Milwaukee Brewers: Damien Magnifico a 40-Man Add?

The Milwaukee Brewers have many decisions to make with the future 40-man roster this offseason. With many top-prospects needing to be added, five players were already taken off of the roster. While Damien Magnifico is not a top-30 prospect in the system, here is a look at why he is well deserving of being added to the roster this winter.

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Magnifico first came to the Brewers’ organization as a fifth round draft pick in 2012 out of the University of Oklahoma. Though he spent much of his early years as a starter, he became a full-time reliever this past season and he really took off in Biloxi.

Pitching mainly as the Biloxi Shuckers’ closer this past season, Magnifico had the best year of his career. He not only was a shutdown arm, putting up a 1.17 ERA but he also finished third in the Southern League with 20 saves. Though he has never been much of a high-strike out arm, he was still able to keep a 1.17 WHIP throughout the year as well.

Not only was he an all-star in the Southern League, but Magnifico has also been one of the best relievers in the Arizona Fall League, as he was recently added to the AFL all-star roster as well. In his first five appearances, Magnifico has a 2.08 ERA allowing just one earned run, while striking out seven.

Earlier in the year Jim Goulart of Brewersfan.net listed Magnifico as a player that will “quite likely” be added to the 40-man this winter and I couldn’t agree more. Not only do the Brewers have a ton of strong possible starters throughout the system, but with arms like Magnifico they have several stellar relief options in the future.

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Keith Law recently gave a scouting report on Magnifico and his pitching in the AFL for ESPN.com and he noted that he is throwing “96-97 mph heat with a short but effective slider at 83-85 mph.” If he can continue to refine his skills and pitch the way he did in Biloxi this season, Magnifico is not only a must add to the 40-man roster, but a future stud in the making in the Brewers’ bullpen.