Weekly Brewers Prospect Watch: Top 2023 Draft picks powering Biloxi, ACL gets started

The Brewers have one of the most talent-rich farm systems in baseball, a product of excellent scouting, drafting, and development. It's this farm system that is so crucial to the long-term plan for success for the Brewers organization.

Some of the fruits of this farm system have already made their way to Milwaukee. Garrett Mitchell, Sal Frelick, Brice Turang, Jackson Chourio, Tyler Black, and most recently Robert Gasser are all highly touted prospects that have spent the last few years in the Brewers farm system.

Checking in on the progress of the farm system and the prospects the Brewers have in the minors will help us get a clearer picture of who could be next to get the call to Milwaukee and who is playing well. Let's see how things are going in the minors.

Biloxi led by bash brothers of Brock and Boeve

Brock Wilken was hit in the face with a pitch back in April, suffering a few facial fractures. The 2023 first round pick came off the injured list on Tuesday this past week and he hasn't skipped a beat. Wilken crushed two home runs this week, including a grand slam over the Montgomery Biscuits.

Since returning to Biloxi from the IL, Wilken is hitting .318 (7-for-22) with a double, two homers, and seven RBIs. His batting average on the season has jumped up from .167 to .250 now. He's back in the lineup with a vengeance and hitting for power. He's not the only big name

Wilken's fellow 2023 draftee Mike Boeve, taken in the 2nd round, has been lighting the minors on fire. After being promoted from High-A Wisconsin, Boeve has played in 19 games for the Shuckers, hitting a whopping .354/.420/.544 with six doubles, three triples, and a homer with a .964 OPS.

Boeve was playing third base in Wilken's absence, but now that Wilken is back healthy, Boeve has made the move over to first base. That forms a very formidable corner infield duo for the Shuckers and one that could be the corner infield duo in Milwaukee very soon.

Also of note for Biloxi, Bradley Blalock (acquired in the Luis Urias trade) has a 2.43 ERA through six starts and 29.2 IP with just seven walks allowed and 24 strikeouts. Jacob Misiorowski has a 2.63 ERA in seven starts and 27.1 IP, and while he's struck out 41, he's also walked 20 batters. Justin Yeager, brought over in the William Contreras deal, has a 2.31 ERA in 11 outings and has converted six of seven save opportunities.

Arizona Complex League starts season with bevy of young talent

The ACL Brewers got their season underway this last week. There's just one ACL Brewers roster again this year, and it's loaded. 2023 3rd round pick Eric Bitonti, top international signings Filippo Di Turi, Luis Lameda, and Aneuris Rodriguez headline this group.

Through the first six games of their schedule, the ACL Brewers have a 2-4 record. Leading the team offensively is Filippo Di Turi. He's hitting .333/.517/.524 with two doubles, a triple, eight walks and just four strikeouts in his 21 ABs. Di Turi is a switch hitting shortstop that signed for $1.3MM in January 2023. He currently ranks as the Brewers 29th best prospect.

Eric Bitonti isn't far behind though, hitting .296/.345/.444 with a double, a home run, and five RBIs so far in this young ACL season. Bitonti is the Crew's 13th ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline and has plenty of raw power, but there's questions about his strikeouts. He's struck out nine times already in 29 ABs in this first week of the season, but he's still getting on base at a good clip and doing damage.

Aneuris Rodriguez is a pitcher to keep an eye on. Last year, he had a 3.48 ERA in 41.1 IP in the DSL with some exciting stuff and he's built on that so far. In this first week, Rodriguez has 5.1 IP, allowing just one run on two hits with 13 strikeouts. He's recorded 16 total outs and 13 of them have been via the strikeout.

Other prospects to watch

• Manuel Rodriguez cruised through seven innings in his start this week for Low-A Carolina. He allowed just three hits, one run, no walks, and six strikeouts. On the season, Rodriguez has a 2.67 ERA through five starts with 27 IP, just two walks, and 24 strikeouts.

• Craig Yoho, an 8th round pick in 2023, has dominated as the closer for High-A Wisconsin. He has a 0.60 ERA in 11 outings and is five of five in save chances. Yoho's struck out 29 batters and walked just two in 15 innings of work.

• Gregory Barrios is starting to see his bat come around. Through 29 games for High-A Wisconsin, Barrios is hitting .324/.369/.463 with 12 doubles, a homer, and 23 RBIs. He's struck out just 15 times in 122 PAs. Barrios is a strong defender at shortstop as well and can stick at that position.