Brewers: Ranking The Crew’s Top 5 Hitting Prospects

The Milwaukee Brewers have what is widely considered a weak farm system around the MLB. However, David Stearns has the system quickly back on the rise thanks to a couple strong drafts and international signing periods.

Stearns and company have put a premium on toolsy athletes with above average plate discipline and good contact skills. The array of tools gives Milwaukee a ball of clay with a higher ceiling if their development goes according to plan, but the plate discipline helps to raise the floor of the prospects as well.

Top to bottom the system may still have a ways to go, but the high end talent on the farm should have fans excited about the future of the Milwaukee Brewers lineup.

Today we take a look at the Brewers top 5 hitting prospects currently in the system, ranked in terms of upside.

1. Hedbert Perez – 18 – ETA 2024

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

Hedbert Perez tops my list due to his immense upside. At just 18 years old, Perez has some big time tools coupled with an advanced approach at the plate. Talent evaluators in the Brewers system definitely feel like he could be their diamond in the rough.

Hedbert Perez is a left handed bat with quick hands, phenomenal bat speed and contact skills. He is very athletic and currently projects as a center fielder at the major league level. However, I believe his frame has some room to fill out and will ultimately lead him to playing a corner outfield spot – which won’t be an issue due to his impressive arm strength.

Perez already has a great deal of physical maturity having already added 20 pounds since signing with Milwaukee, and still has a frame with plenty of room to grow.

Through his first 20 minor league games of rookie ball: .337 average with 6 home runs, 15 RBI and a 1.021 OPS.

No prospect is a sure thing, I want to make that clear, but Hedbert Perez has the greatest raw set of tools in the entire system and has a middle of the order bat type of ceiling. I think Perez will hit for average and projects as a (25+) homerun bat that could still steal 10+ bags.

Hedbert Perez has a chance to be a star in the major leagues, and someone I expect to rise quickly to the top of prospect lists. Perez is someone I believe should be untouchable at this point. The ceiling is sky high.

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.