Team Outlook
While you can quibble with comments about the Brewers being an entertainment product, you can not argue how great an organization the Brewers are. They are one of the better scouting organizations in the sport, as evidenced by their routinely doing great in the draft and the international free agent market. They are also one of the best player development organizations in the sport as they routinely optimize hitters and pitchers in a way few organizations do. The elephant in the room in this ranking is Jesus Made, and after going through the reporting process and getting some data in conversations, we felt rather comfortable ranking a DSL hitter as the top prospect in one of the best farm systems in baseball. He has an optimized swing, has shown legit power, and has hit any statistical or scouty benchmarks. We would want to be aggressive on one of baseball's riskier demographics.
About Our Top 20 Lists
Prospects Live, led by its evaluating team & Director of Scouting Rhys White, is proud to begin rolling out its annual offseason system reports. The team combines industry feedback, our live looks, film, and available data to compile each org. We believe this effort has enabled us to present you, the reader, with our best possible view of the prospects in the organization.
We have constructed this list using the Overall Future Potential (OFP) scale. There is no perfect equation for ranking prospects or assigning value to them, but we believe this method is the best possible approach. Every prospect on this list has been graded based on the tried and true 20-80 scouting scale. An 80 is the highest tool and OFP grade on the scale, reserved for MVP-caliber players or tools. Conversely, a 20 is reserved for non-prospects (NPs). A 50 OFP falls in the middle, indicating our evaluators deem this player a future average major league player. Below the 50 OFP tier are the 45s and 40s, comprising a large majority of players on each list. These are specific-role players, such as platoon hitters, utility players, or low-leverage relievers. Above the 50 OFP tier are the 55s and 60s. A 55 represents a future above-average player, and a 60 OFP designation is reserved for future All-Star caliber players.
In addition to the tool grades and OFP, we will also include a 'Risk' associated with each prospect. We use this to better communicate to you, the reader, whether a grade is more aggressive or conservative in nature. The evaluation team has worked hard to apply both the grades and risk components to better illustrate how each individual prospect stacks up in their respective system and in the baseball ecosystem.
Evaluators: Rhys White, Matt Thompson , Alex Kempton, Tyler Paddor, Max Ellingsen, Grant Carver
Find all the Top 20 Lists here:
Rhys White
Top 20 Prospects
1. Jesus Made, SS - 60 OFP
2. Jacob Misiorowski, RHP - 55 OFP
3. Jeferson Quero, C - 50 OFP
4. Cooper Pratt, SS - 50 OFP
5. Braylon Payne, OF - 50 OFP
6. Luis Pena, SS - 45 OFP
7. Yophery Rodriguez, OF - 45 OFP
8. Logan Henderson, RHP - 45 OFP
9. Mike Boeve, 3B - 45 OFP
10. Josh Knoth, RHP - 45 OFP
11. Bryce Meccage, RHP - 45 OFP
12. Eric Bitonti, 1B - 45 OFP
13. Craig Yoho, RHP - 45 OFP
14. Tyler Black, 1B - 45 OFP
15. Robert Gasser, LHP - 45 OFP
16. Caleb Durbin, 2B - 45 OFP
17. Luke Adams, 1B - 45 OFP
18. Brock Wilken, 3B - 45 OFP
19. Blake Burke, 1B - 45 OFP
20. Brett Wichrowski, RHP - 45 OFP
Scouting Reports
SS Jesus Made
DOB: 5/8/2007
HT: 6-1
WT: 187
H/T: S/R
Acquired: 2024 IFA
Highest Level: DSL
ETA: 2028
Rule V: 2028
Grades:
SCOUTING REPORT
There might be no more buzzy name in the prospect streets than Jesus Made. Made has had a meteoric rise to being one of the best prospects in the game, and a lot of it stems from him being already polished as a hitter. He has a smooth swing from either side of the plate, with little discernible difference from either side of the plate. When you watch him, the big thing that stands out is his ability to lift and pull batted balls with authority. His swing is so optimized for someone his age that he shows an excellent feel for getting out in front of pitches on the inner half, but he also has more than enough bat speed to attack breaking pitches on the outer half to spoil them. Made for his age, he has impressive game power that could end up double-plus by the time he gets to the majors. Made’s swing decisions are impeccable, and when you factor in how young he is and how few professional reps he has, he could very well end up being a 70-hitter when he reaches the majors—in the field, Made projects out as a league average defender at a few different positions. He will still play shortstop and should continue working at the six because there are flashes of him being able to make the routine play, and he has more than enough lateral agility to play there. His reads are slightly less refined, but that should get better as he climbs through the minors. He could move to third or even center field very well because he has the foot-speed to play center field with some coaching and reps. There have always been hyped-up DSL prospects, but none have performed this well and hit every statistical and aesthetic benchmark that Made has. The question with Made is how aggressive one can be with projecting on him; he hasn’t seen a state-side pitch in the game and is already a top-10 prospect in the game. - Rhys White
FANTASY SPIN
Several DSL hitters put up impressive lines each season, but it’s always a coin flip as to which ones will carry over their skills once they come stateside. There are very few who put together every facet of the game quite like Made did in 2024. His underlying data (47% hard-hit rate, 103.9 90th EV, 89% contact rate, and 15% chase rate) shows that he is head and shoulders above his peers and ready for his next challenge. He is advanced for his age and the definition of a five-tool talent. Made has jumped inside our top 20, and it won’t be long before he’s inside the top 10 when graduations take place. There is still risk here, and the hype is huge, but the talent is real; you might have missed your window if you haven’t acquired him yet. He must be at the top of your wish list if he's available in your league. - Greg Hoogkamp
RHP Jacob Misiorowski
DOB: 4/3/2002
HT: 6-7
WT: 190
H/T: R/R
Acquired: 2022 Draft, Round:2 ($2,350,000)
Highest Level: Triple-A
ETA: 2025
Rule V: 2025
Grades:
SCOUTING REPORT
The Brewers did what they do best here and scouted an arm from a smaller school. The Brewers drafted the tall, thin right-hander from Crowder College in Missouri. It was the highest bonus they would hand out in the 2022 draft. Misiorowski stands out when he takes the mound in a multitude of ways. The primary reason is his unusual build. He's a big presence on the mound, even more so when you factor in his unusual delivery. He has no fear on the mound and goes right at hitters with one of the fastest arms in the minors. His arm speed causes some issues with him timing-wise, though, as the rest of his long frame struggles to sync up with his arm sometimes, and he can completely lose the strike zone. The stuff is loud and the best pure stuff in the minor leagues. He averages 98 with the fastball but routinely hits triple digits with a low release due to top-tier extension. He gets down the mound, and the fastball is on top of the hitter. It's an 80 fastball when you factor in velocity and the unique characteristics of the pitch. He also has a pair of plus-plus-breaking balls in his slider and curveball. His power curveball is in the mid-80s and has a two-plane break. He has a harder, flatter version in the mid to upper 80s that also piles up swings and misses. He's added a cutter to the mix and will also throw a changeup. Misiorowski has a long history of struggling to throw strikes. The Brewers put him in the bullpen in the minors late in the season, and he threw more strikes in that role. They should initially run him back out as a starter in the minors, but he could also turn into a valuable late-inning relief arm. The command drops him a half grade or so, but Misiorowski has the stuff to either headline a rotation or a bullpen. - Matt Thompson
FANTASY SPIN
Roll the dice with Miz, and you might land snake eyes—though, in this case, that’s a good thing. With an 80-grade fastball and two 70-grade secondary pitches, he has the potential to become one of the best pitchers in the game. That said, there’s also a floor that resembles the Wild Thing from Major League. Most analysts would likely peg him for a bullpen role, given the risks involved. But with a major upside in play, he’s a top 100-ish prospect. -Tom Gates
C Jeferson Quero
DOB: 10/8/2002
HT: 5-11’
WT: 215
H/T: R/R
Acquired: 2019 IFA
Highest Level: Triple-A
ETA: 2024
Rule V: On 40-man
Grades:
SCOUTING REPORT
If it hadn’t been for a labrum injury requiring season-ending surgery, we might have seen Jefferson Quero make his major league debut with the Brewers in 2024. Quero is one of the better defensive catchers in the low minors, as he is a polished defensive catcher with an easy plus arm. He blocks balls well, has a great understanding of getting his body in front of batted balls, and really wants to be behind the dish. He communicates well with his pitchers and has gotten rave reviews for how he calls games and how he interacts with his pitchers. Quero is a good receiver with quick wrists and can frame borderline pitches well. Quero is an excellent two-way catcher, as he should be at least a league-average bat. But there is a level swing, with which his raw strength allows him to have above-average power. He likes to get out in front and pull batted balls to tap into his power. There is some aggressiveness with breaking balls in and out of the zone, which is alarming and raises some yellow flags when you watch his 2023 tape. Pitches on the outer third of the zone, he will struggle to get to with his very pull-heavy approach. But he might lift and pull to a 100-110 wRC+ in his best years. Quero has a chance to be a Gabriel Moreno-esque defender for the Brewers while also proving to be a solid league-average bat. The Brewers, having a tandem of Quero and William Contreras, will immediately be one of the best tandems in the sport. - Rhys White
FANTASY SPIN
Quero is in a tough spot being on the Brewers because he won’t be taking playing time away from Conteras. He’s not an elite offense catcher, otherwise, it would be an easy hold, but he also isn’t a nothing. Quero should provide decent on-base skills with a good average and some power. He’s on the verge of getting the call and should be treated as a top 200 prospect and gains more value in two catchers. It might be a longer wait until he gets full-time at-bats. You be the judge if you want to hold. -Tom Gates
SS Cooper Pratt
DOB: 10/8/2002
HT: 6-4
WT: 195
H/T: R/R
Acquired: 2023 Draft, Round: 6 ($1,350,000)
Highest Level: High-A
ETA: 2026
Rule V: 2027
Grades:
SCOUTING REPORT
Cooper Pratt is someone that I don't know how the Brewers were able to float down to the 6th round and give him an over-slot deal. He has a long, lean frame with which you can project a little more muscle, but he and the Brewers have to decide how they want him to develop. They don't want him to lose any wiggle or lateral agility if he is to stay a shortstop. Pratt has an aesthetically pleasing swing, with a linear bat path that is geared towards getting the barrel on the ball. There is a noticeable lack of loft in his swing, which makes his average raw power tend to play down closer to below average. He shows good plate coverage, and his ability to attack pitches all over the zone gives him a high floor. The dream here is that his feel for barreling up pitches with some added strength may allow his power to be closer to average. Pratt is currently an average defensive shortstop with a good arm. He makes all the plays you expect, he can range decently well in the hole. He isn't the overly explosive or fluid athlete you want at short; however, he can get to batted balls on the ground, and his above-average arm allows him to get batters out at first because he can flip the ball over to first from a few different platforms. At the very least, Pratt projects out as a hit tool carried shortstop if the power never takes a step forward because he doesn't add more loft or strength. - Rhys White
FANTASY SPIN
6’4 shortstops that do everything well aren’t very common, and Pratt fits this description. He is not elite in any category, but he’s an above-average offensive player who can make routine plays on the field. Pratt is a very aggressive hitter but is talented enough to take pitches on or even just off the edges and hit them solidly. The hope is that Pratt can add a little strength and turn it into some extra-base power. There is room in his frame to fill out and time to work on his bat path. He’s a top 100 prospect now and, with some improvements, could move into the top 50. - Greg Hoogkamp
OF Braylon Payne
DOB: 8/14/2006
HT: 6-2
WT: 186
H/T: L/L
Acquired: 2024 Draft, Round: 1 ($3,440,000)
Highest Level: Single-A
ETA: 2028
Rule V: 2028
Grades:
SCOUTING REPORT
Braylon Payne is the fastest man alive, or close to it if by alive you mean affiliated baseball. Teams have become more emboldened to take players with elite game-changing speed and some other softer skills to fall back on. Payne is a wiry athlete with plenty of room to fill out, especially in the lower half. Think along the lines of Eagles receiver Devonta Smith for a body composition comp, although Payne is much younger. Payne’s calling card is his speed, where he is a double-plus runner, which helps him in centerfield and on the basepaths. In center field, he has the sort of range one would want, and his routes are coming along nicely. His routes and reads are inefficient, but his tremendous speed covers up some warts while he works on those. On the basepaths, he has a chance to lead whatever level of the minors he is at in stolen bases, given that he is able to get on base enough. The approach is a bit raw, which tends to happen for a lot of these slap-and-dash types that come from the prep ranks. There are also some swing-plane concerns with Braylon as he is far too linear, but you will see him get out in front of some pitches and pull some hard-liners to his pull side. His frame could add more mass, and when that happens, we could see some of that raw power that he has flashed on the showcase circuit and turn that into game power. This is a high-risk, high-reward demographic for the Brewers to be venturing into. If he hits enough, there is a chance 20/20 seasons with efficiency on the basepaths could be the norm, but if he doesn’t, he might follow in a Kendall George or Dillon Head-esque career path. The good thing is that with these types of speed-first players, we tend to know right away if they are good or not. - Rhys White
FANTASY SPIN
Payne has plenty of question marks, most notably the game power, but he reportedly made some adjustments to get into more power post-draft. The results were exit velocities as high as 110mph in a very good, albeit very brief pro-debut, that saw him slash .438/.526/.625 with more stolen bases (4) and as many walks (3) as strikeouts (3) in four games. This type of name could fly up rankings lists with a hot 2025 start and should be a nice upside flier in rounds two and three of 12 team FYPDs. - Taylor Corso
INF Luis Pena
DOB: 11/13/2006
HT: 5’11”
WT: 185
H/T: R/R
Acquired: 2024 IFA
Highest Level: DSL
ETA: 2028
Rule V: 2028
Grades:
SCOUTING REPORT
The Brewers signed Pena for $800,000 as part of what looks to be a loaded 2024 international free-agent class. Despite being vastly overshadowed by Jesus Made, Peña put together a fantastic DSL season, hitting .393/.457/.583 over 44 games. He was the DSL’s leading hitter and placed in the top five in stolen bases. Pena does a tremendous job of putting the bat on the baseball, and his strong contact skills are the foundation for what could be a valuable offensive skillset. He’s an aggressive hitter, but he also makes good swing decisions. He doesn’t walk much but also doesn’t strike out. He puts the bat on the ball and lets his plus-plus speed play. He stole 39 bases and was only caught four times, showing how adept he is as a baserunner. Peña played everywhere on the infield besides first base in 2024, but I do think, despite the versatility he showed in 2024, that he could be an average to slightly above average shortstop long term. Pena will make his stateside debut in 2025 in the Carolina League. That’s a challenging park for power, and Pena doesn’t have much. His lone homer was inside the park, but he uses his wheels and piles up the extra-base hits. Peña showed enough in 2024 that despite not appearing stateside, we still project him as a future everyday infielder. - Matt Thompson
FANTASY SPIN
Peña’s combination of great contact and aggressive base stealing makes him an intriguing fantasy option. However, the lack of power and aggressive approach indicate potential future red flags. Pena’s value could shift quickly in either direction depending on what he does stateside, but for now, he should probably be rostered in leagues of 200+ prospects. - Taylor Corso
OF Yophery Rodriguez
DOB: 12/5/2005
HT: 6-1
WT: 185
H/T: L/L
Acquired: 2023 IFA
Highest Level: High-A
ETA: 2028
Rule V: 2027
Grades:
SCOUTING REPORT
The Brewers have been making some calculated gambles in the IFA market and have become one of the better teams at scouting and signing out of Venezuela. Yophery is one of the more intriguing prospects for them, as they felt comfortable enough with him to go from the DSL in 2023, skip over the AZL in 2024, and immediately drop him off in Single-A to start 2024. Yophry is among the more exciting minor hitters in the Brewers organization. He has quick hands through the zone and is tinkering with his pre-pitch set-up. There wasn’t much to be encouraged about in the stats column on his tape. He shows a good feeling when making contact in the air. There are some present questions about how much power he will hit for, but I think he ultimately has above-average power because of how young and projectable he is. There are serious concerns with his hit tool because he was far too aggressive with pitches in the zone, and he will expand the zone. A lot of this could be due to an overzealous assignment by the Milwaukee Brewers. He has tightened up physically since the last time we wrote his report, which has led to him being slightly less twitchy in the outfield. A move to a corner seems more plausible than it was this time last year, where his above-average arm plays well. Yophery has taken a slight step back from his perception of him this time last year, but he is still so young that there is a lot of malleability in him as a player and an athlete. We are counting on a bounceback of sorts from Yophery. - Rhys White
FANTASY SPIN
Buy the dip, as the finance bro’s say. Yophery had an aggressive assignment to Single-A last season and had a poor showing. He’s still in our top 120 prospects and could catapult up the lists in short order with a strong showing early in the season. - Ryan Epperson
RHP Logan Henderson
DOB: 3/2/2002
HT: 5-11
WT: 194
H/T: R/R
Acquired: 2021 Draft, Round: 4 ($497,500)
Highest Level: Triple-A
ETA: 2025
Rule V: 40-Man
Grades:
SCOUTING REPORT
The Brewers are a pitching factory of sorts, and Logan Henderson is the latest to come off their conveyor belt. He is a shorter pitcher, listed at 5 '11, with a well-filled-out frame. Henderson stands on the extreme first-base side of the rubber, which helps his stuff play better against left-handed batters. Henderson has some drop and drive to his delivery, which plays well with always being in the stretch. He releases the ball from a lower release point, and that allows his fastball to play well up in the zone. He has two variations of the fastball: a four-seamer with the classic ride up in the zone that is a 60 offering on its own and then a two-seam/sinker variation that is not nearly as good. We have decided to middle the grade for the report. His four-seamer has decent velocity, but because of the release point, it is a tough offering for anyone to lay off up in the zone. He can command the fastball well, and it plays well with his plus changeup. The changeup is a plus offering with good tumble and fade and upwards of 12 MPH off the fastball. The changeup collects whiffs even in the impressive zone, and he and the Brewers are so confident in it that he will use it as his go-to secondary against same-handedness batters. Henderson's other secondary offerings are less refined, with an average cutter that he will use against left-handed batters to get them off the fastball and changeup and a bullet slider that is not really anything special. Henderson, when he is going, has plus command of his arsenal, but it more comfortably plays as above-average from start to start. He can spa the fastball-changeup as a starter in the major leagues, and if that slider takes a step forward, we could be talking about a mid-rotation starter with the Brewers’ track record of optimizing arms. - Rhys White
FANTASY SPIN
Logan Henderson’s plus four-seam fastball, changeup tunnel with one another, and credible command make him a near-lock for big-league work – especially considering the Brewers’ ability to get the most out of their arms. Neither of his other secondaries is remarkable, and some think a move to the ‘pen may give Henderson another notch of velocity, but we believe Henderson will get a chance to start first. The Dynasty Team ranked Henderson 157 in February 2025. – Drew Wheeler
3B Mike Boeve
DOB: 5/5/2002
HT: 6-1
WT: 210
H/T: L/R
Acquired: 2023 Draft, 2nd Round ($1,250,000)
Highest Level: Double-A
ETA: 2025
Rule V: 2026
Grades:
SCOUTING REPORT
Boeve may end up with only one MLB-caliber tool, but it could be a great one and arguably the most important for a hitter. Boeve profiles to hit plenty at the significant league level thanks to a loose and clean swing operation, though Boeve’s swing is not necessarily short or compact. Boeve is far from rigid in his swing, contributing to his easy plus feel for contact. Boeve has an advanced feel for hitting, adjusting his swing by count, and seeing different pitch types well. Boeve has deployed a consistent approach in his extended Double-A look last season. The one downside to Boeve’s hitting outlook is his swing length, which results in too much weak contact on the ground. If Boeve didn’t simultaneously excel at spraying line drives, there would be mild concerns over how Boeve’s swing would translate to MLB. Boeve has low-end raw power and may see peak exit velocities well below 110 mph, but with how much contact he makes, Boeve still profiles to sneak 10-12 homers in annually. Boeve is not very agile or quick. He’s fixed at third base with some first base or DH risk, but his hands and arm are good enough to support a short-term home at the hot corner. There is a lot of pressure on a high-ground ball bat, but Boeve’s feel for contact and mature approach is worth betting on, and a low-end to potentially average everyday outcome seems likely. - Tyler Paddor
FANTASY SPIN
Right inside our top 300, Boeve should find his way to Milwaukee at some point next year. Sporting an advanced hit tool and not much else fantasy-wise, he’s not much of a tantalizing prospect for fantasy. In a way, he’s similar to Tyler Black, but Black has plus speed, making him more projectable for fantasy relevance. Still, Boeve is potentially a deep league target.- Ryan Epperson
RHP Josh Knoth
DOB: 8/10/2005
HT: 6-1
WT: 190
H/T: R/R
Acquired: 2023 Amateur Draft, Round: 3 (2,000,000)
Highest Level: Single-A
ETA: 2027
Rule V: 2027
Grades:
SCOUTING REPORT
Knoth has the combination of youth and stuff for a pitcher that you can easily dream on. He has an above-average fastball that has been adding some velocity each of the last couple of years, and he flashed the upper 90s this year in the minors. It's got some firm action on it as well, and if he learns how to locate it consistently, it will continue to be an above-average pitch going forward. His curveball has always been the calling card, as it is a big breaker that freezes hitters consistently, and he throws it for strikes. He always looks comfortable with that pitch, which'll play at any level. The slider is also an above-average pitch and is his second out pitch that he throws. The slider is the opposite of the curve, featuring lots of sweep and more velocity than the curveball. The combination of these two secondary pitches has some immense upside, and if the command on both of them develops a bit more, the sky's the limit there. The changeup is still a work in progress and gets a little flat at points, but his arsenal does not need to be much more than average for him to stick in the rotation. The command does require lots of work, and a double-digit walk rate won't cut it, but that's not unusual for a young starter in the lower minors. It's easy to see that he has translated the three-pitch mix to the middle of a rotation if the command improves a bit, and he has lots of time for it to do just that. It was announced in early February that Knoth needs Tommy John surgery on his elbow and will miss the 2025 season. - Grant Carver
FANTASY SPIN
Knoth’s big fastball and ability to spin the ball give him a substantial strikeout upside, but the development of his command will be integral in whether he ends up reaching the ceiling of a mid-rotation starter or lands in the bullpen. With that in mind, while an 11% walk rate is undoubtedly too high, it isn’t disastrous, especially for an 18-year-old in his first pro season who pitches in one of the best pitching development systems in the league. My money is on the command improving in 2025, and Knoth’s value is rising with it. - Kyle Sonntag
RHP Bryce Meccage
DOB: 12/30/2000
HT: 6-4
WT: 210
H/T: R/R
Acquired: 2024 Draft, Round: 2 ($2,500,000)
Highest Level: DNP
ETA: 2029
Rule V: 2029
Grades:
SCOUTING REPORT
The Brewers drafted Bryce Meccage in the 2nd round of the 2024 draft and signed him away from the University of Virginia for $2.5 million. Meccage was a highly sought-after prep arm. He has a clean delivery with excellent arm speed and moves down the mound well. He’s a plus athlete. His fastball is explosive in the zone with quality riding life and missing bats. He sits in the mid-90s, touching 96, and should add more velocity as he matures. He has a natural feel for spinning the baseball, featuring two high spin-breaking balls approaching 3,000 RPMs. The slider is the best pitch of the two, with sweeping action in the low 80s. The curveball sits in the upper 70s with depth and some tilt. He will show a changeup that needs refinement. He didn’t use the pitch much as a prep arm, so it lags behind the other three offerings. Meccage checks all the boxes and looks like a future mid-rotation arm that should succeed in the Brewers player development machine. He will make his pro debut in 2025. - Matt Thompson
FANTASY SPIN
Meccage is a tremendously talented ball of clay that landed in an organization with a fantastic track record for getting the most out of talented prep arms. His fastball and pair of breaking balls give him a strong strikeout ceiling, and if he throws enough strikes, he could move through the system quickly. The fact that he didn’t debut in 2024 keeps his price relatively muted, but he’s a fantastic selection anytime after pick 25 in your FYPDs. - Kyle Sonntag
1B Eric Bitonti
DOB: 11/17/2005
HT: 6-4
WT: 218
H/T: L/R
Acquired: 2023 Draft, Round: 3 ($1,750,000)
Highest Level: Single-A
ETA: 2027
Rule V: 2027
Grades:
SCOUTING REPORT
Eric Bitonti is a grown-ass man in the batter's box. He is one of the more prominent prospects to take the batter's box on any given night. He is not an overly fluid athlete, and given his big and clunky gait, he is limited to third base and his ultimate defensive home, first base. The Brewers are incentivized to see if he can make things work for him as a third baseman, but that won't work well outside his above-average arm. At first, he presents a big target and may be good enough at scooping up balls to be good enough that no one complains too much, especially when he hits enough. Bitonti's calling card will be his bat, where he shows impressive raw power. He makes most ballparks look small, generating tremendous strength through torque, plus-bat speed, and raw strength. The batted ball outcomes could be very CJ Cronesque; imagine The Crone Zone as a left-handed hitter. Bitonti has some of the same swing and miss due to his upper-cut swing-plane, especially in the zone, that first-base slugger types before him have shown. He gets aggressive on pitches in the zone, but his power plays to all fields, and he can miss hit a ball and take it the other way with power. There is a semblance of an approach here that will allow him to offset some of the swing-and-miss. There is a lot to like about Bitonti as a future middle-of-the-order bat. However, he is the exact profile of a hitter who gets non-tendered the moment he starts to get expensive in the arb process. - Rhys White
FANTASY SPIN
When Bitonti eventually makes his way to the big leagues, his power will likely stack up with almost anyone in baseball; the question will be whether he ends up a “three true outcome” slugger or if he ends up making enough contact to be a starting 1B caliber player in AVG leagues as well. The upside in his bat has Bitonti on the fringes of being a top 100 bat who could take off if he can cut down on the swing and miss. - Kyle Sonntag
RHP Craig Yoho
DOB: 10/23/1999
HT: 6’3
WT: 225
H/T: R/R
Acquired: 2023 Draft, Round: 8, Pick: 242; Signing Bonus: $10,000
Highest Level: Triple A
ETA: 2025
Rule 5 Eligible: December 2026
Grades:
SCOUTING REPORT
Craig Yoho has the potential to be a relief pitcher in the middle of a bullpen, with possible low-set-up potential if he can land his fastball and slider for strikes more consistently. His plus changeup, which gets swings and misses and is an offering he has displayed confidence in, is the star of his pitch mix and is instrumental to his success. Yoho has a large, maxed-out frame and a thick, brawny build with broad shoulders and wide hips. Yoho pitches from the third-base side of the rubber; he pitches from a ¾ arm slot with pretty clean arm action. His delivery is somewhat high effort, and he doesn’t always repeat it consistently; he occasionally falls off toward first base, decreasing his command. His command ticks up quite a bit when he repeats his delivery well. Yoho’s fastball has some life with nice arm-side run and diving action, but its velocity has limited the offering’s quality. At times, he can dig deep and run it up to 94, significantly increasing its life, but it usually sits around the 91-92 MPH mark, where it’s much straighter, and hitters can get to it pretty easily; overall, it’s an average offering for now. Yoho’s slider flashes above-average potential on the days he has a feel for it, but the pitch has an inconsistent movement profile. At its best, it has a sweeping movement profile with some nice bite at the plate, but sometimes, it can be more up and down than right to left. Yoho’s changeup is a plus offering that is the best pitch in his repertoire; it has some nice fade and drop, falling off the table and getting swings and misses on both left- and right-handed hitters. He is confident in the offering, often utilizing it as his out pitch, and tends to be able to throw it for a strike consistently. Yoho has the potential to be a backend of the bullpen for now; his plus changeup will likely lead him to some success in the MLB. He may even be able to work his way toward the back end of a bullpen if he can increase his command, beginning to land his fastball and slider for strikes more often in the future. - Alex Kempton
FANTASY SPIN
In his second professional season, Craig Yoho amassed 101 strikeouts (42.4 percent) to a 9.7 percent walk rate, earning 10 saves while only allowing six earned runs, swashbuckling three levels of the minors. The right-hander uses his plus changeup as a comfortable ‘out’ pitch, playing well off his lively (but pedestrian-speed) fastball and above-average sweeper, though his high-effort delivery can decrease his command due to an inability to repeat the motion consistently. The team ranked Yoho 332 of 600+ prospects in February, but I’m a bit more bullish and think Yoho can be a competent major-league set-up man in 2025. – Drew Wheeler
1B/3B/OF Tyler Black
DOB: 7/26/2000
HT: 6-1
WT: 204
H/T: L/R
Acquired: 2021 Draft, Round: CBA ($2,200,000)
Highest Level: MLB
ETA: 2024
Rule V: 40-man
Grades:
SCOUTING REPORT
The Brewers selected Tyler Black with the 33rd pick out of Wright State in 2021. Not much has changed in the overall profile for Tyler Black over the years; you’ll still get excellent plate skills, speed, and modest power. The issue with Black is that he has slid down the defensive spectrum and is now primarily a first baseman with plus contact skills but below-average power. His 87% zone contact rate will always play, though, and the Brewers twice last year gave him some run at the big league level with the hope that he could take their everyday designated hitter job and run with it. A first baseman with this profile is similar to a command over stuff back-end starter. He has little to no margin for error, especially since he has stopped playing second base. He didn’t appear in a game there last year, and they don’t fully trust him at third due to his arm strength. Black has been productive in the upper minors, but the exit velocities have been below-average. He’s been aggressive on the bases in the past, stealing 55 bases on 67 tries in 2023, but his stolen base rate also took a dip last season. He still went 23-for-26 on the bases, though, and will provide some of the value there that he gives up from the power side. Offensively, he incorporates a big leg kick, and he can square up baseballs in all quadrants of the zone. He’s likely a 15-homer bat right now, and I could see him getting up to 20 homers annually if he makes an adjustment and pulls the ball more, and then he becomes a much more playable bat at first base or designated hitter. He spent some time in left and center field last year, so perhaps that is another avenue for playing time. Black will be looking to carve out a bench role for the Brewers in 2025. - Matt Thomspon
FANTASY SPIN
Black is a unique talent that the Brewers are still looking to find a home for positionally. Undoubtedly, he is a primary league hitter who can provide consistent value, but at what cost defensively? Is Black a DH right from the get-go? Time will tell, but you should expect excellent on-base skills and 20-steal speed. Black will struggle to meet the power expectations of a typical corner infielder/outfielder and may need to work towards becoming a utility bat by developing some versatility. Most prospects need to work on their offensive game to develop; Black is the rare prospect who will become much more valuable if he refines his defense. The Brewers have several interesting positional questions to answer this spring, and Black is one of the key players. He’s a top-100 prospect who needs to find his place defensively. - Greg Hoogkamp
.LHP Robert Gasser
DOB: 5/31/1999
HT: 6-0
WT: 192
H/T: L/L
Acquired: 2021 Amateur Draft- Round: CBB ($884,200)
Highest Level: MLB
ETA: 2024
Rule V: 40-man
Grades:
SCOUTING REPORT
The Padres drafted Gasser from the University of Houston and later traded to the Brewers for Josh Hader. Gasser led Triple-A in strikeouts in 2023 and was set to be in the Brewers' rotation for most of 2024 until he injured his elbow and needed Tommy John surgery. When healthy in 2024, Gasser threw 91-94 and touched 96, as he mixed four and two. His above-average slider is his out pitch, and he mixes in a cutter and a changeup. He made some strides with his command during his injury-shortened 2024 season, and we will likely need to wait until 2026 to see a meaningful sample from Gasser. He looks ready to be a big-league starter upon his return, but his slider is very effective against left-handers, and he could return in a specialist role as he gets built up. - Matt Thompson
FANTASY SPIN
He may not possess the elite stuff we desire as dynasty managers, but Gasser’s pitch ability is off the charts. He mixes and matches all four (five with his sinker/4 seam) of his offerings to both sides of the plate and uses most of them to both LHH and RHH. As a hitter, you must be ready for 95 mph or 83 mph with 16 inches of sweep spotted exactly where Gasser wants it. In a live look, I witnessed a strong Durham Bulls lineup that looked entirely overmatched by six dominant innings. He may only be a 3 or 4 starter, but he should log plenty of innings with solid ratios and decent strikeout numbers when he returns late in 2025 or early in 2026. - Greg Hoogkamp
INF/OF Caleb Durbin
DOB: 2/22/2000
HT: 5-6
WT: 185
H/T: R/R
Acquired: Drafted by Atlanta Braves in 2021 Draft, Round 14 ($50,000)
Highest Level: Triple-A
ETA: 2025
Rule V: 40-Man
SCOUTING REPORT
The Atlanta Braves drafted Caleb Durbin after three productive seasons at Washington University in St. Louis. He was sent to the Yankees in the Lucas Luetge trade, sending reliever Indigo Diaz to New York. He started the 2024 season in Triple-A, where he had a strong year displaying plus contact skills with a discerning eye and some positional versatility. Despite his small size, Durbin has the look of a future big leaguer with a utility profile. He’s a spark plug offensively that grinds out at bats and utilizes a leg kick to try and maximize his power without sacrificing any of his contact abilities. Durbin is amongst the minor league leaders in pulled flyball percentage, which indicates he will get the most out of his limited power. His Triple-A contact rate this year was around 85%, and those plus bat-to-ball skills resulted in a strikeout rate under 10%. He’s a patient hitter and will take his walks, and he’s an asset on the bases with his above-average speed and excellent instincts. He did miss some time in 2024 after getting hit in the hand by a pitch and has since returned. He’s set for a 2025 big league debut. He was traded to the Brewers this winter and will look to lock down a bench job this spring. - Matt Thompson
FANTASY SPIN
Durbin will hit in the majors and could steal upwards of 20+ bags with regular playing time. He falls just inside our top 200 prospects and should find a home in 15-team leagues at an MI spot relatively quickly. He could be hitting in front of Chourio and Contreras with a strong showing, offering a potential plus in the runs category. - Ryan Epperson
3B Luke Adams
DOB: 4/24/2004
HT: 6-4
WT: 210
H/T: R/R
Acquired: 2022 Draft, 12th Round ($282,500)
Highest Level: High-A
ETA: 2027
Rule V: 2026
Grades:
SCOUTING REPORT
Adams might be one of the more polarizing prospects in the Brewers system, and it is in large part due to his combination of impressive results and funky swing. The swing has a lot of hand movement and a huge leg kick, which raises questions on how it will age once he faces the upper minors. But for now, the results in the swing are undeniable. He makes a ton of contact and runs impressive contact rates, featuring an extremely passive approach with the tiny chase. The hit tool plays in the lower minors, but I’m not sure the swing and the approach will translate perfectly to the next steps. He needs to adjust both slightly to have an average hit tool in the long term. He also has some loud power and lots of physicality behind it, which should play and show up even more in games as he develops. Another part of the profile that makes him a polarizing prospect is the defensive package. He has the arm to play third, but he does not move well on his feet, and he will very likely move to first base when all is said and done. So, whether or not his swing continues success at the next levels (which is to be determined as is), the pressure on the bat will be immense, given the lack of defensive value. I lean towards being a believer in the bat here, but even the believers must acknowledge he will need adjustments in the swing/approach sometime soon. If he does make those adjustments, he could be an impactful corner bat for the Brewers going forward. - Grant Carver
FANTASY SPIN
Adams is a prospect seemingly full of contradictions. If you glance at his stats, you may think he’s a burner with 58 stolen bases across the last two seasons. However, his below-average run grade and 20 caught stealings shed doubt on how much that will be part of his game if it makes it to the majors. He walks and makes solid contact but struggles to hit for good averages. His power is his carrying tool, but he has yet to hit more than 11 home runs in a season or post an ISO of over .170 in any decent sample. Throw in the defensive limitations and swing questions, and he’s a tough name to rank for dynasty. If you like the profile, he should be rostered in leagues of 200+ prospects and could be grabbed in 100+ leagues.- Taylor Corso
3B Brock Wilken
DOB: 6/17/2002
HT: 6-4
WT: 225
H/T: R/R
Acquired: 2023 Draft, Round: 1 ($3,150,000)
Highest Level: Double-A
ETA: 2026
Rule V: 2026
SCOUTING REPORT
The Brewers selected Brock Wilken in the first round in 2023, just as he set the single-season home run record for Wake Forest with 31 homers. Wilken has a large frame, and it's a strength-driven profile. He gets on base and will take his walks, but there is a concern that he is too passive at the plate and should be looking to attack more. Wilken's 2024 season started with him getting hit in the face by a pitch in early April, which then resulted in multiple facial fractures and some missed time. Upon his return, he looked just okay. He was not hitting for average but was still running into the occasional homer in the Southern League. Wilken saw his strikeout rate surge, and that wasn't all that unexpected. He was going to Double-A, and he saw better pitching. He has some holes in his swing, and the better arms can exploit them. He struggled during the last month of the season or so and never looked all that comfortable at the plate. Wilken doesn't run well and lacks the range and quickness to play third long-term. His plus arm is an asset, but the rest of the package doesn't work well at third. Wilken has dropped in this system, and it's not all due to his poor 2024. The Brewers have added some talent around him, and he's still likely a top-ten guy in most systems due to the overwhelming power upside. - Matt Thompson
FANTASY SPIN
Wilken is Eric Bitonti amplified, with even more power and questions around the approach and hit tool. The power is so immense for Wilken that his 17 HR in Double-A last season helped him post a 105 wRC+ despite striking out more than 28% of the time and hitting below .200. How much of his struggles in 2024 were a side-effect of being shot in the face is a legitimate question and one that could quickly be answered with a hot start to 2025. - Kyle Sonntag
1B Blake Burke
DOB: 6/11/2003
HT: 6-3
WT: 236
H/T: L/L
Acquired: 2024 Draft, Round: CB-A ($2,100,000)
Highest Level: High-A
ETA: 2026
Rule V: 2027
Grades
SCOUTING REPORT
Blake Burke is a big-bodied lefty who was integral to a Tennessee team that took home a national championship in 2024. A steady contributor in the heart of the SEC, Burke displayed a compelling mix of natural contact ability and menacing power to all fields, a combination that had the Brewers excited enough to select the first baseman with the 34th overall pick. Burke doesn’t have significant whiff issues. However, he is very susceptible to chasing pitches out of the zone and must solve this issue as a pro. Once contact is made, however, Burke displays plus power and should have no trouble playing in any ballpark. It’s a simple stroke with natural loft, allowing him to get to his power in the game. Outside of the bat, it’s a strictly first-base profile. However, he’s drastically improved his ability to play the position over the last ~18 months and projects to play the position competently. Burke is not an asset with his legs and will never be much of a speed threat at the next level. I’d expect Burke to be a high strikeout, bat-first slugger as a professional that could ultimately act as a potential run producer; however, with limited value elsewhere on the diamond, the pressure to produce at the plate is magnified and limits the overall ceiling of the player. - Max Ellingsen
FANTASY SPIN
Burke’s role with the National Champion Tennessee Volunteers was to use his simple, effective swing and menacing, effortless all-fields power to drive in runs amidst a dangerous order; the big-bodied first baseman did well and earned a comp balance pick and $2.1 million from Milwaukee. Should Burke continue improving his 1B defense or modify his chase issues out-of-zone, he could open more paths to fantasy relevance and take pressure off the bat; even still, I have learned better than to doubt Burke’s heavy lumber. Burke ranked 310 of 600+ Prospects in February. – Drew Wheeler
RHP Brett Wichrowski
DOB: 8/15/2002
HT: 6’2
WT: 177
H/T: L/R
Acquired: 2023 Draft, Round: 13 ($100,000)
Highest Level: Double-A
ETA: 2026
Rule V: 2026
Grades:
SCOUTING REPORT
The Brewers selected Wichrowski out of Bryant University and gave him $100,000 to sign as a 13th-round selection. He didn’t pitch in games after the draft and generated significant buzz when he came to spring training, throwing harder and showing improved stuff. He was a guy who sat in the low 90s but now lives 94-97 and can touch triple digits with the fastball. However, the velocity tapers to 92-95 as the season goes on, so he will need to figure out what he needs to do to hold his velocity gains. Wichrowski only made four starts in High-A before getting pushed to Double-A. He saw a dip in his strikeout rate and a spike in his walk rate in Biloxi compared to his 14-inning High-A sample. In addition to his four and two-seam fastballs, he also throws a slider, cutter, and changeup. Wichrowski’s primary swing-and-miss pitch is his slider. Wichrowski also mixes in a cutter and a change. He’s likely headed to the bullpen long-term if he cannot figure out how to maintain his new velocity, and the stuff may play up in that role. He should start 2025 in Triple-A next season. - Matt Thompson
FANTASY SPIN
The increase in velocity makes Wichrowski more intriguing, but we didn’t see that translate to more strikeouts when he reached Double-A (7.39 K/9). With the fastball/slider combo dominating his arsenal, he’s likely headed for the pen, where his velocity is more likely to stick. That makes him less desirable for fantasy, even though the Brewers are known for developing successful closers. - Tom Gates
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