The Brewers have made the postseason in five of the last six years with three NL Central titles included in that run. A big reason for their success: the ability to fill the roster with Major League-ready talent from within the farm system. Sal Frelick, Garrett Mitchell, Joey Wiemer and Andruw Monasterio were some of the more meaningful rookie contributors to last year¡¯s club.
This year¡¯s rookie class should have an even higher ceiling.
That starts with outfielder Jackson Chourio, this offseason¡¯s $82 million man and the No. 2 overall prospect on MLB Pipeline¡¯s recently released Top 100 Prospects list for the 2024 season. The Venezuela native (who turns 20 on March 11) has some of the best power and speed in the entire system, as evidenced by his 22 homers and 44 steals in the upper levels last season, and he has some of the most upside on the Milwaukee farm since Ryan Braun won Rookie of the Year in 2007.
But it doesn¡¯t stop at Chourio. Fellow Top 100 prospects Jeferson Quero, Tyler Black and Joey Ortiz all have Major League ETAs of 2024, and there¡¯s every chance that Jacob Misiorowski -- owner of a plus-plus fastball, plus-plus slider and 6-foot-7 frame -- could see the Majors ahead of schedule should the Crew decide to use his killer stuff in any role over the months ahead.
This is also a layered system designed to not take a huge dip once this Top 100 contingent graduates. First-round pick Brock Wilken (2025 ETA) rivals Chourio for best pop in the system. Outfielder Luis Lara (2026 ETA) reached High-A as an 18-year-old with terrific bat-to-ball skills. Shortstop Cooper Pratt (2027 ETA) looks like the steal of the 2023 Draft as a sixth-rounder drawing Gunnar Henderson comparisons.
The wheel keeps on turning toward Milwaukee, and if all goes as planned, the postseason appearances keep coming too.
Here¡¯s a look at the Brewers¡¯ top prospects:?
1. Jackson Chourio, OF (MLB No. 2)
2. Jacob Misiorowski, RHP (MLB No. 33)
3. Jeferson Quero, C (MLB No. 35)
4. Tyler Black, 3B/1B (MLB No. 46)
5. Joey Ortiz, INF (MLB No. 63)
Complete Top 30 list ?
Biggest jump/fall
Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the 2023 preseason list to the 2024 preseason list:
Jump: Yophery Rodriguez, OF (2023: NR | 2024: 11)
Ranked as MLB Pipeline¡¯s No. 22 international prospect in the 2023 class, Rodriguez sat just outside Milwaukee¡¯s Top 30 list at the start of the season, but after slashing .253/.393/.449 with six homers in 52 games in the Dominican Summer League, he¡¯s shown the potential for above-average hit, power and running tools. Milwaukee has been aggressive with its top DSL prospects over the last two seasons in Jackson Chourio and Luis Lara, and this year¡¯s 18-year-old outfielder could similarly jump to full-season ball quickly.
Fall: Felix Valerio, 2B (2023: 19 | 2024: NR)
With most Top 30 arrows pointed up in 2023, there weren¡¯t many drops among Brewers prospects from this time a season ago. However, Valerio repeated Double-A Biloxi and managed just a .223/.286/.345 slash line over 80 games. Once thought to be a potential plus hitter, the 5-foot-5 infielder has yet to manage a wRC+ above 78 at the Minors¡¯ second-highest level.
Best tools
Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools -- 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade.
Hit: 60 -- Tyler Black (Mike Boeve)
Power: 65 -- Jackson Chourio
Run: 70 -- Jackson Chourio (Dylan O¡¯Rae)
Arm: 65 -- Brock Wilken
Defense: 70 -- Jeferson Quero
Fastball: 70 -- Jacob Misiorowski
Curveball: 60 -- Josh Knoth (Coleman Crow)
Slider: 70 -- Jacob Misiorowski
Changeup: 65 -- Logan Henderson
Control: 55 -- Logan Henderson
How they were built
Draft: 15 | International: 10 | Trade: 5??
Breakdown by ETA
2024: 8 | 2025: 6 | 2026: 6 | 2027: 7 | 2028: 2 | 2029: 1
Breakdown by position
C: 1 | 1B: 1 | 2B: 3 | 3B: 5 | SS: 6 | INF: 1 | OF: 4 | RHP: 8 | LHP: 1