This year, things look different in the minors. The Brewers dropped 16 spots in the Baseball Prospectus organizational rankings, due as much to the underperformance of top draft picks (Trent Grisham, Corey Ray) as the big Christian Yelich trade (which sent away three of the highest ceiling prospects in the system, even if they were risky ones). Looking through the affiliated clubs’ opening day rosters, one can get the feeling that the system is less exciting than the 2016 and 2017 versions; or, if the system remains exciting, it’s exciting because of some of the very raw, underdeveloped talent in the club’s low minor affiliates, rather than the advanced affiliated prospects. Nevertheless, extremes abound for this system, as the Brewers are also using their most advanced affiliates to store MLB 40-man roster players (prospect or not).

Below is a list of the 2018 Top 10 Brewers Baseball Prospectus prospects, as well as eleven additional prospects that were covered in the list, plus Jordan Yamamoto (who was also included in the Yelich trade package). I’ve assembled their 2018 age, assignment, as well as the Overall Future Potential role and likely projection for each player (where available). In the case of the eleven additional prospects, only one role or outlook was typically provided by the scouting team, whereas a “high percentile” and “likely outcome” were both provided for the Top 10.

A few quick notes:

• Yesterday, Brewers beat reported Adam McCalvy reported that Keston Hiura will begin the season as a DH due to some elbow soreness experienced while throwing during camp. This is one key reason that fans need to slow the brakes on Hiura Hype, as the DH-risk remains real, and the highly regarded second base prospect really is not a professional second baseman yet; until that is proved otherwise, one also has to wonder if he will end up in left field or as a DH.

• Anchored by Corey Ray and Trent Grisham, the Double-A Biloxi outfield might have the best bounceback tandem in the system. It’s so easy to find critiques with each player’s development thus far, and yet here we are with both players working a level away from the MLB at very young ages. If either play puts things together at this level, MLB role projections could quickly come into focus.

• Tristen Lutz and Carlos Herrera both debut in full season ball, making A Wisconsin one of the most exciting teams in the system. That team is loaded with sleepers, as well as some prospects like Lutz and Herrera who are looking to define that top percentile MLB role and the risk associated with it.

Of course, this list does not even cover 10 percent of the Brewers system, so while assembled minor league assignments, I collected ten of my favorite “deep system” prospect picks. Here I picked one arm and one bat from each level:

A few quick notes on my favorites:

• I will continue to write about Demi Orimoloye as long as he stands outside of typical top prospect debates, because in terms of having tools and waiting to hone the baseball aspect of the game, there’s probably not a higher return in the system (of true extreme risk players) than Orimoloye putting it all together. Watching his second turn at Wisconsin could demonstrate how likely this type of scenario may be, or how risky Orimoloye really will be.

• I picked a few long development and “old” guys in the system because there are simply some very interesting underlying performances (Daniel Brown, Nelson Hernandez) and tools (Luis Aviles) in some of these minor league grinders. Hernandez and Aviles have not necessarily had easy and clear development paths the last few years, but Hernandez is making his full season debut at a reasonable age overall, and Aviles has always simply been about whether the bat comes around. In 2016, the glove was the same story with Aviles in midseason Wisconsin Timber Rattlers coverage, so there’s a question about how long it’s worth hammering home this scouting line, but here we are with another chance for Aviles to prove himself.

• In contrast, it is worth emphasizing that an extremely athletic, ex-Top 10 Prospect like Tyrone Taylor remains (very) young for Triple-A, and is now working a level removed from the MLB. While there are undoubtedly reasons that Taylor’s prospect star has fallen, the recent identification of mechanical adjustments to unleash MLB stars should underscore that where talented, athletic players work to fix their approach, even a seemingly pedestrian profile can emerge as a productive MLB player. Taylor has the athleticism to work as an MLB depth outfielder, now it is worth seeing whether the bat follows at the most advanced level.

• The aggressive Thomas Jankins assignment is probably my favorite for the 2018 season. At BP Milwaukee last season, Kyle Lesniewski profiled Jankins as one of a handful of intriguing late round arms in the Brewers system. While Jankins might not have the “big stuff” profile of a Trey Supak to dream on, the righty has a command profile that matches some of the analytic trends emerging in the Brewers big league rotation (Zach Davies) and offseason acquisitions (Wade Miley).

Finally, throughout the minor league season, remember to support minor league players in their quest for a living wage, and continue to discuss alternatives to the current format of minor league compensation upheld by Major League Baseball. Prospects deserve transparent press coverage and support from fans, and part of this support should include transparency about MLB efforts to openly suppress pay of their affiliated professional players. It is worth emphasizing that the MLB is codifying their position of exploiting minor league players at a time of great wealth for the sport, as evidenced by the extra $50 million MLB Advanced Media revenue payment paid to every team; in an elite revenue industry, why are many minor league players struggling to earn even $7,000 a year for their professional efforts?

Most assumed the Brewers were done making moves. However, Wednesday morning the team claimed utility player Nick Franklin off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays, presumably to take the role Gennett formerly filled.

Franklin, who just recently turned 26, is out of minor league options. In other words he will be on the major league roster. It remains to be seen who he will be replacing.

Many were puzzled by the move from Gennett to Franklin. Why would the Brewers make the effort to essentially swap to similar players while getting rid of a fan-favorite?

First of all, Nick Franklin has more potential to be an impact contributor. Although it doesn’t seem like much, Franklin is ten months younger than Gennett. The biggest difference between the two is the amount of opportunity each has been given.

Franklin, former Mariners top prospect, has only played over 100 games in a season once, way back in 2013 when he played in 103 games. Gennett has played over 100 games in three different seasons. The elder Scooter has been given real opportunities while Franklin has barely been given a chance for a full-time job, instead having to deal with sparing play-time and pinch-hit opportunities.

They both had very similar breakout seasons in 2013. Gennett was worth 1.8 WARP over 230 plate appearances. Franklin debuted with 2.5 WARP over 412 plate appearances. Continuing with the two’s similarities, both have left much to be desired since their 2013 seasons. Scooter has had the more recent overall success with his 2016 season, posting 2.0 WARP over 542 plate appearances, but the ex-Ray was actually the better hitter, posting a .275 TAv compared to Gennett’s .262.

Both Franklin and Gennett were at or below replacement-level over the 2014-2015 seasons. The Mariners questionably held Franklin down in AAA in 2014 for 75 games while he tore it up in Tacoma, posting a .310 TAv, before being traded to the Rays mid-season. One can only wonder how Franklin’s season would have turned out if he wasn’t jerked around. In contrast, Gennett stayed with the major league club through his tough 2014 and 2015 seasons. He had the opportunity to play through his difficulties. Neither of them came out smelling like roses.

Franklin is much more versatile than Gennett. He has played every position on the diamond besides catcher (Yes, he even pitched an inning for the Rays in 2015). Third base is the only spot where he hasn’t seen extended time. The Brewers now have two super-utility players in him and Hernan Perez. Gennett has only spent time at second base, besides emergency fill-ins in the 2014 season in the outfield. The Brewers are hoping to get 150+ games out of Jonathan Villar at second base. A light-hitting, average fielding second base-only player off the bench has much less value than a player that can competently fill six positions on the field.

The Brewers may be holding out hope for that former top prospect glow that Franklin has. He was once heralded as the next Ben Zobrist. Gennett, a solid contributor in his own right, has never been considered a top prospect.

It really is just apples and oranges. Gennett comes with more stability and recent success. Franklin might be looked as the sexier pick, more risk/reward. The Brewers are at the stage in their rebuild where betting on Franklin is the practical choice. Gennett likely wouldn’t have been an impact player on the next Brewers playoff team. His replacement has the potential to contribute all over the field if he can gain back some of that former top prospect helium.