black’s bat looks about as major-league-ready as they come, with impeccable plate discipline and contact skills and burgeoning power. The question is whether he can play a solid third base, or if he’ll need to move to first. Brock Wilken could come into the picture later in the season, if he can find the right balance of patience and aggression at the plate, while Eric Brown, Jr. may be there or thereabouts, if less of an impact player than Black or Wilken. Also in the wings is Carlos F. Rodriguez, a high-quality pitcher with a strong changeup and developing command. By the time these prospects are ready, it may already be too late for the Brewers, and as demonstrated last year, expecting them to come up and dominate from the get-go is a tall ask. It’s yet another reason why 2025 would suit the Brewers far better in terms of assessing their talent pool at the highest level and knowing where to fill the gaps in their squad. How would you feel about the team taking a small step backward in 2024 to accomplish a leap ahead the following year? Let's discuss the options for the offseason ahead. View full article

Does this mean he's less likely to play players in positions they're not so good at? For example maybe Weeks is less likely to make reverse platoon split righties face left handers? It'd be interesting for sure to see him there, and be interesting how the players would view that. Would there be any of Weeks' traits people feel would be good in a manager?

Batting average up to .300 with just two strikeouts in eight games... but it's the damage he can do, just getting that quality of contact more regularly is going to be huge. Once he does, sky is the ceiling for him

Murphy and all coaches are contractually with the brewers for next year, meaning unless they give permission for the Cubs to interview him (unlikely) Murphy will be with the Brewers next season

I certainly would be, but entirely unsure if Rosenthal is. Weeks was recently promoted to special assistant of player development, so perhaps that was an interview and got mixed up in the maelstrom, however entirely possible as a player with on field connections, young enough to be relatable and an understanding of the front office that he's a candidate. How far that goes, I guess we'll see

The most pressing question, in the wake of the huge gut punch that was the news of Craig Counsell departing the Brewers in favor of the division-rival Cubs, is who will replace him on the top step of the Crew's dugout. Still, we also have to wonder: why did it come to this? Image courtesy of © Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports Notably, the Cubs did not request permission to talk to Craig Counsell before his contract expired on Halloween. They entered the sweepstakes for his services only within the last week. Thus, in addition to discerning who should take over, we have to try to suss out why Counsell and the Crew couldn't find common ground on a new deal long before this could happen. Who Takes Over? Mark Attanasio, while clearly stung and shocked by the final decision, was asked about a new manager and said: One criticism of Counsell is his playoff record since 2018, and in particular, how poorly managed the team was in key situations during the Wild Card Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Brewers will be looking to keep as much in place as possible, and hope that with fresh impetus and energy, they can get over that “hump”. Retaining a lot of the staff behind Counsell will be absolutely key to ensuring a smooth transition, potentially avoiding the type of pitfalls endured by David Ross and Oli Marmol. Carlos Villanueva Villanueva has been in the role Counsell held right before moving into the dugout--that is, special assistant to the front office. He's headed up the player development segment of the organization, giving him a real feel for the baseball club at all levels. He’s bilingual, which helps a lot of managers in this multicultural sport. However the Brewers recently announced his promotion into a broader role that encompasses baseball operations as well, signifying (perhaps) that he is out of the running for the managerial vacancy, and is more likely to be groomed for high-level front office positions. Victor Estevez Estevez has just finished his eighth season as a minor-league manager in the Brewers organization, capped by winning Carolina League Manager of the Year in 2023. With the current rookie crop coming through, hiring from within (with a manager who knows and has worked with Sal Frelick, Joey Wiemer, Garrett Mitchell, Jackson Chourio) and, again, the bilingual ability is just invaluable in the major leagues in this day and age. However, there may be a concern with a lower minor-league manager, whose role is more centered around getting players game time than how best to win each individual game. To him, managing a bullpen effectively may be new. The Brewers analytical staff will no doubt be a big help in this, and Estevez is definitely a dark horse for the vacant position. Clayton McCullough The Dodger’s first-base coach, McCullough has been interviewed for openings with the Mets and Royals in recent years, as well as with the Guardians in October. Players such as James Outman and Mookie Betts have spoken incredibly highly of him, and he’s been a popular name of late in managerial discussions. Rumors are that he may fit other current vacancies neatly as well, so there could be competition here. He comes from a perennial winning club culture, and seems more than ready for the job. Other potentials include current bench coach Pat Murphy, Astros bench coach Joe Espada, ousted ex-Giants manager Gabe Kapler, Padres skipper candidate Mike Shildt, the just-replaced David Ross, Brewers pitching, strategy and catching coach Walker McKinven, and A’s manager Mark Kotsay, whom the team has allowed to interview elsewhere amid their rebuild and pending relocation. Ken Rosenthal just shared this nugget, containing a truly wild candidate: Why Did Counsell Feel the Need to Leave? Primarily, it’s financial. The Brewers had an offer on the table for the biggest managerial contract in the current market, rumored at around $5.5 million in annual value, but the Cubs blew way past that with their $40-million contract. It’s close enough that Counsell won’t have to uproot his entire family, and he can still be in the vicinity for his children who are at university in Minnesota and Michigan. It all made sense for him, from that point of view. With such a big upgrade in salary and a relatively small amount of inconvenience forced on him, it’s tough to begrudge him the change, even if he could have chosen literally any other team to go to. He also could have seen a reset coming with the Brewers, particularly with Brandon Woodruff’s injury, whereas the Cubs are coming out of their own downcycle and are looking to become a true force again. Combined with a potential stagnancy arising from being in one place for too long, it could benefit both parties to have fresh faces and fresh challenges to drive them forward. Craig Counsell was the best manager the Milwaukee Brewers have ever had. He may be sorely missed, and should be hailed for bringing a winning mentality to an organization that was largely bereft of playoff opportunities prior to him. He can’t be given all the credit for it, but he definitely played a part, and for that he deserves gratitude. Who's your favorite potential Counsell replacement? Is it one of those I listed, or do you envision someone else? Should the Brewers have foreseen this major pay raise and gotten more proactive with Counsell? Let us know what you think. View full article

Craig Counsell’s decision to leave the Milwaukee Brewers for their arch nemeses, the Chicago Cubs, had shockwaves rippling through the neighboring states. How valuable was he to the Brewers, and can they replace him--or even upgrade at the position? Let's break down the nitty-gritty of what this means for the Crew. Image courtesy of © MARK HOFFMAN/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL / USA TODAY NETWORK Craig Counsell might have just reset the value of a top-tier manager like himself, with a whopping contract from the Cubs dwarfing the record-setting extension reportedly offered by the Brewers. However, this type of money brings with it an expectation of significant, real value added. It remains to be seen whether Counsell can provide that in his new job. Counsell’s Value Counsell’s role was to be someone that seamlessly merged the front office with the on-field product, and he did that incredibly well. He was open and honest with his players about what he needed from them, providing a high level of clarity in each role and maintaining a clubhouse unity that helped the Brewers to thrive in tough situations. They have consistently outperformed their Pythagorean expected wins and losses (which is based on total runs scored vs runs conceded on the season), but a lot of this benefit came in 2017-2019. The Brewers won 40 games more than they were expected to over that three-year period. Also, for seven straight years, the Brewers won more one-run games than they had lost, with Counsell briefly (this August) leading all managers in baseball history in this specific split. However, this is a slightly skewed way to analyze his performance. Over the last seven years, the Brewers have been armed with a bullpen that carried lights-out relievers, from Josh Hader, Devin Williams, Corey Knebel, and Jeremy Jeffress, to this year's Joel Payamps and the developing Abner Uribe. It means that, although the Brewers have struggled offensively since 2019, they could hold onto tight leads by shutting games down at the back end. At least some, if not most, of this credit should go to the relievers in question. Yes, Counsell is probably more adept than most at knowing when to use different relievers, but to say he excelled at this when he had many head-scratching decisions too (such as throwing the southpaw Hoby Milner out to face a red-hot, dominating Albert Pujols who had crushed left handers all season) might be too generous. With a bullpen like this, a lot of managers could have made different decisions over the course of a season and come out with similar results to Counsell's. His true value came in facilitating an environment where players could thrive with their backs against the wall, and in that, he did excel. It’s a big reason for the Brewers coming up clutch so often in the regular season, and will no doubt improve the Cubs significantly next year. He did also get a lot of support in this area from the likes of Brent Suter, Wade Miley, and other veterans, each of whom who took a lot of responsibility for setting the tone in that clubhouse. That being said, players have come out and talked about running through brick walls for him. He’s someone they like to play for, and that’s crucial in both acquiring talent and in getting it to perform. There were a lot of queries about bullpen decisions and lineup construction under David Ross last year, and Cubs fans should expect raw scalps to continue with all the head-scratching next year. Counsell’s success is undeniable with the Brewers, but it's fair to ask just how much of an impact he had, as opposed to the teams the Milwaukee front office built around him. What will you miss most about Counsell's stewardship of the Brewers? Did he get too much credit for their recent regular-season success? Does he get too much blame for their playoff disappointments? Tell us what you're thinking about his specific managerial skill set, as he takes it down I-94. View full article

He may do, but Hader realistically only ever had two pitches, working on a changeup in his latter seasons Misiorowski has three plus pitches and working on a fourth currently, makes all the difference

During the 2022/23 offseason, the Brewers made moves to reinforce the depth of their roster, and it paid huge dividends in 2023. A raft of early injuries to suspected key contributors led to opportunities for several players both inside and outside the organization to prove themselves on the biggest stage. They remained under the radar for the most part, but who is the Brewers unsung hero for 2023? A large part of the Brewers success was due to these contributions, and some haven’t received the credit they deserve. Some key players receiving votes, but not quite cracking the top four, are Julio Teheran, Adrian Houser, Blake Perkins, Joey Wiemer, Joel Payamps and Wade Miley. In Miley’s case, the success was almost too great to qualify for this award, while others fluctuated at times during the season despite coming through in big moments for the Brewers. Without further ado, let’s see who cracked the final four; 4. Colin Rea - SP, 4.55 ERA, 124 2/3 innings pitched in 22 games started Colin Rea was a player who had never quite gained success in the major leagues, to the point that he went to Korea in 2021 after pitching a game for the Brewers. The front office and Counsell liked what they saw, especially as a depth piece, encouraging him to return to MLB. With below average movement and velocity on his pitches, Rea used fastball variations in the sinker, four seam and cutter to keep hitters off balance while generating more ground balls than average, limiting walks and generating a surprising swing and miss rate behind his cutter (29.4%) and four seamer (26.6%). His expected ERA of 4.39 shows that he wasn’t just lucky this season, and perhaps slightly unlucky. His susceptibility to the home run in big moments did hurt him, with 23 on the year, and often with men on base. However his job was to keep the Brewers in games, something he did admirably and many Brewers fans would be more than happy to see him back next year as a 5th/6th starter should he be needed for it. When compared to the contributions of Jason Alexander and Chi Chi Gonzalez in 2022, his value becomes all the more clear. Wherever he ends up, his performance this season should be recognized and applauded. 3. Andruw Monasterio – 3B, .259/.330/.348, Seven Defensive Runs Saved A name not on many people’s lips, especially given he was demoted down to Double A Biloxi at the end of last season, Monasterio proved a vital cog for the Brewers this year with an ability to make quality contact, hit left handed pitching and high quality defense at the hot corner (albeit after a few early hiccups). One huge issue the Brewers had was the number of ground balls they hit when putting the ball in play, but Monasterio was a big outlier in this. The “sweet spot” is when a batter achieves an optimal launch angle of between 8 and 32 degrees, and Monasterio’s 41.3% sweet spot rate put him 13th in all of baseball with over 150 plate appearances. Although he doesn’t possess much raw power, his ability to find the outfield grass and his professional approach brought immense value. He did struggle with the arrival of Josh Donaldson and reduced playing time, but his value to the Brewers on both sides of the ball when Brian Anderson was injured/unused during a pivotal point of the season in June, July and August cannot be understated. 2. Bryse Wilson – RP, 2.58 ERA in 76.2 innings, 1.07 WHIP His acquisition during the winter was lamented by some, as yet another marginal move by the Brewers front office, albeit some were curious about the addition of a supposedly promising splitter at the end of last year. He used the splitter just once this season, but his performance out of the bullpen, while slightly capitalizing on the premium defense the Brewer had behind him, was astonishing. Used as a middle reliever/middle leverage late inning guy from the bullpen, Wilson induced a plethora of weak contact. He avoided the barrel of the bat, he avoided walks, and his cutter tore up opposing hitters, who hit just .165 off it. That’s phenomenal, but it gets even better with his four seamer which averaged just .106. Swing and miss wasn’t a large part of his game, but in limiting the quality of contact he gave his defense a chance to make plays, and they backed him up big time. The aforementioned cutter is a relatively new pitch for him in terms of how much he used it this year, also generating a lot of swing and miss when enticing hitters to chase it (43% whiff rate outside the zone), while also generating a significant amount of weak fly balls and pop ups more than normal. Last season, hitters got under just 20.4% of his pitches, this year that figure rose to 32.8%. He metamorphosed as a pitcher in terms of understanding how to use his pitches better, and the results speak for themselves. He kept the Brewers in games and gave quality innings when the A-team were unavailable, and unfortunately was just pipped to the post of Brewers unsung hero this season. Speaking of… Brewer Fanatic Unsung Hero 2023 Hoby Milner – 1.82 ERA, 64.1 innings pitched, 0.96 WHIP Milner had a slightly rocky start to the season in April and May, but his final numbers on the year are the kind you would see from a shutdown closer. He started the year as a lefty specialist, with southpaws struggling to even see the pitch out of his hand such is the width at which he releases the ball. His fastball averages 89 mph, and should have been cannon fodder to right handers. Yet somehow he performed like one of the best relievers in baseball without ever really seeming to gain recognition due to his demure demeanor and lack of high profile “stuff”. Yet he commanded his pitches to have one of the lowest average exit velocities in the big leagues, on top of walking just 5% of hitters (92nd percentile). His heat maps couldn’t look much better, either staying inside or nibbling round the edges of the strike zone, with minimal waste pitches. In an era during which high velocity and big movement is ogled at, Milner highlights a different, yet equally effective approach. To right handers, he predominantly used his changeup and curveball to get weak outs, with a smattering of four seamers. To fellow lefties, he uses a sinker/curveball attack, and this bread and butter has seen him post a 0.79 WHIP against southpaws, truly outstanding stuff. Since June 1st, Milner has allowed just four earned runs in 49 appearances across 43 2/3 innings. He’s been dominant in whatever role Counsell has used him, fully deserving the title of Brewers Unsung Hero 2023. View full article

Greta night for EBJ.. I don't know who Hicks is, but a 6 hit night is always memorable

I think that's one way of doing it, and personally rate Perkins this season very highly. But in the same context as it being tough to win rookie of the year if you come up in July, the extra playing time for Turang does play a part, at least a little bit. I think you could make arguments for all of these players, maybe less so Uribe given a relief pitcher with late-ish promotion. If you're looking for potentially the most success in their role, Uribe would win If you're looking for passable offense and quality defense you've got Monasterio (by DRS anyway) Frelick, and Perkins Wiemer probably had the best productivity in a one month span in June, when the Brewers needed every hit they could get

He hasn't passed 300 at bats since 2019, so could be cheaper due to the risk

The other possibility is that, given his underwhelming season this year, they may decide to keep him and trade him at the deadline, especially if they think he's going to perform considerably better. Adames off to a hot start would be valuable, and also could be important to have team leaders around like him for the young guys like Wiemer, Mitchell, and more importantly Chourio. I can see all three options on the table

The Brewers minor league hitters showed some great strides this season, with some big offensive breakouts that show a spark of hope for the Brewers moving forward, especially after their high-profile draft class. Without further ado, here are your Brewer Fanatic Minor League Hitters of the Year, as voted for by our esteemed writers. Image courtesy of © Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports Honorable Mentions Jesus Chirinos – 1B/DH .265/.406/.433 with 12 home runs, a three true outcome kind of player between Low A and High A Abraham Toro – 3B/1B .291/.374/.471 with 46 extra-base hits, and finishing the season with a 41 game on-base streak Jeferson Quero - C .262/.339/.440, he added a power bat to his premium defense this season with 16 home runs and just a 17.8% strikeout rate Jace Avina -1B/OF .233/.373/.442 with 14 long balls, his strikeout rate hurt him, but he did finish the year strong with a slash line of .310/.435/.600 from the start of July after early season struggles with striking out Luis Lara - OF .286/.373/.359 between Low and High A, Lara’s exemplary bat-to-ball skills and low strikeout rate at just 18 have many prospect watchers excited The Verdict 6. Luke Adams – 1B/3B, .233/.400/.401 Adams was a young 18-year-old in Low A Carolina for the year, but showed himself to be an athletic infielder with a strong arm and speed to boot, as evidenced by his 30 stolen bases on the year. Adams struggled mightily towards the end of the season, but earlier in the year, he showed exemplary bat-to-ball skills and the ability to punish mistakes. The home runs were not cheap when he connected, totaling 11 on the season with 76 walks to 99 strikeouts. He has speed and raw power and is athletic enough to develop as a valuable infielder. At just 18, there’s a lot to work with, and he could progress rapidly through the system next season. The walks dried up towards the end of the year, but there’s hope that physical development can bring a high-upside bat to life. 5. Isaac Collins – Utility IF/OF .263/.419/.421 Collins spent time at both Double-A Biloxi and Triple-A Nashville during the season and showed his skills admirably at both. A name not on the Brewers' top 30 prospects, he had more walks (77) than strikeouts (56) on the season, along with 29 stolen bases and 25 extra-base hits overall. He reached double-digit home runs for the first time. He could be a valuable member of the taxi squad next season with the variety of defensive positions he’s capable of playing well and the high floor of his bat in terms of his plate discipline, which usually translates effectively to the big leagues. He may need more power to grow as a solid big-league regular, especially at the ripe age of 26. 4. Wes Clarke – 1B/C, .241/.392/.497 If you’re a fan of the three true outcomes, this is the player for you. Clarke had 89 walks, 147 strikeouts, and 26 home runs on the season. A true power bat, his issue can center around excessive patience on in-zone pitches and too much swing and miss early in the count, but when he connects, the sound is different. He’s edging more toward an athletic first baseman than a catcher these days, so his bat will need to carry him as he moves on. Clarke is currently playing in the Arizona Fall League to make more contact, and so far, he has hit two home runs and a triple with nine RBIs in his first four games. 3. Jackson Chourio – CF, .282/.338/.467 This may not be the slash line you would expect of the top prospect in baseball. However, Chourio has made huge strides this season, showing booming opposite field power and significantly improved contact skills, leading to a strikeout rate of just 12.1% since June 1st. He was a 19-year-old in Double-A, an extraordinary achievement in and of itself while dealing with a tackier baseball in the first half of the season that more closely resembled the movement of MLB-level pitching. For comparison's sake, Jackson Holliday never faced this particular baseball. With 22 home runs and 44 stolen bases, it seems the sky is the limit, and there’s the potential for even more to come. Chourio’s bat has gone through mini slumps this season, and the only real obstacle left is to learn which pitches he can damage and which pitches to take. He occasionally rolled over and grounded out cheaply early in counts, giving cheap outs away, and his contact rate, even on pitches outside the zone, was extraordinary. If he can develop that patience at the plate, looking for pitches to drive rather than merely connect with, it’s the final piece of the jigsaw for Chourio. 2. Keston Hiura, 1B/LF/DH, .311/.397/.563 Hiura has just become a major league free agent, and it’s fair to say many Brewers fans will wish him the best and wonder what might have been. An early season hand injury after the most torrid of starts, where Hiura blasted 12 home runs in his first 30 games. Upon returning from injury, he had just a 23.3% strikeout rate, in line with his early season form after a pretty horrific start to the year in terms of swing and miss. Hiura had a 1.100 OPS when he went on the injured list, and the power he showed, coupled with the early setting of his left foot, led to him being on time at the plate and doing regular damage while making considerably more contact. He got injured just before Jesse Winker. Otherwise, he may have been first in line for a callup. A power bat like his is precisely what the Brewers missed in the postseason, but the timing of his injury seemed to sum up his time with the Brewers; it just not quite working out. That said, he was one of the most feared hitters in Triple-A, finishing with 23 home runs on the year, despite the dangerous absences, lofting the balls to all parts of the stadium. It would be no surprise to anyone if Hiura found his feet with some regular game time at the major league level somewhere and took off. Minor League Hitter of the Year – Tyler Black – 3B, .284/.417/.513 Black started the season with a few interviews talking about his intent to access more power in his swing, and boy, did it show. Black hit 18 home runs, impressive enough in its own right… but he also used the power and speed combo to knock 12 triples and 25 doubles. That being said, Black is not a true power hitter, despite the damage his lefty swing can do; with 88 walks to 100 strikeouts on the season, he grinds out at-bats and finds ways on base when he is struggling, and causing havoc when he reaches with 55 stolen bases last season. He started the year alongside Chourio against the stickier ball, which barely fazed him, and finished out as the minor league hitter of the week in Nashville. He did take a short adjustment period in Triple-A before the bat created the quality contact that we saw in Biloxi; however, when it did, it came big. In September, at the minors' highest level, Black hit .413/.519/.683, total and utter dominance, giving himself a strong shot at reaching the majors on opening day next year. One of the biggest things to note about Black wasn't necessarily his bat when he was on form, but how he dealt with his early season struggles in Nashville. He wasn't creating quality contact often, he wasn't elevating the ball particularly well, but somehow he fought his way on base. He was promoted to the Triple A affiliate on August 6th, and reached base in each game until August 29th, with his incredible plate discipline and speed giving him opportunities to positively effect the offensive production. Black finished off the season receiving minor league player of the week awards, and we at Brewer Fanatic think he has more than earned our own Minor League Hitter of the Year Award for 2023. The sky is the limit for Black, and I for one can't wait to see what he'll bring to the table offensively at the major league level. Congratulations Tyler! A quick note, the others receiving votes for the award due to their promising seasons included Cam Devanney, Jadher Areinamo, Carlos D Rodriguez, Noah Campbell, and Ernesto Martinez. The Brewers have a lot of minor league talent in both the upper and lower levels of their system, and it’s creating a wave of excitement as to what sort of quality they could put on the field in the near and long term future. It’s a fantastic situation, and we hope you’ll be back next year to follow our expert minor league coverage from our resident gurus, who watch every game between them to bring you the best feedback on how the Brewers system is doing. View full article

That's the intent of the video he released, but certainly wouldn't expect him to display all the facts of the case. We'll never fully know, but there was an investigation by the Dodgers into it, and they cut him loose despite not being obligated to, which speaks volumes for me personally I'd also add with Grissom, he's been really really poor defensively, and I don't know I rate his bat quite so highly as his initial spurt with the Braves suggested, but the defense is really bad. I can't see the Brewers wanting that

Initially I thought he seemed a cheap pickup, but that stuff looks legit How are they so far ahead in juco pickups?

Slow Mo of a Brock Wilken home run Ryan Birchard looks Nasty Blake Wolters striking out Luke Adams, Matthew Wood & Brock Wilken