Brewers: 5 Prospects That Could Push Their Way To The Taxi Squad

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With the Milwaukee Brewers being able to keep a 30 man taxi squad throughout the regular season, plenty of top young prospects could be brought on board.

The taxi squad that MLB teams are able to carry along in the 2020 season are meant to fill in for the Triple-A and other minor league teams that would normally resupply the club with players in case of injury or poor performance. The Brewers have a very deep roster and plenty of options to fill those spots.

There’s been reports that with so many taxi squad spots and with a minor league season not happening without fans, teams would put some of their top prospects who need the playing time and development on their taxi squad despite the fact that they aren’t very close to playing in the big leagues yet.

The Brewers will have plenty of available players to fill in on the big league roster during this shortened season. They also have some prospects that need the development time and are likely to get a spot on the taxi squad.

1. Ethan Small, LHP

The Crew’s 2019 first round pick is looking like a quick riser through the minor leagues and dominated in a short period of time in Low-A and High-A last year. Ethan Small was likely to reach Double-A at some point this year, and depending on how that went, perhaps even Triple-A.

If everything tracked right, Small could’ve been ready for the rotation in 2021.

Without a minor league season, that track would get delayed a little bit. Small is an advanced pitcher that could help out in a pinch if the Brewers needed it in 2020. He’d more likely be a bullpen guy or a spot starter if the Brewers ran through all of their other starting pitching depth somehow.

By putting Small on the taxi squad, he’ll get his regular work in, he’ll continue to develop and refine his four pitches and his command, and he can stay on track to help out the big league club at some point in 2021.

2. Brice Turang, SS

Another former first round pick, Brice Turang could merit inclusion on the Brewers taxi squad to continue his development. Turang raked in Low-A in 2019 and earned a mid-season promotion to High-A, where he struggled a little bit in the early going.

Still young at just 20 years old, Turang was likely to start this season in High-A again with the potential to move up to Double-A. He has an advanced hit tool and should look to face more advanced pitching in order to help refine and develop that hitting ability so he’s ready for the big leagues.

On the taxi squad, Turang will get at-bats in a more controlled environment against some Triple-A and big league caliber pitchers. It seems like a great way to help Turang’s development and to get him the swings that he needs against real pitching.

3. Mario Feliciano, C

Catching depth is always important and Feliciano is the Brewers most important catching prospect. They have Omar Narvaez and Manny Pina at the top of the depth chart, and then David Freitas and Jacob Nottingham below them. Feliciano is the only one of that group that looks like he could fill a starting job in the long run if Narvaez or Pina were to go down.

The offensive skills Feliciano possesses are strong enough to give him a starting nod in the future and his defensive skills are also quite strong.

By putting Feliciano on the taxi squad, he can continue to get the at-bats he needs to prove his bat is big league ready. Feliciano would’ve been in Double-A this year and from there, he would just be one phone call away from the big leagues.

Should something happen to Pina or Narvaez this year, Feliciano could prove to be a solid fill-in over Freitas or Nottingham.

4. Drew Rasmussen, RHP

During Spring Training 1.0, Rasmussen was impressing Brewers coaches. He quickly rose through the minor leagues last year, playing at three different levels, eventually landing at Double-A. It was likely he would’ve started the season in Triple-A and would’ve been called up to the bullpen at some point this season.

Rasmussen can reach the upper-90s with his fastball and possesses a hard, filthy slider in the low-90s as well. His two-pitch combo is deadly and it would make him a huge weapon out of the bullpen. He also has a changeup and has the stuff to start, but after a couple of major elbow surgeries, it’s likely that his home will be in the bullpen moving forward.

Nevertheless, Rasmussen is going to earn a spot on the taxi squad. Don’t be surprised if he ends up getting the call to join the big league club at some point this season either.

5. Garrett Mitchell, OF

This might be a bit of a surprise. Garrett Mitchell, the Brewers first round pick just a few weeks ago, could earn some consideration for the taxi squad.

His spring season at UCLA was cut short and the Brewers are going to want to get a closer look and give some instruction to Mitchell as soon as they can. They can do that by putting him on the taxi squad.

Mitchell will likely be at the Arizona Fall League and at instructional league anyways, but until those things happen, they can get him into their program, see him swing up close, and give him some things they want him to work on.

He’s not likely to be an option for the big league roster this year, but with a 30 man taxi squad, they can afford to keep a spot for him.

Next. Projecting The Opening Day 30 Man Roster. dark

There are going to be other prospects on the Brewers Top 30 list that will make the taxi squad as well, such as Corey Ray and Devin Williams, but these top guys should warrant inclusion, if not at least consideration, even though they might not be as close to big league ready.

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