2015 Brewer Organizational Rankings

[Mass Haas]

Haudricourt tweets on:

 

Lara

 

The #Brewers plan for INF prospect Gilbert Lara is to stay at shortstop for now and see how he looks. No plans yet for move to 3B.

 

Coulter

 

#Brewers prospect Clint Coulter, making transition from C to RF, is in Arizona working every day on that switch. Coaches like what they see.

[Eye Black]

Baseball Prospectus Organizational Rankings

 

Brewers come in at #26. Link includes a short summary of all 30 organizations and some other notes such as each teams "must-see" affiliate.

[Noche]

Baseball Prospectus Organizational Rankings

 

Brewers come in at #26. Link includes a short summary of all 30 organizations and some other notes such as each teams "must-see" affiliate.

 

1st sentance reads: "The Brewers did little to augment a minor-league system that ranked near the bottom following the 2013 season, adding intriguing but unknown talents like Kodi Medeiros, Jacob Gatewood, and Monte Harrison through the draft, and third baseman Gilbert Lara via the international signing period."

 

Perfect Game (BP's Amatuer Player partner) rated the 2014 drafted trio at 21, 24 and 32 in the class and if you read any PG reports on Medeiros you might wonder why the heck he was ranked so low (32) to begin with. Now add to the mix a 16-year old power hitting infielder with a string of positive-to-giddy scouting reports flowing out of instructs. To cap it, you flipped Yo for Sardinas, Knebel and Diplan (well before this article was written). To me, those are the major examples with Wang, Stokes, DeMuth, Salas, and the DSL kids among others being wrognfully ignored too.

 

BP apparently thinks the above moves are the Brewers doing "little" to improve the system. It makes no sense at all. They half-heartidly blamed some of it on the nature of rankings such as these, whatever the heck that means. How about you just tell me who has the best baseball players? If you cannot tell me that simple thing, you probably have not seen enough of these guys or talked to enough people who have. Enough with the hedging of bets!

[pete]

How about you just tell me who has the best baseball players? If you cannot tell me that simple thing, you probably have not seen enough of these guys or talked to enough people who have.

 

Yeah, like I said, I noticed that a lot of Brewers prospects either don't have scouting reports or they are old. So they probably don't see them.

 

Some of the same guys making this list do a fantasy podcast that I listened to for a bit. I remember how jazzed they were for Alcantara and when Khris Davis came up he was going to be back in the minors in a month... whatevah.

[TheCrew07]

Re Medeiros:

 

I know PG was high on him but I just never got the hype. As I said prior to the draft and on draft day in my experience working with athletes regardless if football or baseball a lower arm slot means greater control issues. I won't get into all of the reasons why again, and I'm positive that Kodi is a great kid, but I get why so many people thought he was a reach at 12, especially considering I was in that camp as well. His slider is filthy but that doesn't matter if he isn't able to locate it in the zone or put his FB where it needs to be. Time will tell with him, the Brewers drafted a lefty, and we desperately need a lefty with some sort of a decent ceiling, but I still think Sean Newcomb would have been a better pick. Newcomb was extremely impressive against the T-Rats throwing little more than 95 MPH gas in his last start of the season.

 

We talked about it quite a bit last season but I'll be following the careers of Newcomb and Grant Holmes closely as those were my personal targets for 12. Holmes made it to the PL which is fantastic for a HS drafted kid and as I mentioned Newcomb had a 4 game cameo in the MWL.

 

Of the other pitchers we discussed on the draft forum for that 1st pick Kyle Freeland was a stud out of the gate, he'll start in A+ or AA for Colorado. Tyler Beede pitched well but didn't make it out of rookie ball for the Giants, he'll start someplace in A ball for 2015, and the Giants were his best case scenario, they somehow manage to teach pitchers control. Touki Toussaint wasn't great in AZ but the D-Backs bumped him to the PL anyway and he predictably struggled, he's probably ticketed for a return trip to the PL. Last but not least everyone saw what Brandon Finnegan did as a reliever for KC in the play-offs. Finnegan is still more of a 2 pitch guy and he didn't even have a 2nd pitch till Rodon taught him his slider the previous summer when they played for team USA, but if someone can teach him a 3rd pitch KC got a steal, otherwise he's the mid rotation guy he was projected to be.

[Eye Black]

We talked about it quite a bit last season but I'll be following the careers of Newcomb and Grant Holmes closely as those were my personal targets for 12. Holmes made it to the PL which is fantastic for a HS drafted kid and as I mentioned Newcomb had a 4 game cameo in the MWL.

I really, really wanted the Brewers to select Grant Holmes, but after the Gatewood and Harrison picks I assumed the reasoning had to do with the ability to sign Medeiros under slot value (which of course they did by $305K), but was a little disappointed when they both signed for the exact same dollar figure. Of course its quite possible Holmes would not have accepted $2.5 million if he had been selected 10 picks earlier. I am still amazed that the Rockies got Kyle Freeland to sign for less than both of them ($2.3 million), at almost $900K under slot value.

[DoubleSwitch]

kiley mcdaniel released his top 200 prospects

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-fangraphs-top-200-prospect-list/

 

arcia at 87, medeiros at 115 and knebel, coulter, taylor, harrison, and lara as honorable mention

[fondybrewfan]

Yeah that doesn't make any sense. Taylor not even in a Top 200 but Kodi is? That is kind of ridiculous.

[SRB]

kiley mcdaniel released his top 200 prospects

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-fangraphs-top-200-prospect-list/

 

arcia at 87, medeiros at 115 and knebel, coulter, taylor, harrison, and lara as honorable mention

 

Rankings are silly, as always, but it's nice at least that with 7 in the top 200 the Brewers are tied for 11th most, putting our farm system right about in the middle of MLB. And that's not even including Gatewood (embarrassing that he is being written off because of a small sample size debut) or Sardinas (ineligible).

[SRB]

Yeah that doesn't make any sense. Taylor not even in a Top 200 but Kodi is? That is kind of ridiculous.

 

I think Medeiros should be the top prospect in the system, based on upside.

 

([sarcasm]Until we sign Moncada, of course[/sarcasm])

[Jenkins5]

Yeah that doesn't make any sense. Taylor not even in a Top 200 but Kodi is? That is kind of ridiculous.

 

I think Medeiros should be the top prospect in the system, based on upside.

 

([sarcasm]Until we sign Moncada, of course[/sarcasm])

 

I don't see Mereiros upside making him #1 in system....I'd put Harrison and Lara.

 

Gatewood is a guy who can really boom or bust. wHEN YOU talk about upside, this kid at one time most thought wouldn't get out of the top 5. He has an all or nothing swing. He has already put nearly 20 pounds onto his 6'4 - 6'5 frame. He shortens his swing and is able to see ball better, he can a big prospect for us.

 

Coulter may never get love that I think he deserves nationally but I think he will be a solid impact MLB RF for many years

[reillymcshane]

Yeah that doesn't make any sense. Taylor not even in a Top 200 but Kodi is? That is kind of ridiculous.

The 58 players that rank 143-200 are just bunched into one 'honorable mention' group. As people have noted, that includes Lara, Harrison, Taylor, Coulter and Knebel.

 

That gives us 7 players in the top 200.

[fondybrewfan]

Oops I misinterpreted that; regardless of that I don't thin Kodi should be ahead of any of those other guys other than perhaps Knebel.

[reillymcshane]

Baseball America released its Top 100. Tyrone Taylor comes in at #93 and Orlando Arcia at #94.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/2015-top-100-prospects/

 

215 players got votes. Brewers in that group included Lara, Kodi, Harrison and Coulter. Interestingly, Luis Sardinas was also on this list. Probably one of the writers thought he was still rookie eligible.

 

Also, BA had a list of 10 or so players who they say cold easily shoot up the rankings. Lara and Medeiros were both on that list.

 

Wouldn't be surprised to see the Crew have 4 or more guys next year.

[brewcrewdue80]

I was looking at that list, It amazes me how Kyle Schwarber is ranked #19 when Coulter likely becomes the same kind of prospect moving from Catcher. I mean for Schwarber to be ranked 19th already, I'd have to see him put up .315 32HRs 95+RBI and 35 2bs this season to justify it. Nevermind the defensive prowess, guy was a 1b/Catcher and is being moved to Corner OF. I thought pre-draft it was proposed an AL was going to pick him because he had a DH future due to his defense. But now he's #19th best prospect in the game?

 

BA does know by ranking him 19th, based on graduates in 2015, he's a top 10 prospect then by year's end? Anyway, surprised Arcia comes in at 95. I'm telling you, he's a legit future ML ballplayer and 20% of these top 100 likely don't aspire to anything higher than AAAA or never making it.

 

It's just going to be such a great 2015, because so many Brewers are due for recognition, I wouldn't be surprised to see 6 Brewers in top 100 next season and Arcia being top 40.

[TheCrew07]

I was looking at that list, It amazes me how Kyle Schwarber is ranked #19 when Coulter likely becomes the same kind of prospect moving from Catcher.

 

Ya it's really crazy for a player who hit to a measly 1.061 OPS across 3 levels in his first shot at professional baseball to be ranked so high. How many hitters in the top 100 can even approach his statistical dominance regardless of ratio? High Ave? Check. High OBP? Check. High SLG? Check. Low K rate? Check. High Walk rate? Check. As a baseball fan the only thing not to like about Schwarber at this point in the time is the fact that he's Cubs' property...

 

[pre]Year Age AgeDif Tm Lg G PA AB 2B 3B HR BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS

2014 21 -0.2 Boise NORW 5 24 20 1 1 4 2 2 .600 .625 1.350 1.975

2014 21 -0.5 KaneCounty MIDW 23 96 83 8 0 4 11 17 .361 .448 .602 1.050

2014 21 -1.7 Daytona FLOR 44 191 159 9 1 10 26 38 .302 .393 .560 .952

1 Season 72 311 262 18 2 18 39 57 .344 .428 .634 1.061[/pre]

 

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

 

He was the best hitter in the draft, and he's a lefty, the only question is his ultimate position. Your stat line was so arbitrary I find it difficult to take that post seriously. He hit 18 HRs in roughly half as many games as he would get in a full season... Here are the MiLB HR leaders (non prospects removed) from last season, there were only 8 hitters who hit more than 30 HRs on the season, only 3 of those players hit over .300, and Joc Pederson put up his line in the incredibly friendly confines of the PCL west.

 

[pre]Name Age Tm Lg Lev Aff HR G PA AB 2B 3B BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS

Kris Bryant 22 KNXIWA SOULPCL AAAAA CHC 43 138 594 492 34 1 86 162 .325 .438 .661 1.098

Joey Gallo 20 FRIMYR TLCARL AAA+ TEX 42 126 537 439 19 3 87 179 .271 .394 .615 1.009

Matt Olson 20 STK CALL A+ OAK 37 138 634 512 31 1 117 137 .262 .404 .543 .947

Steven Moya 22 ERI EL AA DET 35 133 549 515 33 3 23 161 .276 .306 .555 .861

Peter OBrien 23 TRETAMMOB ELFLORSOUL AAA+ NYYARI 34 106 427 399 23 2 21 111 .271 .316 .594 .910

Joc Pederson 22 ABQ PCL AAA LAD 33 121 553 445 17 4 100 149 .303 .435 .582 1.017

Dennis Raben 26 SBRSOM CALLATLL A+Ind LAA 32 107 457 405 15 3 38 96 .301 .370 .590 .960

D.J. Peterson 22 HDSWTN CALLSOUL A+AA SEA 31 123 547 495 31 1 45 116 .297 .360 .552 .912

Jabari Henry 23 HDS CALL A+ SEA 30 114 511 430 26 5 69 109 .291 .398 .584 .982

Carlos Peguero 27 OMA PCL AAA KCR 30 104 418 368 17 1 45 138 .266 .349 .563 .912

Andy Wilkins 25 CHR IL AAA CHW 30 127 529 491 38 1 34 91 .293 .338 .558 .896[/pre]

 

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

 

I'll say right now there's no way the Brewers have 6 players in BA's top 100 for 2016... I care about our prospects as much as anyone, and I get to see most of them play as only a handful of players have skipped past WI, but there's no way this system has 6 top 100 players in it for 2016, even absolute best case. We have a ton of intriguing guys, but very few with a good enough track record to be a top 100 type player. I think Harrison has a realistic shot if he continues to ascend, Coulter is a long shot, and on the pitching side a couple of our younger higher ceiling type pitchers would have to take the kind of leaps forward that we haven't seen in this system... ERAs under 2, WHIP around 1, a wipe-out secondary pitch, a 3rd pitch that projects as at least average, and a high K rate. We didn't have anyone like that for 2014... I'm certainly excited about Williams, Diaz, Wang, and I'll say that I'm cautiously optimistic about Medeiros, but it's asking quite a bit to realistically project those kind of quantum leaps for any pitcher... let alone a pitcher in the Brewer's system.

 

I wish we had a Tyler Glasnow type that would explode onto the scene and go from unranked to #46 and now #16, but we don't have that kind of dominant player, our guys generally have to make incremental improvements in their game and their rankings.

[brewcrewdue80]

What is Schwarber's defensive prowess in the corner OF? It's likely below avg and being below avg defensively to me doesn't make him a top 10 prospect in Baseball once the season is halfway through.

 

Don't know how Milw will have 6 in top 100. Arcia/Taylor are two. You said it yourself Harrison+Coulter make sense that's 4. Gilbert Lara? 5. Need just one more. Brewers hired Montgomery who lets see has Touissaint in the top 100 along with Shipley,Bradley, and Blair is it? Brewers have 8th most money to spend in the draft how about the draft pick being in the top 100? Makes 6 and that's without Medeiros, Gatewood showing off talent. What if the Crew gets Alvarez? Likely top 100 immediately.

[fondybrewfan]

That is still making a lot of assumptions though. We all hope the above mentioned players make big leaps in 2015; but odds are at least one or two are going to struggle. Every team in the league has talents in the system that are capable of being top 100 type guys that aren't currently. Some players take the next step and some don't.

 

I think by midseason the Brewers might add another 1 or 2 but I am not going to go nuts and expect the Brewers to go from a 25th ranked system to 15th or so based solely on these guys we hope to breakout in 2015. Harrison has the making of a Top 100 guy; but he at most will be in Low A to start the year. Coulter is going to be in Brevard County where power hitters go to die. Both Lara and Medeiros are probably going to be in rookie ball for most if not all of the year. Gatewood was pretty much terrible last year; he won't be anywhere near a top 100 no matter how good he does this year; once again likely in R all year.

[pete]

What is Schwarber's defensive prowess in the corner OF? It's likely below avg and being below avg defensively to me doesn't make him a top 10 prospect in Baseball once the season is halfway through.

I agree. I can see it being arguable if the offense is fantastic, but in the past it seemed automatic to drop a guy down if he wasn't a good defender. It almost seems as if the Cubs have many convinced that he has a good shot to stick at catcher.

 

Brewers hired Montgomery who lets see has Touissaint in the top 100 along with Shipley,Bradley, and Blair is it?

I just saw a video of Touissant. That delivery is a scary mess to my amateur eyes. Bradley hasn't done well. I dunno...

 

Regarding Medeiros: I'm pumped. I think its a great pick. I know there's a lot of disagreement. LH who throws in the mid to low 90s with movement and has a plus 2nd pitch and a third pitch already?

 

If only he was as good as Rob Kaminsky!

[Mass Haas]

2015 Milwaukee Brewers "Unified" Top Prospect List(Compilation)

[fondybrewfan]

So 8 of the Brewers Top 21 prospects are new to the organization since the 2014 June Draft. So that either tells us that our system Pre-June 2014 was absolutely terrible or that the Brewers have brought in a substantial amount of impact talent since then. The truth is probably somewhere in-between.

[pete]

They've been graduating players too.

[Mass Haas]

Jake Gatewood photos

 

Put on 30 pounds of muscle this offseason thanks to the best trainer out there; this offseason was one to remember and can't wait to put my new body to work.

[Jenkins5]

Few issues....

1) Brewers top prospects were not top/high profile picks.

2) Our top guys are still young and lower levels.

3) Brewers Don't push hot prospects as often

 

It's hard to tell what you have in a prospect until they come to AA. I always consider AA as the best prospect level to perform at. Other issue, BA and others do take into account how a player is advanced. Now when Arcia or Taylor were lighting up A+ if they get the bump to AA mid-season and do well, that looks better than just staying at same level the whole season. If Coulter is abusing the ball in Wisconsin, if they bump him up, I think his star rises more. The faster you advance, the more notice you get. Brewers are not very aggressive on that front, def when it comes to young kids.

[Outlander]

3) Brewers Don't push hot prospects as often

I do wonder where a guy like Knebel would be in the organization if he was drafted by the Brewers? Would he have made it to high A, AA?