Milwaukee Brewers: Two Names To Remember For The Near Future

The farm system for the Milwaukee Brewers has enough talent to create excitement for fans for years to come.  There are a few players who have yet to reach their full potential.

This is not uncommon in organizations throughout the league.  There is not a perfect formula to get prospects to reach their potential.  But the Milwaukee Brewers have a talented farm system that will produce a stream of good Major Leaguer ball players.

Phil Bickford

Milwaukee Brewers prospect Phil Bickford probably wishes he could put the 2017 season in his rearview mirror.  Acquired last summer from the San Francisco Giants, along with catcher Andrew Susac, for Will Smith, the righty has failed to even take the mound in the minors this season.

In December of 2016, Brewers Bickford received a 50 game suspension from MLB for drug abuse. If that weren’t bad enough, in May he fractured two bones in his hand pitching live batting practice in extended spring training. Due to these setbacks, his season most likely won’t begin until around August.

At 6’4″, Bickford throws hard, in the low to mid 90’s, with some sink on his two seam. To go along with the fastball, he has a decent slider and a developing change up. He has flashed strikeout stuff in his minor league career and he should only continue to grow.

As long as the 21 year old is able to get a handful of starts before the minor league season ends in September, his status as an up-and-comer should remain in tact. His numbers in 2016 speak for themselves.

He was 7-7 with  a 2.93 ERA, 135 strikeouts, and 42 walks in 120 innings over 23 games. Of those appearances 22 were starts for both the San Francisco Giants and Milwaukee Brewers organizations a year ago. His will be a name we Brewers fans will know well before long.

Gilbert Lara

In 2014, at the age of 16, Gilbert Lara was given 3.1 million dollars from the Milwaukee Brewers because the kid could flat out hit. Flash foward to 2017 and the bat hasn’t quite shown up.

Over 186 games and 685 at bats in the minor leagues, he hasn’t exactly wowed anybody at the plate. Hitting .226 with 6 home runs, 78 RBIs, and a 5.4 K/BB ratio. With 22 doubles.  Plus with his size, it would seem the power would be there.

At 6’4″ and 198 lbs, Lara definitely still has room to grow into his frame. As he does, the power should come naturally. With Orlando Arcia entrenched at the shortstop position, Lara will have to try to find a way onto the field.

Still only 19 years old, Lara still has plenty of time to grow. The Brewers should be in no rush to move this kid ahead. He has shown solid ability with the glove.  So long as his bat catches up he will be a prospect to remember.

Next: Most Successful Players To Be In The Futures Game

While Gilbert Lara is playing for the Milwaukee Brewers low A minor league club, the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, I’ll personally enjoy watching him as often as possible. I remember the day the Brewers signed Gilbert Lara, and I look forward to the day he makes his debut for the Brew Crew.