2 Brewers first base prospects display impressive power in Friday night victories

Understandably so, the Milwaukee Brewers' current group of infield prospects garners most of the constant attention that falls on the organization's top-ranked farm system. With Top 100 middle infield prospects Jesús Made, Luis Peña, Jett Williams, and the recently-extended Cooper Pratt, sitting atop Milwaukee's prospect rankings lists, it's hard not to focus on the Brewers' future infield when talking about the exciting young talent included in the organization. Add to that quartet the Brewers' 2025 first-round pick, third baseman Andrew Fischer, who was just added to MLB Pipeline's list of the Top 100 prospects in baseball, and it becomes even more clear that Milwaukee's infield will be a force to be reckoned with in a few years' time.

Assuming Fischer sticks at third base, Pratt becomes the Milwaukee's shortstop of the future on his new 8-year, $50.75 million deal, Made takes second base, Williams becomes a full-time outfielder, and Peña fills in wherever necessary, the Brewers' future lineup still needs a first-baseman. However, what seldom gets talked about during Brewers' minor league discourse is the several strong first base prospects that Milwaukee rosters throughout their minor league system.

Included on MLB Pipeline's list of the Top 30 prospects in the Brewers' farm system are four players who will likely end up at first base defensively when they eventually reach the big leagues. 2023 first-round pick Brock Wilken -- the No. 22-ranked Brewers' prospect who was drafted as a third baseman -- logged 21 innings at first base during Spring Training this year, but has notably switched back to the hot corner in his first few games with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds. That said, first base appears to be Wilken's long-term defensive home. Meanwhile, the Brewers' No. 26-ranked prospect, lefty slugger Eric Bitonti, is set to start the 2026 season as the everyday first baseman for the High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, where he will display some of the most impressive raw power in the Brewers' farm system.

However, on Friday night, it was the Brewers' two top-ranked first base prospects who impressed with memorable performances. No. 13-ranked Brewers' prospect Luke Adams (pictured above), who's been frequently manning first base for the Nashville Sounds, and the Brewers' No.18-ranked prospect Blake Burke, who projects to be the Biloxi Shuckers' everyday first baseman in 2026, each propelled their respective teams to victories on Friday night, reminding Brewers fans that their talented farm system doesn't stop when it reaches the cold corner.

Future of Brewers' first base position in good hands with Luke Adams and Blake Burke impressing in minor leagues

Starting with Adams, who was assigned to the Nashville Sounds to start the 2026 season after spending a majority of the 2025 season in Double-A with the Shuckers. Adams, a 2022 12th-round success story for the Brewers, isn't actually known for his power, but rather his impressive knack for getting on base, frequently by way of a hit-by-pitch. His power, which has produced 33 homers in 272 games over the last three seasons, is seen as more of an average tool, which is compensated for by Adams' consistently high on-base percentage.

However, on Friday night, after struggling out of the gates in his introduction to the top level of the minor leagues, Adams collected his first Triple-A hit in memorable fashion. The 6'4" right-handed first baseman hit a Grand Slam in the bottom of the second inning to cap a five-run frame for the Sounds that was integral in their win over the Charlotte Knights, the Chicago White Sox' Triple-A affiliate.

Though it's certainly been a slow start for Adams, who the Brewers have high hopes for despite his unique offensive profile, his longball last night is hopefully the spark that the 21-year-old needs to continue his impressive string of success in Milwaukee's minor league system.

Burke, on the other hand, is not off to a slow start. The Biloxi Shuckers began their 2026 season with a matchup against the Rocket City Trash Pandas, the Los Angeles Angels' Double-A affiliate, last night, and there's absolutely no doubt that Burke was the MVP of the Opening Day contest. He crushed two homers in last night's season opener. The first, a fourth-inning solo shot that displayed Burke's impressive opposite-field power, tied the game at two runs apiece. The second was a majestic big fly to right-center in the following inning that gave the Shuckers a three-run lead.

The Brewers drafted Burke out of the University of Tennessee with the 34th overall pick in the 2024 MLB draft after his record-breaking collegiate career. Possessing prolific power, the left-handed Burke more than impressed during his first full season of professional baseball last year. Much of that success, however, came after Burke was promoted to Double-A, where he crushed 11 homers in just 37 games. Clearly, the slugging first baseman likes hitting in the pitcher-friendly Southern League.

Both the Sounds and the Shuckers won their respective Friday night thrillers by just one run, adding even more weight to the impressive performances that Adams and Burke turned in. The two first basemen will be fun to keep an eye on as the minor league season continues, seeing as they are the leading candidates to one day assume the position of the Brewers' "everyday first baseman." With Adams in Triple-A and Burke in Double-A, it won't be too long before these two sluggers are sending balls over the fence in a Brewers uniform.