Brewers: Updating The Crew’s Top 10 Prospects List

4. OF Tristen Lutz

A sweet swinging, power hitting, athletic outfielder is one of the top Brewers prospects? Color me shocked. Power is his top tool, and he has the speed and defensive ability to stay in centerfield in the future. If he can’t hold down center, Lutz has the power to fit either corner and the arm strength to play in right field.

Lutz could use a little more improvement with his bat-to-ball ability. If he’s able to tap into his on-base potential, Lutz could be a 5-tool player. As it stands, Lutz is average or above average when it comes to power, speed, arm strength, and defense.

The Brewers have had mixed results with outfield prospects under President of Baseball Operations David Stearns. He’s acquired a number of them, including Lewis Brinson, Keon Broxton, Corey Ray, and Ryan Cordell. Pretty much none of the Crew’s outfield prospects have panned out as big leaguers so far.

He’s traded away a number of those prospects and added outfielders from the outside to fill the Brewers roster. Lutz is one of the few top outfield prospects remaining that hasn’t been traded or played horribly in recent years.

Lutz stands a chance of being a starting Brewers outfielder in a year or two, depending on when a spot opens up.

3. LHP Ethan Small

Small remains the top pitching prospect in the Brewers organization. Drafted in the first round in 2019, Small has a high floor as an advanced college pitcher with good stuff and great pitchability.

His ceiling isn’t quite as high, as MLB Pipeline views him as a No. 4 starter since he doesn’t have a standout pitch. Small was drafted with a three pitch arsenal, including a fastball, curveball, and changeup, all of which are 55 grade with 55 grade control as well.

However, this past offseason Small was making an addition to that. He arrived to camp with a newfound slider to add to his arsenal that the coaching staff was extremely excited about this spring and still are now.

With Small now possessing a fourth pitch, he becomes that much more exciting as a pitching prospect for the Brewers. He pitched well last year and could even find himself on the 60 man player pool at the alternate training site in Appleton shortly.