Milwaukee Brewers: Tyrone Taylor to 40-man roster

As the free agent period began, the Milwaukee Brewers made a few moves, including adding Tyrone Taylor to the 40-man roster.

Tyrone Taylor was the Milwaukee Brewers 2nd round draft pick during the 2012 Amateur draft out of Torrance High School in California. After spending most of 2015, 2016, and 2017 in Biloxi, he made the jump to Triple-A in 2018.

In Colorado Springs Taylor hit for a .278 average with a career-high 20 home runs, and RBIs during 119 games. He struck out 74 times, and walked 27 times.

In 2015 he was named the top prospect in the Milwaukee Brewers farm system by Baseball America. However, injuries have held him back.

Why was he added to the 40-man?

Taylor will be 25-years old before Spring Training and it will protect him from being taken in the Rule 5 draft. He also gives the Milwaukee Brewers roster flexibility with multiple options.

Who is ahead of him in the outfield depth chart?

The Milwaukee Brewers have many options in the outfield ahead of Taylor. Lorenzo Cain, Christian Yelich, and Ryan Braun are all signed long-term. Keon Broxton, 28, and Domingo Santana, 26, spent much of the 2018 shuttling between Triple-A and the Majors.

Who are the young outfield prospects in the farm system?

Corey Ray – The 24-year-old Ray, currently ranked 2nd in the Milwaukee Brewers farm system, was drafted in the 1st round, 5th overall during the 2016 draft.

Ray played in 135 games in Biloxi during the 2018 season. He hit .239, with 27 homers, and 74 RBIs. He walked 60 times, but struck out 176 times. He has impressive speed, stealing 37 bases, and has potential in the outfield.

Tristen Lutz – At just 20-years-old, Lutz played in Low-A for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. The 5th best prospect in the organization hit .245, with 33 doubles, 13 homers, and 63 RBIs. He walked 46 times, and struck out 139 times in 119 games.

Troy Stokes Jr. – Stokes saw some action with the Major League team during Spring Training. He also had a great season in Biloxi, picking up a Minor League Baseball Rawlings Minor League Gold Glove. His strong defense was on display all season in the Southern League with 217 put outs mostly in left field.

He finished in the top-5 in six categories during the season with 48 extra base hits (23 doubles, 6, triples and 19 HRs). He also drew 65 walks, and hit for a .233 average. Like Ray and Lutz, Stokes was prone to strikeouts with 147 in 129 games. Stokes will turn 23, and is also eligible to be selected in the Rule 5 draft.

Before the winter meetings the Milwaukee Brewers will have some decisions to make on the depth of the 40-man roster. Adding Taylor to the 40-man is only the beginning of moves that will be made during the off season.