Brew Crew Ball Community Top Prospects #1-10

The Brew Crew Ball Community Prospects top ten has been decided. Now, it’s time to look at the best players in the Crew’s system.

The list isn’t nearly as stacked as it was last year. Seven of last year’s top ten have left the farm system via trade or advancing to the major leagues.

1. 2B Keston Hiura

Age: 22
2018 Stats (AA): 535 PA || .293/.357/.464 || 13 HR || 15 SB || 103 K || 36 BB

What’s left to be said about Keston Hiura that hasn’t already been said? He has the tools to be an elite hitter one day in the majors. While his defense isn’t nearly the tool that his offense is, it’s still fine enough. He can cover his ground at second thanks to his average speed. There may be a throwing issue here and there due to a weaker arm, but it’s good enough to get the ball where it needs to go on most occasions.

2. OF Corey Ray

Age: 24
2018 Stats (AA): 600 PA || .239/.323/.477 || 27 HR || 37 SB || 176 K || 60 BB

Corey Ray was having one of the most disappointing minor league careers of any Brewers draft pick until the 2018 season. He then found his power swing and took off. As long as he makes it on base, Ray’s speed is enough for any player to get some value from. Now, he has the potential to be a 30-30 player. Ray struggles mightily with control in the zone, as shown by his 332 strikeouts over the last two season. If he can get that under control, he’ll make substantial strides at the plate.

3. SS/2B Mauricio Dubon

Age: 24
2018 Stats (AAA): 114 PA || .343/.348/.574 || 4 HR || 6 SB || 19 K || 2 BB

Dubon is a thrilling prospect due to his high-contract rate and exceptional speed. That speed and average arm make him an average-to-plus defender and offensive threat. The youngster’s two problem areas are walks and power. He projects to be about a ten-homer-per-year hitter in the majors, and could have troubles producing if he can’t develop better patience at the plate.

4. SS Brice Turang

Age: 19
2019 Stats (Rk): 192 PA || .283/.396/.352

Turang’s first taste of pro ball went very well. He came out and hit his way out of the Arizona League, and continued to have a fair amount of success at Helena. There’s a good chance the Brewers challenge him with an assignment to the Timber Rattlers. The young shortstop fell to the Brewers due to the lack of a true plus tool; however, he does almost everything well, with only his power being his only tool that projects to be under 50.

5. RHP Zack Brown

Age: 24
2018 stats (Rk-AA): 127.2 IP || 2.40 ERA || 119 K || 37 BB || 8 HR || 1.057 WHIP

No Brewers prospect climbed the rankings like Zack Brown did in 2018. The big right-handed pitcher dominated his competition in AA. The only negative he had was an ankle injury he obtained while leaving the field. Brown’s fastball sits around 93 mph and he has a plus curveball. He has a third-starter’s ceiling, with a bullpen floor.

6. OF Tristen Lutz

Age: 20
2018 stats (A): 503 PA || .245/.321/.421 || 13 HR || 9 SB || 139 K || 46 BB

Tristen Lutz might have the highest ceiling of any Brewers prospect after Keston Hiura. He just completed his first full season of pro ball. While the results weren’t stupendous, there were moments of brilliance, especially after the weather in the Midwest League warmed up. Lutz projects to be an average hitter with above-average power. There’s a potential for five average or better tools, although his solid speed could go decrease as he becomes more powerful.

7. 3B Lucas Erceg

Age: 23
2018 stats (AA): 508 PA || .248/.306/.382 || 13 HR || 3 SB || 82 K || 37 BB

Lucas Erceg’s 2018 was certainly disappointing, thanks in large part to an awful May he had after getting hit in the head by a pitch. Erceg had a solid season outside of that month. His power hasn’t quite developed to the extent many suspected. While he’s not great at anything at the plate, he’s also not bad at much of anything. He has the potential to be a plus defender, with one of the best arms you’ll see at third base and good instincts. His footwork can trip him up from time to time, but that is something that should be ironed out over his career.

8. C Jacob Nottingham

Age: 23
2018 stats (AAA): 196 PA || .281/.347/.528 || 10 HR || 2 SB || 59 K || 14 BB

Jacob Nottingham has progressed leaps and bounds defensively. He looks very comfortable behind the plate and his cannon of an arm helps him keep runners at bay. On the other hand, Nottingham hasn’t been the offensive force as advertised when the Crew acquired him in the Khris Davis trade. Most of his woes seemed to be behind him last season, but injuries limited his time in AAA. A full AAA season in 2019 should show whether he’s ready to come up to the bigs in 2020 and be a contributor.

9. RHP Trey Supak

Age: 22
2018 stats (A+-AA): 137.2 IP || 2.48 ERA || 123 K || 44 BB || 6 HR || 1.126 WHIP

Trey Supak continued to show he’s a coachable talent with the tools to dominate. Supak throws a low to mid-90s fastball with an average curveball and changeup. None of his tools stand out as more than average, which limits his ceiling to the middle or back of a rotation.

10. LHP Aaron Ashby

Age: 20
2018 stats (Rk-A): 57.2 IP || 3.59 ERA || 66 K || 17 BB || 4 HR || 1.301 WHIP

Aaron Ashby had a fantastic debut with the Timber Rattlers towards the end of 2018. His sharp fastball and excellent slider make him a force on the mound. He also likes to change his delivery to keep hitters off balance.

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The next list is coming soon. Keep voting in the daily poll as we decide the top 30 prospects in the Brewers’ system!

Statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference