Milwaukee Brewers Top Prospects List: #14 RHP Marcos Diplan

Next up on our Milwaukee Brewers 2019 Top Prospects List is the No. 14 spot on our list. That honor goes to right handed pitcher, Marcos Diplan.

The Milwaukee Brewers acquired Marcos Diplan from the Texas Rangers back in January 2015 along with Luis Sardinas and Corey Knebel in exchange for Yovani Gallardo. That trade has already paid dividends with Knebel’s success in Milwaukee, and could get even better once Diplan makes his mark.

When Diplan was acquired, he was a raw 18 year old prospect. Now 22, Diplan is more polished and refined, and will see time in Triple-A this season.

#14 RHP Marcos Diplan

Diplan posted a 4.03 ERA in 2018 with the Carolina Mudcats and Biloxi Shuckers. He struggled with command and allowed 74 walks, finishing with an abysmal 1.61 WHIP. Although he did strike out 117 batters in 118 innings.

Diplan has two plus pitches in his arsenal, his mid-upper 90s fastball and his filthy slider. He also throws a changeup, which allows him to project as a starter, but that pitch is still developing and isn’t big league ready.

His command isn’t all there, as shown by his high walk totals, and that is concerning for the Brewers. He has the stuff, he just can’t consistently find the strike zone. He’s struggled in back to back seasons, but he still has an electric arm and is just 22 years old.

He has a ceiling of being a potential mid-rotation starter in the big leagues, but he could also have a bright future in a big league bullpen some day.

When Could We See Diplan In Milwaukee?

Diplan could reach the big leagues faster as a reliever, and that’s likely what the Milwaukee Brewers will want to do with him as he already spent last year on the 40 man roster and used up one of his option years. He needed to be added last winter in order to be protected from the Rule 5 Draft.

While it’s possible we could see Diplan in Milwaukee in 2019, it’s more likely he’s going to make his impact in 2020. If all goes well in his 2019 minor league season, he could earn a September call-up and join the Brewers bullpen.

Whether he could ever move from the big league bullpen to the rotation remains to be seen. He’s had back to back years with delivery and control issues.

There’s still a lot to like about Diplan and what he can bring on the mound, but for us, he doesn’t rank any higher than No. 14 on our list of Top Milwaukee Brewers prospects.

Tomorrow, we’ll find out who ranks #13 on our list, and we’ll reveal one number per day until we reach our top Brewers minor league prospect.