1)
| Player: Keston Hiura | |||||
| Position(s): 2B | Opening Day Age: 22 | 2018 Highest Level: AA | |||
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right | Height: 5’11” | Weight: 190 lbs. | ||
| Quick Report: A pure second baseman is not often a number on prospect for a team, but Hiura is special. I mentioned in my post yesterday that Senzel may have the best hit tool outside of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., he has competition with Hiura. He was limited to DH duties in his final year at UC Irvine thanks to an elbow injury most thought would require Tommy John surgery but he is healthy now and a solid second baseman. To go along with the incredible hit tool, Hiura has plus power potential and could be an absolute superstar at the plate. In his first full pro season he made it to AA and went to the AFL where he took home MVP honors. I fully expect him to become a staple in the Brewers lineup this season. | |||||
2)
| Player: Corey Ray | |||||
| Position(s): OF | Opening Day Age: 24 | 2018 Highest Level: AA | |||
| Bats: Left | Throws: Left | Height: 6’ | Weight: 195 lbs. | ||
| Quick Report: A guy who might be six-foot-tall, Ray is a rare player who is a no doubt middle of the infield defender who is all power and little contact. He has near top of the scale speed that makes up for his lack of great reads in center, but the athleticism should keep him there. The bat is powerful, but it is long to the zone and will lead to a lot of strikeouts. Overall, he is a tough one because he had a great season last year after a poor season the year before and there really wasn’t any difference in approach or mechanics. He is going to be one of those who is streaky, but when he is on a hot streak, there will be few who can impact a game as much as him. | |||||
3)
| Player: Brice Turang | |||||
| Position(s): SS | Opening Day Age: 19 | 2018 Highest Level: Rookie | |||
| Bats: Left | Throws: Right | Height: 6’1” | Weight: 165 lbs. | ||
| Quick Report: A surprising fall in the draft last June, Turang was once a candidate to go number one overall, but he struggled at the plate his senior year in high school. The Brewers were thrilled to get him at number 21 overall, and he will likely outperform his draft position. He has a very advanced approach at the plate that allows him to work deep into counts and fight off tough pitches. He is a guy who should hit at the top of a lineup, although he will never his for much in terms of power. In the field, he is a smooth fielding shortstop that can make some really acrobatic plays and could prove to be a plus defender. | |||||
4)
| Player: Tristen Lutz | |||||
| Position(s): OF | Opening Day Age: 20 | 2018 Highest Level: Low A | |||
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right | Height: 6’3” | Weight: 210 lbs. | ||
| Quick Report: If you are curious what a right fielder should look like, use Tristen Lutz as a perfect example as he is all power. The arm is plus and the raw power is plus-plus, although it will likely just be plus in game situations. He is actually a solid athlete in the outfield and has good reads, so he could hold down center in a pinch, but will play as an above average defender in right. The bat is quick and provides natural loft, so he just may be able to hit for a solid average, although chances are he is going to be more of a guy that puts up a .260 average and 30 or so home runs. | |||||
5)
| Player: Zack Brown | |||||
| Position(s): RHP | Opening Day Age: 27 | 2018 Highest Level: AA | |||
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right | Height: 6’1” | Weight: 180 lbs. | ||
| Quick Report: The delivery screams reliever, and that may be his ultimate role, but the stuff and consistency just might be enough to keep him as a starter. The arm slot is very high and there is a ton of head whip that seems to lead the arm through its slot, but he fills the zone and has been quite durable thus far. His fastball can sit into the mid-90s with a plus curve and a change that has developed into an average offering. If he is sent to the bullpen, he is a guy who could handle longer stints when necessary, but also be successful in high leverage situation thanks to the fastball-curve mix, although I still hold belief he will be able to crack a rotation and become a solid number four starter. | |||||
6)
| Player: Mauricio Dubon | |||||
| Position(s): 2B/SS | Opening Day Age: 24 | 2018 Highest Level: AAA | |||
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right | Height: 6’ | Weight: 160 lbs. | ||
| Quick Report: When I put together this list I was quite surprised how low I wound up placing Dubon as I really like him as a player and have had only positive interactions with him as a person. The problem with Dubon is the fact I just don’t see the ceiling of an everyday ballplayer some see. He has a strong arm and good actions in the field that will allow him to see time at three infield positions and be at least average at all three. There is almost no over the fence power in his swing, but he gets the bat to the ball well and has plenty of speed to allow him to put up plenty of doubles. Ultimately I see Dubon as an elite utilityman, which is no slight to him, but the upside of the five ahead of him on this list is just enough to out rank him despite him having the highest floor of any outside Hiura. | |||||
7)
| Player: Joe Gray | |||||
| Position(s): OF | Opening Day Age: 18 | 2018 Highest Level: Rookie | |||
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right | Height: 6’1” | Weight: 195 lbs. | ||
| Quick Report: A cannon of an arm that will wow you with its power but also wow you with its lack of accuracy, Gray could certainly fit right field well, but he just may be able to stick in center. He has good athleticism and quality reads that could allow him to stay as one of the bigger bodies in center and as much power as any at the position. The bat is lightning quick, but he gets in front of the ball too often and is susceptible to swinging over quality off-speed stuff. When he makes contact, he has plus raw power that should translate to game action as he fills out, while the body doesn’t appear it will lose much athleticism when he does. | |||||
8)
| Player: Troy Stokes Jr. | |||||
| Position(s): OF | Opening Day Age: 22 | 2018 Highest Level: AA | |||
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right | Height: 5’8” | Weight: 185 lbs. | ||
| Quick Report: I will confess I am probably too high on Stokes, but I like his game. He is a very small player with big power. He is quite athletic but won’t stick up the middle. Let’s start with the position issues where he has the reads and range to be a center fielder but has one of the worst arms in the minors and is really a left field only option, where he could be plus defender. At the plate he looks like a guy who should be a slap hitter thanks to his above average speed and standing just 5’8”, but his contact rates are terrible. Instead, when he does make contact, the ball travels a long way and leads to real power. In reality he will likely have to be on the short side of a platoon, but even in limited ABs, he could find a way to put up 15-18 home runs a year and steal a big bag as a pinch runner when needed. | |||||
9)
| Player: Mario Feliciano | |||||
| Position(s): C | Opening Day Age: 20 | 2018 Highest Level: High A | |||
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right | Height: 6’1” | Weight: 195 lbs. | ||
| Quick Report: Feliciano is a guy who will be carried by the bat, although he can hold his own behind the dish. The arm strength is very good and he has quick feet to assist his pop times to be good enough to be at least average when it comes to controlling the running game. His receiving needs work as the hands can be a bit busy, but there is enough there that he can stick behind the plate and not be a liability. The bat is quick to the zone and he makes solid contact while the ball can jump. He ultimately will have an average hit and power tool, but if he can keep those while getting close to average as a defender, that could turn him into an above average catcher. | |||||
10)
| Player: Lucas Erceg | |||||
| Position(s): 3B | Opening Day Age: 23 | 2018 Highest Level: AA | |||
| Bats: Left | Throws: Right | Height: 6’3” | Weight: 210 lbs. | ||
| Quick Report: This is a make or break season for Erceg, as he needs to step it up at the plate, but there is still plenty of power in the bat. His hands are busy and can get below the ball far too often, preventing him from getting the most out of his above average raw power and making softer contact than he should. If he can quiet the hands some and get a more direct path to the ball, the power will shine through while his absolute cannon of an arm at third base make up for not having the greatest feet at the position. If all comes together, he still has a shot to be a quality everyday third baseman, but if the bat doesn’t make great improvements this year there are rumblings a move to the mound where he was a power pitcher in college may be in order. | |||||
Others of Note:
Aaron Ashby – LHP – 20 – Low A
Eduardo Garcia – SS – 16 – Rookie
Trey Supak – RHP – 22 – AA
Payton Henry – C – 21 – Low A
Braden Webb – RHP – 23 – AA
THREE QUARTER SLOT 
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