The MLB Draft is a time of optimism. Ask an average fan, and their team’s first five or so picks are guaranteed to be future stars. Even in the later rounds, most selected players offer something to dream on: 70-grade raw power in spite of a nonexistent hit tool, say, or a promising fastball that […]
Author: Noah Nofz
Braulio Ortiz and the Curse of One Great Tool
Quick, think of the loudest tools in the Brewers system. Hit tool? Keston Hiura. Throwing arm? That’s Brett Phillips. (Laugh also belongs to Phillips.) Curveball? I’ll take Adrian Houser here. What about the fastball? There are some fun arguments to be had. Taylor Williams is pretty electric. Brandon Woodruff can touch 98. How about a […]
Tyrone Taylor is Requesting Reinstatement on Your Prospect Lists
This time last year, the story of Tyrone Taylor looked like it was heading down a classic minor league path: Flashy prospect flames out. Taylor had just spent a second frustrating year in Double-A Biloxi, and was set to embark on a disheartening third tour of duty. It would have been unthinkable a few years […]
Jesus Aguilar, Hero
Jesús Aguilar entered Saturday night’s game in the top of the ninth inning as part of a double-switch. You probably know how this story ends. Aguilar led off the bottom half against splitter-pumping veteran Junichi Tazawa, and won the game with a walk-off home run 13 pitches later. The fact that Aguilar homered, on its […]
Minor League Stories to Watch
Minor League baseball is underway, and the Brewers brought a strong system into 2018 in spite of recent trades and graduations. Expect plenty more graduations this year, and maybe some trades, too. What stands out about this Milwaukee system is its depth. There are plenty of talented players waiting to rise up and claim their […]
Exhibition Notes: Brewers @ Astros
On Monday night, the Brewers faced the reigning champion Houston Astros for the first of two exhibition games at Minute Maid Park. It was an odd pre-homecoming for the Astros, who were greeted by plenty of empty seats. That’s unlikely to be the case when they return for their home opener on April 2. For […]
Luis Ortiz is Coming
Although fans have been clamoring for the team to add a rotation-topping starter to the mix (joining most fans of every team, everywhere), the Brewers have a rich seam of advanced arms surging towards Miller Park. Craig Counsell has singled out names like Corbin Burnes, Freddy Peralta, and Adrian Houser this spring as prospects with […]
Villar is the Answer at Second
The 2018 Brewers should hit. Barring a major Spring Training trade, they’re set to enter the season with the deepest lineup in recent Milwaukee history. The lone remaining area of uncertainty is at second base, where incumbents Jonathan Villar and Eric Sogard figure to squabble for playing time, each trying to prove that their respective […]
It’s Time for López
Over the next week, the 2018 Milwaukee Brewers and Brewers-hopefuls will trickle into Maryvale and begin their preparations for what should be an exciting season in the NL Central. Among them: Erstwhile top prospect Jorge López, who recently dominated Winter League ball for the third consecutive year. López has become something of a forgotten man […]
Don’t You (Forget About Jacob Nottingham)
By and large, selling a rebuild to fans isn’t that tough. The last two World Series winners, after all, run on talented young cores that were acquired via lengthy rebuilding projects. The truth is that it’s easier to lose when the future looks bright, and the Brewers system has in recent years been home to […]