Milwaukee Brewers: Orlando Arcia Named 2015 Breakout Prospect

The Milwaukee Brewers didn’t have many players at the major league level that were deserving of postseason awards, but with the minor league awards being handed out, Orlando Arica has been named as minor league baseball’s breakout prospect. After seeing his stock rise all year, here is a look back on his special season and why he took home the award.

Before the season began Arcia barely cracked the top-100 on MLB’s top-prospect list, but by season’s end Arica has moved up all the way up to the 12th spot. Though he was one of the youngest players in the Southern League, Arcia not only set career-highs in many offensive categories, but he also found his name on many league leading lists. This year he not only developed into the strongest bat in the Shuckers’ lineup, but he also was the driving force in their push for a title.

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After a season like this the question now becomes what is next for Arcia? He has not just proven himself, but others are noticing as well. Last month, I wrote an article about his impact to Milwaukee being similar to that of Carlos Correa‘s with the Houston Astros. While they have different games offensively, Arcia clearly has the ability to be a superstar in Milwaukee and I fully expect to see him up by mid-June of next season.

In a recent piece for MILB.com, Sam Dykstra spoke glowingly of Arica as well, saying that he, along with the latest crop of shortstops have the talent to be “this generations version of Jeter, Garciaparra and Rodriguez.” In the same article, Dykstra quoted Carlos Subero current manager of the Arizona Fall League’s Surprise Saguaros saying, “Orlando, right now for me, could be the best defensive shortstop in the Majors with Lindor. He’s going to win Major League Gold Gloves. I don’t doubt that one bit. And he’s going to be special offensively. They’re all different hitters, but he has definitely worked his way into that group.”

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With  all of these high praises it is hard not to get excited about Arcia and the Brewers’ future. Arcia can do it all with both his bat and his glove and I can’t wait to see him in Milwaukee.