Reviewing The Brew
FanSided

Brewers: 5 Prospects That Should Be Untouchable This Offseason

By David Gasper

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - AUGUST 25: A general view of Miller Park prior to a game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Arizona Diamondbacks on August 25, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Teams are wearing special color schemed uniforms with players choosing nicknames to display for Players Weekend. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - AUGUST 25: A general view of Miller Park prior to a game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Arizona Diamondbacks on August 25, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Teams are wearing special color schemed uniforms with players choosing nicknames to display for Players Weekend. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
Milwaukee Brewers
MILWAUKEE, WI – APRIL 7: Milwaukee Brewers ball cap and gloves are left on the dugout steps during the game against the San Francisco Giants at Miller Park on April 18, 2013 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Tom Lynn/Getty Images) /

LHP Aaron Ashby

The Milwaukee Brewers selected Aaron Ashby in the 4th round of the 2018 Draft and he’s done nothing but dominate since then.

In seven starts at Low-A Wisconsin in 2018, Ashby posted a 2.17 ERA in 37.1 innings, striking out 47 while walking only nine. That was just the first glimpse of the Crowder JC product could do as he was already looking like a big piece from that 2018 draft class that also had shortstop Brice Turang in it.

Then, in 2019, Ashby started again in Low-A Wisconsin and pitched well, posting a 3.54 ERA in 11 appearances, including a complete game. Ashby struck out 80 batters in just 60.1 innings pitched and opponents were hitting just .216 against him.

His performance with the Timber Rattlers earned him a mid-season promotion to the High-A Carolina Mudcats.

In Carolina, Ashby continued to put up strong numbers, with a 3.46 ERA in 13 starts covering 65 innings. His strikeout numbers took a little dip though, with only 55 K’s in a similar amount of innings to what he had in Wisconsin.

Ashby is a good strikeout pitcher, but when he does allow contact, for the most part he keeps it on the ground, which is very important when considering he’ll be pitching in Miller Park one day.

His best pitch is his curveball, which he can throw a couple of different ways, and pairs it with his fastball that can touch 96 MPH. But the key to Ashby’s success will be his changeup, and it’s developed nicely and has turned into a solid third pitch, which makes him a viable starting pitcher at the big league level instead of just being a reliever.

Ashby fits the profile of a lot of the left-handed pitchers the Brewers currently have, operating with a deceptive, funky delivery, that gets by more on craftiness than pure power. That’s the same style as Brent Suter and Alex Claudio. Josh Hader also possesses that deceptive delivery, but can pair it with pure power, which is what makes him so dominant.

Once again, left handed pitching is something the Brewers mostly lack in their system, especially when it comes to lefties who can start. Trading away guys like that is not the best way to build a strong, deep rotation. The Brewers should turn down any requests for Ashby this winter and make him untouchable.

Home/Brewers News