Predicting where the Brewers' top shortstop prospects will begin the 2026 season

Just a few years ago, the Milwaukee Brewers' farm system was headlined by outfield talent. In fact, at one point during the 2023 season, the organization’s top four prospects were all outfielders: Jackson Chourio, Sal Frelick, Garrett Mitchell, and Joey Wiemer.

This year, and likely continuing into next, shortstop prospects have taken center stage in the Brewers’ farm system. Jesus Made has rightfully earned the top spot, followed by Luis Peña at No. 2 and Cooper Pratt close behind at No. 3, according to MLB Pipeline's prospect rankings.

Made and Peña, both international prospects from the Dominican Republic, have risen through the system side by side, earning simultaneous promotions from Low-A to High-A this season, after beginning their professional careers in the Dominican Summer League in 2024. Made took it one step further, finishing this year with a late-season call-up to Double-A, where he joined Pratt to close out the campaign.

With the Brewers' minor league affiliate seasons now complete, it’s intriguing to speculate where these players will begin the 2026 campaign. Here, we take a way too early prediction of just that.

Predicting where Milwaukee Brewers' top shortstop prospects, Jesús Made, Luis Peña, and Cooper Pratt, will begin the 2026 season

Of the trio, Pratt spent the entire 2025 season in Double-A. While he faced some challenges offensively, posting a .238/.343/.348 slash line in his third professional year, his defensive performance remained strong. Beginning the year with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds feels like a big jump for the 21-year-old Pratt, but the Brewers may elect to make the move in an effort to clear the way for Made to continue playing shortstop uninterrupted at Double-A in 2026.

If the path is clear for Made to start the 2026 season in Double-A, it will have been well deserved. Made didn't miss a beat upon being promoted from Low-A to High-A, and is clearly ready for the challenge that Double-A brings. Coincidentally, Jackson Chourio was 19 years old in 2023, when he began the year in Double-A, and Made turns 19 in May next year, which speaks volumes to the trajectory that he is on.

Lastly, Peña’s 2026 starting point will be one to watch closely. He’ll turn 19 during the offseason but has followed Made for almost every step of the way so far, and for good reason, as the duo has consistently overwhelmed opponents with their blend of bat-to-ball skills and speed. However, a few factors could slow Peña’s ascent. He struggled after his promotion to High-A, and Double-A may remain crowded with infield talent, including Luke Adams, Blake Burke, and Mike Boeve. Unless a spot opens for Made to move up, Peña may need to start 2026 at a different level, marking the first real separation between the two rising stars.

Overall, the Brewers find themselves in a great position with three highly talented shortstop prospects who are all rising through the system with legitimate upside. While their individual 2026 starting points may vary based on performance and roster depth, what’s clear is that Milwaukee’s infield future looks bright.