Quick Look
The Brewers mortgaged some of the future to acquire CC Sabathia in 2008. They would repeat that move in a heartbeat as it propelled them to their first playoff appearance since 1982. However, with the limited resources Milwaukee has, it will now have to rebuild to return to the playoffs. The Brew Crew finished a disappointing 80-82 this year, mostly because of a dearth of pitching. They will look to address that deficiency by targeting and developing young hurlers, while hopefully managing to hang on to young stars Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun, and Yo Gallardo. Milwaukee's farm system is average, but nothing about it truly excites me. The NL Central is open for the taking.
Top Prospects
Alcides Escobar, ss
Age: 22 Level: MLB
The Brewers cleared the way for Escobar to step in as the everyday shortstop by dealing J.J. Hardy to the Twins last month. Escobar's defense is big league-caliber without question. His soft hands, footwork, and rifle arm mark him as a future Gold Glover and human highlight reel. The Venezuelan native also has plus-plus speed. Escobar has contact ability, but he lacks the power to consistently drive the ball or the patience to draw many walks. He figures to hit in the .290/.320/.400 neighborhood at his peak. Escobar's offense has shown steady improvement, but he'll provide more value as a run preventer rather than a run creator.
Brett Lawrie, 2B
Age: 19 Level: Low A-Double-A
The highest drafted position player from Canada in draft history (16th overall), Lawrie got a taste of Double-A at the tail end of 2009. He spent the bulk of the year in the Midwest League, though, batting .274/.348/.454 with 13 homers, above-average numbers for a teenager. Lawrie has outstanding offensive potential. His strong wrists, bat speed, and hand-eye coordination allow him to barrel up the ball consistently. He projects for plus power and is an old pro at hitting with wood. Lawrie had some memorable exploits as an amateur, and Baseball America had the following to say: "Lawrie's legend continues to grow as he tours with Canada's junior national team; he hit five home runs in a doubleheader against the Mariners' extended-spring team in the Dominican Republic, going foul pole to foul pole in a demonstration of one of the prep ranks' most pro-ready bats." The 5-11, 200-pounder has good athleticism and speed. His first full season was a success, but Lawrie still could stand to polish his batting eye and approach. The most worrisome aspect regarding Lawrie is his future position. He has already moved from catcher and, with a stocky build and inexperience, his defense at second is rough. Lawrie's bat has the potential to be good enough to profile anywhere on the diamond, but he still needs to improve his skills at the keystone sack. It would be great to see him bust out in 2010.
Mat Gamel, 3B
Age: 24 Level: MLB
Gamel is a third baseman until further notice, but his defense is jarringly erratic (32 errors in 2008 and 53 in 2007) and will soon necessitate a shift down the defensive spectrum. He has the athleticism to move to a corner outfield spot. Gamel's meal ticket is his bat. The Chipola JC product has plus lefthanded power, uses the whole field, and has a compact swing when he's going right (although he got out of whack and set a career high in strikeouts this season). He lost his stroke while pinch-hitting and playing DH in the majors this year, but Gamel is capable of a .285/.350/.500 line long-term. His future with the Brewers is unclear (they have his defensive destinations covered with young regulars), but Gamel's potent bat promises a significant career regardless.
Jonathan Lucroy, c
Age: 23 Level: Double-A-MLB
Lucroy has quietly ascended the ladder since the Brewers made the former Louisiana-Lafayette backstop a 3rd-round pick in 2007. Lucroy has no single overwhelming tool, but his solid all-around package gives him a chance to be an everyday regular behind the plate. Lucroy was known for his bat in college, and his short, balanced swing and plate discipline still serve him well. His BB-K ratio is 152-187 over his 3-year career. Lucroy also has decent pop (primarily to the gaps), although his power numbers were down in 2009. He will have to show enough for pitchers to respect him. Scouts are most excited about the defensive progress Lucroy has made, and they especially heaped on the praise during his recent Arizona Fall League stint. He has improved the quickness of his release, now flashing some above-average pop times. He has also shown improvement with receiving and blocking, although his overall defensive game could use some more polish. Lucroy won't be a superstar, but given his advanced bat and steady defense, he could be a valuable catcher.
Eric Arnett, rhp
Age: 21 Level: Rookie-High A
Arnett rose to the forefront of a talented Indiana team this spring, leading the Hoosiers to regionals and getting drafted in the first round. Everything seemed to click for the 6-5, 230-pounder, who leveraged a low-90s fastball (that tops out at 97 mph) and a tight slider into a 2.50 ERA and 109 strikeouts in 108 innings. Arnett's changeup needs work for him to stick in the rotation. His control is also below-average, and he was inconsistent in his brief professional debut. Arnett's athleticism could help him improve in those regards. He's relatively unpolished for a college product, but Arnett's ceiling is a front-of-the-rotation workhorse.
Kentrail Davis, of
Age: 21 Level: none-High A
Davis was a big-time prospect coming out of high school and at Tennessee. He didn't meet expectations, but Milwaukee still selected him in the supplemental round and gave him a $1.2 million signing bonus. The Brewers are excited about Davis' power-speed combo, as well as his hitting ability from the left side. He bundles a lot of raw energy into his compact (5-9, 200) frame, earning him the inevitable Kirby Puckett comparisons. For his offensive tools to fully manifest themselves, however, Davis needs to cut down his swing and use the opposite field. Though he has plus speed, Davis' sub-par instincts and arm make him a better fit in left, in which case his bat needs to carry him. He needs to overcome his reputation for sluggish responses to high expectations, but the tools are there for Davis to become a star.
Lorenzo Cain, of
Age: 23 Level: Triple-A-MLB
Cain turns 24 next season, but he has a lot of untapped potential remaining. The Tallahassee CC product has premium athleticism and plus speed. He'll be a plus defender at the major league level, and he has a strong arm for center. Cain also has potential with the bat, as evidenced by his banner 2008 campaign, in which he put up a .279/.356/.448 line, cracked 51 extra-base hits, drew 51 walks, and stole 25 bags. Cain is raw offensively, with most of his production coming in flashes. He strikes out frequently and was limited by a sprained knee to a .624 OPS in 60 games this year. His instincts could use some work, a function of Cain not playing baseball until high school and missing vital development time with injuries. With the clock ticking, Cain will return to Triple-A in hopes of making up for lost time. If he is eventually able to amalgamate his gifts, he will overtake incumbent Carlos Gomez.
Cody Scarpetta, rhp
Age: 21 Level: Low A-Double-A
Scarpetta has a boring low-90s fastball, but it's his devastating curveball that has helped him rack up absurd strikeout totals in the low minors. The burly Illinois native, who compiled a 3.52 ERA in 2009, is also working on a changeup. His control and command, though, are both volatile. Scarpetta's body isn't optimal condition (6-3, 240), and he has grappled with injury problems. He isn't a household name yet, but improved consistency of his collection of promising pitches would help Scarpetta become an elite prospect. Due to a contract snafu, he's on the 40-man roster despite just 146 pro innings, so he could reach Milwaukee fairly quickly.
Jake Odorizzi, rhp
Age: 19 Level: Rookie-Low A
Odorizzi has been handled conservatively since being taken in the supplemental round of the 2008 draft: He has worked just 68 total innings, all of them below full-season ball. Odorizzi should be let loose in 2010, however, and his upside is already apparent. The Illinois native is athletic, projectable, and has a strong foundation of pitches. His fastball touches 93 mph (he has more sink and control a few ticks lower), his curveball flashes plus, and he has a slider and changeup in his back pocket, though those pitches need a lot of work. Odorizzi will look to refine his secondary offerings and command in 2010. Once he boosts his velocity and gets all his pitches in sync, he'll take off.
Zach Braddock, lhp
Age: 22 Level: Double-A-MLB
Braddock has dealt with myriad health issues in his career, but a switch to the bullpen seems to have set him on the right track. He pumps his fastball up to 96 mph, and sits 91-94 in short stints. His biting slider is a plus pitch and particularly effective to lefties. Braddock's changeup has shown flashes, but he won't need it much in his new role. The New Jersey native (huge at 6-4, 230) gave a glimpse at his upside with a composite 1.79 ERA and an astounding 38.8 K% between High A and Double-A this year. His power bullpen arm could warrant a look in Milwaukee as early as 2010, and provided he stays healthy and continues sharpen his command, he'll be a set-up man.
Others: RHPs Kyle Heckathorn, Amaury Rivas, and Maverick Lasker; OFs Logan Schafer, Caleb Gindl, and Max Walla; C Angel Salome
Impact Talent: C
Farm System Depth: A-
2010 Breakout Prospect
Wily Peralta, rhp
Age: 20 Level: Low A-High A
Peralta's power arsenal alone allowed him to succeed this year (3.47 ERA and 26.5 K%), but he will really excel if he can sharpen his command. Peralta has a lively fastball that registers at 92-94 mph and touches 96. His slider and changeup are inconsistent, but the former has particularly good potential, with bite in the low-80s. Peralta will need to stay on top of his conditioning (he's currently 6-2, 225) to remain effective. The Dominican-born righty will improve the farther removed he gets from 2006 Tommy John surgery. I like his chances of harnessing his electric stuff and hurdling up prospect lists next year. If he heads to the bullpen, he could reach Milwaukee in 2011.
