Brewers: 3 Takeaways From MLB Pipeline’s Updated Top 30 Prospects

Recently, MLB Pipeline announced their newest prospect rankings. The newest update includes the 2021 draft class and takes into account performances from current minor league players. Let’s take a look at a few of the major headlines regarding the newest rankings of Brewers prospects.

Outfielders Garrett Mitchell and Sal Frelick both made the Top 100

Mitchell was the Brewers first round draft pick in 2020 and Frelick in 2021. Entering the season, Mitchell was the 65th ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline. This go around he slots in at 56. Frelick, who has just begun his professional baseball career, was given the 97th ranked spot.

Both Mitchell and Frelick are experienced college players and are expected to progress through the minor leagues rather quickly. Mitchell recently was promoted to the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers. There is a chance that he could be the first position player out of the 2020 draft to make his MLB debut. Frelick is currently with the Low-A affiliate Carolina Mudcats. This is not uncommon for a player who was just drafted this year.

Five 2021 draft picks made the Brewers top 30 prospect list

Frelick was already mentioned, but he is now the Brewers second ranked prospect in their top 30. Out of the 2021 draft class, joining him is second basemen Tyler Black at #7, corner infielder Alex Binelas at #17, left handed pitcher Russell Smith at #19, and right handed pitcher Logan Henderson at #21.

Given the status of the Brewers farm system, it is not surprising to see their first four draft picks enter the top 30. A lot of that is by design as the Brewers have been targeting college players with proven track records of success early in the draft. The hope is that they will be ready to contribute at the big league level sooner rather than later.

Hedbert Perez not getting proper respect in his prospect ranking

If you do not know who Hedbert Perez is, listen up.  After this update, he is now the Brewers fourth ranked prospect and he truly should be listed higher. At 18 years old and signed during the 2019-2020 international period, he is turning heads so far in professional baseball and some believe he is our best hitting prospect.

Before even playing a professional game, Perez made noise at a batting practice session in Milwaukee by launching a series of towering home runs into right field that has Prince Fielder type distance to them. Now in 2021, he is off to an incredible start in the Arizona Rookie League. In 24 games he has collected 31 hits in which 13 of them have been for extra bases. His .602 slugging percentage is made up of six home runs and seven doubles. What this kid can do going forward is going to be exciting to watch.

National media may not be raving about the Brewers farm system, but there are lots of players to be excited about from a prospect standpoint. The Brewers currently are playoff contenders and at some point many of these prospects will play at the big league level in the years to come.