Michael Trzinski

I agree. The only problem is that this assignment was 'Four-dimensional' chess, but I only understand three-dimensional...

100% agree. The only problem is: which one is right?

I don't think that is a typo. Where would you put him, and why?

Damn, Jake, the Brewers should sign you as the 'Doctor of Spin-ology' and put you on staff! I know that would be a pay cut for you, but still...

One of the three (Pratt, Pena, Made) could wash out...it happens. Hopefully not here. Otherwise, there is the possibility of a position change. If trading one of them would net a big bat, it could be worth it. Time will tell...

I'm gonna steal this (more or less) from Nick Nelson of Twins Daily. He said it better than I could. The idea of this exercise is to take stock of the organization's talent through the scope of team-building. Our goal is to answer this question: Which current players in the organization are most indispensable to fulfilling the vision of building a champion? We account for age, contract, controllability, upside, etc. It's not strictly a ranking of trade value, because that would be more team-agnostic, whereas this list aims to capture a very Brewers-specific point of view. As such, players at areas of scarcity (i.e., catching) get elevated, while those at areas of abundance (i.e., relief pitchers) get downgraded a bit. Without more ado from afar, here is Part 2 of the Top Brewers Players Assets of 2025. Part 1: #21-25 20. Logan Henderson, RHP 2026 Season Age: 24 Controlled through: 2031 Jason's rank: 18 | Michael's rank: 17 | Steve's rank: 18 After moving up in the Brewers chain for four years, Henderson made his highly awaited debut in Milwaukee in 2025 and didn’t disappoint. He earned wins in his first three decisions and struck out batters at a rate of 33% while walking only eight percent. He suffered a flexor tendon strain in August and missed the balance of the season. Henderson features two plus pitches: a fastball in the 92-95 MPH range with over 17” of Induced Vertical Break (IVB), and a changeup that comes to the plate at 80-82 MPH and has an average of 18” of arm-side movement. He also throws a cutter and slider a combined 10% of the time, but he needs to work on those pitches. The right-hander is expected to be healthy coming into the 2026 season and is a frontrunner for a spot in the Brewers' starting rotation. Here are some of the highlights in Henderson's start against Washington on August 3, his last appearance of the season. 19. Jeferson Quero, C 2026 Season Age: 23 Controlled through: TBD Jason's rank: 11 | Michael's rank: 15 | Steve's rank: NR Quero returned in 2025 from the torn labrum in his right shoulder that sidelined him for all of 2024. He split time between the Arizona Complex League and Triple-A Nashville in 2025. Quero caught 34 games at Nashville and threw out only 19% of baserunners, dropping from 35% in his last full season. Opposing teams ran 50% more than they did in 2023; is the arm healthy? Although he had only 250 trips to the plate at Nashville, I feel he has little to prove in the minors. His batting mark of .255/.336/.412 shows a good eye and decent pop. He could benefit from learning nuances of the catching job from ‘Wild Bill,’ and short of an injury, slump, or significant free agent/trade at the ‘2’ spot, Quero should be the primary back-up behind the plate this year. Quero's three-run homer against Louisville in September 2025. 18. Cooper Pratt 2026 Season Age: 21 Controlled through: TBD Jason's rank: 10 | Michael's rank: 16 | Steve's rank: NR Pratt’s batting numbers dropped off from 2024, but two things have remained constant: speed and defense. His combined 2024 batting numbers were .277/.362/.406, compared to last year’s .238/.343/.348. His stolen base number improved from 27 to 31 last season. With a Gold Glove already on his résumé and 60 grades for fielding and arm, defense is not a problem. Pratt is a line-drive hitter, but with his size (6-foot-3, 205 pounds), he should grow into his power. Once the face of Milwaukee’s future shortstop, he has been passed up by Jesús Made and Luis Peña. Those two are probably a year behind Prat, but are coming fast. Our own Telemachus opined that Pratt might be a trade chip in the future. Having too many players at the same spot is a good thing. Or is it? All things staying the same, Pratt should make his big-league debut sometime this season. A nice leaping grab by Cooper Pratt. 17. Aaron Ashby 2026 Season Age: 28 Controlled through: 2028 Jason's rank: 17 | Michael's rank: 20 | Steve's rank: 13 It seems hard to believe, but Ashby will be entering his fifth year as a Brewer in 2026. Last year, he was a major part of the mid-to-high leverage relief corps and set career highs with 43 appearances, three saves, 193 ERA+, and a 2.70 FIP. The Brewers have vacillated between using the left-hander as a starter or reliever, but smart money has Ashby in the pen, unless he is needed in the rotation in an emergency. Last season, Ashby used his sinker 40% of the time with a velo of about 96 MPH. The slider (23%), curve (16%), and change (18%) are all formidable weapons. Just to keep batters honest, he has a fastball that also arrives at about 96 MPH. Ashby will once again be a major part of the Brewers pen, either with multiple innings or as a late-inning guy if needed. Aaron Ashby strikes out Freddie Freeman in the NLCS. 16. Andrew Vaughn 2026 Season Age: 28 Controlled through: 2027 Jason's rank: 24 | Michael's rank: 11 | Steve's rank: 15 Last year was a ‘tale of two cities’ for Vaughn after playing in Chicago and later in Milwaukee. It was the best of times (.308/.375/.493 in Milwaukee), and it was the worst of times (.189/.218/.314 in Chicago). Vaughn slumped in August (.695 OPS) but rebounded in the last month of the season (.942 OPS). Like the rest of the Brewers, Vaughn struggled in the NLCS against the Dodgers, taking a 0-for-12 collar. Vaughn was a decent fielder according to FanGraphs, with a Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) of zero and an Outs Above Average (OAA) of +4 while playing for the Brewers. The powerful righty is expected to, at the very least, split the job with southpaw Jake Bauers. But a hot start by either one of them could put the other on the bench. Here's Vaughn robbing Max Muncy in the NLCS. Next up, Part 3 (11-15). Enjoy!! Let us know how we are doing. Did we miss anyone? Somebody rated too high or too low? Start the conversation in the comments section below! View full article

Hurricane Hazle!!!

What team? WiPH seems like so long ago.

At least he didn't say 'chopped liver.' 😎

My bad. I believe I wrote the Pirates preview before the 2025 campaign, so I should have remembered they had some decent SP depth. But sending out two pretty solid starters seems to be asking for trouble. Remember what happened to the Brewers last spring...

Yeah, Bader would be a nice add...

If I was a Pirates fan I would be wondering why they traded away two of their top five (six) starters. Hunter Barco will probably make the rotation, and Thomas Harrington might. All of the other prospects are at least two years out.

Next time I am just going to ask you for my rankings...lol. Great in-depth analysis. Kudos to you, sir!!

If you thought that the Brewers found slim pickings when it came to the Major League Rule 5 Draft, check out the dribs and drabs of the minor league phase of the draft. Milwaukee had only a couple of players who made any impression at the major league level for the Brewers, and a handful of others who made it to the big leagues, albeit for other teams. Here are the five players drafted by the Brewers who actually played for Milwaukee. Isaac Collins, OF-2B (from Colorado), 2022 Despite showing good speed with 30 steals at Double-A Hartford in 2022, the Colorado Rockies elected not to protect Collins, and the Brewers scooped him up in the Minor League portion of the draft. Collins began the 2023 season at Double-A Biloxi and showed power (10 HR), speed (29 steals), and a good eye, drawing 75 walks while batting .269/.424/.431 across just 376 plate appearances. He earned a late-season promotion to Triple-A Nashville but went 0-for-7 in three games. The following year, Collins showed his stuff at Nashville, batting .273/.386/.475 with 14 homers and 24 steals in 500 trips to the plate. The Brewers called him up for a sip of Starbucks in September. Although Collins struggled with only two hits in 17 at-bats, he showed his moxie, singling on the first pitch he saw in the major leagues and then stealing second base against his former organization in a 4-1 loss to the Rockies. The switch-hitter earned the final spot on the 2005 Brewers Opening Day roster after Blake Perkins suffered a broken tibia in training camp. Although the Brewers stumbled out of the gate, losing four straight games, Collins went 3-for-6, including a pair of doubles. He scuffled through mid-June but then caught fire over the next three months, hitting .297/.383/.485 with 26 extra-base hits in 229 ABs. Collins ran out of steam the last three weeks of the regular season, batting just .133/.333/.167 over 30 at-bats. In the postseason, Collins got only one start and went 0-for-9. Defensively, he posted a -1 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS), which put him squarely in the middle of all left fielders, but had a +5 Outs Above Average (OAA), which ranked him near the top of the list. After the 2025 season, Collins was traded, along with relief pitcher Nick Mears, to the Kansas City Royals for pitcher Ángel Zerpa. Caleb Boushley, RHP (from San Diego), 2021 The Brewers selected the Hortonville, Wisconsin product (via UW-La Crosse) from the San Diego Padres in the 2021 Minor League phase. The major league portion was postponed and then cancelled due to an offseason lockout. Boushley spent the entire 2022 season at Nashville, starting 25 games while posting a 12-2 record with an ERA of 3.25. His 1.17 WHIP was solid. He repeated the Triple-A level in 2023, and although his stats weren’t as good as the previous year, Boushley got called up to Milwaukee in late September. In his first action on a major league mound, Boushley had mixed results as he gave up a home run to Ian Happ, blew a save, but got the win in extra innings. In 2 1/3 innings, he allowed the Happ home run, walked two (one intentionally), and struck out five. To date, it is his only major league win. After the season, Boushley was outrighted to Nashville, and in January, the Minnesota Twins signed him to a minor league contract. He made two appearances in two separate stints for the Twins, and after the season, he became a free agent after he refused a minor league assignment. The Texas Rangers signed Boushley to a minor league contract in November. In 2025, Boushley spent most of the season with Texas, making 25 appearances and earning one save. Two days before Thanksgiving, Boushley signed a contract with the KT Wiz in the KBO League, hoping to find a little overseas magic. David Manning, RHP (from Minnesota), 2002 Manning was a third-round pick of the Texas Rangers in the 1992 MLB Amateur Draft. He spent seven years in the Rangers organization and barely made it to Triple-A, pitching in 12 games over a three-year period. He was granted free agency after the 1998 season and signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs. Manning pitched two seasons at Double-A and Triple-A but suffered an undisclosed elbow injury that curtailed his 2000 season and the following season. He was a member of the New York Yankees organization for two months in early 2002 before being released. Manning signed with the Minnesota Twins in July and made 10 starts at Double-A New Britain. He was released once again and then was signed in the Minor League Rule 5 draft by Milwaukee. Manning began the 2003 season at Triple-A Indianapolis and got called up to Milwaukee in early August when Glendon Rusch went on the disabled list. It only took a few days for him to make his big-league debut. Unfortunately, he got rocked in his first outing, giving up four hits, five walks, and seven runs in a four-inning start against Montreal. A week later, he made his second start, and the results weren’t very different. Manning allowed seven hits, three walks, and six runs in just 2 2/3 innings against Florida. He was released 10 days later. He never made it back to the majors, but he did see a lot of the world. In addition to playing two seasons in the Chinese Professional Baseball League, he played three years in the Mexican leagues and one winter in Venezuela. He also played in two independent leagues and had partial seasons in the Cubs and Orioles organizations. Matías Carrillo, OF (from Pittsburgh), 1987 Carrillo was purchased by the Pirates in December 1985 from the Mexico City Tigers after four seasons in the Mexican League. After two ho-hum seasons in the Pirates chain, he was selected by the Brewers in the 1987 Minor League Rule 5 Draft. He spent four years (one at Double-A and three at Triple-A) in the minors for Milwaukee and was a decent player, finally getting his shot in the bigs in May 1991 when outfielder Darryl Hamilton went on the disabled list. Carillo did his best Moonlight Graham impression, although he played in three games to Graham’s one contest. In late May, Carrillo came into three consecutive games as a defensive replacement in left field for Franklin Stubbs and Greg Vaughn. Carrillo’s Milwaukee career showed no plate appearances and no defensive chances in the field. He was sent back to Triple-A Denver to make room for the return of pitcher Teddy Higuera at the end of May. Carrillo returned to the Mexican League for two years before he got signed by the Florida Marlins. He finally got his first big-league at-bat on September 1, 1993, and singled off Padres’ pitcher Andy Benes. He also had a double and two RBI. In his first dozen games, Carrillo batted .323/.323/.452 with four doubles across 31 at-bats. He finished the year with a batting line of .255/.281/.364 across 55 at-bats. In 1994, Carrillo played 80 games up until the Major League Strike. He batted .250/.295/.301 across 136 at-bats. He became a free agent after the year and played the next 15 years in the Mexican Leagues, retiring from baseball at age 46. Carrillo managed eight years in the Mexican League and one year in the independent Pioneer League before pulling the plug. Tom Candiotti, RHP (from Kansas City), 1980 How many people remember that ‘Cotton’ Candiotti pitched for the Brewers? He began his career with an unaffiliated team in the Low-A Northwest League in 1979 before signing with the Royals. He pitched for one year with the Royals at Double-A and Triple-A before getting picked by the Brewers in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 Draft in 1980. He made 21 appearances (14 starts) in 1981 at Double-A El Paso and went on the shelf with an elbow injury. He underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the end of 1981 and the entire 1982 season. He pitched at two levels in 1983 before getting called up to Milwaukee in August when Don Money went on the disabled list. After a pair of relief outings, Candiotti earned four straight wins, including two complete games and one shutout. The last four games were a disaster as he lost four straight. He posted an ERA+ of 117 and a FIP of 3.90. Candiotti was viewed as a long reliever in 1984 by manager Rene Lachemann, but instead was sent down to Triple-A Vancouver. He was recalled by Milwaukee in mid-July and made three starts with mixed results before going on the DL with right shoulder tendinitis. Upon his return, he made five appearances in September, finishing his Brewer career. In 1985, Candiotti made 28 combined starts between El Paso and Vancouver and was released after the season. Candiotti made 18 appearances (14 starts) for Milwaukee, posting an ERA+ of 96 and a FIP of 4.04. Candiotti spent the next 14 years in the bigs, toiling for Cleveland, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto, and Oakland. He amassed 200+ innings nine times in his career. He retired at age 42 with 151 wins and an ERA+ of 108. The Ones That Got Away Five of the players chosen by the Brewers in the draft didn't make it to Milwaukee, but instead, made their big-league debuts with other clubs. Mike Warren, RHP (from Oakland), 1981 Warren made six starts at Single-A Stockton (4-0, 3.27 ERA), striking out batters at a rate of nearly 25% while posting a 1.14 WHIP. He was traded, along with first baseman Johnny Evers, to the A's for utilityman Rob Picciolo. Warren pitched for Oakland for three years (1983-85) and made 27 starts among 52 appearances and had an ERA+ of 75 and a FIP of 4.75. Juan Cerros, RHP (from Cincinnati), 2004 Cerros actually pitched in the bigs before Milwaukee scooped him up. He made 11 relief appearances for the Reds in 2003 and pitched to an ERA+ of 87 and FIP of 4.26. Not sure what happened in early 2005, but Cerros never pitched in the Brewers chain, instead electing to play in his native Mexico for the next 10 years. Brett Campbell, RHP (from Washington), 2007 Campbell also pitched in the bigs prior to getting drafted by the Brewers. In 2006, Campbell appeared in four games for the Nationals, posting an ERA+ of 45 and a FIP of 6.38. The Brewers released him before the start of the 2008 season. After his playing career, Campbell was a coach at Georgia Perimeter College, a small school near Atlanta. After two years, he became a scout for the Texas Rangers and, more recently, is scouting for the New York Mets. Kevin Mattison, OF (from Miami), 2013 Mattison also played in the majors prior to being drafted by Milwaukee, appearing in just three games for Miami in 2012, going 0-for-5. In 2014, Mattison played in 91 games at Triple-A Nashville, batting just .212/.294/.387 with 21 extra-base hits in 217 at-bats, but he struck out 33% of the time. He was released by the Brewers in mid-August. He signed with the Nationals before the 2015 season but was released after just three games at Triple-A Syracuse. Matt Ramsey, RHP (from Miami), 2016 Ramsey pitched for Double-A Biloxi in 2017 and led the Southern League with 27 saves. In mid-July, he was promoted to Triple-A Colorado Springs but scuffled there and was sent back to Biloxi, where he finished the season. Ramsey was released after the season and was picked up by Houston. He spent the 2018 campaign in the minors for Houston and once again chose free agency. The Los Angeles Angels signed him, and he started the 2019 season at Triple-A Salt Lake. He was called up to the Angels in late April and the next day made his only big show appearance, pitching a perfect ninth against the New York Yankees, striking out Mike Ford to end the game. He was let go by the Angels in early June. He pitched in Mexico and in an independent league, but retired after the season. Final Thoughts The Brewers, like most other teams, hope to find that special needle in a haystack with the Minor League phase of the Rule 5 Draft. It happened with Collins, Candiotti, and, to a lesser extent, Mike Warren. But for the most part, major league teams are just happy if they can find someone who can be a solid performer for them at the higher levels of the minors. And if they happen to make it to the bigs? That's a job well done by that organization. Please feel free to share any thoughts or comments in the comments section below. View full article

I hope he proves me wrong, but I feel Lockridge's analytics are better than his results. I had elite speed when I was a teen, but couldn't hit the curveball. Kinda feel that is what is happening to Lockridge.

He would have been easily the #1 selection in Brewer history. I was using the B-R Bullpen page for research, but it didn't mention the trade. A little lazy on my part, perhaps? And does anybody know who John Trisler is? He was the pitcher the Brewers traded to get Lloyd. Trisler pitched three seasons in the Phillies chain, never making it past Double-A. A pretty good swap, I would say...

Collins would have been second for sure. If he had played one more year, I would have put him in first.

I'd have to sort through the Minor league phase. Stay tuned...

Somebody told me that her name was Jill...😎

Nice work, Steve!!

Image courtesy of Rick Wood--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel The Rule 5 Draft occurs every December at Major League Baseball’s Winter Meetings. The offseason lockout of 2021-2022 caused the cancellation of the major league phase, although the minor league portion was held as scheduled. To learn more about the minutiae of the Rule 5 Draft, click here. The Milwaukee Brewers have selected 29 players in the Rule 5 Draft. Not every transaction goes smoothly, as some players get returned to their original teams. Infielder Colin Walsh (2015) was returned to the Oakland A’s in June 2016 after appearing in 38 of the Brewers' first 46 games, posting a unique batting line of .085/.317/.106 across 63 plate appearances. In 2006, the Detroit Tigers reportedly paid Milwaukee $75,000 to draft left-handed pitcher Edward Campusano. The pitcher was then traded to Detroit and was in the running for a bullpen spot with the Tigers. In March 2007, Campusano underwent reconstructive elbow surgery and missed the entire season. He was returned to the Chicago Cubs that October. Right-handed pitcher Eduardo Morlan was chosen in the 2008 Rule 5 Draft from Tampa Bay. He was returned to the Rays the following March. He pitched in Double-A for the Rays in 2009 and in 2010 before getting released two months into the season. The Brewers signed him a day later and assigned him to Double-A Huntsville. Despite posting an ERA of 2.74 and earning three saves in 32 appearances, Morlan was released by Milwaukee after the season. Not every pick is accompanied by such drama. Here are five picks that turned out well for Milwaukee. #5 Jeff Bennett, RHP (from Pittsburgh) Bennett had been the Pirates’ 19th-round pick in the 1998 Amateur Draft. He struggled through six years, finally making it to Triple-A Nashville, which was then a Pittsburgh affiliate. In the 2003 Rule 5 Draft, he was picked fifth by Milwaukee. Bennett was primarily used in middle relief, low-leverage spots, and appeared in 60 games for Milwaukee in 2004, which ranked third on the staff. He posted a decent 91 ERA+ but had an ugly 5.15 FIP. His best day as a Brewer came on June 18 when he pitched two scoreless, hitless innings while striking out two in a 4-1 win over Minnesota, earning his sixth of eight holds on the year. Bennett was sent down to Nashville—now a Brewers farm team—for the 2005 season. Despite posting an ERA of 3.03, 13 saves, and a 1.11 WHIP in 49 games for the Sounds, the Brewers declined to offer Bennett a contract after the season. The Atlanta Braves inked him to a minor league contract in early 2006, but the pitcher missed the entire year due to undergoing Tommy John surgery. He pitched from 2007-09 in Atlanta before being released by the Braves in late July. Tampa Bay signed him, and Bennett appeared in 11 games. After a short, failed stint with the Rays in 2010, he was signed in mid-season by the Brewers. Bennett made 12 appearances in Nashville but was jettisoned after posting an ERA of 11.32. In the latter days of his career, Bennett pitched in Mexico and a couple of Independent leagues, and even reached as high as Triple-A Albuquerque with the Dodgers before retiring in 2015. #4 José Mercedes, RHP (from Baltimore) Mercedes was signed by Baltimore in 1989 as an international free agent. After pitching two seasons in the Dominican Republic, he made his American debut in 1992, pitching in Rookie and Single-A ball, making 13 starts in 16 appearances and posting a 2.29 ERA and a WHIP of 1.20. He moved up to Double-A Bowie in 1993 but struggled in 23 starts with an ERA of 4.78 and 1.60 WHIP. In December, he was selected by the Brewers with the third pick of the Rule 5 Draft. Mercedes suffered an abdominal strain in spring training and started the season on the 15-day disabled list. He made three rehab starts at Triple-A New Orleans before being activated by the Brewers in late May. Mercedes made his big-league debut on May 31, going 5 1/3 innings while allowing three hits and two walks while striking out two in a long relief stint in a 7-4 loss to Texas. He made 19 relief appearances before the season ended with the baseball strike. After just five appearances in early 1995, Mercedes went on the DL again, this time with an irritation to the ulnar nerve in his right elbow, and missed the rest of the season. Mercedes started the 1996 campaign at Triple-A New Orleans and was called up to Milwaukee in mid-June, but he only lasted five weeks, as he was waived and assigned to New Orleans. The following year was make-or-break, and Mercedes performed well for Milwaukee and had his best season as a big leaguer. He led the Brewers with two complete games and one shutout among his 23 starts, along with six relief appearances. His 159 innings were the third-best on the staff. He posted an ERA+ of 123. Mercedes started in Milwaukee in 1998 but was on shaky ground after six appearances (four starts). After allowing 12 hits and 11 runs in just 3 1/3 innings on May 4, Mercedes went on the 15-day DL with a right shoulder injury. He underwent surgery in mid-July and missed the rest of the season, and was subsequently released by the Brewers in December. He won 14 games for Baltimore in 2000, but then led the American League with 17 losses the following year. Mercedes pitched in five contests for the Montreal Expos in 2003, his final big-league season. #3 Alberto Reyes, RHP (from Montreal) Reyes was a menacing, 6-foot-1, 230-pound right-hander who was signed as an international free agent by Montreal in early 1988. He made his professional debut in 1990 as a starter but would pitch almost exclusively in relief after that. In his five years as an Expo farmhand, Reyes only made it to Double-A Harrisburg before being selected in the 1994 Rule 5 Draft by the Brewers. In his first season as a Brewer, Reyes made 27 appearances before his season ended in late July due to a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow that required Tommy John surgery. Reyes posted an ERA+ of 206 and a WHIP of 1.11 across a small sample of 33 1/3 innings. He returned in late 1996 and pitched in 13 games as Single-A Beloit before getting called up to Milwaukee in September, where he made five appearances. Reyes began the 1997 campaign at Triple-A Tucson. He was called up for one game in May and then sent back down. Reyes returned to Milwaukee in late July and finished the season there, posting a substandard ERA+ of 86 and an FIP of 4.19. The injury bug derailed Reyes’ season again in 1998, although he still managed to make 50 appearances despite missing six weeks late in the season. He ranked third on the staff in games pitched and posted an ERA+ of 109 and a FIP of 4.89. Reyes pitched in 26 games for the Brewers in 1999 before getting dealt to the Baltimore Orioles in mid-July for pitcher Rocky Coppinger. Reyes bounced around over the next 10 years, making stops with Baltimore, Los Angeles Dodgers, Pittsburgh, New York Yankees, and St. Louis before finishing his career with two years in Tampa Bay, including posting a career-high 26 saves in 2007. #2 Ned Yost, C (from New York Mets) Edgar Frederick Yost III was originally chosen in the second round of the 1974 MLB January draft (Regular Phase) by the Montreal Expos but declined to sign. Six months later, he was selected seventh overall in the June Secondary Phase draft by the New York Mets. Yost played for four years in the Mets organization and had his best year in 1977 at two stops, batting .297/.358/.521 with 17 doubles and 13 HRs in just 259 at-bats. In December, the Brewers picked Yost with the seventh pick in the Rule 5 Draft. Yost spent the next two years at the Triple-A level in the Brewers organization (I could not find any details on why he wasn’t required to play in the majors in 1978). Yost began the 1980 season with Milwaukee, and after playing sparingly over the first three weeks, was sent back down to Vancouver. He was recalled in September and got a hit in his first game back, a single off Minnesota Twins pitcher Albert Williams. In 1981, Yost served as the third catcher behind Ted Simmons and Charlie Moore and got only 27 at-bats, but he did jack three home runs among his six hits. The following year, Yost was the primary backup behind Simmons and hit .276/.324/.429 across 98 at-bats as the Brewers won the American League crown. With less than a week left in the season and Milwaukee battling with Baltimore for supremacy in the American League East, Yost hit a clutch three-run homer in the top of the 9th inning off Boston’s Mark Clear to give the Brewers a 6-3 win. Yost only had one plate appearance in the postseason, drawing a walk in a World Series Game 6 13-1 loss to St. Louis. Yost started 57 games behind the plate in 1983, still playing behind Simmons. Yost set career highs with runs, hits, home runs, and RBI. After the season, Yost was traded to the Texas Rangers for catcher Jim Sundberg. Yost set a career high in 1984 with 242 at-bats but only slashed .182/.201/.273 and was released after the campaign. Montreal picked him up, but he only got 11 at-bats at the end of the 1985 season. Yost played the next two seasons in the Atlanta Braves organization before retiring. After his playing career, Yost managed in the minors for Atlanta and served as a long-time coach with the team. He managed the Brewers from 2003 to 2008 and the Kansas City Royals from 2010 to 2019. #1 Mark Brouhard, OF (from California) Brouhard was selected in the fourth round of the 1976 January Draft—Regular Phase by the California Angels. In four years in the Angels chain (Rookie, Single-A, Double-A), Brouhard had a combined batting line of .313/.378/.507 with 72 home runs and was named the Double-A Texas League Most Valuable Player in 1979 by virtue of batting .350 with 28 home runs and 107 RBI. Yet the Angels did not add him to their 40-man roster and lost him when the Brewers selected him in the 1979 Rule 5 Draft. ‘Big Bro’ managed to get 125 AB in 1980 with Milwaukee, playing the outfield corners and a few starts at first base. He batted only .232/.278/.400 but did show extra-base power with six doubles and five homers. In 1981, Brouhard started at Triple-A Vancouver but only played 16 games there before an injury to Paul Molitor led to Brouhard being called back to Milwaukee. He batted .274/.305/.371 across 186 at-bats. He posted a nearly average OPS+ of 99 and legged out a career-high three triples. Brouhard was unable to play in the postseason due to a pulled calf muscle. The following season, Brouhard started the year in Milwaukee and made a brief detour to Vancouver in August after losing playing time to Charlie Moore and Marshall Edwards. He returned at the end of the month, just in time to make the postseason roster. Although his season wasn’t spectacular, he set a career high with an OPS of .771 and an OPS+ mark of 116. Brouhard appeared in only one game in the postseason, but what he did in that contest was enough for him to make the top of this Rule 5 list and make him an instant Brewers legend. The Brewers trailed the California Angels two games to one in the American League Championship Series. Brouhard was inserted in the starting lineup after an injury kept usual starter Ben Oglivie out. Batting seventh and playing left field, all Brouhard did was collect a single, double, and home run, knocking in three runs and scoring four (the latter tying a playoff record). Despite that, Brouhard never got off the bench for the rest of the postseason. Over the next three seasons, Brouhard mostly split time between Milwaukee and Vancouver, accumulating only 490 big-league at-bats, batting .257/.304/.404 with 14 home runs. Brouhard finished up his playing days overseas in Japan, along with 55 minor league games back with California, his original organization. Final Thoughts Unfortunately, the Brewers have not been able to pick up players such as George Bell, Josh Hamilton, or Roberto Clemente, who became solid players. The Brewers' list of Rule 5 successes is a short one. And sometimes a player that you don’t have room for goes on to star for another team. In 2024, Brewer farmhand Shane Smith was lost to the Chicago White Sox and became an All-Star last season. The Brewers just haven’t been that lucky. Not many of the players that the Brewers have grabbed in the Rule 5 Draft have turned out to be success stories. Do you have a player that you felt was left off this list? Start the conversation in the comments section below! View full article