Minor League Sleepers/Breakouts/Comebacks for 2020

[clancyphile]

Who do you folks think are going to be the sleepers, breakout stars, and comebacks in the Brewers farm system for 2020?

 

Some of my thoughts:

 

Sleepers

1. LHP Michael Mediavilla - Two sub-1.00 ERA seasons, a career WHIP of 0.640... could make a Rasmussen-like climb in 2020.

2. OF Cooper Hummel - Yeah, he was third in wRC+ last year, but he's not on the Top 30 of MLB pipeline.

3. LHP Scott Sunitsch - Better K/BB ratio than Ashby

 

Breakout Candidates

1. OF/1B/C Thomas Dillard - Will be interesting if he can do well in first full season.

2. 1B Ernesto Wilson Martinez - Could be a big power bat at first.

3. SS Cam DeVanney - If he matches 2019 performance in first full season, things get interesting...

 

Comeback Candidates

1. LHP Quintin Torres-Costa - Was shaping up as solid relief option before Tommy John surgery.

2. OF Corey Ray - Can he rebound to 2018 performance?

3. RHP Zack Brown - Baby seals in the Canadian Arctic had a better 2019 than he did, but could he rebound?

[CheeseheadInQC]

I'll bite:

Sleepers: The entire non-Antoine Kelly portion of the likely Wisconsin starting rotation.

 

Each has something to be intrigued by:

Luna: All he has done since joining the organization is get guys out and get hurt. If he can avoid the latter ...

Lindell: RM stats pretty dominant after awful start

Walters: Upside was touted in draft and was good enough to indicate it might still be there

Jarvis and Olson: Could shine on second go-around.

 

Deep sleeper:

Andre Nnebe: Likely the next Zach Clark, except in a more crowded outfield situation, but at least offers something to dream on.

[KeithStone53151]

Sleepers

1. Carlos Rodriguez - I know he's pretty highly ranked, but I think he'll find his way into the top 5 of our lists by end of year.

2. Nick Bennett - Had a nice couple months after being drafted 5th round, not even in our top 30.

3. Joangtel Segovia - That hit tool though. He's not the athlete that Ray/Grisham/Taylor are, but he can hit.

 

Breakout

Rodriguez, Bennett, and then Lutz. I think Lutz is due to have a statistically very good year and shoot up the rankings.

 

Comeback

1. Braden Webb - Filthy stuff, I think he finds control for a pocket of time and pitches out of the bullpen at the MLB level this year.

2. Phil Bickford - He's another guy I think has a real shot at the MLB bullpen this year. This maybe isn't fair because he had a bit of a comeback 2nd half last year.

3. Corey Ray - Highly rated, he kinda knows he'll lose all prospect love if he can't make it work this year.

[TJseven7]

Sleepers:

Dylan File: He's getting rated on some lists now but it seems like every single year the Farm has an arm that starts in the 18-24 rankings of the system and by July the minors ranking collective is freaking out about him. Even if he's not off the radar, I expect him to be in MKE this year and on everyone's radar.

Nick Bennett: Small Kelly get plenty of love. Bennett was nearly as dominant. Great K rate, GB rate. Dominated in RM and Wisco. He shouldn't be ignored to the level he has been outside this organization.

Felix Valerio: Playing at a high level Stateside while being 5'7 165 at 18 (even in RK ball) is no small task. RMV and Wisco this year should catch some attention. This years CRod.

Bickford: K numbers in Carolina were insane. It's crazy to think he's was still YOUNG for A+ in 2019. 2 ST innings 3Ks no H no BB. Wouldn't put MLB consideration past him this year.

 

Those are all breakouts as well but

Breakouts:

Tristan Lutz: Has been more than 2 years young and every level and pushed hard. It hasn't blossomed yet but he's going to turn that magical age of 22 late this season. Time to put up.

Thomas Dillard: Put me on him as well. Time to go all in at 1b and position himself as far and away the best in the system at his position.

Max Lazar: Big off season for him in AZ working out with the trainers. 6'3 frame that hasn't filled out yet. Tick up the FB and improve the slider and he's a whole lot more interesting. Still young so I don't see a huge jump up the rankings but could be that guy who goes from around 20 to top 5 in 2021.

 

Comeback:

QTC: Had a huge 2018. Had TJ. Had a very interesting Fall league showing.

Braden Webb: I agree here too. Exactly why I don't like MiLB relievers. He's a failed starter and his FB CB can carry him to the MLB out of the pen.

Trey Supak: Pattern. Every single year 2016-2019 he started at 1 level and finished at a 2nd level. Dominated at the 1st level, saw a down tick at the 2nd level each time. The next year he repeats the level he ended the previous year at and dominates. Crazy numbers here: BA allowed

2016 ROK .200 - A .274

2017 A .156 - A+ .241

2018 A+ .208 - AA .232

2019 AA .192 - AAA .325 (biggest age diff of his career by 1.4 years, high of his typical age diff by 2.2)

A Jump 74 drop 118

A+ Jump 85 drop 33

AA Jump 24 drop 40

AAA Jump 133 drop ???

And he's in the best shape of his life LOL.

[ARobsBrewCrew]

Sleepers:

1- RHP Carlos Luna

2- 1B Ernesto Martinez, Jr.

3- RHP Karsen Lindell

 

Breakout

1- OF Tristen Lutz

2- OF Joe Gray, Jr.

3- RHP Victor Castaneda

 

Comeback

1- OF Corey Ray

2- LHP Quintin Torres-Costa

3- OF Larry Ernesto

 

Deep Sleepers

1- LHP Nathan Kirby

2- C Jose Sibrian

3- RHP Preston Gainey

[CheeseheadInQC]

Deep Sleepers

3- RHP Preston Gainey

 

To quote the old Ben Affleck-Alec Baldwin SNL sketch: "Those are my moves, you're stealing my moves"

 

I think I might have jinxed Gainey. As soon as I started listing him as a sleeper every season he started getting repeatedly injured. I still think if he had stayed healthy he would have found his way to the big leagues as a reliever.

[reillymcshane]

For some reason I think Phil Bickford is going to breakout if the club keeps him as a reliever.

 

Just some weird feeling.

[TJseven7]

For some reason I think Phil Bickford is going to breakout if the club keeps him as a reliever.

 

Just some weird feeling.

 

Bickford: K numbers in Carolina were insane. It's crazy to think he's was still YOUNG for A+ in 2019. 2 ST innings 3Ks no H no BB. Wouldn't put MLB consideration past him this year.

 

Yeah, and he added a 3rd nice inning today. Guy quietly had a heck of a bounce back year in Carolina and he seems to be back on the fast track with a jet pack on his back.

[brewmann04]

They should make Bickford the closer at double A

[Mr Southpaw]

Sleepers

1. Justin Jarvis RHP

2. Reese Olson RHP

3. Nash Walters RHP

 

Breakout Candidates

1. Mario Feliciano, C

2. Lucas Erceg, 3B

3. Phil Bickford RHP

 

Comeback Candidates

1. Zach Brown, RHP

2. Angel Perdoma LHP

3. Corey Ray OF

[WV Brew]

I still believe in Jake Gatewood. Having seen him dominate the Carolina League during the first half three years ago, I think he can get that back after two injury filled years. Right handed power hitter who may be a late developer. Few players in the Brewers organization can do the things he can.

[Mr Southpaw]

I would love to have Gatewood pull a Khris Davis.

[Mr Southpaw]

I would love to have Gatewood pull a Khris Davis.

[Yolk]

After a 2019 in which the Brewers had disastrous showings by some of their more highly regarded prospects, there are plenty of breakouts and pleasant surprises throughout the system in 2020.

 

 

SLEEPERS

 

Micah Bello - Entering his third season and still 19 years old. Plus speed, plus defense, plus arm. Has a good idea at the plate but seems kind of stuck in between being a higher average singles hitter and trying to turn on pitches and do some damage. This year is the first that he begins a balancing act between the two. He becomes a steady into-the-gaps-with-authority kind of hitter who legs out plenty of two and three baggers while maintaining a respectable average in A-ball.

 

Gabe Holt - The Turang-est prospect in the system with a little more speed but less defensive value. If the move back to 2B works out and gets on base like he should, he’s a consensus top 10 prospect in the system next Spring.

 

Carlos Roa - Best teenage bat that no one talks about. Might take a couple years to really get moving but he shows enough this season to be discussed along side the much more heralded international signings of recent years.

 

 

BREAKOUTS

 

Tristen Lutz - Early career numbers are steady but not necessarily impressive. Has shown glimpses of being a burgeoning power hitter and had really nice stretches at each level once he gets acclimated. A shortened 2020 season will be enough for Lutz to show that he’s the best bat in the system and a top 50 overall prospect in 2021.

 

Payton Henry - Cold weather kid, hard worker. Has improved immensely on the defensive side since signing. This is the year the bat comes alive as he trades some Ks for BBs and gets to that power consistently.

 

Nick Bennett - College lefty knows how to pitch. Strong understanding and command of his arsenal. Come Fall, people will be surprised by how close he comes to matching Small’s performance in the same rotation.

 

Luis Medina - A bit early on this one but my personal favorite international sign since ... Jean Carmona. Ha. A swing both effortless and mighty. Not sure if he’ll even be stateside for 2020 but I’m looking forward to witnessing the several leaps he makes over the next few years to become the best lefty power bat the system has produced since Prince...

 

... Now that that’s out of the way and since Medina hardly counts... Phil Bickford! He makes his mark as one of the best relievers in all of minors this season and puts himself on the brink of contributing to the major league pen.

 

 

COMEBACK

 

Jake Gatewood - I’d never removed Gatewood from my Brewerfan Top 25 until this Spring (I placed him as the first honorable mention at #26). Now comfortably removed from that atrocious display after coming back from injury last summer, he leads the the farm in home runs in 2020.

[Yolk]

After a 2019 in which the Brewers had disastrous showings by some of their more highly regarded prospects, there are plenty of breakouts and pleasant surprises throughout the system in 2020.

 

 

SLEEPERS

 

Micah Bello - Entering his third season and still 19 years old. Plus speed, plus defense, plus arm. Has a good idea at the plate but seems kind of stuck in between being a higher average singles hitter and trying to turn on pitches and do some damage. This year is the first that he begins a balancing act between the two. He becomes a steady into-the-gaps-with-authority kind of hitter who legs out plenty of two and three baggers while maintaining a respectable average in A-ball.

 

Gabe Holt - The Turang-est prospect in the system with a little more speed but less defensive value. If the move back to 2B works out and gets on base like he should, he’s a consensus top 10 prospect in the system next Spring.

 

Carlos Roa - Best teenage bat that no one talks about. Might take a couple years to really get moving but he shows enough this season to be discussed along side the much more heralded international signings of recent years.

 

 

BREAKOUTS

 

Tristen Lutz - Early career numbers are steady but not necessarily impressive. Has shown glimpses of being a burgeoning power hitter and had really nice stretches at each level once he gets acclimated. A shortened 2020 season will be enough for Lutz to show that he’s the best bat in the system and a top 50 overall prospect in 2021.

 

Payton Henry - Cold weather kid, hard worker. Has improved immensely on the defensive side since signing. This is the year the bat comes alive as he trades some Ks for BBs and gets to that power consistently.

 

Nick Bennett - College lefty knows how to pitch. Strong understanding and command of his arsenal. Come Fall, people will be surprised by how close he comes to matching Small’s performance in the same rotation.

 

Luis Medina - A bit early on this one but my personal favorite international sign since ... Jean Carmona. Ha. A swing both effortless and mighty. Not sure if he’ll even be stateside for 2020 but I’m looking forward to witnessing the several leaps he makes over the next few years to become the best lefty power bat the system has produced since Prince...

 

... Now that that’s out of the way and since Medina hardly counts... Phil Bickford! He makes his mark as one of the best relievers in all of minors this season and puts himself on the brink of contributing to the major league pen.

 

 

COMEBACK

 

Jake Gatewood - I’d never removed Gatewood from my Brewerfan Top 25 until this Spring (I placed him as the first honorable mention at #26). Now comfortably removed from that atrocious display after coming back from injury last summer, he leads the the farm in home runs in 2020.

[Austin Tatious]

Some good calls on Nick Bennett. Here’s a good article on him.

 

https://www.brewcrewball.com/2019/6/6/18654827/meet-nick-bennett-university-louisville-6th-round-draft-pick-of-the-milwaukee-brewers

 

I wish I put him on my top 25 list. I’d probably put him around 15. Excellent draft pick for where we got him.