Brewers: Ranking The Crew’s Top 5 Hitting Prospects

2. Garrett Mitchell – 22 –  ETA 2023

Tools: Hit – 55, Power – 50, Run – 70, Arm/Field – 60

Garrett Mitchell is as close to a sure thing as you’ll see in the Brewers system. The UCLA product is a superb athlete in the outfield. Mitchell is a great contact hitter whose power is still being tapped into. Whether or not his power develops will be the difference between becoming an everyday center fielder, and becoming a possible all-star caliber player.

His speed is what really stands out about his game. He is just an explosive athlete that can really cover some ground in the outfield. He projects as a center fielder with a chance to be a plus defender on top of it.

Garrett Mitchell is still scratching the surface of the player he’s capable of becoming. But the early returns are looking promising. Through 49 games across two levels Mitchell is batting (.295 / 8 HR’s / 30 RBI / 14 SB). Not to mention the plate discipline has been exactly what you’d hope to see from a player with as many tools as he has – Mitchell has drawn (39) walks to (50) punchouts.

Obviously power is the big question, and one we’ll get the answer to in time. If the power continues to develop we’re talking about a true 5 tool player. This looks like the potential center fielder of the future for the Brew Crew.

3. Sal Frelick 21 – ETA 2023

Tools: Hit – 60, Power – 45, Run – 70, Field – 55, Arm – 50

Sal Frelick was a first round draft pick of the Milwaukee Brewers this season. I like Frelick for all the reasons I like Garrett Mitchell. Frelick is a toolsy outfielder with a good hit tool, solid approach, elite speed and developing power. Frelick also walked more than he struck out his final season at Boston College. Starting to seem like the Brewers have a type.

The difference here however is that Sal Frelick stands at just 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds. Frelick has a small strike zone and he uses that to his advantage. He possesses quick hands, great bat speed and a smooth compact swing. His hit tool is what he hangs his hat on offensively and while the power is still developing, he has extra base power at the very least.

Frelick’s greatest asset is his speed, he can flat out fly around the basepaths. He’s also able to cover a lot of ground defensively in the outfield. It’s likely that he sticks at centerfield to begin, but Frelick has plenty of experience at 2nd base as well. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Brewers move him around a little early on, because versatility is something they covet.

Frelick, being the highly disciplined contact hitter that he is, projects as a top of the order bat. I think he is a high floor prospect with a notable ceiling if his power continues to develop in the minor leagues.

4. Brice Turang – 21 – ETA 2022

Tools: Hit – 60, Power – 40, Run – 60, Arm/Field – 55

Brice Turang has a major league caliber glove and hit tool, coupled with a fantastic plate approach. The only downside to Turang as a hitter is that the power isn’t likely to develop into anything more than average. He’ll always be a hit-over-power type middle infielder.

In 252 minor league games Turang has 143 walks to 191 strikeouts. That’s a plate approach that’s highly encouraging for a player as young as himself.

Turang has the glove to stick at short but may find himself at 2nd base at the major league level. He has a top of the order hitting profile as a high contact, line drive hitter with good plate discipline.

Best case scenario you have a solid hitting middle infielder with above average defense and speed. This is another high floor type prospect, but one that could be rock solid at the top of the lineup.

Jeferson Quero – 18 –  ETA 2024

Tools: Hit – 50, Power – 45 (I think this tool will end up grading higher), Arm – 60, Field – 55

Jeferson Quero is a highly intriguing Venezuelan catching prospect. Quero is a long way from the majors but already appears to be ahead of the curve on both sides of the ball. As it stands, Quero has a chance to be an above average defensive catcher with a plus arm to back it up.

Offensively Quero has shown the ability to hit for contact with good discipline and already flashed some power. Through his first 19 minor league games he’s drawn more walks (11) than strikeouts (9) – that’s quite impressive for a player as young as Quero.

Finding players with great plate approach and discipline has certainly been an emphasis for David Stearns and company, and they may have just found another that fits the mold.

Although he’s only 165 pounds right now, I think once Quero adds some weight I think we’ll see the power start to catch up. Quero is a long way from the majors, but he has what it takes to move through the system as a upper echelon prospect for the brewers.

I do see Jeferson Quero as a high floor prospect who has a chance to fill out and become a top tier catching prospect if everything breaks right. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him move up the Brewers prospect list rather quickly.

While the Brewers haven’t been able to supplement their big league lineup in recent years with prospects from the farm system, they’re teeming with some great young talent right now.