/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63021990/usa_today_10398176.0.jpg)
You’ve been voting for the Milwaukee Brewers’ top-30 prospects and now we’re breaking them down! Since you decided, we’re taking a short look at each prospect you added to the top 20.
11. OF Joe Gray
Age: 18
2018 stats (Rk): 98 PA || .182/.347/.325 || 2 HR || 6 SB || 25 K || 18 BB
Gray is an interesting low-floor high-ceiling prospect. The outfielder has a massive arm and raw power to spare; however, it will take a lot of refining for those skills to come to the surface. He has the swing and miss tendencies most power prospects have early on in their careers. Whether or not he develops into a major leaguer will rely heavily on how well he does at adjusting his approach.
12. C Payton Henry
Age: 21
2018 stats (A): 389 PA || .234/.327/.380 || 10 HR || 1 SB || 124 K || 38 BB
Henry is an all around solid prospect. He’s much better behind the plate than he is with the bat, but he has shown promising signs of growth. His bat was phenomenal in the first half of last season, but saw a drop off as he continued his way through full season ball. If he continues to refine his abilities, he has the ability to be an everyday catcher.
13. C Mario Feliciano
Age: 20
2018 stats (Rk-A+): 180 PA || .213/.291/.331 || 3 HR || 2 SB || 62 K || 15 BB
Feliciano certainly has the higher ceiling than Henry, and, prior to 2018, had been having the better professional career. The Brewers advanced Feliciano to A-ball when he was just 18 in 2017, where he showed offensive prowess and growing defensive ability. Nagging injuries would hamper 2018 greatly for Feliciano. They kept him out until the middle of the season, forced him to take multiple rehab trips and resulted in a shoulder surgery that ended his Arizona Fall League trip. In 2019, Feliciano will be looking for a big rebound opportunity.
14. OF Troy Stokes Jr.
Age: 22
2018 stats (AA): 551 PA || .233/.343/.430 || 19 HR || 19 SB || 147 K || 65 BB
Stokes is one of the least recognized talents in the Brewers’ system, in my opinion. He has 20-20 ability and can play solid defense, aside from his weak arm. The arm is certainly not at Khris Davis levels of weak though, and he should be able to handle left field. Possibly the biggest downfall of that means that the solution is Stokes plays at LF or DH, with few other realistic options.
15. 1B/3B Jake Gatewood
Age: 23
2018 stats (AA): 388 PA || .244/.302/.466 || 19 HR || 2 SB || 114 K || 28 BB
Gatewood started 2018 off like a slug, but really started hitting the ball hard in his second month of the season. His first full season at AA was going as well as any of his career until he tore his ACL. The calling card here is Gatewood’s power, but he has yet to show the plus-plus power many anticipated. As long as he continues progressing, he appears to be at least a solid corner utility player.
16. RHP Braden Webb
Age: 23
2018 stats (A+-AA): 120.2 IP || 3.80 ERA || 128 K || 66 BB || 9 HR || 1.392 WHIP
Webb was a potential steal of a draft pick for the Brewers in 2016. The righty was recovering from Tommy John and many didn’t know what to expect. Since being healthy enough to pitch, he has looked great at every level of competition. His best tool is his fastball, but he has a potentially plus curveball and above average changeup to pair with it. Because he struggles with command, many see Webb ending up in the back of a bullpen; however, he has number three starter ceiling.
17. OF Carlos Rodriguez
Age: 18
2018 stats (DSL-Rk): 252 PA || .323/.358/.419 || 2 HR || 14 SB || 20 K || 9 BB
Rodriguez started his first pro stint as hot as it gets. He was hitting well above .450 for the first month of his Dominican Summer League debut. The former international free agent was quickly called up to Rookie ball, where he still showed good ability with the bat. The youngster does everything well but hit the ball hard. He may be one of those players with a slugging that’s just barely above his batting average, and his plus speed predicts that he’ll be a 30-40 base stealer. There’s a fourth outfielder profile with rare tools that could make him an All-Star.
18. RHP Marcos Diplan
Age: 22
2018 stats (A+-AA): 118.1 IP || 4.03 ERA || 117 K || 74 BB || 9 HR || 1.606 WHIP
Diplan has so many great tools, but he really struggles when it comes to getting the ball over the plate. He’ll touch the high-90s with signs of three-plus pitches, but his inconsistencies mean lots of walks, and also changing velocities. Potentially, Diplan can be a stud in the bullpen or a valuable rotation asset, but he must learn to control everything about his pitching if he hopes to progress and stay in the majors.
19. SS Eduardo Garcia
Age: 16
Did Not Play
Garcia was one of Milwaukee’s big international free agency signings in 2018. He comes advertised as a great defender who needs to work on his offense, but scouts give him a five-tool profile at maturity. His bat is currently a tad weak and he has a long hill to climb, but Garcia has the early signs that he’s a future mainstay at shortstop.
20. LHP Clayton Andrews
Age: 22
2018 stats (Rk-A): 33 IP || 2.18 ERA || 54 K || 7 BB || 3 HR || 0.909 WHIP
Andrews is a tiny lefty with a boat load of intrigue. While he only hits the high 80’s with his fastball, the craft lefty could have two plus secondary pitches that can help him manipulate hitters. His control is nothing special, and will need to improve greatly if he wants to reach the big stage, but at 5’6”, he’s hard not to cheer for.
The final vote is today! Go make your choices and watch for the final recap of prospects 21-30.
Statistics courtesy of Baseball Reference.