Keston Hiura, Corbin Burnes represent Milwaukee Brewers in Baseball America top-100 prospects list

Baseball America released their annually updated preseason top-100 prospects list yesterday, and, as expected, the Milwaukee Brewers had two representatives on the list. They are second baseman Keston Hiura at #17 overall, and right-handed pitcher Corbin Burnes at #46.

Hiura, 22, is quickly becoming one of the most hyped offensive prospects in baseball. He hit .293/.357/.464 with 13 homers in 123 games between Class A-Advanced and AA during the 2018 regular season and followed that up with an MVP performance in the Arizona Fall League, mashing a .323/.371/.563 slash line with five homers in 105 plate appearances. BA seems convinced that the Brewers lack of motivation to add a free agent second basemen is due to Hiura’s impending arrival in the big leagues, writing “The Brewers appear to be clearing the decks for a quick arrival for their best pure hitting prospect in years.”

Burnes, 24, debuted with Milwaukee last season and quickly became an integral part of their bullpen on the way to an NL Central title (most prospect lists have excluded Burnes this winter due to the amount of days he spent in the majors, but BA goes off innings pitched for rookie eligibility). In 38.0 innings in the MLB he posted a 2.61 ERA with 35 strikeouts against 11 walks, displaying impressive poise, command, and the ability to spin a baseball. A starter by trade, Burnes will begin to transition back to that role this spring. Armed with a plus fastball, three average-or-better secondaries, and plus command, Burnes could be Milwaukee’s next great homegrown starter.

Statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference