Milwaukee Brewers

Any organization that has Jackson Chourio in it is strong.  But, throw in Tyler Black and his 50+ stolen bases, a potential front-line starter in Jacob Misiorowski, a great young catcher in Jefferson Quero, and one of my personal favorites from the DSL, Yophery Rodriguez, and WOW, there’s a lot to like.

 

Prospect Snapshot

  • Top Prospect: Jackson Chourio
  • Biggest Mover: Jacob Misiorowski
  • Biggest Disappointment: Robert Gasser
  • Emerging Prospect: Filippo Di Turi

 

1. Jackson Chourio (OF)

  • Highest Level:  Triple-A ETA: 2024 Fantasy Ceiling:  First-Round Draft Pick
  • Tools Summary: The raw tools are special.  All he needs is time to develop, and once he does, he has superstar upside.

Jackson Chourio started the season off slow and only hit .264 with three home runs in April.  You look at the final stat line, and the slow start (if it was really that) is gone.  As a 19-year-old in Double-A, he slashed .280/.336/.467 with 22 home runs and 43 stolen bases.

The tools are indeed impressive, with 70-grade raw power and 70-grade speed.  Because of his athleticism, he’ll likely also develop into one of the best center fielders in the game.  He can be aggressive at the plate but also posted a 18.4% K-Rate.  I’ll take that.  As with Tatis Jr., his hit tool will improve with more experience, and the power will emerge as he develops his big-boy strength.

He’s elite with a chance to be one of the best fantasy baseball players in the league.

 

2. Tyler Black (3B/2B)

  • Highest Level:  Triple-A ETA: 2024 Fantasy Ceiling:  Top 10 3B/2B or Top 45 OF
  • Tools Summary: He’s always been able to hit and is starting to show more pop as he fills out.  He has the ceiling of a full-time regular who can play multiple positions.

Tyler Black can hit, consistently walking as much as he strikes out.  2023 was no exception, as he only struck out 99 times while walking 87 times.  He also showed more power, particularly in Double-A, where he posted a .513 SLG with 14 home runs.

Where he blew up was on the bases.  He stole 53 bases across Double and Triple-A.  I don’t think he’ll steal bases at that pace in the Major Leagues, but I think penciling in 20 to 25 SB with 10 to 15 home runs with a high batting average, and OBP is where I’m landing with him.

In any book, that’s an impact player.

 

3. Jacob Misiorowski (RHP)

  • Highest Level:  Double-A ETA: 2026 Fantasy Ceiling:  Top 40 SP or a High-Leveraged reliever
  • Tools Summary: Tall and thin with two 70-grade pitches in his fastball and slider.  He needs to develop a third pitch and work on repeating his delivery.

Jacob Misiorowski was the Brewers’ second-round pick in 2022, and after a slow start, the Brewers took off the training wheels and pushed him all the way to Double-A last season.  This was despite walking over five per nine.  But, when you throw 100 miles an hour, you can quickly move along.

He’s primarily a two-pitch pitcher, but both grade out as 70 pitches with a fastball that can touch triple-digits and a wipeout slider.  He’s 6-foot-7 and rail-thin, with effort in his delivery.  This leads to his control issues and concerns that he might work better in the bullpen than in the starting rotation.  However, the Brewers are good at developing pitchers, and you don’t get better building blocks than what Misiorowski brings.  If you’re looking for a comp, it’s an easy one – Tyler Glasnow.  Remember, Glasnow had trouble throwing strikes for years until he got his limbs working in unison.

 

4. Jeferson Quero (C)

  • Highest Level:  Double-A ETA: 2024-25 Fantasy Ceiling:  Top 15 Catcher
  • Tools Summary: A smallish catcher with a feel to hit with pop.

The Brewers challenged their prized catcher in 2023 by assigning him to Double-A as a 20-year-old.  He held his own, showing great contact with solid doubles-power.  The swing has plenty of leverage. He doesn’t yet have the physicality to be a home run hitter.   As he matures, I think more power will develop, and I would not be surprised if he develops 18 to 20 home run pop.  At 5-foot-11, he’s on the small side for a catcher but has an above-average arm with solid receiving skills.  He is athletic enough to play other positions, with a corner outfield being the most logical.  He’s an easy Top 15 catcher if he stays behind the plate.

 

5. Robert Gasser (LHP)

  • Highest Level:  Triple-A ETA: 2023-24 Fantasy Ceiling:  Top 60 SP
  • Tools Summary: An average arsenal whose control improved as the season progressed.

Robert Gasser was part of the Josh Hader return when the Padres and Brewers did their mega-deal in the summer of 2022.  He’s always posted a great strikeout rate, and in 2023, he finally started throwing more strikes.

Now that we have statcast data, we have a better picture of the player.  He’s a lefty with a fastball that sits 91 to 93 and a poor spin rate of 2093. The curveball is his best pitch, with his change-up lacking fade.  Overall, it’s an average arsenal.  The delivery is a lower three-quarter, and lefties do not get a good look.  I see a back-of-the-rotation starter, maybe a number four ceiling.

 

6. Yophery Rodriguez (OF)

  • Highest Level:  DSL ETA: 2026-27 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 45 OF
  • Tools Summary: Showing an ability to control the strike zone with enough bat speed to project future power.

The Brewers signed Yophery Rodriguez for $1.5 million in January of 2023.  He has good size and excellent bat speed, which should produce plenty of home run pop.

He’s a solid-average runner, which he demonstrated by stealing 12 bases in the DSL.  Where he’s going to separate himself is his ability to control the strike zone.  He walked more than he struck out in 2023 (18.3% BB-Rate, 17.9% K-Rate), and I would expect his high walk rate to continue as he moves through the minor leagues.

We should know a lot more once the Brewers bring him stateside, but the ceiling is a corner outfielder with 20 home run pop and some speed early in his career with a chance to post a high OBP.

 

7. Eric Brown (SS)

  • Highest Level:  Double-A ETA: 2025 Fantasy Ceiling:  Top 20 SS, more if he develops power
  • Tools Summary: He’s a plus runner with great strike zone awareness.  He’s currently showing 30-grade power.

Eric Brown was the Brewers’ first-round pick in 2022 and flashed his athleticism at short and on the bases, where he stole 37 bags in High-A.  He has great strike zone awareness and walks nearly as much as he strikes out.  He’s a contact hitter with little loft in his swing, and unless that changes, the power will likely not develop.  That puts pressure on his ceiling.  Fortunately, he’s a fine defender, and as a floor, he should be able to perform as a utility player.  However, I think there’s more in the tank, and I still have a projection of a full-time regular.

 

8. Brock Wilken (3B, #18)

  • Highest Level:  Double-A ETA: 2025-26 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 20 3B with upside
  • Tools Summary: 25 home run pop with pressure on his batting average due to his tendency to strike out.

Brock Wilken’s carrying tool is plus power that allowed him to his 31 home runs in his Draft year.  His game has some swing-and-miss, but he also controls the strike zone well and walks more than he struck out.  There’s little speed in the profile.  I think he’s a low-risk selection in FYPD as the upside is 20 to 25 home runs with pressure on his batting average, but with 100 points on top of it for OBP.

 

9. Mike Boeve (3B/2B, #54)

  • Highest Level:  High-A ETA: 2025-26 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 15 2B or Top 20 3B.
  • Tools Summary: He has crazy contact skills but with questions as to how much power he will develop.

The Brewers continued to draft players who can hit and did so again with Mike Boeve with the 54th pick.  He struck out only nine times in 211 plate appearances in his draft year.  Oddly enough, it matches his hit-by-pitch total.  The problem is that he only hit four home runs and played several of his games at first base.  He’s 6-foot-2, so the thinking is that he could unlock some power with some added loft.  He did hit five home runs in 28 games in his professional debut, including four in nine games in the Complex League.  However, I’m still not convinced that he’s suddenly become a power hitter.

 

10. Luis Lara (OF)

  • Highest Level:  High-A ETA: 2026 Fantasy Ceiling:  Top 45 OF
  • Tools Summary: He’s a 70-grade runner with a feel to hit.

Luis Lara was the Brewers’ significant international acquisition in 2022, signing for $1.1 million.  His carrying tool is his 70-grade speed, who makes great contact in a slap-and-go approach.  He’s a little guy but not void of bat speed, and there is some speculation that as he fills out, some power could develop.  I doubt it will ever be much home run pop, but if he can get stronger and drive the ball better, he could grow into a dynamic leadoff hitter with 30+ stolen base potential and high on-base skills.

Despite only being 18, he’s rostered in many Dynasty Leagues, but if he is available, I’d be putting in a bid as he could develop quickly.

 

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