Welcome back to your favorite* Friday reading, Brewers fans! After a week off while I was on-site in Maryvale for Brew Crew Ball, I’m back with the penultimate offseason edition of my column. It hardly seems true that real, actual games that matter are just 10 short days away, especially after that nasty snow storm we were hit with yesterday, but the countdown to Opening Day has hit the stretch run. Let’s roll it out:
*Not actually favorite
Minor League Ball || Thoughts on Brewers prospect Keon Broxton (March 22, 2016)
John Sickels reevaluated one of the major standouts of this spring for the Brewers, young center field prospect Keon Broxton. The 6’3” 25-year-old who is carved out of stone has made a major impact so far in camp, pushing for a roster spot and perhaps even the Opening Day start in center field. He has displayed all of the tools that made him attractive to the Brewers when they acquired him along with Troy Supak in the trade that sent Jason Rogers to Pittsburgh – he’s shown impressive plate discipline in leading the team in walks and has been swiping bases at will. Sickels bumps Broxton from a C to a C+ grade based on what he’s seen so far this March.
Baseball Prospectus || Winter is Leaving: Milwaukee Brewers (March 22, 2016)
Gone but not forgotten, our erstwhile editor in chief J.P. Breen revealed to the world that he was ready to take a break from writing about the Brewers on a regular basis in handing over the reins of BP Milwaukee to Nicholas Zettel. His first order of business after stepping away from writing about the Brewers? Writing about the Brewers, of course. Breen tackles the Brewers in Baseball Prospectus’ “Winter Is Leaving” series, recapping each team’s offseason and setting the stage for the 2016 season. A very entertaining and informative read, he outlines the lightning-fast way the Brewers have reinvigorated the farm system with talent at every level, even while retaining their two most valuable veterans in Ryan Braun and Jonathan Lucroy.
Brew Crew Ball || Injuries clearing up the Brewers bullpen picture (March 22, 2016)
In the wake of the news that Sean Nolin would join Yhonathan Barrios on the Opening Day disabled list, I took a look at the remaining seven candidates for the last two spots in the bullpen. One of the more interesting cases is Rule 5 draftee Zack Jones, who must make the team if Milwaukee wants to keep him in the organization. Jones made his Spring Training debut on Thursday after an injury kept him on the shelf for the first few weeks of camp. He gave up two hits, including a home run, closing out the Brewers 9-2 win over the Royals, but most importantly he seemed to come out the other side healthy.
Baseball Prospectus || Notes from the Field: Brewers Got Bats (March 24, 2016)
Baseball Prospectus prospect writer Adam McInturff visited Brewers camp this week, and in this report he scouted some of the Brewers young, high-upside position player prospects, including Trent Clark, Demi Orimoloye, and Jake Gatewood. McInturff teamed up with Craig Goldstein to talk about the Brewers’ pitching prospects as well on Wednesday, although that article is behind a pay wall, so fair warning there.