Milwaukee Brewers’ Prospects: #22 Marcos Diplan

When the Milwaukee Brewers traded Yovani Gallardo they got a ton in return. While much of the initial attention went to Luis Sardinas and Corey Knebel, the biggest piece in the Brewers’ future could be 19-year-old Marcos Diplan. Though he is still a long way away from making it to the major leagues, here is a look at why Diplan ranks as number 22 on our top-Brewers’ prospects list.

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Diplan originally signed as a 16-year-old international free agent prospect with the Texas Rangers in 2013. At the time, the Dominican right-hander was viewed as the best pitcher on the international market inking a 1.3 million dollar deal with the Rangers. Though it is constantly brought up that he is under-sized, his plus fastball and his improving secondary pitches show his potential as a future starter. especially as he continues to grow.

Last season, Diplan debuted in the Dominican Summer League with the Rangers and he really shined. In 13 starts he went 7-1 with a 1.55 ERA. While almost all of his numbers were great, the only issue for the young pitcher was his 5.1 walks per nine innings average.

This season, pitching in Helena, Diplan continued to show that he is one of the best arms in the organization. Pitching just over 50 innings with the Helena Brewers, Diplan went two and two with a 3.75 ERA. As his strikeout rate increase to an average of over one per inning, his walk rate decreased.

With his young age (just turned 19 as the season came to a close) and electric stuff, it is hard to not get excited about Diplan. Like many others in the system he has a ceiling to be a top of the rotation starter and at least the makings of a strong late innings’ bullpen arm if things would not pan out as a starter.

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Gallardo had a great year with Texas this season, but with his expiring contract the Brewers will prove to be the clear winners of the deal when it is all said and done. It will take some patience, but when Diplan is ready he will prove that the deal was definitely worth it for Milwaukee.