The Brewers are the first system to kick off the organizational minor league reports, because, well, they’re the worst farm system in the league based on my rankings. That’s not to say that their system is completely lacking talent, because there are some intriguing prospects in the system, there just aren’t those top-flight, elite-level guys that there are in other systems. The Brewers have still been able to pull off very big trades in the last few seasons, including trading for Christian Yelich and some arms to bolster their staff. Last year they also had a Top-100 prospect come up in the form of Keston Hiura who is now slated to be their everyday second baseman.
Top Prospects In The System
Pos. - SS/2B Ht/Wt - 6’0” 173 lbs. Bats: L Throws: R Age: 20
Level - A Adv Drafted - 2018 (1.21) ETA: 2022
Grades: Hit: 55 Power: 45 Run: 60 Arm: 55-60 Field: 55
It was a surprise to the Brewers that Turang was still available with the 21st pick of the first round in the 2018 June draft as one of the top prep bats in the class. They took him and paid him over slot to keep him away from an LSU commitment; that faith in him paid off as he reached High-A last year as a 19-year-old and combined for a solid stat line. In 129 games split between Class-A Wisconsin and A-Advanced Carolina, Turang slashed .256/.367/.340 with three home runs, 82 runs, 37 RBI, and 30 steals. As you can probably tell from the stat line, his calling card is his speed, though he does have an above-average hit tool and is a more than steady defender up the middle. When all is said and done, Turang should have four above-average to plus tools with the power the only one not fitting the bill in that respect. Milwaukee is hoping that the fact his father played in the majors will allow Turang to be fast-tracked a bit through their system despite him being on the younger side still. If you’re looking for a prototypical middle infielder who is a top-of-the-order hitter with good speed, Turang is a guy that can fly under the radar since the Brewers system as a whole flies under the radar in general.
Pos. - OF Ht/Wt - 6’2” 210 lbs. Bats: R Throws: R Age: 21
Level - A Adv Drafted: 2017 (CBA 34th) ETA: 2022
Grades: HIt: 50 Power: 55 Run: 50 Arm: 60 Field: 55
A teammate of Turang’s much of 2019, Lutz was another guy the Brewers lured away from a college commitment with a nice above slot offer after drafting him 34th overall in 2017. Since then his power has been his calling card as he’s moved up through the system and really put the pop to work at Carolina in 2019. He had 49 extra-base hits (13 of those being home runs), and he hit balls to all fields as well. The average has been a sore spot for him, but he did tally a .255 mark in 112 games and 420 at-bats which was a 10-point improvement over the 119-game campaign he had in 2018 at Class-A while keeping very similar counting stats on the stat line. Lutz has been spending much of his pro career in centerfield, though over the long-term he profiles as a typical right fielder with a strong arm, and worse speed than you’d like to see in centerfield. Lutz can take questionable routes at times and he should still add muscle to his 6’2” frame which will take away another step or two as well. At his best, he’ll hit .260-.265 with 20-plus home run pop in his bat and playing a solid defensive right field while hitting likely sixth in the order.
Pos. - LHP Ht/Wt - 6’3” 214 lbs. Bats: L Throws: L Age: 22
Level - Class-A Drafted - 2019 (1.28) ETA: 2021
Grades: Fastball: 60 Curveball: 50 Changeup: 60 Control: 55
Small was taken in the 2019 draft at 28th overall back in June and at the time, this is the analysis I had written for him “Small is an interesting case study in college pitchers as his velocity isn’t great but his strikeout rates are elite. His fastball sits 86-92 mph with great deception and shape and the changeup is his best pitch right now. Not to get outpaced, the curveball is his out pitch right now, but again it’s based off the spin rate and shape more than the power behind it. Small has already had Tommy John surgery, hence why he redshirted in his freshman year. The crossfire delivery is repeatable and gives him the deceptive two-plane break that allows his stuff to play up but to get out tougher hitters in the pros, he’ll need more velocity in all of the offerings.” Since being drafted and pitching 21 innings between Rookie and A-ball, he’s done quite well in a small sample size against other college and very young hitters. The lefty pitched to a 0.86 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, .151 BAA and a 36:4 K:BB ratio...all outstanding. Another thing to look at here is that he got nearly 50-percent of opposing hitters to make opposite-field contact since turning pro, meaning it’s softer, weaker contact and none left the park. He won’t ever be considered “ace caliber” but he is a high-strikeout upside mid-rotation starter who excels at missing bats and generating weak contact.
Pos. - RHP Ht/Wt - 6’1” 180 lbs. Bats: R Throws: R Age: 25
Level - Triple-A Drafted - 2016 (5.141) ETA: 2020
Grades: Fastball: 55 Curveball: 65 Changeup: 50 Control: 50
Brown has been a guy that’s been great at making adjustments with his arsenal throughout his career and those adjustments have kept his ratios and stats pretty similar no matter what level he’s reached to this point. Until this past season that is, though the change in ball likely had something to do with that, as well as pitching in the Pacific Coast League for the first time. Brown pitched 125.2 innings at Double-A in 2018 with a 2.44 ERA, 3.33 FIP, 3.37 xFIP, 1.04 WHIP, and a 23.1-percent K-rate. Now in 2019, with the same repertoire just a different level and new ball, he pitched 116.2 innings with a 5.79 ERA, 5.67 FIP, 5.59 xFIP, 1.73 WHIP, and career-worsts in K-rate (18.2-percent) and BB-rate (11.9-percent). The righty is a pitcher who relies on his sinking fastball and his plus-curveball to get hitters out and the low seams on the balls this year affect high-spin pitches like what he throws. It’s clear that Brown has the goods to get good hitters out, but there is still a chance that he winds up in the pen if his changeup doesn’t develop more and thus, he’s a prospect a bit up in the air.
Pos. - SS Ht/Wt - 6’2” 160 lbs. Bats: R Throws: R Age: 17
Level - Rookie Signed - July 10, 2018 ETA: 2023
Grades: Hit: 55 Power: 45 Run: 50 Arm: 55 Field: 60
Garcia was one of the youngest players in the 2018-2019 international class as he signed with the Brewers on his 16th birthday before making his pro debut in 2019. Milwaukee sent him to the Dominican Summer League where he played 10 games before a broken ankle ended his season in mid-June. That was disappointing, as he had gotten off to a hot start with three XBH and six runs in that span with a .313 avg and .919 OPS. Garcia is a glove-first shortstop but that doesn’t mean the offense can’t develop, other than the hit tool he already possesses. He’s already got the frame to add weight to and with that will come some additional power, about 12-15 homers worth, while still hitting for average and adding about 10 steals a year. There is a lot of development and projection left for Garcia but his overall profile of a .290 hitter with 12 homers and 10 steals makes him a solid middle infield option in the deepest of leagues.