Milwaukee Brewers: Which prospects to add to the 40-man roster?

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MILWAUKEE, WI – MAY 13: A general view of Miller Park prior to a game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the New York Mets on May 13, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

While the Milwaukee Brewers don’t have 11 players who need to get added to the 40-man roster like the Seattle Mariners, they do have decisions to make.

The Milwaukee Brewers have five prospects in their top-30 that they have to decide to add to the 40-man roster or expose to the Rule V Draft in December. The current roster has 37 spots filled, but that’s sure to change between now and the start of the season.

Starting pitcher Brent Suter will spend most of the season on the 60-day DL recovering from Tommy John surgery, and won’t take up a roster spot. A few players could end up not getting a contract offered. However, the team has to make a decision on five names before November 20th, the deadline for players to be on the 40 man to be protected from the Rule 5 Draft. That draft will take place on December 13th.

That will also mean that, to add all five of these names, there’s going to have to be some people kicked off the current 40 man roster.

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Jake Gatewood, 1B

Jake Gatewood has been in the Milwaukee Brewers system since getting drafted with the 41st overall pick in 2014. He’s had his share of ups and downs, but he’s really started to develop in his time in Double-A.

A torn ACL in his left knee ended his 2018 campaign prematurely, but he should be close to starting baseball activity again in the Spring.

Gatewood is still rated in among the Brewers top-15 prospects, and it would be a shame to lose him this late in his development. Gatewood just turned 23 years old, and still has time left to develop. The knee injury is a setback, but it shouldn’t keep Gatewood off the roster. If the Brewers can find room, Gatewood should get a roster spot.

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Trey Supak, RHP

Trey Supak was also drafted in 2014, and he’s also advanced to Double-A. Supak posted a 2.91 ERA in 16 starts with Biloxi in 2018. He tossed 86 2/3 innings, and fanned 75 while walking only 28.

Supak should start the season rated among the Milwaukee Brewers top-10 prospects, and he should either start the season in Triple-A, or end up there before the end of the season. He absolutely needs to be added to the roster because he would likely go among the first few picks in the Rule V draft. He should get added to the roster in the next few weeks.

JUPITER, FL – FEBRUARY 23: Baseballs and a bat sit on the field of the Miami Marlins during a team workout on February 23, 2016 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images) /

Troy Stokes, Jr., OF

Troy Stokes is yet another member of the 2014 draft class, and he’s also close to making the Majors. Stokes posted a .233/.343/.430 slash line in 129 games with Biloxi last year. He bashed 19 homers, and stole 19 bases in 21 attempts. There is some ‘swing-and-miss’ in his swing, but Stokes has an impressive power/speed combo that few players possess.

The Milwaukee Brewers have seven outfielders on their 40-man roster right now. Can they carry eight? Do they have to make a move to keep Stokes in the organization? If Keon Broxton or Domingo Santana gets dealt in the next few weeks, Stokes is a lock to stick around. The Brewers could also decide to DFA Tyrone Taylor, and keep Stokes. There is a path to keeping Stokes, and the Brewers should make an effort to do so, but there’s a non-zero chance that he gets exposed to the Rule V Draft.

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Cody Ponce, RHP

Cody Ponce was a member of the Milwaukee Brewers 2015 draft class, and he’s currently rated among their top-20 prospects.

Ponce spent all of 2018 in Double-A with Biloxi. Ponce threw 95 innings, and posted a 4.36 ERA. He struck out 88, walked 34, and was tagged for 10 homers.

Ponce will turn 25 next April, and he hasn’t advanced past Double-A yet. However, there’s a lot to like about Ponce. He has an imposing 6’6″, 240 lbs. frame, and he has three quality pitches. He’s also shown an ability to make adjustments, and really focus on throwing strikes.

Ponce is a solid bet to start the 2019 season at Triple-A level, assuming he doesn’t get selected in the Rule V Draft. If the Brewers could add Suter to the 60-day DL and take him off the 40-man roster, Ponce would be a slam dunk for the 40-man roster. As it stands right now, he might not have a spot, especially if the Brewers keep a few of the other guys.

MILWAUKEE, WI – SEPTEMBER 03: A Wilson baseball glove and major league baseballs sits on the field at Miller Park on September 3, 2015 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jeff Haynes/Getty Images) /

Carlos Herrera, RHP

Carlos Herrera came to the Milwaukee Brewers in 2015 as part of the Adam Lind trade. Herrera has just turned 21 years old, and he’s rated as a top-30 prospect. He spent all of 2018 at Single-A.

Herrera threw 85 2/3 innings, and posted a 5.46 ERA with the Single-A Wisconsin Timber-Rattlers. He struck out 60, walked 48, and was tagged for five homers.

Herrera has a fastball that sits in the low-90s, and a solid breaking ball, but he lacks physical maturity, and needs to develop.

Of all the top-30 prospects that the Milwaukee Brewers have to add to the 40-man roster, Herrera is the most likely to get exposed to the Rule V draft. He hasn’t reached High-A, and has a lot of work to do before he’s ready for the Majors.

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Teams have to carry a Rule V Draft selection for the entire 2019 season to retain their rights. Carrying a pitcher as limited as Herrera for a full season would be a tough ask of a Major League roster. He’ll probably remain off the Milwaukee Brewers 40-man roster, but it’s unlikely that he’s selected given his limited experience, and slight frame.

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Milwaukee Brewers: Which prospects have to get added to the 40-man roster?