Poll: Milwaukee Brewers Minor League Player of the Year

The season is now officially over for all seven of the Milwaukee Brewers’ minor league affiliates, so it’s time to reflect upon which players deserve to be recognized for their outstanding play this year. Below are a few of the top performers from the Brewers’ farm system. Who deserves to be named Brew Crew Ball’s 2016 Minor League Player of the Year?

SS/2B Isan Diaz
Age: 20
Low-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

Diaz was a second round pick by the Diamondbacks back in 2014 that came over last winter in the Jean Segura trade. After a slow start to the year, Diaz really got hot in the second half and wound up enjoying a fantastic season overall, including leading the Midwest League in home runs.

587 PA || .264/.358/.469 || 20 HR || 75 RBI || 11 SB || 143 wRC+

OF Kyle Wren
Age: 25
AA Biloxi Shuckers / AAA Colorado Springs Sky Sox

Wren came to the Brewers in a minor trade prior to the 2015 season and all he’s done since is get base hits. Wren doesn’t offer much power but is a threat on the bases and a versatile defender in the outfield. It’s a crowded prospect situation in the outfield, but if Wren keeps performing like he did in 2016 when he split time between AA and AAA, he’ll get an opportunity to play in the major leagues.

471 PA || .322/.412/.412 || 2 HR || 39 RBI || 29 SB || 132 wRC+

C/1B Josmil Pinto
Age: 27
AAA Colorado Spring Sky Sox

Pinto was a former top prospect in the Twins organization who came to Milwaukee via waiver claim last winter. He spent all season with AAA Colorado Springs, splitting time behind the plate with Manny Pina as well as playing some first base. Pinto is eligible to become a minor league free agent after the year, but the Brewers could try and bring him back as catching depth.

315 PA || .306/.362/.517 || 11 HR || 51 RBI || 0 SB || 132 wRC+

1B Ronnie Gideon
Age: 21
Rookie Helena Brewers

The hulking Gideon was the Brewers’ 23rd-round pick in this year draft, out of Texas A&M. It’s not unusual to see a college player perform well in rookie ball, but even Gideon’s performance with Helena stands out in that context. It remains to be seen how much of a ceiling Gideon truly has, but if he continues to demonstrate in-game power like he did in Helena it’ll help take him a long way towards the big leagues.

245 PA || .321/.371/.638 || 17 HR || 41 RBI || 1 SB || 143 wRC+

3B Lucas Erceg
Age: 21
Rookie Helena Brewers / Low-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

Like Gideon, Erceg hit the ground running with the Brewers after being chosen (round 2) in this year’s MLB Draft. Erceg tore through the Pioneer League before making the jump to the Midwest League and continuing to impress. He’s got a rocket arm at third base as well and given his demonstrated talent and lack of third baseman within the system, Erceg could be a fast riser to the big leagues.

295 PA || .327/.376/.518 || 9 HR || 51 RBI || 9 SB || 143 wRC+

Statistics courtesy of Fangraphs