Brewers to send 7 prospects to Arizona Fall League with high expectations for 2027 season

Most of the Milwaukee Brewers' minor league affiliates have already begun the offseason; only the Triple-A Nashville Sounds, who kicked off their last series of the regular season last night, and the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers, who are in the midst of the Southern League playoffs, are still playing. A majority of prospects in the Brewers' highly rated farm system, therefore, already have their sights set on what they can do to best set themselves up for success in the 2027 season.

Many prospects will compete in offseason leagues, such as LIDOM (the Dominican Republic Professional Baseball League) or the Venezuelan Winter League. A handful are invited to play in the Arizona Fall League (AFL), which is an offseason prospect-only league that takes place in October and November. The league consists of six teams, each of which is comprised of prospects from five MLB organizations. For example, this year, the Brewers' prospects will play for the Scottsdale Scorpions, whose roster consists of prospects from the San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros, Tampa Bay Rays, and Detroit Tigers' farm systems as well.

Plenty of talent has come through the AFL in seasons past. In fact, according to the AFL's website, 35% of all players named to the 2026 MLB All-Star Game played in the AFL at one point. If an organization sends a prospect to the AFL, it generally means they are encouraged about said prospect's future and want to see them compete against stronger competition. Therefore, fans have come to take notice of the AFL rosters each year, knowing that the prospects included are looked upon favorably by the organization.

This year, the Brewers are sending seven prospects to the AFL -- four pitchers and three position players. Among them are a former first-round pick, the holder of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers' single-season home run record, and an overlooked catching prospect who could factor into the Brewers' future plans. Let's take a closer look at which prospects the Brewers are electing to send to the renowned Arizona Fall League this year.

List of Brewers prospects participating in 2026 Arizona Fall League:

1. OF Braylon Payne (Double-A)
2. INF Eric Bitonti (Double-A)
3. C Matthew Wood (Double-A)
4. RHP Ryan Birchard (Double-A)
5. LHP Jose Meneses (High-A)
6. RHP Miqueas Mercedes (High-A)
7. RHP Joshua Quezada (Double-A)

Braylon Payne, Eric Bitonti highlight talented group of Brewers prospects heading to the Arizona Fall League this year

Among the seven Brewers prospects heading to the AFL, outfielder Braylon Payne is the highest ranked. Checking in at No. 6 on MLB Pipeline's rankings of the top prospects in the Brewers' farm system, Payne, who Milwaukee drafted in the first round of the 2024 draft, experienced a breakout season in 2026. In 102 games split between High-A and Double-A, Payne slashed .277/.358/.552 with 28 homers and 25 stolen bases. His defense in center field remains elite, as evidenced by his impressive outfield assist (seen below) in the Shuckers' playoff game last night.

Slugging corner infielder Eric Bitonti is the next highest rated prospect among the bunch. Bitonti, who the Brewers drafted in the third round of the 2023 MLB Draft, has some of the most raw power in the entire farm system. He broke the Timber Rattlers' single-season home run record this year by crushing 25 homers before being promoted to Double-A for the final weeks of the regular season. Bitonti can play both first and third base and needs to focus on curtailing his high strikeout rate this offseason.

Catcher Matthew Wood, meanwhile, is one of the more underrated prospects in the Brewers' farm system. The Biloxi Shuckers' award-winning play-by-play announcer, Javik Blake, picked Wood to be his breakout prospect this year, and it's safe to say Blake hit the nail on the head. Wood crushed 18 homers in 95 games for the Shuckers this year while maintaining an excellent slash line of .257/.398/.492. Wood could factor into the Brewers' catching plans in the near future, especially if the team elects to trade William Contreras this offseason.

On the pitching side of things, 23-year-old right-hander Ryan Birchard is the closest of the group to the major leagues. Birchard covered 50 innings for Double-A Biloxi as a reliever this year and posted a mediocre 4.68 ERA. However, this was Birchard's first season working out of the bullpen, and his 82 strikeouts in 50 innings is absolutely something to be intrigued by.

Left-hander Jose Meneses just completed his fifth season in the Brewers' farm system, but has been limited by injuries throughout his professional career. When healthy, Meneses has impressed, with a 2.21 ERA in 57 innings of relief split between Low-A and High-A this year to prove it. He too possesses a head-turning strikeout rate (31.4% this year) and is certainly a name to watch out for so long as he can remain healthy.

Right-hander Joshua Quezeda, who the Brewers acquired from the New York Yankees back in 2024, is also a true reliever with intriguing strikeout stuff. He posted a high ERA of 5.40 in 58.1 innings this year, most of which came in Low-A, but had 74 strikeouts in that span.

Finally, 20-year-old right-hander Miqueas Mercedes is the only true starting pitcher the Brewers are sending to the AFL this year. Mercedes, who was signed as an international free agent in 2024, made 20 appearances (15 starts) for the Low-A Wilson Warbirds this year and posted an excellent 2.81 ERA. He struggled with a high walk rate, but missed enough bats to not let it impact his otherwise stellar stat line.

It's an exciting group of prospects that the Brewers are sending to the AFL this year. From high-end talent like Payne and Bitonti, to overlooked prospects like Wood and Mercedes, to a trio of relievers with strong strikeout numbers in Birchard, Meneses, and Quezeda, there's plenty for Brewers fans to look out for when the Arizona Fall League begins next month.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow