Minor League Baseball Opening Day: Milwaukee Brewers affiliate rosters

Happy (MiLB) Opening Day! Minor League Baseball returns after more than 600 days away from play due to the COVID-19 pandemic. MiLB announced Opening Day rosters on Monday.

It’s also MiLB’s first season after it announced a major structural reorganization this past February. The Milwaukee Brewers affiliates now include the Triple-A Nashville Sounds, Double-A Biloxi Shuckers, High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, Low-A Carolina Mudcats, and an assortment of Rookie-level Brewers.

Play begins today, so check out where your favorite top prospects, potential call-ups, and MLB vets have landed on Opening Day!

Triple-A: Nashville Sounds

Sounds Highlights:

Mario Feliciano (C) #5 Prospect. Feliciano impressed in his recent whirlwind debut for the Milwaukee Brewers after injuries to Omar Narváez and Manny Piña and a (recently reversed) Jacob Nottingham DFA. Can we expect to see Feliciano again in 2021? Who knows? It’s only early May.

Keston Hiura* (1B/2B) Hiura will spend time at Triple-A, where he’ll likely regain confidence and rehab a long-term scuffle at the plate and make a major league return.

Tyrone Taylor* (OF) performed admirably while injuries hampered the Brewers’ outfield and featured down performances by Avisaíl García and Jackie Bradley Jr. You could keep an eye on Taylor at Triple-A, but you’re likely to see him with the Brewers soon enough.

Aaron Ashby (LHP) #7 Prospect. Ashby impressed in Spring Training with a high-velocity fastball and deceptively delivered slider. He could see a major league call-up at the tail-end of 2021.

Clayton Andrews (LHP/OF) #25 Prospect. Andrews is a two-way player. As a pitcher, his off-speed stuff stands out, but he can hold his own at the plate or in center field.

Dee Strange-Gordon (2B) Across a decade in the major leagues, Dee Strange-Gordon is a two-time All-Star and has collected a Gold Glove, Silver Slugger Award, and Batting Title. His experience could serve the Brewers well, especially late in the season.

Chad Sobotka (RHP) is half of the return in the Orlando Arcia trade. He was a top prospect in Atlanta and made a good impression across 14 innings in his 2018 debut (1.88 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 37.5 K%). He’s since faltered with high walk rates and an astronomical ERA. Despite those struggles, he’s certainly still got enough potential to develop in the Brewers’ farm system.

Quintin Torres-Costa (LHP) Across 220 minor league innings, Torres-Costa has put up a respectable 3.25 ERA and 1.28 WHIP. He has the potential to make a major league appearance in 2021.

Payton Henry (C) #19 Prospect. The Brewers have a glut of talented catchers in their Top 30 Prospects, and Payton Henry is one of these. He’s decorated as a minor leaguer and shows as much promise at the plate as behind it.

Double-A: Biloxi Shuckers

Shuckers Highlights:

Brice Turang (SS/2B) #2 Prospect. Turang is an effective contact hitter with speed and defensive prowess in the middle infield. Turang made a strong showing at the Brewers’ alternate site, where he began to increase his power.

Ethan Small (LHP) #4 Prospect. Small was incredibly successful at the college level after returning from TJS. His deceptive low-velocity fastball, serviceable curveball, and late-action change-up all reply on command.

Leo Crawford (LHP) The Brewers acquired Crawford in the deal that took Corey Knebel away from Milwaukee. He is reminiscent of Brent Suter as a low-velocity lefty who throws hitters’ timing off-balance. Crawford will spend time in Double-AA pitching in different situations to develop Suter-like versatility.

High-A: Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

Timber Rattlers Highlights:

Garrett Mitchell (OF) #1 Prospect. Everyone is excited about Garrett Mitchell, and they should be. Mitchell is the savvy Brewers’ 2020 top draft pick who impressed and excited in Spring Training. He’s got all five tools and could climb through the farm system at 70 speed.

Tristen Lutz (OF) #12 Prospect. Tristen Lutz has likely the biggest power potential in the farm system. The Brewers are still working with him to clean up some of his mechanics and work that power to all fields. His strong throwing arm will likely land him in right field.

Nick Kahle (C) #20 Prospect. Already an effective pitch framer and game caller, Kahle could be the next Brewers’ defense-first backup catcher but has enough potential at the plate that could land him an everyday role.

Hayden Cantrelle (SS) #16 Prospect. Cantrelle makes reliable contact and gets on base. He has some pop, too, but even if his power doesn’t develop any further, he's pacing to be a solid middle-infielder

Low-A: Carolina Mudcats

Mudcats Highlights:

Antoine Kelly* (LHP) #6 Prospect. Kelly was drafted on his dominant fastball but spent 2020 at the alternate site developing a serviceable changeup. Kelly is still working on control and pitch development but can be a major league starter.

Zavier Warren (C) #11 Prospect. Warren’s potential is concentrated at the plate. He’s a switch hitter who gets on and is aggressive on the basepaths. He has mixed reviews as a catcher, and his plus arm could land him at 3rd base.

Freddy Zamora (SS) #8 Prospect. Zamora is another contact-oriented hitter who has plenty of defensive skill and plenty of throwing arm at shortstop. After a knee injury in 2019 and the cancellation of the minor league season in 2020, Zamora still has plenty of major league potential and will be eager to show up in 2021.

Rookie Highlights:

Hedbert Perez (OF) #3 Prospect. Hedbert Perez is only 17, and that’s what on-lookers tend to exclaim after observing his acrobatic defense and power at the plate. Expect Perez to climb quickly through the Brewers’ farm system.

Jeferson Quero (C) #9 Prospect. Quero was drafted as an offense-first catcher with power potential but has every likelihood of developing as a complete catcher. MLB Pipeline credits Quero with one of the highest ceilings in the system.

Prospect Rankings according to MLB Pipeline. Statistics Courtesy of MLB Pipeline, Baseball America, and Baseball-Reference.