Milwaukee Brewers: 2022 All-Minor League Affiliate Team

Another season is in the books for the 2022 Milwaukee Brewers minor league affiliates. And it would be hard to say that it wasn’t a successful one all-around across the organization.

Three of the four Brewers affiliates finished with winning records in the Low-A Carolina Mudcats (69-62), High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (69-60), and Triple-A Nashville Sounds (91-58). Meanwhile, the Double-A Biloxi Sounds (67-68) were just a couple games from achieving that mark themselves.

The Sounds were by far the cream of the crop. Their 91 wins were the second most in franchise history and propelled them to an International League West Division title. Sadly, their final game would be a loss to the Durham Bulls in the International League championship.

Of course, none of that would be possible without talented prospects and the Brewers have been stockpiling more of those in recent years. It showed as the organization started moving back up from the bottom of many sites’ minor league rankings, including MLB Pipeline, and the team saw more prospects among top 100 lists as well, including one in Pipeline’s top 10 by season’s end.

With the season all wrapped up, it’s time to look back at which players helped make the organization’s year so successful. And what better way to do that then to create an end-of-year team comprised of the best at each position?

Here is your Reviewing the Brew 2022 Brewers All-Minor League Affiliate Team.

Catcher

Jeferson Quero (Carolina, Wisconsin)

Honorable mention: Mario Feliciano (Nashville), Jakson Reetz (Biloxi/Nashville), Darrien Miller (Wisconsin)

After impressing last season at the Arizona complex, Jeferson Quero (Brewers No. 7 prospect per MLB Pipeline) got his first taste of affiliated ball in 2022. He did well enough to earn a midseason promotion and hit a combined .286 with a .780 OPS in 95 games while showing off his highly regarded defense. He is also one of eight players taking part in this year’s Arizona Fall League.

Mario Feliciano bounced back from a slow start to have a batting average over .300 for much of the year before settling in at .274. Jakson Reetz led all Brewers minor leaguers with 25 homers. Darrien Miller finished the season with a .760 OPS and was second on the Timber Rattlers in 2022 with 12 homers and fifth with 40 RBIs.

Here is your Reviewing the Brew 2022 Brewers All-Minor League Affiliate Team.

Outfield

Jackson Chourio (Carolina/Wisconsin/Biloxi), Sal Frelick (Wisconsin/Biloxi/Nashville), Garrett Mitchell (Biloxi/Nashville)

Honorable mention: Joey Wiemer (Biloxi/Nashville)

What more can we say about No. 1 Brewers prospect Jackson Chourio? The 18-year-old absolutely broke out, making his way all the way up to Double-A in his first season of affiliated ball and providing highlights seemingly every other day, slashing a combined .288/.342/.538 with 30 doubles, 20 homers, and 75 runs scored over 99 games across three levels. Unsurprisingly, he was named the team’s minor league player of the year.

If it weren’t for Chourio, all the talk might have been about Sal Frelick (No. 2). The 2021 first rounder hit three levels of the minor leagues himself, slashed .331/.403/.480, had a 40+ game on base streak and 20+ multi-hit games at Nashville alone, and had fans wondering why he never received a late season call up by the Brewers.

One guy who did get called up late, though, was fellow first rounder and No. 5 prospect Garrett Mitchell. Finally healthy, he showed why fans should be excited about his future as he slashed .287/.377/.426 and was 17-for-18 in stolen bases.

Last year’s minor league player of the year, No. 3 prospect Joey Wiemer, went through an awful midseason slump before finally turning things around at the end. He would finish the season hitting .256 with a .801 OPS, 31 steals, and 34 doubles that led all Brewers minor leaguers.

Here is your Reviewing the Brew 2022 Brewers All-Minor League Affiliate Team.

Starting Pitchers

Brandon Knarr (Wisconsin/Biloxi), Carlos Rodriguez (Carolina/Wisconsin)

Honorable mention: Alexander Cornielle (Carolina/Wisconsin), Justin Jarvis (Wisconsin/Biloxi), Caleb Boushley (Nashville)

Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2020, Brandon Knarr turned in one of the finest starting performances in the organization in 2022. After quickly mastering High-A, he was promoted to Double-A after just 10 games. All in all, he put up a 2.83 ERA and 1.216 WHIP while making 26 starts, second most of any Brewers minor leaguer.

Just as impressive was No. 19 prospect Carlos Rodriguez. He made fewer starts (20) but put up a 3.01 ERA and 1.059 WHIP while his 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings were second highest of any Brewers minor leaguer to make at least 20 starts. He was named Milwaukee’s minor league pitcher of the year for 2022.

Alexander Cornielle had a 3.03 ERA in 22 starts and his 11.0 K/9 led Brewers minor leaguers that made at least 20 starts. Justin Jarvis led the Brewers affiliates in making 28 starts while putting up a 3.83 ERA.

Caleb Boushley was claimed off waivers by the Brewers last offseason and added to the Nashville Sounds’ roster. He ended up being arguably the best starter for the team all year, starting 25 games and compiling a 3.25 ERA and 1.170 WHIP. He also had the honor of starting Nashville’s sole playoff game this season.

Here is your Reviewing the Brew 2022 Brewers All-Minor League Affiliate Team.

Relief Pitchers

Cam Robinson (Wisconsin/Biloxi/Nashville), Hobie Harris (Nashville)

Honorable mention: James Meeker (Wisconsin/Biloxi)

Possibly the most impressive ascent of any Brewers minor league pitcher came from Cam Robinson. A 23-rounder from the 2017 draft, he led the affiliates with 25 saves, had a 2.49 ERA, 1.154 WHIP, and 11.6 K/9, made it all the way from High-A to Triple-A, and jumped into the team’s top 30 rankings at MLB Pipeline, settling in at No. 27.

Once at Triple-A, he joined another impressive reliever in Hobie Harris. The-29-year-old led the Brewers minor leaguers with 53 appearances, one above Robinson’s 52. Even with that heavy workload, Harris put up a sparkling 2.04 ERA and 1.075 WHIP spending his whole season at Milwaukee’s highest minor league level.

The award for second best closer in the Brewers minor leagues would probably go to James Meeker, who also had the second most saves with 17. He had a 2.38 ERA and 1.057 WHIP to go along with those saves and earned a late season promotion to Double-A for his efforts.

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Though the 2022 minor league regular season is done, 2023 will be another fun one to look foward to with this year’s draftees and offseason signees joining the ranks. Who knows who might graduate from this team to the majors and what players might end up taking their place.