Which young starting pitcher are you most excited about?

[adambr2]

Fiers - Starting to taper off a little bit, but still the most established over the long haul this year. Probably most comparable to Shaun Marcum, and could have a nice career as a middle of the rotation guy.

 

Peralta - Small sample size, but the highest upside on the staff, possible top of the rotation starter.

 

Rogers - I think I might be most excited about him because he was all but left for dead. Now healthy since 2010...remember, he was a top 5 overall draft pick. There's still a chance for him to show why, 8 years later.

 

Thornburg - Never really got a chance to show his potential as a starter, but it isn't for lack of upside. Will likely compete for rotation spot in spring training in 2013.

 

I almost feel like Estrada deserves mentioning here as well, as he certainly has the numbers to be in the discussion this year, but given his age and career, he seems more like a journeyman pitcher developing into a very serviceable rotation option rather than a big part of the future.

 

Either way, the future of the pitching staff looks really bright. It's been a long time coming, but finally, all the emphasis on pitching in the farm is starting to pay off. This isn't a full list by any means, and there are guys out there like Hellweg, Nelson, Bradley, Heckathorn, and Jungmann, to name a few, who may be in the MLB discussion at some point as well.

[GamelToe]

Peralta because people who can throw upper 90's just don't grow on trees. Hopefully he can get an effective third pitch and become the #2 behind Gallardo. It is probably a pipe dream, but you never know.

[sargennm]

I'm a sucker for guys left for dead coming back to do something, so Rogers get my vote. But really, I'm just so happy they're are legit young starters to get excited about in the Brewers systems. Feels like a long time since there was more than one. How much money could that save the team over the next 3-6 years, not having to overpay for the likes of Suppan, Looper and Wolf?

[TooLiveBrew]

Rogers actually wasn't healthy in 2011 (carpal tunnel in both wrists, only notched 44.1 IP), which makes what he's done in '12 all the more impressive imo.

 

My vote is Peralta, because of the upside. Even without a changeup, he's probably a decent bet to fill a back-end rotation spot for the next six seasons or so.

[FVBrewerFan]

Peralta and Burgos. I will be pleasantly surprised if Thornburg can be a decent back of the rotation starter. Equally pleasantly surprised if Rogers can stay healthy for more than a year at time. Not taking a cheap shot, just being realistic.

 

But Peralta obvoiusly has the dominant stuff, so hard not to get excited about that. Burgos is the other one, mostly because I've been on his bandwagon of one all year, and the guy just kept producing. Nice movment on his pitches, which usually translates well to MLB.

[StearnsFTW]

Peralta, and it's not close for me. Easily the best stuff of anyone listed, and with a 3rd pitch could become a 1/2 type pitcher.

 

Thornburg would be 2nd for similar reasons.

[fondybrewfan]

I don't know I think Rogers raw stuff is pretty comparable to Peralta. If both of those guys figure it out and Fiers can continue to be a solid starter; our rotation is set for years to come and that isn't even considering the likes of Burgos, Estrada, Jungmann, and Thornburg. While I don't think there is a Ben Sheets/#1 starter type in that group; it is a very solid and deep group with plenty of #2 and #3 starter potential. Maybe one of them turns out to be a stud; who knows.

[Outlander]

I wouldn't call him young anymore since he is 29 but probably Estrada. Mainly because I thought he got a raw deal with the Brewers in 2010 when they called him up and overworked him and when he got injured there were people saying that he was faking it. He came into spring training with low expectations and had a decent year in 2011 going between the bullpen and starting. In 2012 they kind of did the same thing with him but never probably considered him a long term answer. Hopefully they now consider him a good option for the next couple of years as a starter because he is still under team control for three more years. Besides Gallardo I am most confident in him right now than any Brewers pitcher.

[StearnsFTW]

I don't know I think Rogers raw stuff is pretty comparable to Peralta. If both of those guys figure it out and Fiers can continue to be a solid starter; our rotation is set for years to come and that isn't even considering the likes of Burgos, Estrada, Jungmann, and Thornburg. While I don't think there is a Ben Sheets/#1 starter type in that group; it is a very solid and deep group with plenty of #2 and #3 starter potential. Maybe one of them turns out to be a stud; who knows.

 

I agree about Rogers, but I just don't see any way he's going to say healthy. Hope I'm wrong.

[derflotr]

I still really like Thornburg, and I hope the success of Rogers/Peralta/Fiers don't push him into a bullpen role. Not that he wouldn't succeed there, but I like him starting.

[paul253]

I agree about Rogers, but I just don't see any way he's going to say healthy. Hope I'm wrong.

 

Other than a freak carpal tunnel injury he's been healthy for three years now. I think it's time we stop acting like his shoulder is about to fall off.

 

To answer the question, I'd say for me it's a tie between Rogers and Peralta. If I were the Brewers I'd tell them both to focus all offseason on throwing the changeup. If they can have an average to above average off speed pitch to go with their mid 90's fastball and breaking ball I think they'll really take off.

[brewmann04]

My choice is Rogers followed by Willie.

[Ennder]

Peralta but to be honest I'm going under the assumption that 5 years from now one of them is good, one is a #5 and the rest are in the bullpen or out of baseball.

[pogokat]

Best today? Marco Estrada

 

but since he's older than Yovani, i guess that's a ridiculous answer

 

for the future?

 

Peralta---holy crap. If he can maintain his control, he could be an ace.

[endaround]

I agree about Rogers, but I just don't see any way he's going to say healthy. Hope I'm wrong.

 

Other than a freak carpal tunnel injury he's been healthy for three years now. I think it's time we stop acting like his shoulder is about to fall off.

 

To answer the question, I'd say for me it's a tie between Rogers and Peralta. If I were the Brewers I'd tell them both to focus all offseason on throwing the changeup. If they can have an average to above average off speed pitch to go with their mid 90's fastball and breaking ball I think they'll really take off.

 

Carpal Tunnel is not a freak thing. Its a repetitive stress injury. Yes genetics can play a role, but it nerve damage due to repetitive motions. You know, like pitching.

[HiAndTight]

I agree about Rogers, but I just don't see any way he's going to say healthy. Hope I'm wrong.

 

Other than a freak carpal tunnel injury he's been healthy for three years now. I think it's time we stop acting like his shoulder is about to fall off.

 

To answer the question, I'd say for me it's a tie between Rogers and Peralta. If I were the Brewers I'd tell them both to focus all offseason on throwing the changeup. If they can have an average to above average off speed pitch to go with their mid 90's fastball and breaking ball I think they'll really take off.

 

Carpal Tunnel is not a freak thing. Its a repetitive stress injury. Yes genetics can play a role, but it nerve damage due to repetitive motions. You know, like pitching.

 

And what would account for him having the same issue on his left arm?

 

As far as I know, we where told it was completely fixed and shouldn't be a problem moving forward.

 

I obviously don't agree with some of the comments on here. I think all you have to do is look at what Doug Melvin has repeatedly said about Tyler Thornburg, the newest to the organization to see that they don't view him as a reliever, so I think he'll get ample chance to prove he's a starter.

 

There are a couple other things as well, just as paul said, Rogers hasn't had shoulder injuries for a couple years now, so we need to stop treating him like it's going to fall off every year. Of course being careful this year was the right move, even if we end up a game or two short and he might have made the difference.

 

But it's GOT to be Peralta by a decent margin at this point. He was outstanding last year, though struggled early this year, but he does have a changeup. People pretend the guy doesn't throw one and can't throw one. He does and he can. He needs to improve it, but he's not 26 years old, he's 23.

 

He and Rogers have shown they're capable of being aces in the big leagues. Legit, dominant aces. Neither PROBABLY will, but the fact that both look like they can be and have shown flashes of it, that's enough for me. We have enough really safe bets to be good innings eaters and middle to back or the rotation starters that a guy who looks like he can be a ace is the guy I get more excited about. So Peralta and then Rogers a little bit further behind because Peralta HAS been more durable and he gets so many GB's. But god do I love watching a guy who can reach back for a 98 MPH fastball in the 7th-8th inning, even if it was just one start. That's when you start gaining a little more confidence that it's not JUST that he's a new arm with a small scouting report, but a guy who might be able to dominate. And Peralta should have virtually no innings limit next year.

 

 

Still think another big time front line starter with all these young potential studs is imperative for us to truly contend next year and not just lean on a insane run like we've had.

[Dragonbait]

 

Carpal Tunnel is not a freak thing. Its a repetitive stress injury. Yes genetics can play a role, but it nerve damage due to repetitive motions. You know, like pitching.

 

 

I was my understanding that they attributed Roger's carpal to his growing up playing Hockey.... Hear/read that somewhere, now I'm gonna look for a source/link...

[StearnsFTW]

I agree about Rogers, but I just don't see any way he's going to say healthy. Hope I'm wrong.

 

Other than a freak carpal tunnel injury he's been healthy for three years now. I think it's time we stop acting like his shoulder is about to fall off.

 

To answer the question, I'd say for me it's a tie between Rogers and Peralta. If I were the Brewers I'd tell them both to focus all offseason on throwing the changeup. If they can have an average to above average off speed pitch to go with their mid 90's fastball and breaking ball I think they'll really take off.

 

Carpal Tunnel is not a freak thing. Its a repetitive stress injury. Yes genetics can play a role, but it nerve damage due to repetitive motions. You know, like pitching.

 

Yep. That's a big concern for me as well.

 

I'm a little surprised everyone thinks he's likely to stay healthy. It seems very unlikely to me.

 

He's had a litany of injuries. No reason to think that'll change IMO.

[Bombers]

I like Peralta based solely on Stuff. As Lucroy recently said about him "When you throw 97 with a nasty a slider coming in at 89, he better be in the starting rotation next year." They guy looks like he really could blossom into a 1/2 if he irons out his command. I know it has been great recently but let’s all just hope he can continue it.

 

I also agree with Sarge and the story behind Rogers come from the dead would be an awesome story if he can hit a stretch of health for the foreseeable future.

 

Another good story is a 22nd round pick, who refuses to believe the naysayers that guys who don't throw mid 90's stuff can't be successful. Fiers mental makeup and belief in himself, has me strongly encouraged on what he can provide the Brewers for 6 more years.

 

But in the end, dominating stuff just wins out, Peralta has filthy stuff.

[logan82]

I don't know I think Rogers raw stuff is pretty comparable to Peralta. If both of those guys figure it out and Fiers can continue to be a solid starter; our rotation is set for years to come and that isn't even considering the likes of Burgos, Estrada, Jungmann, and Thornburg. While I don't think there is a Ben Sheets/#1 starter type in that group; it is a very solid and deep group with plenty of #2 and #3 starter potential. Maybe one of them turns out to be a stud; who knows.

I would give the edge to Peralta over Rogers because I think he pitches more to contact and over the long haul will go deeper into games more consistently.

 

 

I don't think we have a pitcher on Sheets level in our whole system. Gallardo, as good as he is, is not on Sheets level.

[Outlander]

I don't think we have a pitcher on Sheets level in our whole system. Gallardo, as good as he is, is not on Sheets level.

 

I would agree that Gallardo has yet to have a breakout type year that Sheets had in 2004 but Gallardo overall is the better pitcher than Sheets. Gallardo has been pretty much the same consistent pitcher his entire career.

[TURBO]

Peralta can be filthy at times, Fiers just doesn't seem to me like a guy that will stick for long.

 

We may have seen Fiers peak already. I hope not, but it wouldn't be that surprising.

[HiAndTight]

I don't know I think Rogers raw stuff is pretty comparable to Peralta. If both of those guys figure it out and Fiers can continue to be a solid starter; our rotation is set for years to come and that isn't even considering the likes of Burgos, Estrada, Jungmann, and Thornburg. While I don't think there is a Ben Sheets/#1 starter type in that group; it is a very solid and deep group with plenty of #2 and #3 starter potential. Maybe one of them turns out to be a stud; who knows.

I would give the edge to Peralta over Rogers because I think he pitches more to contact and over the long haul will go deeper into games more consistently.

 

 

I don't think we have a pitcher on Sheets level in our whole system. Gallardo, as good as he is, is not on Sheets level.

 

 

I agree with the last sentence. We need a starter better than Gallardo if we're going to contend for a WS. He's a very good #2 on a contender. Which again is why I think we should take a leap of faith and be aggressive in trying to sign Greinke, or bring in another guy who for one reason or another has the potential to be better than Yo, but may be available for a good value like a Jake Peavy if you could get him for 3/40 or Dan Haren for roughly the same if their options are declined.

 

 

Again though, it's great to see the Brewers have pitchers make it through the minors with the ABILITY to be better than Yo in Peralta and Rogers. Again, I believe it's highly unlikely either will end up being better as Yo's incredibly reliable, and he's a great pitcher. But all you can ask for is a guy to have a chance to be a true ace and hope that luck with injuries fall your way, and they continue to develop for you.

[reillymcshane]

I'd say Peralta because of his youth, tools, upside and lack of injuries. He's had command issues, which is not uncommon for young pitchers. But if he can put it all together, he can be very good.

[logan82]

I think Peralta had Tommy John at some point.