Milwaukee Brewers 2020 Top 25 Prospects List: Nos. 11-15

Our Brewers Top 25 Prospect list continues with a group of strong individuals who are looking to continue their professional careers. We start with someone who is looking to prove themselves after a disastrous 2019 season.

After breaking down the first couple groups of prospects from our Top 25 list, we’ve reached the outskirts of the Top 10 farmhands in the Brewers system.

15. 3B Lucas Erceg

Lucas Erceg was once looked at to be one of the top 10 prospects in the Brewers farming system. But with a 25.1% strikeout rate, .218 batting average, and a .305 OBP, it’s no surprise that 2019 was Erceg’s worst professional season.

Fans aren’t very confident in Erceg for the 2020 season. With both Travis Shaw and Mike Moustakas gone, the Brewers added Jedd Gyorko, Ryon Healy, and Eric Sogard to the roster, all of which have third base experience. The third base situation going into the 2020 season is something that the Brewers are continuing to struggle with as they need to find someone that’ll make a long-term fit at that position.

Although the recent acquisitions add depth to the 40-man roster, that spot for third base is still up for grabs and it’s possible that they’ll be starting the season off with a platoon.

A second round pick in 2016, Erceg was quick to show just how good of an athlete he truly was. Ranking at the top in the Carolina league with 15 homers, and a .256 average, Erceg also led the league in RBI’s (81). In 2018, he didn’t show much improvement at the plate as he finished with a .248 average and only hit 13 homers. By far, his 2019 season was rough, to put it into nicer terms.

As a third baseman, Erceg has a very strong throwing arm, which is the best of his tools. He also has a lot of power, but needs to make enough contact with the ball for that to play up over a whole season.

He was invited to major league camp in ’19, but his performance was very inconsistent, batting by far his worst of .215 and had a 25% strikeout rate. He did hit three home runs, and four doubles, respectively. This spring is the time for Erceg to really prove himself to the majors, otherwise it’s possible he’ll be spending yet another season in Triple-A.

Had he not had a rough 2019 season, Erceg could’ve very well been put on the 40-man roster given his potential, but he didn’t put up good enough numbers for the Brewers to give him that shot just yet. He’s got a lot of high expectations thrown on him and 2020 could possibly be his comeback year.