Milwaukee Brewers: Is Bubba Derby next for a callup?

Milwaukee Brewers prospect Bubba Derby has impressed with the Colorado Sky Sox this year. Could he get called up the next time the team needs a spot starter?

Bubba Derby is not a typical prospect. He stands about 5′ 10″. He doesn’t light up a radar gun. Derby was taken in the sixth round, but he didn’t come from a ‘power’ school. However, he does gobble up innings and he’s found some swing and miss in his game this year. Could Derby get the call to the Major League roster before the end of the year?

What do the numbers say about Derby?

Well, keep in mind, he pitches half his games in Colorado Springs. Derby owns a 4.95 actual ERA and a 5.05 xFIP in Triple-A. He does have a 7.75 K/9 and a 3.92 BB/9 in 96 1/3 innings. What’s impressive about Derby’s 2018 stat line is that he’s only allowed eight homers in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. He allowed seven in 63 1/3 innings at Triple-A last year.

He’s worked 15 times as a starter, and eight times in relief this year.

Could Derby really get called up?

If the Milwaukee Brewers have an emergency and he’s lined up, yeah, he could get the call. While the surface numbers aren’t great, Derby has done a great job of limiting hard contact. His line drive rate is only 16.0%, and he’s consistently produced a ground ball rate above or near 45.0% for most of his Minor League career. Derby may lack prototypical stuff, but he could find a home as a right-handed version of Brent Suter.

The Milwaukee Brewers have seen a lot of their callups from Triple-A succeed this year. Freddy Peralta has worked his way into the starting rotation. Corbin Burnes has already impressed in the bullpen. Derby is clearly not the same type of prospect as Burnes or Peralta, but he could end up with them come September.