3 Brewers prospects to look out for in the Arizona Complex League in 2026

While four levels of the minor leagues (Low-A, High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A) have been in full swing for about a month, one league is just getting started. This past weekend, two of the three MiLB Rookie Leagues kicked off their seasons: the Arizona Complex League (ACL) and Florida Complex League (FCL). The only minor league level still yet to begin its 2026 season is the Dominican Summer League (DSL), which starts in early June.

The Milwaukee Brewers' stateside Rookie ball affiliate competes in the ACL, playing their games at the organization's spring home: the American Family Fields of Phoenix. The ACL Brewers, as the affiliate is known, is often the first stop for high school players whom the Brewers select in the previous year's MLB Draft, and the second stop for international free agent signees who began their professional careers in the DSL.

As such, the ACL Brewers' roster is generally filled with talented young prospects trying to prove their potential at the beginning of their careers. It makes for an exciting group, but one that may not carry the same name recognition as some of the Brewers' other minor league affiliates. Here are three names to look out for in box scores as the ACL Brewers' season continues.

3 exciting prospects competing for the ACL Brewers in 2026

1. RHP Ma'Kale Holden

When the Brewers drafted 18-year-old Ma'Kale Holden out of Thompson High School in Alabaster, Alabama, with their 20th-round pick in last year's draft, doubts existed about Milwaukee's ability to sign the talented prep arm to a contract and lure him away from his commitment to the University of Alabama. However, thanks to the Brewers' excellent draft strategy, the organization was able to offer Holden a significant signing bonus that ultimately led to him joining Milwaukee's farm system.

According to Prep Baseball America, at the time of the draft, Holden was already touching mid-90s velocity with his fastball, which he pairs with an excellent changeup. He also throws a low-70s curveball and a slider that sits in the upper-70s, with great command of all four of his pitches.

Holden had everything working in his professional debut on Monday. Facing the ACL Padres, Holden tossed five scoreless on just 66 pitches, and struck out six batters in the process. The now-19-year-old starter allowed just three hits and one walk in the outing. Don't be fooled by his 20th-round selection -- Holden was an excellent draft prospect, but most teams simply didn't save enough money in the earlier rounds of the draft to give him a compelling enough offer to pull him away from his college commitment. The Brewers did, and now they have the pleasure of watching Holden develop in their minor league system.

2. RHP Diustin Mayorquin

The Brewers signed Diustin Mayorquin as an international free agent back in January of 2025, and despite the right-hander not turning 19 until this upcoming October, he is already entering his second season of professional baseball.

Mayorquin, who hails from Managua, Nicaragua's capital city, tossed 47.2 innings in the Dominican Summer League last year and produced an eye-popping 2.45 ERA in what is generally a pretty hitter-friendly league. In those 47.2 innings, which spanned 11 appearances, Mayorquin racked up 49 strikeouts while walking just seven batters. That impressive strikeout-to-walk ratio indicates that Mayorquin already has great feel for the strike zone despite being one of the younger pitchers in the Brewers' system.

The 5'11" Mayorquin, who worked as both a starter and reliever in the DSL last year, tossed the final two innings of the ACL Brewers' season opener last Saturday. Mayorquin didn't surrender a single hit in those two scoreless frames, while collecting two punchouts and one walk. It's a strong start for one of the best pitchers from the Brewers' 2025 DSL squad.

3. OF Brailyn Antunez

As a result of Brandon Sproat's graduation from prospect status, 18-year-old outfielder Brailyn Antunez was added to MLB Pipeline's list of the Top 30 prospects in the Brewers' farm system. Antunez, who was in the same 2025 international free agent class as Mayorquin, has an exciting, albeit unpolished, profile.

Though his numbers in the DSL last year don't jump off the page, prospect evaluators have documented Antunez's intriguing blend of power and speed -- a skillset that is coveted in today's game. While the power didn't show up in the DSL, as Antunez posted just a .282 slugging percentage, his speed was certainly on display in the form of 21 stolen bases in 55 games.

As a highly-ranked prospect in the 2025 international class, and with the raw tools to back up the ranking, Antunez is certainly a name to watch for as he continues to refine his aggressive approach at the plate. He's off to a strong start through his first three games in the ACL, collecting three hits, six RBI, and a stolen base in his first week with the team.

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