Milwaukee Brewers: Ranking the top 20 prospects

Last week, MLB Pipeline released the updated top 100 prospect list. They also released an updated top 30 prospect list for the Milwaukee Brewers.

There were quite a few changes to the Milwaukee Brewers prospect list. Some players either under performed, or were traded and dropped from the list. Others have excelled to improve their standing. What follows is the official Reviewing the Brew top 20 prospects. MLB rankings are in parentheses.

20- Josh Pennington RHP (22)

Pennington was acquired as part of the Tyler Thornburg trade this past off-season with the Boston Red Sox. He has had a few different arm injuries in his career. When the Red Sox drafted him, 24th overall in 2014 out of high school, they did so knowing he needed Tommy John surgery.

According to his MLB scouting report, Pennington throws a plus-plus fastball. Unfortunately, he hasn’t quite figured out how to throw strikes consistently. He throws an above average curveball, but hasn’t figured out how to throw a consistent change-up.

His fastball alone makes him an intriguing prospect. Most projections see him as a reliever in the big leagues. Either way, don’t expect to see him as a Milwaukee Brewer anytime soon.

19- Jacob Nottingham C (19)

Nottingham is a project at catcher. He will need to stay at the position to make it to the major leagues. He has struggled with the bat since joining the Brewers organization.

Never thought of as a defensive catcher, Nottingham has done his best to change that this season. He allowed a staggering 21 passed balls a year ago. This season, he has cut that number down to seven.

If he continues to improve defensively, Nottingham could prove to be a very useful player in the big leagues. At worst, he should be adequate enough defensively to be a backup. With his size, he can also help out at first base.

18- K.J. Harrison C (17)

Drafted in the third round of this years draft, K.J. Harrison is another project at catcher. This ranking feels a little bit too high, but Harrison can swing the bat. The Milwaukee Brewers feel confident he can catch. In college, he never had the opportunity to catch on a regular basis. His bat still kept him in the lineup daily.

At 6-feet tall and a shade over 200 pounds, Harrison has the size for the position. His MLB scouting report grades him as above average for his hit skill. His power, arm, and defense all grade as average. He has all the tools to be successful in the  Major Leagues. The question with him is at what position?

First base would definitely be an option for Harrison. It’s hard to project catchers, but if the Brewers believe he can play the position, then he probably can. You can never have too many catchers in the system. Manny Piña is currently entrenched at the position in the majors. There is plenty of time for Harrison to put it all together.

17- Jake Gatewood 1B (18)

Gatewood was a high-risk, high-reward prospect when the Milwaukee Brewers selected him in the 2014 draft. Drafted as a shortstop, Gatewood has shifted over to first base for a clearer path to the majors.

It has taken him some time, but Gatewood seems to be settling in at the plate. This season, playing for the Carolina Mud Cats, he has hit 11 home runs in 395 at bats. Unfortunately, the 122 strikeouts to this point really stand out.

Gatewood is helped at the plate with his plus bat speed. This season, he has started wearing contact lenses, and that seems to have helped his plate discipline. He has walked 42 times this season, more than doubling his total from a year ago.

Hitting .268 with a .341 on base percentage, Gatewood looks like he’s only beginning to find himself as a baseball player. Having committed 14 errors at first base, he shows he has a long way to go before he reaches The Show.

14- Marcos Diplan RHP (15)

Diplan has struggled this season with the Carolina Mud Cats. Had he continued on his same trajectory from years prior, he would be a top 10 prospect for the Milwaukee Brewers. Unfortunately, 50 walks in 93 2/3 innings this season has stunted his progress a little.

Diplan combines a plus slider and fastball with a below average change-up. He is graded as below average for control, but has shown solid command of the strike zone. For his career in the Minor Leagues, Diplan is 22-14 in 53 starts. He also has a 2.13:1 strikeout to walk ratio. Those are solid numbers for anybody.

He throws his fastball in the mid 90’s with late movement. His true weapon is his slider and he uses it well. He has the potential to become a very good starting pitcher. If he can’t put it together as a starter, Diplan should have no problem having success in the bullpen.

Acquired as part of the Yovani Gallardo trade in 2015, along with Luis Sardinas and Corey Knebel, Diplan has a long way to go before reaching the majors. Knebel has paid huge dividends for the Milwaukee Brewers already. There’s nothing to show that Diplan won’t do the same.

13- Trent Clark OF (13)

Expectations were high when the Milwaukee Brewers used the 15th pick in 2015 to draft Clark. Unfortunately, after a solid debut season, he struggled to stay healthy in year two.

Having above average speed and fielding ability, Clark can make plays in the outfield. However, he doesn’t posses a very strong throwing arm. His best chance to make it to the majors will be as a center fielder. With that speed, he could be a huge asset down the line for the Milwaukee Brewers.

This season, playing for Carolina, Clark has a .234/.366/.383 line. That’s not all that impressive, but it’s what he does when he reaches base that can turn heads. He has 27 stolen bases in 32 attempts this season. For his career in the minors, he has 57 stolen bases in 80 attempts. A 71% success rate is definitely tantalizing.

Unfortunately, he is part of an overcrowded outfield in Milwaukee’s farm system. That’s not always a bad thing. This allows him the time to learn the craft of hitting better, while sharpening his other tools. The place to keep an eye out for his name will be in trade talks. A player with his combination of youth and speed will be in demand.

12- Freddy Peralta RHP (11)

Peralta throws his fastball in the low to mid 90’s. According to his MLB scouting report, his slider and change-up are already major league ready. He has already flashed strikeout stuff in the minors, as his command improves he will only get better.

In 91 2/3 innings, over two levels of the Minor Leagues, Peralta has 128 strikeouts and only 46 walks this season. That’s good for a 2.78 K/BB ratio. He has only allowed 19 home runs over 331 innings over his five seasons in the Minors.

Playing for the Biloxi Shuckers, he has continued to show an ability to command all three of his pitches. He strikes out a ton of batters when he’s right. He’s destined to fill a meaningful role in the middle of a Major League rotation, and he could arrive as early as next season. However, 2019 would be a better bet.

11- Keston Hiura 2B (5)

By this time next season, Hiura could easily be the Milwaukee Brewers number one prospect. However, before that can happen, he will have to show that he can play the field defensively.

Without question Hiura can hit. In 58 at bats so far with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers this season, Hiura has a .368/.379/.526 batting line. He is tearing the cover off of the ball.

Hiura opted not to have surgery on his injured elbow. To this point, he has played zero innings in the field this season, strictly at designated hitter. Listed as a second baseman, he may well end up in left field when it’s all said and done.

There is little doubt Hiura will have a productive Major League career. He has shown a great feel for hitting at every level he has played. He may be more of a trade chip prospect for the Milwaukee Brewers. However, if he can prove adequate defensively he develop into a force in the middle of the Brewers lineup within a few years.

Next: Whatever Happened To Tyrone Taylor?

There are some really good prospects in the system right now. However, this is only a glimpse of the future for the Milwaukee Brewers. Stay tuned for top ten.