Brewers' next top pitching prospect showcases impressive "stuff" in Double-A debut

At 21 years old, Milwaukee Brewers’ No. 9 overall prospect and third-ranked pitching prospect Josh Knoth made his Double-A debut on September 1. The right-hander will only get a few weeks with the Biloxi Shuckers before their season ends, but for this being his first full season back following Tommy John surgery, which sidelined him for the entirety of the 2025 campaign, it's clear the organization is confident in his development.

Backing up the Brewers’ belief in Knoth was the impressive “stuff” he showcased during his Double-A debut. Although he was charged with four earned runs over 5.0 innings, including three home runs allowed, his velocity, pitch movement, and spin-rate metrics were all on full display, as pointed out by Shuckers play-by-play announcer and media relations manager Javik Blake.

Additionally, Knoth settled into his Double-A debut nicely after a rough first inning in which he surrendered a pair of home runs and three runs. From there, the young right-hander found his rhythm, retiring 13 of the final 16 batters he faced, while showcasing his knack for missing bats.

Josh Knoth’s big-league "stuff” is familiar territory for the Milwaukee Brewers

When Knoth was drafted by the Brewers, his plus velocity and high spin rate were already well-known parts of his profile. Even following elbow surgery, those traits appear to have remained intact, as evidenced by Blake's report of Knoth reaching 96 mph on the radar gun and generating spin rates in the 2,700-to-2,850 rpm range.

The importance of that combination can be seen in several examples of former and current Brewers starting-pitching standouts. Freddy Peralta, known as “Fastball Freddy,” has built a reputation around a high-spin fastball that generates a rising action. His four-seamer typically sits in the 2,300-to-2,400 rpm range.

Meanwhile, former Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes generates roughly 2,600 rpm on his lethal cutter. 2026 Cy Young candidate and rising superstar Jacob Misiorowski has averaged 2,631 rpm on his fastball this season.

None of this is to suggest that Knoth is destined to follow the same path as any of those three pitchers. However, his raw “stuff” clearly gives him the tools to have success as he continues to develop and work his way through the minor-league ranks.

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