Brewers: 5 Bold Predictions for the 2022 Season

Brewers 2022 Bold Prediction #4: Brice Turang, Ethan Small, and Garrett Mitchell all make their MLB debuts

Three straight Milwaukee Brewers first round picks and all will make their MLB debuts in the same season.

The Brewers drafted Brice Turang with the 21st overall selection in the 2018 MLB Draft. He’s steadily worked his way up the system and made it to Triple-A last season as a 21 year old. Turang has filled out his frame a little than when the Brewers drafted him out of high school and he’s proven he’s capable of handling shortstop defensively.

His offensive numbers were solid, but not spectacular last season. Heading back to Triple-A and now a year older, Turang looks primed for some more success this season. The problem for Turang is, he’s blocked at the next level. With Willy Adames entrenched at shortstop and Luis Urias a solid backup option behind him, the odds of Turang getting significant playing time are slim.

However, if Turang is performing too well in Triple-A, the Brewers may be forced to call him up at some point. When rosters expand, at least a little bit, in September, that could also provide a prime opportunity for Turang to make his MLB debut.

The Brewers drafted Ethan Small with the 28th overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft. A starter out of Mississippi State, Small quickly moved up the system and has dominated at every level, making it to Triple-A last season. For his minor league career, Small has a miniscule 1.74 ERA in 25 starts. He’s a polished pitcher, and Craig Counsell himself said that Small will start games for the big league Brewers this year.

In the 2020 Draft, the Brewers took UCLA outfielder Garrett Mitchell with the 20th overall selection. Mitchell was thought of as an advanced hitter that could move quickly through the system and might be ready in time to take over in centerfield as soon as Lorenzo Cain‘s contract is up. This is Cain’s final year and if the Brewers are going to trust him to start in 2023, they’re going to want to see him in the big leagues at least a little bit in 2022.

Mitchell started last season in High-A and was quickly promoted to Double-A. He struggled a bit there, mostly due to various illnesses that kept him off the field and sapped him of his power. He’s likely to start the year again at Double-A Biloxi, but now that he’s healthy, a strong start to the year could keep him on the fast-track to Milwaukee.

If he’s hitting like the Brewers know he can, Mitchell should get a quick promotion to Triple-A. Continued success there could force the Brewers to call him up to Milwaukee if an opportunity arises.

I still believe in the Garrett Mitchell hype and he could very well be the centerfielder of the future for Milwaukee. That’s someone the team is going to want to see quickly and we could see him this year if all goes well.

We’ll for sure see Ethan Small this year. Counsell has said that, so that’s not that bold of a prediction. Turang doesn’t have an obvious opportunity, but one could always arise, and Mitchell could force himself into the picture. I’m predicting that all three of these prospects will make their MLB debuts in 2022.