Midseason Prospect Update: Brewers

The Midseason Top 10 Prospect lists are compiled from conversations with front office officials and scouts from all 30 teams. Players who have exhausted prospect eligibility or were in the Major Leagues as of June 22 are not eligible. Draftees from the 2016 draft and July 2, 2016 signees are also not eligible.

SEE ALSO: Midseason Top 100

In a rebuilding year in Milwaukee, it’s fitting that the Brewers kicked off the trading season with a deal of infielder Aaron Hill to the Red Sox for righthander Aaron Wilkerson and infielder Wendell Rijo. More trades are expected to come with the team and its fans endure a season hovering nearly the league’s cellar.

2019 PROJECTED LINEUP

1B Ryan Braun

CF Trent Clark

No. 1 Starter Josh Hader

No. 2 Starter Zach Davies

No. 3 Starter Jimmy Nelson

No. 4 Starter Kodi Medeiros

No. 5 Starter Marcos Diplan

Closer Jeremy Jeffress

Other big names are expected to be dealt—or at least be seriously considered—including all-star catcher Jonathan Lucroy and even superstar outfielder Ryan Braun.

Perhaps their most pleasant surprise this season has been the play of shortstop Jonathan Villar—former property of both the Phillies and Astros who was acquired from Houston last offseason for righthander Cy Sneed—who hit .298/.380/.426 in the first half with six home runs and 31 RBIs in the first half. Even if the Brewers are the summer’s hottest sellers, Villar, just 25 years old, might be a piece worth keeping around.

Pieces of the next movement are already in place, including prized shortstop Orlando Arcia, who has had a modest year at Triple-A Colorado Springs. Beyond him, lefthander Josh Hader has emerged as a potential top-of-the-rotation piece. They also have a bevy of toolsy outfielders waiting in the lower minors, including Trent Clark and Monte Harrison, as well as Corey Ray, this year’s first-round selection out of Louisville. Four of their Top 10 prospects—Hader, catcher Jacob Nottingham, righthander Marcos Diplan and shortstop Isan Diaz—on this list were acquired via trade, a signal that the rebuilding process began before this season.

On the farm, righthander Brandon Woodruff, an afterthought at this time last year, has done a complete 180. He’s boosted his fastball into the mid-90s and has shown scouts two average offspeed pitches in his slider and changeup, leading some to believe he could find himself in the rotation someday. Other key pieces, such as righty Jorge Lopez and outfielder Brett Phillips, haven’t fared as well.

It’s going to be a long summer in Milwaukee, but there is definitely help on the way and hope for a brighter tomorrow.

MIDSEASON TOP 10

1. Orlando Arcia, ss

Arcia is still one of the best prospects in the game, but he’s stalled a little bit at Triple-A, punching above his class at age 21. The Brewers would like him to work on lengthening his at-bats. Other scouts outside the system have noticed a discernible change in his attitude since he started moving up the prospect ranks last year, much like what happened with his older brother, Oswaldo. Despite the downturn in his offensive game, he still gets unanimously solid reviews on defense. There’s been a few bumps in the road, but Arcia has tools and plays a premium position.

2. Josh Hader, lhp

After the Brewers acquired Hader from the Astros in the Carlos Gomez deal, the lefthander has blossomed into one of the finest starting prospects in the game. He couples a mid-90s fastball and devastating slider with a deceptive, low-slot delivery. He also has a changeup that is developing enough to make evaluators believe he can remain as a starter.

3. Trent Clark, of

Clark entered the year as one of the top prospects in the game, and he’s showed the ability to work counts and take advanced at-bats. He missed time at low Class A with a right hamstring injury and was still sidelined, but the Brewers still see him as an offensive-minded player who can remain in center field.

4. Brett Phillips, of

Phillips’ stock has dropped this year with struggles at Double-A Biloxi. Some scouts who’ve evaluated him see more of a platoon player than someone who can fit in an everyday role. Moreover, without top-level speed he’s going to need to improve his defensive versatility to increase his value.

5. Gilbert Lara, ss

Still just a teenager, Lara is still showing the Brewers the tools they craved when they signed him in 2014. He’s slated to be an offensive-minded player who is at shortstop for now but could move over to third base in the long-term. Expect his performance to tick up at Rookie-level Helena as he settles in.

6. Jacob Nottingham, c

Acquired from Oakland in a deal for Khris Davis, Nottingham has impressed evaluators with his overall package of skills. He projects as a powerful backstop with the ability to stay behind the plate. He needs to refine his defense, but he’s capable of producing sub-2.00 pop times when everything is in sync.

7. Kodi Medeiros, lhp

Medeiros, a low-slot lefty with bowling-ball sink on his fastball, missed time early with a flu bug that caused him to lose a little bit of weight. With that in the past, he’s still trying to harness the natural movement on his pitches that makes him effective. The Brewers have also tried to tweak his delivery a little bit to make him a little less rotational

8. Monte Harrison, of

One of the Brewers’ bevy of toolsy outfield talents, Harrison still carries his overall ceiling of an everyday center fielder with doubles power to all fields. That said, he’s had trouble staying on the field. His missed the latter part of last season with a broken ankle and is currently recovering from a broken left hamate bone.

9. Marcos Diplan, rhp

Pried from the Rangers in a deal for righthander Yovani Gallardo, Diplan has stood out in the low Class A Wisconsin as a teenager. Working as part of a tandem, Diplan has seen his fastball peak in the mid-90s and complements it with a slider and a changeup that are both close to average. He’s working on harnessing his arsenal.

10. Isan Diaz, ss

Acquired from the Diamondbacks, with whom he was drafted by new Milwaukee scouting director Ray Montgomery, Diaz has been a pleasant surprise. He’s shown an all-fields offensive game with surprising power. He’s played primarily shortstop this year but has recently shifted over to second base, where some evaluators believe his future lies.

RISING

Righthander Brandon Woodruff has turned a major corner this year and looks like a completely different pitcher. Scouts have seen a mid-90s fastball with an average slider and a developing changeup. Scouts who have seen him think he has a chance to be a rotation piece. … Righthander Freddy Peralta, acquired in the trade that sent Adam Lind to Seattle, has struck out 76 in 60 innings with low Class A Wisconsin.

FALLING

Righthander Jorge Lopez, who made his major league debut last season, has regressed this year at Triple-A Colorado Springs. He’s struggled with command this season and has made some mechanical tweaks to try to stay more on line to the plate . . . Outfielder Clint Coulter has struggled this season to get to the big power that has made the Brewers believe he could profile in right field . . . Outfielder Victor Roache has shown trouble recognizing breaking pitches and missed more than three weeks with a calf strain.

HURTING

Harrison broke the hamate bone in his left wrist and had surgery to repair the damage . . . Lefthander Nathan Kirby, the team’s first-rounder in 2015, had Tommy John surgery shortly into his pro career and will miss the year. He could possibly return for the instructional league . . . Righthander Taylor Williams also had Tommy John surgery and will miss the season. Like Kirby, Williams could also return in time for instructs.

COMING ABOARD (Check Draft Database for all picks)

The Brewers’ first five picks of the 2016 draft. (s-supplemental round)

1. Corey Ray, of, Louisville. A potential five-tool outfielder from Louisville, Ray hopes to follow in Curtis Granderson’s footsteps as a power-hitting outfielder to come out of Chicago. He’s got plus power and speed, but might have to move off of center field.

2. Lucas Erceg, 3b, Menlo (Calif.). After transferring from California to Menlo (Calif.) because of academic issues, Erceg slugged .600 and struck out just 18 times this past spring. His powerful bat and arm make him a natural third base profile.

2s. Mario Feliciano, c, Beltran Baseball Academy, Florida, P.R. Feliciano is a powerful catcher from Puerto Rico who combines a potentially impactful bat with average run times. He’s athletic behind the plate and has above-average arm strength.

3. Braden Webb, rhp, South Carolina. Webb had Tommy John surgery in 2014, then missed all of 2015 and was a 21-year-old freshman. He couples a low-to-mid-90s fastball with a mid-70s downer curveball and has feel for a changeup in the mid-80s.

4. Corbin Burnes, rhp, Saint Mary’s. Burnes starts his arsenal with a fastball in the low-90s that has touched as high as 97 in the past. He’s added more power to his curveball, but his changeup is his better secondary pitch at present.