Milwaukee Brewers: The 2016 draft class looks fantastic

The Milwaukee Brewers 2016 draft class already has one player on the Major League roster, but how many more are on their way? The Brewers class of 2016 could develop into one of their most impressive ever.

Corbin Burnes has already made appearances in playoff games for the Milwaukee Brewers. First round pick Corey Ray should arrive in Triple-A in 2019, and Milwaukee isn’t far off. Who else from the 2016 amateur draft could arrive in the next few seasons? There could be several players knocking at the door to the Majors really soon.

Lucas Erceg

The Milwaukee Brewers drafted Lucas Erceg in the second round of the 2016 amateur draft, and he’s already at Double-A. Erceg has shown all-around ability, and can clearly handle the hot corner. He’s blocked at the Major League level for now because Travis Shaw plays third base, but Erceg could develop into a capable utility infielder or end up in trade to get the Brewers a quality starter or upgrade at catcher.

Erceg posted a .688 OPS in a full year at Double-A Biloxi, but he should make his way to Triple-A in 2019. After that, he’s just an injury or two away from a spot on the Major League roster.

Mario Feliciano

Mario Feliciano was selected 75th overall in 2016 out of the Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy in Florida, Puerto Rico. He literally just turned 20 years old, and he ended the 2018 season at High-A.

Feliciano is still very much a project at catcher, but he has raw tools that could start to really emerge in 2019. Feliciano has a solid throwing arm, runs well for a catcher, and still flashes impressive raw power that had him selected before the third round in 2016.

There’s still a lot of work for Feliciano to accomplish, and the bat really needs to come around in 2019, but time is still on his side.

Braden Webb

The Milwaukee Brewers selected Braden Webb in the third round of the 2016 draft out of the University of South Carolina.

Webb started the 2018 season at High-A, but he ended the year at Double-A. Webb tossed 120 2/3 innings across two levels in 2018, and managed a 4.03 ERA. He struck out 128 and walked 66. Webb still has some development to accomplish, and it’s unclear that he’ll stick in the rotation, but he looks like a real prospect at this stage of his career.

He should start the 2019 season in Double-A. He won’t turn 24 until late April, and should reach Triple-A sooner rather than later.

Zack Brown

The team at Reviewing the Brew has become big fans of right-hander Zack Brown.

The Milwaukee Brewers drafted Brown in the fifth round in 2016, and he’s already looked fantastic in Double-A.

Brown made 21 starts and one relief appearance for the Biloxi Shuckers in 2018. He posted a 2.44 ERA with 116 strikeouts, and 36 walks in 125 2/3 innings of work.

He looks an awful lot like the 2019 version of Burnes, and shouldn’t take long to reach the Majors. He’s already a top-ten prospect, and could be coming to a bullpen in Milwaukee as soon as July of 2019.

Payton Henry

Payton Henry is a few years behind the first few names on our list because he’s only two years removed from high school. Henry was selected in the sixth round in 2016, and he spent last year in Single-A.

Henry posted a .234/.327/.380 slash line in his first season above Rookie-ball. While it may take some time for his bat to develop, it looks like he’ll stick behind the dish. Henry only made three errors and gave up six passed balls in 93 appearances at catcher. He also threw out 46 of 105 would be base stealers.

Henry won’t turn 22 until late June of 2019, and still needs some more seasoning before he projects to a role with the Milwaukee Brewers. However, he’s off to a solid start.

Chad McClanahan

The Milwaukee Brewers have a few high schoolers from 2016 who have shown potential. In addition to Henry, Chad McClanahan was also drafted in 2016, and is still working his way through the Brewers’ organizational ladder.

McClanahan was selected in the 11th round, and he’s already progressed to Single-A. He’s also yet to turn 21 years old.

McClanahan posted a .263/.347/.452 slash line across two levels in 2018. He bashed nine homers, and stole three bases while playing at three different positions in the field. McClanahan has started to work his way up the Top-30 prospects list, but he still has a long way to go.