Brewers' top outfield prospect silences doubters with early 2026 power surge

During the Milwaukee Brewers' spring exhibition season, there were two prospects who were up in big-league camp that really caught the attention of manager Pat Murphy. One was 21-year-old shortstop Cooper Pratt, who the Brewers have reportedly signed to an 8-year, $50 million contract, though the team has yet to officially confirm the extension. The other was outfielder Luis Lara, who has quietly made his way through the Brewers' minor league system over the last four seasons and is now starting games for the Triple-A Nashville Sounds at the young age of 21.

Lara, who signed with the Brewers as an international free agent back in 2022, hails from San Felipe, Venezuela, and though his ascent through Milwaukee's farm system wasn't quite as rapid as fellow Venezuelan outfielder Jackson Chourio's, he's similarly been pushed by the organization throughout his professional career. Like Chourio, Lara skipped the Arizona Complex League altogether, going from the Dominican Summer League right to Low-A ball back in 2023.

Despite a mediocre season with the High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in 2024, the Brewers elected to have Lara start the 2025 season in Double-A with the Biloxi Shuckers. The switch-hitting outfielder responded to the challenge by posting a Southern League-leading 32 doubles throughout the campaign. That, paired with the team-leading 21 games that Lara appeared in during the Cactus League season this year, was more than enough for the Brewers to start the toolsy outfielder in Triple-A in 2026.

Through five games with the Nashville Sounds, that decision, which felt like an obvious one at the time, feels even more wise on the Brewers' front. Lara, Milwaukee's No. 12-ranked prospect, is off to a hot start in Nashville.

Brewers' outfield prospect Luis Lara crushes two homers in first five Triple-A games of his career

Lara isn't known for his power; he's known for his glove. The speedy, 5'7" outfielder won a minor league Gold Glove last season, and when I talked to Javik Blake, the Shuckers' award-winning broadcaster, a few weeks ago, he said that Lara is the best defensive outfielder he's ever seen. That kind of praise from someone who has seen plenty of talent come through Biloxi over the last three seasons should not be taken lightly.

However, Lara isn't one-dimensional by any means. He pairs his elite glove with exceptional baserunning skills that produced 89 stolen bases over the last two seasons. Oh, and don't forget, he led the Southern League in doubles last year.

The one aspect of Lara's game that evaluators have been skeptical of is his power. At 5'7" and 167 lbs, it's not surprising Lara isn't posting gaudy homerun numbers each year, even as the combination of his excellent hit and run tools produces a great deal of doubles. In MLB Pipeline's most recent evaluation of the Brewers' farm system, Lara received a grade of 30 (on the 20-80 scouting scale) for his power tool.

As the Sounds' social media team notes in the post above, that grade may have to be revisited. Lara popped a homer in Nashville's season opener last Friday, which, coincidentally, came off of former Brewers' reliever Enoli Paredes. Then, in last night's loss to the Charlotte Knights, the Chicago White Sox' Triple-A affiliate, Lara homered again, matching his 2025 season homerun total in just five games this year.

Heading into this season, Lara would most certainly be described as a four-tool player. He can hit for average, play exceptional defense, has a strong throwing arm, and is excellent on the base paths. The one thing he's missing to become one of those elusive five-tool ballplayers is more power.

Lara's likely never going to be a big power threat, but as Blake told me last month: if he can just elevate the ball a bit more, he has the exit velocities to do some damage. So far this season, Lara is elevating, and the result is a .750 slugging percentage through his first 22 plate appearances of the young 2026 season.

Brewers fans shouldn't be surprised if they see Lara at the big-league level this year, though it may take an injury or two to the Brewers' deep group of big-league outfielders. However, given the fact that most of those outfielders have minor league options, if Lara continues to hit like he has through the first week of the season, he may force his way onto the big-league roster without any injuries.