Milwaukee Brewers: Which pitching prospect should fans know?

The Milwaukee Brewers are developing a reputation for developing pitching prospects. Who’s next in the organization to make the leap?

Last year, Josh Hader was the hot prospect, and Corbin Burnes was the ‘name to know’. In 2018 Hader was an All-Star, and Burnes made his Major League debut. Zack Brown looks like the heir apparent as the next young arm to climb up the top prospects list. Brown is out with an ankle injury, but he could make his arrival in a Milwaukee Brewers uniform next year. Which prospect in the lower levels is primed to rocket up lists next?

Which recent draftees have impressed?

Justin Jarvis was selected in the fifth round of the 2018 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. He’s done well in Rookie ball, and is already rated as the 28th best prospect in the Milwaukee Brewers system.

Jarvis has tossed 15 innings in eight games at the lowest level of the Minor Leagues. He owns a 4.20 ERA with 13 strikeouts and four walks. He also has solid change-up and a slurvy curve ball to complement his quality fastball. He stands 6’3″, but only weighed in at 168 lbs. He needs to add to his athletic frame before he’s going to start to fly up the prospect lists.

He’s only 18 years old, and chose to start his professional career instead of attending UNC-Wilmington.

Jarvis is a quality prospect, but he’s at least four years away from the Majors. He should creep his way up the top-30 list, but he’s not going to show the explosive growth that Hader or Burnes saw.

Who should rapidly ascend the top-30 list?

The Milwaukee Brewers fourth round selection, Aaron Ashby, looks poised to jump into the top-10 next year. Ashby is already rated as the Brewers’ 19th best prospect, but he’ll probably start 2019 a lot higher.

Ashby only stuck around Rookie ball for 20 1/3 innings before the coaches and scouts decided he was ready to head to Single-A.

He’s worked 20 1/3 innings with the Wisconsin Timber-Rattlers, and owns a 2.66 ERA. Ashby has 20 strikeouts and only six walks. He’s also yet to allow a homer in Single-A.

Ashby is the type of polished college arm that can rapidly ascend to the Majors. He was arguably the best JUCO pitcher in the draft last June, and he shouldn’t take long to work his way through the Minors. He discovered a few extra MPH on his fastball last year, and he boasts a solid mix, and is capable of generating whiff swings on pitches outside of the zone.

Ashby needs to develop his feel for his change up and continue to refine his control, but he’s not that different from other pitchers who have quickly risen in the ranks. He may start next year at High-A, but he probably won’t end the year there.