Brewers' 2024 first-round pick continues breakout season with impressive showing in Double-A

There are many reasons to be impressed by the Milwaukee Brewers' top-ranked farm system. From their high-end talent, which includes MLB's No. 1-overall prospect Jesús Made, to their incredible depth of talent, the Brewers' minor league system offers fans reassurance that the organization's Golden Age is not coming to an end anytime soon.

However, one overlooked strength of the Brewers' farm system is its youth. Among the Brewers' top five prospects, three have yet to celebrate their 20th birthday. In addition to Made, who won't turn 20 years old until next May, No. 2-ranked prospect Luis Peña and No. 4-ranked prospect Brady Ebel are still just 19 years old.

Having younger prospects is especially important for the Brewers, whose major league roster consists of plenty of players at the beginning of their careers due to the fact that these types of players are far less expensive than players who have already hit free agency. The small-market Brewers capitalize on the surplus value these players offer at the beginning of their careers, and having younger prospects gives them a better chance of keeping players throughout the physical prime of their careers.

The Brewers have not only found incredibly talented young players on the international free agent market, from which both Made and Peña came, but they've also elected to draft younger players in the early rounds of the MLB draft in recent seasons. Take, for example, Trey Ebel, the younger brother of the aforementioned Brady, who the Brewers took in the first round of the 2026 MLB Draft. Trey is just 17 years old, and won't turn 18 until September 29.

To some extent, drafting younger players is a risk, as their evaluations carry more volatility. Such was the case when the Brewers drafted Braylon Payne in the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft. Payne, who was also just 17 years old when the Brewers drafted him two years ago, was a surprise first-round pick -- one who had a great deal of potential, but was far from a sure thing.

Fast forward two years, and Payne looks like one of the better picks from the 2024 draft because despite being just 20 years old (he turned 20 on August 14), he's already posting impressive numbers in Double-A. At this rate, it's not out of the question that Payne makes his debut before his 22nd birthday, which would be a huge benefit for the Brewers.

Braylon Payne is continuing to impress in Double-A despite recently turning just 20 years old

Payne began the 2026 campaign in High-A with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, and posted an eye-popping .930 OPS with 23 homers in 77 games. Those 23 homers were, briefly, a T-Rats single-season franchise record before Eric Bitonti broke it just three weeks later. Payne's numbers with the Timber Rattlers were a vast improvement on the .736 OPS and eight homers he posted in 77 games with the Low-A Carolina Mudcats last year. As a result, on August 14, Payne's 20th birthday, the Brewers promoted the 2024 first-round pick to Double-A, where he joined the Biloxi Shuckers.

Despite facing stronger competition in Double-A, Payne has continued to post strong numbers. In 25 games with the Shuckers, Payne has an .846 OPS and 13 extra-base hits. On Saturday night, Payne posted his first multi-homer game at the Double-A level after crushing two longballs in the Shuckers' 19-1 victory over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, the Miami Marlins' Double-A squad.

Payne has paired his impressive power output this season (28 homers, .552 slugging percentage) with 25 stolen bases and excellent defense in center field. His raw tools have always been head-turning, but the way he's been able to put it all together in High-A and Double-A this year is truly impressive. To do so at just 20 years old is perhaps the most encouraging aspect of Payne's breakout season. Seeing Payne in the big leagues in 2027 feels a little aggressive, but it's by no means impossible. Given his youth, the Brewers can afford to be patient with the talented outfielder and still have him on their roster throughout his prime.

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