Brewers release 2021 draft pick after six years in minor league system

Back in 2021, the Milwaukee Brewers spent a 16th-round draft pick on talented high school outfielder Kay-Lan Nicasia. The then-19-year-old Nicasia possessed a unique blend of athleticism and dedication that excited the Brewers' organization.

Nicasia, who was born in the Netherlands but lived much of his life in Curacao, was sent by his parents to attend high school in Florida before he was drafted by the Brewers. Milwaukee assigned him to the Arizona Complex League (ACL) for the second half of the 2021 season, where he got his first taste of professional baseball.

Though his first few games of pro ball didn't go as Nicasia hoped they would -- he collected just eight hits in 42 at-bats -- when he returned to the ACL the following season, the potential that he possessed as a draft prospect started to shine through. In 2022, Nicasia posted a solid .341 OBP and .435 slugging percentage, due to 15 extra-base hits, five of which were homers, in the ACL.

Nicasia went on to spend the 2023 and 2024 seasons in Low-A with the Carolina Mudcats, where injuries impacted his development. After collecting 27 stolen bases and six homers in a decent 2023 campaign, Nicasia was limited to just 29 games in the 2024 season.

The speedy outfielder spent the first three games of the 2025 season back in Carolina with the Mudcats, but after crushing two homers in that trio of contests, he was quickly promoted to High-A, where he joined the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. A tough season, during which Nicasia posted a .156 batting average in 75 games in Appleton, followed, and after one month of the 2026 season, Nicasia has officially been released from the Brewers' organization.

Outfielder Kay-Lan Nicasia released from Shuckers' crowded outfield group after slow start to the season

Last week, after spending some time on the Development List -- a list for healthy players who step away from the active roster while trying to make adjustments to their game -- Nicasia was released from the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers roster. Despite his inconsistent 2025 season, Nicasia, who was in his sixth season in the Brewers' organization, was promoted to Double-A to start the 2026 campaign, but he once again struggled to find success.

The switch-hitting outfielder collected just three hits in 36 at-bats to kick off the 2026 season, resulting in a slash line of .083/.214/.083 that made it difficult for the Shuckers to justify keeping him on their roster. With an outfield group that includes Damon Keith, Dasan Brown, Mark Coley II, and Eduardo Garcia as well as players like Eric Brown Jr., Jheremy Vargas, and Dylan O'Rae, who can play both infield and outfield, the opportunities for Nicasia were hard to come by. Pair that with the fact that Mike Boeve has converted to a corner outfielder this year, and finding playing time was becoming even more difficult for the now-24-year-old Nicasia.

There's certainly potential in Nicasia's profile, and the hope is that he lands in a new organization with plenty of opportunities to prove he has what it takes to continue climbing up the minor league ranks. For now, however, it appears Nicasia's lengthy journey in the Brewers' farm system has come to an end.

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