2000 - 2009 - Walk Leaders

Here's a list of the top five walk (bottom five?) seasons for Brewer minor leaguer pitchers over the last 10 years:

134 - Nick Neugebauer, 2000 (Mudville 87/ Huntsville 47)
93 - Carlos Chantres, 2001 (Indianapolis)
84 - Jerry Oakes, 2002 (Beloit)
82 - Evan Fredrickson, 2009 (Wisconsin)
80 - Roberto Maysonet, 2002 (High Desert...in 81 IP)


A little more about the leader, Nick Neugebauer

(Photo from onmilwaukee.com)

Drafted:                                  Drafted in 2nd Round by Brewers in 1998 from Arlington HS (CA)
How Acquired:                      Drafted by Brewers.  One of only two Brewer draft picks in 1998 to make it to the majors.
Years with Brewers:            5
Best Season:                        In the minors 2001 - went 7-7 with a 3.10 ERA and a 175/61 strikeout to walk ratio and a 1.263 WHIP in 130 IP.
Last Professional Season:  Pitches one game for High Desert in 2004
Major League Stats:             2-8 with a 4.99 ERA in 14 career starts.  Also had 58 SO and 50 BB in 61 IP.
Other Notes of Interset:       

Brandon Inge was selected immediately after Nick in the draft.

As noted above, only two of the Brewers draft picks in 1998 made it to the majors.  Nick and 6th round draft pick Bill Hall.  The first and third round picks that year (J.M. Gold and Derry Hammond) never made it out of single A.

When he made is major league debut in 2001, he became the youngerst starging pitcher in the NL that season and was only 6 days older than the youngest in the AL (CC Sabathia)

While he didn't show it in the majors during his short time, Nick was a decent hitter putting with a batting average of 0.304 and a slugging percentage of 0.413 in 46 AB including a home run and 8 RBI's.

Neugebauer made 14 starts with the Brewers and had two game scores over 60.  His first major league start (when he got one of his two career wins) and a start against the Marlins in 2002.

Nick had rotator cuff surgery in 2001, then again in 2003.  When it was decided that he would miss the 2003 season it was hailed as the first setback in Ned Yost's managing career.

After posting walk rates of 8.9 (per 9 IP) in 1999 and 9.4 in 2000, Nick turned things around in 2001 and lowered his rate to 4.2.

He has three of the highest strikeout rates in the minors his first three seasons (13.9 in 1999, 12.2 in 2000, and 12.1 in 2001).  In 1999 and 2000 he allowed less than 6 hits per 9 IP.

Was a AA All-Star in 2001.  Also ranked as the Brewers #1 prospect in 2000, #2 prospect in 2001, and #1 prospect in 2002.  Ranked as the #83 overall prospect in baseball in 2001 and #17 in 2002.  Participated in the futures game in 2001.

2009 Leaders  

82 - Fredrickson (Wisconsin)
77 - Lindsay Gulin (Nashville)
58 - Trey Watten (Wisconsin)