The Brewers’ farm system was ranked toward the bottom in various publications last year, and with a lost season in 2020, that doesn’t figure to change much. But what about this year? Or in two years?
There are quality position player prospects in the Brewers system — it’s just that nearly all of them are very young and are expected to play in the lower levels in 2021. But for a small-market organization that needs to develop hitters and could benefit by building depth from within, these are names worth knowing now.
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RELATED: Ranking top pitching prospects in tiers
Below is a ranking by tiers for 30 position player prospects in the Brewers system. The players are grouped using a combination of upside and trajectory to the majors after conversations with evaluators. Only prospects who have yet to reach the majors were included in the tiers.
Tier 1: Consensus bests
Brice Turang, SS; Garrett Mitchell, OF
Turang and Mitchell were the only prospects The Athletic’s Keith Law included in the top 100 for 2021. Mitchell was No. 95. Turang was No. 96.
The time at the alternate site was beneficial for someone like Turang, a left-handed batter, who faced quality southpaws daily as opposed to the lower-level pitching he would’ve seen in Class A and eventually Class AA. He has started to drive the ball more and is adding to his frame, which could still use another 10 pounds.
The Brewers loved that Mitchell fell to them at pick No. 20 in the 2020 draft; his tools warranted a higher selection. Mitchell has elite speed and is a plus defender. The Brewers are optimistic about their chances of unlocking some power potential.
Tier 2: Best on the 40-man
The Brewers placed Feliciano, 22, on their 40-man roster in November to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. He’s still at least a year away from reaching the majors, though; he has played only three games at Class AA. Despite not being on top 100 lists or ranked among the best catching prospects, some around the Brewers argue that he should be.
Feliciano showed power again during the summer while at the Brewers’ alternate training site, and his hitting will continue to be what carries him. He also has worked on becoming a better receiver and told MLB.com that he was working daily with Yadier Molina (both are from Puerto Rico) on learning the intricacies of catching.
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Tier 3: High ceilings at lower levels
Hedbert Perez, OF; Freddy Zamora, SS; Jeferson Quero, C; Eduardo Garcia, IF
At 17, Perez is in a place where it’s hard to be critical of anything he does. When he smacks a ball 400 feet, heads turn, and when he struggles against advanced pitching, shoulders shrug because of his age. For the most part, he held his own over the summer in the Brewers’ alternate site. He has a ways to go before reaching the majors, but the talent is undeniable – particularly with his bat – and there are no issues with his frame.
The Brewers chose Zamora in the second round in 2020, and some in the organization believe they got a first-round talent. He may be a more fluid athlete than Mitchell. Zamora slipped because of his ACL injury and some rumored character issues out of Miami. But a few people have been impressed with the way he has attacked his rehab, and the early returns point to the Brewers nabbing an exciting player.
Quero is only 18 but proved in the instructional league that he is unafraid of older pitching or high velocity. A right-handed batter, he attacked the ball, frequently hitting it hard the other way. He also can pull the ball with authority. His catching skills are advanced for his age. He’s one to know in the Brewers’ system; people rave about him.
Garcia, 18, was in Appleton, the location for the Brewers’ alternate site, for a period in the summer and is one of the best defenders in the system. Garcia and infielder Antonio Pinero, a low-level prospect, could be the two best fielders in the Brewers’ system. Garcia is solid at the plate but still needs to learn to make better decisions at the plate.
Tier 4: Older prospects, closer to majors
Corey Ray, OF; Tristen Lutz, OF; Payton Henry, C
Ray, the Brewers’ first-round pick in 2016, is 26 and was hurt by not having a Class AAA season in 2020. He’s on the 40-man roster and was in Appleton last summer but was not called up despite the Brewers’ need for help in the outfield at times. He has struck out in 32 percent of his plate appearances so far in Class AA and Class AAA. His speed, power and athleticism remain tantalizing, but his approach and strike recognition are obstacles he must overcome.
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Lutz, the Brewers’ first-round pick in 2017, who also was in Appleton, has never had a “wow” season in the minors but has always shown power and speed. He has power to all fields and is solid in the corner outfield spots. It’ll be interesting to see his results in the higher levels; he hasn’t played above Class A yet.
Henry, who also has yet to play above Class A, has a high ceiling. He can catch and throw with some pop. He’s currently blocked by six other catchers on the Brewers’ 40-man roster, but the thought is he can carve out a nice career as a capable catcher in the majors once he arrives.
Tier 5: More talent at lower levels
Carlos Rodriguez, OF; Zavier Warren, C/IF; Luis Medina, OF
Arguments can be made that Rodriguez and Warren deserve higher placement. Rodriguez has an impressive bat from the left side; he uses the entire field and hits balls hard with good control. He profiles as a top-of-the-lineup hitter with speed. He has great bat-to-ball skills and doesn’t strike out much. He is probably more of a left fielder; he has accuracy but lacks arm strength. Scouts believe Warren’s bat will carry regardless of where he plays, but some in the organization think the 2020 third-round pick can stick at catcher, where he’s shown athleticism and eagerness.
Scouts like Medina’s 6-foot-2 frame, but the speed of the game has been an adjustment for the 17-year-old out of Venezuela. His ceiling may be a bit more restricted than others ahead of him on this list.
Tier 6: Breakout candidate
Micah Bello, OF
The Brewers drafted Bello in the second round of the 2018 draft out of Hilo, Hawaii. It took a couple of years, but Bello, 20, is maturing as an all-around player and his confidence is swelling. Some who saw him during the instructional league are convinced he will be a starting center fielder in the majors one day. He has always been a good defender, but his bat has come around; he was consistently hitting balls hard and with power.
Tier 7: Have tools, need time
Joe Gray, OF; Thomas Dillard, 1B/OF/C; Je’von Ward, OF; Nick Kahle, C
Gray and Ward are great athletes who need to make strides in their respective developments in 2021. It hasn’t shown up in games yet, but Ward, who is 6 foot 5, 190 pounds, hits the ball hard with power from the left side, and he runs well on the bases.
Dillard can hit and takes big swings. He faced quality pitching in college while playing at Ole Miss and should be able to hold his own at higher levels in the minors. While he has played multiple positions with the Brewers and saw action at catcher in Appleton, it’s Dillard’s bat that matters most. He’s a switch-hitter but is said to be better from the right side.
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Kahle, who is in Australia with the Brisbane Bandits, is known as a good pitch-framer. He projects more as a backup; his bat is steady but not anything electric, and his arm is adequate.
Tier 8: Additional names to know
David Hamilton 2B/SS; Hayden Cantrelle, SS/2B; Joey Wiemer, OF; Jesus Parra, IF; Gabe Holt, IF
Hamilton put on a show at the instructional league. Despite the Brewers drafting him in the eighth round of the 2019 draft, he hasn’t played yet at the professional level. But at 23 years old, he could be in Class AA, play in the middle of the field as a plus defender with a good bat from the left side and an ability to steal bases.
Cantrelle was impressive during the instructional league offensively with his ability to rack up hits. Chosen in the fifth round of the 2020 draft, Cantrelle played well at shortstop, making all the plays there and saw action at second base, too.
Tier 9: Wild cards
Lucas Erceg, 3B; Jackson Chourio, SS; Eduarqui Fernandez, OF; Pablo Abreu, OF; David Fry, C; Andre Nnebe, OF; Cooper Hummel, OF
Erceg is 25, but it’s worth remembering that he has never spent more than a single season at any level despite struggling in each of the last couple of seasons. He was another player who needed another year at Class AAA after swinging too often without the zone control in previous seasons. He wasn’t in Appleton during the summer, and it’ll be interesting to see how he fares in 2021.
Chourio, the top player the Brewers signed last month during the 2020-21 international signing period is a 16-year-old shortstop/center fielder from Venezuela. He is known for his athleticism and advanced bat from the right side and should rise in prospects lists as soon as the Brewers get a look at him in their system. Others to know from the signing period are Venezuelan shortstops Gregory Barrios and Daniel Guilarte, and outfielder Hendry Mendez from the Dominican Republic.
Hummel has routinely produced high on-base percentages since joining the Brewers’ system in 2016, including a .384 mark in 2019 at Class AA.
Fernandez, 18, is another player who could be placed higher on this list. He had a nice showing in the instructional league and looks the part with a decent speed/power combination, but he has a long way to go before he can be counted on.
(Top photo of Garrett Mitchell: (Kyusung Gong / Associated Press)