Milwaukee Brewers Prospects 2022 Season in Review: #11-15

2 of 3

With the New Year well underway, there are plenty of prospects for the Milwaukee Brewers who have New Year's resolutions to make big strides for this upcoming 2023 season. Some of them even got a big jump on that promise last season.

The next five prospects that we'll cover made varying strides toward their goal of eventually reaching the bigs. There's a couple that actually made their Major League debut and a few that just stayed put in the minors. Let's take a deeper dive into how these prospects 2022 seasons went.

Here's our 2022 season in review for the Brewers prospects ranked 11 through 15.

2022 Brewers prospect season in review: #11 - Ethan Small - LHP

Once a top five prospect for the Brewers as recently as the 2021 season, Ethan Small took a bit of a dive in the prospect rankings during the 2022 season. Starting the season in Triple-A Nashville, he came out dominant as ever, looking like the top five prospect everyone had been excited for.

In the opening month of the Triple-A season, Small pitched 23.1 innings and during that stretch, finished with a 0.77 ERA. After the dominant April start, Small was awarded International League Pitcher of the Month.

At this point, Brewers fans were questioning why he wasn't up with the club yet, especially with the pitcher injury bug that hit the rotation in May. Finally, after a couple more injuries on the big league club and with a doubleheader with the Chicago Cubs coming up, Small got the call.

In his debut, he went two and two-thirds of an inning and struggled with his control, which has been an ongoing issue. He gave up four walks and four hits but only surrendering two runs.

Small was ultimately sent down following the game where he would rejoin Nashville for most of the remainder of the season, only getting one more start with the Brewers where he struggled again against the Minnesota Twins.

Small finished the season with a 4.46 ERA with the Sounds in 103 innings. His command was inconsistent over the season, walking 58 but on the flip side striking out 114 batters. Expect to see Small this upcoming season, though whether that will be in the bullpen or in the rotation coming out of spring training remains to be seen.

2022 Brewers prospect season in review: #12 - Luis Lara - OF

During the midst of the 2022 season, Luis Lara signed with the Brewers and quickly turned into a top 30 prospect. The Venezuelan signed for $1.1 million and began his career in the Dominican Summer League where he showed off in his 58 games.

In his first season in the minors, Lara had 229 plate appearances and had 52 hits. 11 of those hits were doubles, while four of those were triples. He drew 21 walks as well and struck out just 28 times.

According to MLB.com's bio on Lara, he attracts eyes due to his speed and is made for the center field position. I'd expect Lara to start in Single-A Carolina in 2023 and, if all things go according to plan, to see him with High-A Wisconsin by season's end.

2022 Brewers prospect season in review: #13 - Janson Junk - RHP

Recently acquired from the Los Angeles Angels in a trade for Hunter Renfroe, pitcher Janson Junk had quite the busy travel season during the 2022 year. Junk was optioned or recalled a total of seven times despite being apart of a club that struggles with their pitching.

During his Triple-A portion of the season, Junk appeared in 16 games, where he was somewhat inconsistent. Pitching a 4.64 ERA in 73.2 innings, he was able to keep the home runs down as he only gave up nine. In his three games with the Angels last season, he pitched only eight and a third innings and gave up six earned runs.

Junk knows how to do exactly what his name says, he throws a slider and a curve that sits around the high 70s and low 80s. With the Brewers pitching lab turning out so many high quality pitchers, Junk could easily find his footing with the Brewers and become another high quality pitcher. Expect to see him on the big league club, possibly even on Opening Day and probably in the bullpen.

2022 Brewers prospect season in review: #14 - Felix Valerio - INF

After having one of the best seasons of his professional baseball career in 2021, Valerio struggled with his transition to Double-A Biloxi in 2022. In 113 games with the Shuckers, Valerio hit .228 with a .670 OPS, which was down almost 220 points to the previous season. Despite the lack of hitting, part of his power increased as he smashed 12 home runs while he also drew 48 walks.

Valerio spent most of his games as the second baseman, but has been stretched as a utility man, gaining time as a designated hitter, third baseman, and corner outfielder.

For the 2023 season, I expect Valerio to bounce back and have a similar season to what he had the year before in Carolina. He'll be more comfortable at the Double-A level and if he has the type of season he once had, expect to see him in Triple-A with Nashville by the end of the season.

2022 Brewers prospect season in review: #15 - Hendry Mendez - OF

After being signed in the early winter months of 2021 and dominating in Rookie ball, Mendez slowed down a little bit during the 2022 season with Carolina. Appearing in 105 games and compiling 446 plate appearances, Mendez struggled to make contact with the ball.

Getting on base via the hit 92 times, he struggled to shoot the ball to the gap as he only hit 11 doubles and had just one triple. His awareness at the plate increased as he drew 62 walks, which was almost three times more than his previous season.

Mendez will most likely start the season in Carolina again looking to improve upon what was a not so great season. The highest he'll likely get is High-A Wisconsin, though if he's really tearing the cover off the ball like he was in 2021 then we might see him make an appearance in Double-A Biloxi.

5 40-Man Players In Danger of Not Making It to Opening Day. dark. Next

Home / Brewers Prospects