Milwaukee Brewers: Checking in on top prospects in ML camp

Spring Training is the time of year when every team has all their top prospects in one place, and can really evaluate where everyone is at. The Milwaukee Brewers have the majority of their young talent in Major League camp this Spring. Let’s see how they’re doing…

It wasn’t too long ago that Josh Hader was just another name on a Spring Training roster. The next wave of prospects is already in the pipeline, and could arrive sooner than expected. Keston Hiura is already a name known by literally every Brewers fan. Corey Ray is also poised to reach the Majors at some point this year. But how are the young guys doing in the actual games?

Hiura is dominating, right?

The Milwaukee Brewers top prospect has appeared in 11 games and racked up 25 plate appearances. In that small sample, he’s managed a .273/.385/.591 slash line with two homers and a stolen base. He’s driven in seven runs, and scored three times. He also has three walks and seven strikeouts.

He’s also logged 44 innings at second base. Hiura has one error, but he’s shown improved range and footwork.

Hiura won’t break camp with the team, but he’s clearly the reason why the Milwaukee Brewers didn’t make a splash for a second baseman this winter. If this Spring is any indication, he’ll only need about 100-or so plate appearances at Triple-A before he’ll get the call.

Ray is still hot, yes?

Ray started the Spring on fire, and has cooled off a bit. He’s still slashing .240/.296/.560, but it’s largely buoyed by the homers he hit in the first week.

Ray still looks like a solid bet to make it the Majors in 2019, but he may need a full year at Triple-A before getting the call in September.

Is anyone struggling?

Yes. A few guys haven’t gotten off to quick starts. Troy Stokes is slashing only .182/.217/.318 in only 23 plate appearances. Lucas Erceg is also off to a slow start with a .190/.190/.524 slash line. He’s played in 13 games, and has two homers to his stat line.

Catcher Payton Henry has made 11 plate appearances and is 0-for-the Spring. It’s not completely unexpected as Henry has never played above Single-A. Henry should start the 2019 season in High-A.

How about on the mound?

Zack Brown is one of the few Milwaukee Brewers prospects to work multiple games this Spring. Brown has tossed six innings and has a 1.50 ERA. He’s struck out three and walked three. He’s looked like he belongs on Major League mound, and could earn a mid-season call up like Hader or Corbin Burnes received in previous seasons.

Bubba Derby and Marcos Diplan have also worked multiple appearances, but both have ERAs over 10.00.

The Milwaukee Brewers may not have the deepest farm system in the league, but they do have solid prospects at multiple positions who can step in if there’s an emergency. The Brewers showed that having a deep roster is a strength in 2018. They still have a deep roster, and it’s still a strength.