Brewers Top 20

by mssickels on Dec 30, 2025 11:43 PM EST in News

More from John. He tells me that he is not reading the comments about these lists, and I am enforcing that. He will go back and read them after the book is done but before the final grades are in, so feel free to debate grades. Nothing is final yet.

Milwaukee Brewers Top 20 Prospects for 2008

All grades are EXTREMELY PRELIMINARY and subject to change.

Matt LaPorta, OF, Grade B+ (great bat, glove??)
Manny Parra, LHP, Grade B+ (a really good prospect who needs more attention)
Mat Gamel, 3B, Grade B
Jeremy Jeffress, RHP, Grade B (assumes he stops smoking dope)
Jonathan Lucroy, C, Grade B-
Taylor Green, 3B, Grade B-
Cole Gillespie, OF, Grade C+
Alicides Escobar, SS, Grade C+ (overrated by lots of people IMHO)
Caleb Gindl, OF, Grade C+ (very promising, want more data)
Angel Salome, C, Grade C+
Michael Brantley, OF, Grade C+ (a personal favorite I admit)
Lorenzo Cain, OF, Grade C+
Zach Braddock, LHP, Grade C+
Robert Bryson, RHP, Grade C+
Hernan Iribarren, 2B, Grade C+
Brent Brewer, SS, Grade C (yes I know all about his tools. He is so damn raw that I don't believe in him yet.)
R.J. Seidel, RHP, Grade C
Zack Jackson, LHP, Grade C
Cody Scarpetta, RHP, Grade C
Dan Merklinger, LHP, Grade C

Others Grade Cs who are interchangeable with those above include Chris Cody, Chris Errecart, Eric Farris, Darren Ford, Steve Hammond, Robert Hinton, Brendan Katin, Brad Nelson, Lou Palmisano, Mark Rogers and Vinny Rottino.

Again, don't get all pissy about exact placement on this list. The grades are more important than someone being ranked 15th instead of 13th.

This system has been thinned out by promotions and trades, but I suspect they will recharge quickly.

Of course, full statistics and reports on over 1,000 other players will be in the 2008 Baseball Prospect Book, now available for pre-order. Ships the first Monday in February!

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Comments

The moment I've been waiting for....

Must take time to digest.

Off the top of my head, the LaPorta grade looks right on and I'm happy to see he thinks that highly of LuCroy.

Braddock and Bryson are two arms to watch.

When are people going to give up on Cain?

There are no prospects on other teams, only players that Jack Zduriencik didn't want.

by Einsteinhood on Dec 30, 2025 11:56 PM EST 0 recs

Escobar a touch high?

I know John is already grading him lower than many, but I just cannot see his bat ever being good enough to make him a competent starter, and that is even granting that he smooths the rough edges defensively and becomes the stud many think he can be.

A guy has to show some discipline, doesn't he?

There are no prospects on other teams, only players that Jack Zduriencik didn't want.

by Einsteinhood on Dec 31, 2025 12:03 AM EST 0 recs

maybe not

Hardy had a .323 OBP last season, a .305 OBP after the All-Star break and has a .321 lifetime OBP.

Escobar's got major league defense right now with a cannon arm. I'd grade him as a B/B- for defense alone. We'll see how he handles Triple-A next season, but I do think he'll be a productive major leaguer.

This is my prediction: Hardy has a down season (.265/.305/.420-ish), but everyone gives him a break due to what he did in 07. He starts out slow again in 09 and the Brewers eventually move to Escobar as the starter at SS. Escobar is the starting SS on opening day 2010.

As far as the rest of the list, I think John did a good job. If you really assume that Jeffress is off the dope then I'd think he'd rate a little higher than a B, though. He throws 99 MPH and struck out 95 in 86.3 IP as a 19 year old at low Single-A last year. If you consider the mary jane, then a B is probably about right.

I'm higher on Cole Gillespie, he had about a ~.910 OPS in July/August with a ~.415 OBP. If he can handle CF, the Brewers could really use his OBP. The key to him will probably be if he can stay in CF, because his numbers will play very well there. He doesn't have that one great "tool" to make him a star, but he could be a very productive major league starter. I think he's a good sleeper on this list.

The Brewers have six picks in the first two rounds during this June's draft (both Cordero and Linebrink were class A free agents), so they should be able to add some solid depth to the system in a hurry.

Good job, John.

rotowire.com fantasy sports

by herb on Dec 31, 2025 10:24 AM EST up 0 recs

draft

Both Cordero and Linebrink went to bottom half teams so I believe that is two sandwich picks and two 2nd round picks.

I also expect Hardy's OBP to grow, he has decent contact skills and an ok batting eye so his AVG should go up. I agree he'll lose SLG though. His career stats are still heavily influenced by that horrid first half he had in 2005 when they rushed him to the majors.

by Ennder on Dec 31, 2025 6:27 PM EST up 0 recs

Rogers

Does anybody have any update on the health of Mark Rogers?

The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. It reminds us of all that once was good, and that could be again.

by Savoy on Dec 31, 2025 12:04 AM EST 0 recs

+1

Just the question I was coming to post.

Todd Frazier for President

by FrazierFan on Dec 31, 2025 12:05 AM EST up 0 recs

My Boy

Does anybody besides me have him on a fantasy roster?

Hello?

Echo...

Turkey for me please. No, I am all set on stuffing.

by Hot Lunch on Dec 31, 2025 12:17 AM EST up 0 recs

Marte

I sold high on Marte, receiving...Wily Mo.

Turkey for me please. No, I am all set on stuffing.

by Hot Lunch on Dec 31, 2025 12:34 AM EST up 0 recs

rogers

Literally just dealt him. I traded for him long ago, for draft picks that became Edison Volquez and Hunter Pence.

Ouch.

http://rswanzey.blogspot.com

by rswanzey on Dec 31, 2025 12:47 AM EST up 0 recs

Whoa

What did you get in return? I have only offered him up once, and was roundly scolded.

Turkey for me please. No, I am all set on stuffing.

by Hot Lunch on Dec 31, 2025 12:50 AM EST up 0 recs

Trade

Sure, but all I had to give up was Luke Scott, and you also solved my Scott Podsednik problem.

by J Michael Neal on Dec 31, 2025 1:35 AM EST up 0 recs

hm

I better be careful what I say on here. I know at least five of us post here now, but there's bound to be more =)

All I know is that if I had maybe held on to those draft picks and maybe drafted Hunter Pence, well, we wouldn't have just made a deal. Haha

http://rswanzey.blogspot.com

by rswanzey on Dec 31, 2025 2:20 AM EST up 0 recs

Hernan Iribarren

He's only a C?

Wow, I know he is steriod injected but he should still be at least a B-

by Sabean2009 on Dec 31, 2025 12:12 AM EST 0 recs

Oh, C+

Well, that's a bit better

by Sabean2009 on Dec 31, 2025 12:13 AM EST 0 recs

nice

Nice to see Taylor Green getting some love.

I find myself nodding in agreement with most of the grades, tho I would also notch Braddock as a B-, and I would also bump up Brent Brewer and especially RJ Seidel as C+s: their production isn't there yet, but their upside and the glimpses they've shown of their possible selves separate them from the C crowd, in my (not actual) book.

by gogotabata on Dec 31, 2025 12:20 AM EST 0 recs

Gameltoe

That's right.

Turkey for me please. No, I am all set on stuffing.

by Hot Lunch on Dec 31, 2025 12:21 AM EST 0 recs

PItching?

Where is the pitching going to come from?

by DrBGiantsfan on Dec 31, 2025 12:44 AM EST 0 recs

pitching

They do look pretty thin, but after all, they did just graduate Gallardo, and Parra enjoyed a successful '07 in Milwaukee and should be ready to step in as a mid-rotation starter. I know those are both pretty obvious comments, but it does mean they have a few years before they really need the next core of pitchers ready to go.

http://rswanzey.blogspot.com

by rswanzey on Dec 31, 2025 12:50 AM EST up 0 recs

Gallardo and Parra

I agree that those are two good young pitchers, there just isn't much depth. Either one of those two have a serious injury, then what? Plus, it's nice to have some second tier pitching prospects around to stock the bullpen, otherwise you end of paying $10 M/yr for damaged goods.

by DrBGiantsfan on Dec 31, 2025 1:39 AM EST up 0 recs

Brewers pitching

Melvin usually stocks the bullpen with waiver wire guys / weak FAs rather than prospects, and has been pretty successful with the strategy. Wise, Turnblow, Kolb, and Shouse are the first that come to mind.

Dealing Dennis Sarfate away for CASH was a mistake though.

Joba the.... PWN3D!

by ufoboy90 on Dec 31, 2025 1:45 AM EST up 0 recs

What UFO said was right....

...about Melvin stocking the pen with overlooked guys. Besides the big league aquisitions for the pens this off season (Gagne, Riske, Torres, Mota), he took three pen arms in the minor league portion of the rule 5 and has signed multiple retreads to bring to camp.

That being said, I'm itching for the team to start producing it's own bullpen arms. They have a few that John doesn't have listed that could see action as soon as this year, the most notable being Luis Pena, who posted some good numbers in high A and AA this year.

Bryson looks like a potential future closer, but he's got a ways to go and Zach Braddock needs to stay healthy, but posted some filthy numbers (68/15 K/BB in 47 IP) in low A as a 19 YO this year before getting hurt. RJ Seidel looks promising too.

But yeah, pitching is somewhat thin. Look for Zdurencik to focus on that with all those extra picks this year.

There are no prospects on other teams, only players that Jack Zduriencik didn't want.

by Einsteinhood on Dec 31, 2025 12:16 PM EST up 0 recs

Mitch Stetter

is another guy who could have a big league role next season as a LOOGY. In a [WARNING] small sample this year, he absolutely tooled lefties and held them to a .109/.209/.216 line, with a K/9 of 13.89. He got smashed by righties, though.

Since 2005, he's never had a K/9 of less than 11.14 against LHBs.

LOOGY mania!

Joba the.... PWN3D!

by ufoboy90 on Dec 31, 2025 3:01 PM EST up 0 recs

Indeed.

He was one of those I was thinking of when mentioning Pena amongst others.

Law thinks he a 12th man at best, which is fine. You need those guys too. He should be used strictly in LOOGY/mop up duty.

There are no prospects on other teams, only players that Jack Zduriencik didn't want.

by Einsteinhood on Dec 31, 2025 3:30 PM EST up 0 recs

comments

No Tim Dillard?? Can't strike anybody out at the higher levels, but has great control, and an outside shot at becoming an innings muncher, which IMO merits a C.

Joba the.... PWN3D!

by ufoboy90 on Dec 31, 2025 1:47 AM EST 0 recs

how does Cole Gillespie

look these days? is he really blocked or just not a great prospect?

by znyfan on Dec 31, 2025 10:21 AM EST 0 recs

Up and down year in High A

He was skipped completely over Low-A and was sent to High A Brevard (pitchers park in a pitchers league) and started slow. He went through two hot streaks and two cold streaks last year. From what I've heard, they plan to move him right up to AA, where if recent history is any indicator, he's due for a jump in offensive numbers.

There are no prospects on other teams, only players that Jack Zduriencik didn't want.

by Einsteinhood on Dec 31, 2025 12:03 PM EST up 0 recs

under 21?

Drink!! ;)

"I feel like I've been around long enough at shortstop to be the leader of Jose Castillo." -- Jack Wilson

by delomir on Dec 31, 2025 11:51 AM EST 0 recs

Activities

Fight!!

Who wants to finish this progression?

Turkey for me please. No, I am all set on stuffing.

by Hot Lunch on Dec 31, 2025 3:24 PM EST up 0 recs

Bowl! <eom>

eom

by duke on Dec 31, 2025 3:49 PM EST up 0 recs

Guys I'm excited about

Ford- enough walks/steals/power to succeed at the higher levels, and eventually the majors. If he can become a 4th OF, that's a success.

Tyson - good build, live arm - power pitcher who will rack up lots of K's as a reliever.

Cain - maybe more hunch than anything - just seems to have the "it" factor, although hitting .276 doesn't suggest that. Will probably move to AA this season as a 22 year old...suggesting he is on "track".

I love their 07 draft - I feel at least 5 of those top guys will be in the Brewers Top 15 next season

by mjwelch11 on Dec 31, 2025 12:19 PM EST 0 recs

Vinny Rottino

I am cheering for Vinny. I know he is a bit old to be considered a prospect. But, he can play the OF, corner infield and catch. Decent bat. Perfect bench utility type guy.

by duke on Dec 31, 2025 1:37 PM EST 0 recs

Gillespie, Stetter, Dillard, etc...

The main draw back with lots of the guys who are seemingly dissrespecteed in their age. Gillespie should have spent the second half of last year in AA. Stetter is too old to really be considered a prospect. Dillard has gotten an out in a year now...

Brent Brewer is nearly as projectable as Lorenzo Cain and he plays SS, so why no love?

by pogokat on Dec 31, 2025 3:14 PM EST 0 recs

Never quite understood the fascination with Cain..

I mean, at some point the guy needs to start producing to live up to all that projectability, doesn't he?

There are no prospects on other teams, only players that Jack Zduriencik didn't want.

by Einsteinhood on Dec 31, 2025 3:32 PM EST up 0 recs

Cain

lorenzo was pretty awesome in the sally league in 2006. he hit .300, carried a high obp, slugged a little, played terrific defense, and ran a little. H'es a very exciting prospect---but his skill set did not translate that well to Brevard County because it's so darn hard to hit there.

by pogokat on Jan 1, 2026 12:43 PM EST up 0 recs

You're right....

I take it back. It looks more like a case of Brevard-itis than anything else. He did post good numbers in WV the year before, so I really shouldn't be so down on him.

There are no prospects on other teams, only players that Jack Zduriencik didn't want.

by Einsteinhood on Jan 1, 2026 2:15 PM EST up 0 recs

by Einsteinhood on Jan 1, 2026 2:16 PM EST up 0 recs

Rogers doesn't have to look too far....

Mike Jones had a SLAP repair done and he's never been the same. I saw Jones pitch last year and he didn't look anything close to what he was pre-surgery.

SLAPs suck - I've had 2 myself. You lose a little flexibility each time.

by UCFKnights on Jan 1, 2026 9:15 PM EST up 0 recs