TOP 10 BREWERS’ PROSPECTS
ACCORDING TO MINOR-LEAGUE PUBLICATIONS
The Milwaukee Brewers haven’t been afraid to show off their prospects in spring training this year, and with one of the highest-regarded minor-league organizations in baseball, why not? On March 17, the Brewers showcased them again in the newly launched MLB “Spring Breakout” initiative that pitted some of Milwaukee’s best prospects against some of Kansas City’s, with all organizations participating in these exhibition games. Four respected national publications have released their top prospects in the organization: Fangraphs, MLB.com Pipeline, Baseball Prospectus and Baseball America. We combined their forces to arrive at a aggregate top-10 list for Milwaukee. In our process, we simply averaged a player’s ranking over the four sites, which sometimes meant an outlier site had an outsized influence. Baseball America regards starter D.L. Hall (No. 5) and centerfielder Garrett Mitchell (No. 8) still as prospects; the other three sites don’t. They won’t be included here, but keep that in mind when you see where players rank according to that outlet. Joey Ortiz was not in the most recent Baseball Prospectus top 20 rankings because the Brewers hadn’t yet acquired the infielder from the Orioles, so we gave him an average based on the other three sites.
1. Jackson Chourio, outfielder
h Fangraphs: 1 h Baseball America: 1 h MLB.com: 1
h Baseball Prospectus: 1
There isn’t much debate about who perches atop the list, with Chourio regarded among the very best prospects in baseball. After signing an eight-year extension in the offseason before his first major-league at-bat, the 20-yearold could be the team’s opening day centerfielder, and that would make him the first Brewers player to appear on opening day at age 20 or younger since Gary Sheffield in 1989 and the youngest since Robin Yount started the 1975 season at age 19 (Yount also famously began the 1974 season at age 18).
2. Jacob Misiorowski, right-handed pitcher
Fangraphs: 2
Baseball America: 2 MLB.com: 2
Baseball Prospectus: 4 Questions of command will linger, but the potential dominance of his fastball/ slider combination make him at least a tantalizing closer option, though the Brewers will surely first test the possibility that he could be an elite starter.
3. Jeferson Quero, catcher
Fangraphs: 3 Baseball America: 3 MLB.com: 3
Baseball Prospectus: 2
Already a defensive savant, Quero has also shown he can hit, and the 21-yearold looks like the organization’s catcher of the future.
4. Tyler Black, infielder
Fangraphs: 10 Baseball America: 4 MLB.com: 4
Baseball Prospectus: 3
The Canadian has elite plate discipline and a bat that’s already capable of playing a role in the major leagues; it’s just a question of where on the diamond his glove will fit. Expect to see plenty of Black this season in Milwaukee.
5. Joey Ortiz, infielder
Fangraphs: 4 Baseball America: 7 MLB.com: 5 Baseball Prospectus: Not yet in the organization
Defensively, he’s capable of playing anywhere on the diamond, including shortstop, though he factors into the conversation of starting third baseman. Acquired in the deal that sent Corbin Burnes to Baltimore, the question will be whether his hit tool will thrive in the majors.
6. Brock Wilken, third baseman
Fangraphs: 5 Baseball America: 10 MLB.com: 7
Baseball Prospectus: 5
The first-round pick last year flashed his prodigious power in the minors and looked comfortable at spring training this year. He’ll start in the minors, but he’s quite possibly Milwaukee’s solution at the hot corner by 2025, if not sooner.
7. Robert Gasser, left-handed pitcher
Fangraphs: 8 Baseball America: 6 MLB.com: 6
Baseball Prospectus: 7 Acquired in the Josh Hader trade in 2022, Gasser became International League pitcher of the year last year when he went 9-1 with a 3.79 ERA and 166 strikeouts over 135 1⁄3 innings at Class AAA Nashville. He’s bound to make appearances in Milwaukee this year.
8. Luis Lara, outfielder
Fangraphs: 6 Baseball America: 9 MLB.com: 9
Baseball Prospectus: 9
The diminutive outfielder made some splashy catches during spring training, and he’s still just 19 years old with a full season of Class A baseball under his belt. His throwing arm and speed are both plusses, and he’s shown an ability to get on base.
9. Josh Knoth, right-handed pitcher
Fangraphs: 7 Baseball America: 12 MLB.com: 13
Baseball Prospectus: 7
Taken with the 33rd pick of last year’s draft, Knoth has yet to make his professional debut, but the 18-year-old with a dominant curveball will be a name to watch in the minors this season.
10. Carlos Rodrı́guez, right-handed pitcher
Fangraphs: 19 Baseball America: 11 MLB.com: 8
Baseball Prospectus: 8 Rodrı́guez went 9-6 with a 2.77 ERA and WHIP of 1.09 in 25 starts for Biloxi last year, earning him the organization’s minor-league pitcher of the year honor, along with Gasser. He’ll bring his fivepitch arsenal to Nashville this year and probably make Milwaukee appearances.