Brewers: 3 Prospects Who Have Broken Out in 2023 As Minor League Season Wraps Up

In a deep Milwaukee farm system, a few prospects have seen their stock rise heavily this season.
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Brewers breakout prospect: 3B/1B Luke Adams

Luke Adams was a 12th round pick (372nd overall) in the 2022 MLB Draft out of Hinsdale Central High School in Illinois, and after having a great start to his professional career in rookie ball last season, Adams was poised to break out. He slashed .375/.512/.563 for a 1.075 OPS in 32 plate appearances in the ACL in 2022, with four extra base hits and a 8/7 BB/K ratio.

Adams started the 2023 season as the starting 3rd baseman for the Single-A Carolina Mudcats, and the production has been there all season. Adams is slashing .233/.400/.401 with a 135 wRC+ in his first full minor league season. He has 32 XBH, including 11 home runs, and has scored 74 times in 99 games. He is tied for ninth in home runs in the Carolina League, and he leads the league in runs scored. He has also spent time at first base and designated hitter this season, splitting 24 games between those two positions.

Where Adams has really broken out in 2023 is in plate discipline and bat-to-ball skills. Adams has the second-highest BB% for all qualified hitters in A-ball, at 17.3%, and the third-highest BB/K ratio, at .77.

Adams also does an incredible job at getting baserunning production at his size. While Adams is listed with 30-grade speed on Fangraphs, he has 30 stolen bases this season, and stole 9 bags in 11 games in the complex league. He has a 7.5 speed score (Spd), which ranks him as the 5th-best baserunner among qualified hitters in A-ball.

According to Fangraphs, Adams was listed as the Brewers #42 overall prospect heading into the 2023 season. The prospect report on Adams is high on his hit and power tools, as he has future grades of 55 and 60 on hit and raw power, respectively. What brings him down so far in the prospect rankings is his defense. Adams is currently a 20-grade defender, and there is doubt in his future at third base, with left field and first base seemingly being his most fitting positions.

At the age of 19, Adams has shown great growth as a hitter, and if this type of production continues, he could skyrocket up Brewers prospect lists as soon as next season.