X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Milwaukee Brewers Top MLB Prospects for 2017 Dynasty Leagues

Edward Sutelan's 2017 rankings of the top 10 Milwaukee Brewers MLB prospects for fantasy baseball dynasty leagues. He previews their minor league farm system.

The Milwaukee Brewers seemed to be locked into that third spot in the NL Central for the longest time. Between 2009 and 2014, they were in third place four of those six seasons. Now since 2013, fourth place has seemed to be their permanent home as they have finished second-to-last in all but the 2014 season.

But while Milwaukee has been remarkably mediocre for a long time, they have built up an impressive farm system and have some potential franchise pieces already at the big league level to help them out. Guys like Orlando Arcia, Domingo Santana and Jonathan Villar look like potential franchise building blocks while top prospects like Lewis Brinson, Corey Ray and Josh Hader could soon be joining them at the big league level. Expect Milwaukee to start to dig themselves out of this hole as early as the start of next season.

By the way, if you are interested in more MLB prospects columns, head on over to our 2017 fantasy baseball rankings dashboard. Throughout the offseason, you will find the rest of our team prospect breakdowns, fantasy baseball prospect rankings, tiered positional rankings, keeper values articles, and more - all in one easy place.

 

Milwaukee Brewers Top Prospects for Dynasty Leagues

Today I am beginning my list of prospect systems in the NL Central. I have already covered the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds. Later, I will delve into the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals. To read more about my prospect coverage, click here.

 

Top Overall Talent: Lewis Brinson

Top Prospect to Debut in 2017: Lewis Brinson

Brinson stands out as one of the most exciting prospects in all of fantasy baseball. The explosive right-handed bat has always demonstrated a power/speed combination comparable to few others in the game. He receives 60-grades for both his power and speed according to both MLB.com and Baseball America and has done more than just flash raw talent. In 100 games split between Double-A and Triple-A this season, Brinson had a 15/15 home run/stolen bases. His plate discipline still leaves a bit to be desired and he is unlikely to debut with the big league club right out of the gate, but expect him to reach the majors if Ryan Braun is dealt away or if can finally raise that walk rate a bit.

Top Prospect who won’t debut in 2017: Corey Ray
Ray may not have as impressive of a power/speed combination as Brinson, but he is still an exciting prospect in his own right. Drafted from Louisville with the fifth overall pick in last year’s draft, he rose quickly through the minors and finished 2016 at Advanced Class-A with a .247/.307/.385 slash line, five home runs and nine stolen bases. Ray has some pop and plenty of speed, though strikeouts are going to be a bit of an issue for him for a little bit. He likely will need all of 2017 to develop a bit more, but he should be another All-Star outfielder for Milwaukee in the near future.

Biggest Boom or Bust: Brett Phillips
Not too long ago, Phillips was considered one of the top prospects in baseball. He, like Brinson and Ray, had a tantalizing power/speed combination and had demonstrated the ability to take a walk. But that was all before he started striking out roughly 30 percent of the time. Now, scouts wonder if the hole in his swing will ever be fixed. If he can patch it up, he still has enough upside to be a leadoff hitter with 20/20 potential. But his strikeout problems could relegate him to a Quad-A or bench role in his career.

Biggest Sleeper: Phil Bickford
Just when Bickford appeared to be getting some well-deserved attention, he was suspended for 50 games due to a positive drug test. Not PEDs though, this was for marijuana use. And while we can debate all day whether or not that suspension is justified, the point is that he will miss a large chunk of 2017 which likely pushes his potential debut back to 2018.

But when Bickford has been on the mound, he has been absolutely electric. The lowest strikeout rate the right-hander has ever posted was 24.4 percent at High-A with Milwaukee following his trade from San Francisco. His walk rate has always been a tad higher than some would like to see it, but scouts still love the stuff the 21-year-old has flashed and many think he has what it takes to stay in the rotation. Those who aren’t as sold on him believe he will end up closing for the Brew Crew in a few years. But owners who want to take a chance on a potential front-of-the-rotation starter would be wise to stash Bickford away.

 

Top Prospect Hitters

Most Likely to Hit over .300: Corey Ray
Ray has some holes in his swing right now and often struggles to read pitches well, but he drives the ball exceptionally well to all fields and scouts think he will be a quick learner and should master the zone before too long. Brinson has had many years of development and at this point, most scouts believe he is likely not as likely to hit over .300 as Ray. The 2017 season will be very telling how far Ray might be able to go towards improving his approach to the plate. At this point though, his floor is probably a .260 hitter with the ceiling being a .310+ hitter.

Best Power Hitter: Lewis Brinson

Best Burner on the Bases: Lewis Brinson

It was tempting to give this to Lucas Erceg who has a ton of power potential, but Brinson has year in and year out shown that he can hit for power. He combined for 20 home runs in his 100 games above Class-A, hit a career-high 21 back in 2013 and posted a solid 15 this past season. His power, many scouts believe, will eventually develop into 25-30 home runs on an annual basis. As for his speed, Brinson has certainly put that on display plenty in his professional career. Excluding time in Rookie league, the talented outfielder stole 15 bases in 100 games this season and swiped 18 in 100 games. And while those numbers don’t quite jump out at you initially, both would be on pace for roughly 25 stolen bases. Brinson probably has the most dynamic power/speed combination and will likely be a 30/30 threat most seasons. Though the average may often lag a bit behind, Brinson simply has too much upside to pass up on for dynasty owners.

 

Top Prospect Pitchers

Strikeout Machine: Josh Hader
When opposing hitters step into the box against Hader, odds are the first thing they notice is the Jacob deGrom hair style. The second thing they probably notice is the funky delivery and release point. And the third is how difficult it is just to make contact with him. Since departing the Baltimore Orioles organization back in 2013, Hader has consistently posted 25+ percent strikeout rates against opposing batters (I don’t know what it is about Baltimore, but pitchers sure seem to flourish once they leave there *cough* Jake Arrieta).

With an electric fastball/slider combination, Hader has all the makings of a strikeout machine, though he will likely need to improve his control and changeup if he wants to always be one step ahead of the hitters. If Hader stepped into the rotation right now, he’d probably be a No. 3 or 4 starter with strikeout upside. But if his changeup and command make the necessary improvements, he could be an outstanding No. 2 pitcher for them.

Best Command: Luis Ortiz
Before pitching at the Brewers Double-A affiliate last season, Ortiz had never posted a walk rate above 5.5 percent at any level with more than 10 innings pitched. The 21-year-old right-hander has never been much of a swing-and-miss guy, but he has always been able to retire batters thanks in large part to his excellent command and ability to keep the ball in the strike zone. It has baffled scouts nonetheless that with his stuff, he hasn’t generated more whiffs, but for now fantasy owners will take a guy with a high floor and high ceiling. If he can start missing bats, he could be a potential No. 1 or 2 starter, but as he is right now, he could pitch in the big leagues and be a pretty reliable No. 3 starter.

 

Top 10 Dynasty Prospects for the Milwaukee Breweres

1. Lewis Brinson (OF, AAA)
ETA: 2017
Exciting outfielder with the chance to post annual 30/30 seasons, Brinson is a must-own in all dynasty leagues.

2. Corey Ray (OF, A+)
ETA: 2019
Ray has an extra year of development remaining, but he will likely be a future left fielder for Milwaukee.

3. Josh Hader (SP, AAA)
ETA: 2017
Hader has insane strikeout potential and could be a future No. 2 starter if he develops his changeup more.

4. Isan Diaz (2B/SS, A)
ETA: 2018
Strong power-hitting middle-infielder will need to cut down on the strikeouts to remain on course to become Orlando Arcia’s double play partner by 2018.

5. Luis Ortiz (SP, AA)
ETA: 2017
Ortiz has the stuff to generate more punchouts, but for now owners will take the high floor from the young starter.

6. Trent Clark (OF, A-)
ETA: 2019
Clark has a long way to go before reaching the big leagues, but the potential franchise outfielder has a ton of upside, especially for those in need of stolen bases and on-base percentage.

7. Phil Bickford (SP, A+)
ETA: 2018
Electric young starting pitcher will need to bounce back from drug suspension before he is able to get back on course. Still undetermined if his future lies in the pen or the rotation, but he will excel in whatever role he maintains.

8. Brandon Woodruff (SP, AA)
ETA: 2017
The former 11th round pick has quietly dazzled at every level and has the size, velocity and secondary pitches to become a No. 2 or 3 starter in the majors.

9. Lucas Erceg (3B, A)
ETA: 2019
Erceg could be a big-time sleeper in dynasty leagues as a guy with 25-30 home run potential and a future at the hot corner if he can limit the strikeouts.

10. Brett Phillips (OF, AA)
ETA: 2018
The Brewers will hopefully take their time with Phillips as he has so much potential, but time is ticking and he has only seen his strikeout climb as he reaches the higher levels.

 

Conclusion:

This system has some of the most dynamic outfielders found in Minor League Baseball. Brinson and Ray are going to be extremely fun to watch at the big league level as might Phillips and Clark if they can reach their full upside. They also possess at four guys who appear poised to make up the future rotation in Hader, Ortiz, Bickford and Woodruff.

For dynasty owners, this is easily one of the most exciting to look through in baseball. There are strikeout artists and 20/20 threats abound. There are several other exciting players in the minors like catcher Jacob Nottingham, pitchers Nathan Kirby and Marcos Diplan with other high upside outfielders like Demi Orimoloye and Monte Harrison. Dynasty owners would be wise to look through here for some players to add in any drafts and for their waiver wires.




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Cal Raleigh

Continues Historic Homer Pace Tuesday
Jacob Wilson

Exits Early On Tuesday With Left Hand Contusion
Scottie Scheffler

Headlines Field at Genesis Scottish Open
Rory McIlroy

a Smart Play for Scottish Open
Adam Scott

Looking to Build on History at The Renaissance Club
NASCAR

Sepp Straka Not Likely to Find Momentum at Scottish Open
Justin Rose

Hopes Month Hiatus Helps Him Bounce Back at Scottish Open
Laken Tomlinson

Confident in Texans Offensive Line
J.K. Dobbins

the Starter in Denver?
JT Woods

Seahawks Release JT Woods
Darren Waller

Trade to Miami Becomes Official
Asante Samuel Jr.

Dolphins Interested in Asante Samuel Jr.
Nyheim Hines

Seeking Return to NFL
Dak Prescott

Expects to be Full-Go for Training Camp
Ajay Mitchell

Posts 16 Points in Summer League Win on Monday
Milwaukee Bucks

Vasilije Micic Waived by Bucks
Brice Sensabaugh

Logs 37 points in Summer League Win on Monday
Luis Garcia

Fans Four in Rehab Outing
GG Jackson II

Collects 27 Points in Summer League Loss
Ace Bailey

Scores 18 Points in Summer League Victory
NHL

Tyler Johnson Retires After 13 NHL Seasons
Jack McBain

Inks New Five-Year Deal with Mammoth
Cam York

Re-Signs with Flyers for Five Years
Kobe Bufkin

Cleared for Summer League Action
Jake Knapp

Fits the Mold for Success at The Renaissance Club
Milwaukee Bucks

Vasilije Micic Agrees to Contract Buyout with Bucks
PGA

Sungjae Im Still a Liability at Scottish Open
James Wiseman

Pacers Bring Back James Wiseman
Ludvig Aberg

is a Solid Option at Scottish Open
Tyrese Haliburton

to Miss Entire 2025-26 Campaign
Paolo Banchero

Signs Historic Five-Year Extension with Magic
Anthony Santander

Hoping to Hit Soon
Luis Robert Jr.

Returning in Short Order
Alex Bregman

Could Return Later This Week
Ketel Marte

Day-to-Day with Groin Tightness
Ty Gibbs

Finishes Second at Chicago and Advances in In-Season Challenge
Alex Bowman

Defeats Bubba Wallace in In-Season Challenge, but Not Without Controversy
Alex Bowman

Bubba Wallace Wrecked by Alex Bowman Again, Putting Playoffs in Doubt
Michael McDowell

Throttle Failure Ends Michael McDowell's Chances to Win at Chicago
Austin Hill

Earns First NASCAR Cup Series Top Ten at Chicago
Tyler Reddick

Scores a Strong Third-Place Run at Chicago
Kyle Busch

Matches his Best Career Finish At Chicago on Sunday
Denny Hamlin

Fights his Way to a Top-5 Finish at Chicago
William Byron

has his Worst Weekend of the Season at Chicago
Hunter Greene

Suffers Setback on Monday
Kyle Lowry

Staying With 76ers
Kyle Anderson

Lands in Utah
Kevin Love

Traded to Jazz in 3-Team Swap
Norman Powell

Traded to Miami
John Collins

Dealt to Clippers
J.J. Spaun

Finishes Tied For 14 at Travelers Championship
Xander Schauffele

Finishes Tied For 61 at Travelers Championship
Collin Morikawa

Finishes Tied For Eighth at Rocket Mortgage Classic
Robert MacIntyre

Finishes Tied For 17 at Travelers Championship
Si Woo Kim

Finishes Tied For 11 at John Deere Classic
Viktor Hovland

Withdraws From Travelers Championship
Tommy Fleetwood

Finishes Tied For Second at Travelers Championship
Brian Campbell

Wins John Deere Classic
Bronny James Jr.

Scores 10 Points
Harrison Ingram

Limited on Sunday
Golden State Warriors

Isaiah Mobley Drops 16 Points
Ryan Rollins

Staying with Bucks
T.J. Watt

Pittsburgh Still Not Close on New Contract
Terry McLaurin

Still Not Pleased with Contract Situation
Sonny Milano

on Track to Be Ready for Training Camp
Yu Darvish

to Make Season Debut on Monday
MLB

Nationals Fire Dave Martinez, Mike Rizzo
Jakub Dobes

Signs Two-Year Deal with Canadiens
KaVontae Turpin

Arrested on Two Charges
Cole Ragans

to Begin Throwing on Monday
Theo Johnson

Prioritizing his Health this Offseason
Andrés Giménez

Andres Gimenez Hits 10-Day Injured List
Jermaine Burton

Continues to Show Growth
NHL

Hendrix Lapierre Signs One-Year Deal with Capitals
Carson Hocevar

Should DFS Players Consider Carson Hocevar for Chicago Lineups?
Tye Kartye

Kraken Re-Sign Tye Kartye for Two Years
Ross Chastain

May be A Decent DFS Option for Chicago Lineups
Dmitri Voronkov

Signs Two-Year, $8.35 Million Extension with Blue Jackets
Ryan Preece

Should DFS Players Roster Ryan Preece at Chicago?
Austin Dillon

Is Too Great of A Risk to Add to Chicago Lineups
Zane Smith

Is A Value Play Worth Rostering At Chicago
Austin Hill

is A Favorable Value Option for Chicago DFS Lineups
Ty Dillon

Is Ty Dillon A Decent Driver to Add For NASCAR DFS At Chicago?
William Byron

Qualifying Crash Makes William Byron a Likely DFS Must-Have
Alex Bowman

Should Finish Well, but Probably Costs Too Much for Serious DFS Consideration
Joey Logano

Has Been Relatively Mediocre on Road Courses Lately
Ryan Blaney

Doesn't Really Fit Neatly into Optimal DFS Lineups
Cam Ward

"Not Expecting" to be handed Starting Job
Chase Claypool

Eager to Get Back on the Field
Wyatt Langford

Activated, Playing on Saturday
Jay Huff

on the Move to Indiana
Cam Whitmore

Wizards Acquire Cam Whitmore from the Rockets
LaJohntay Wester

Stands out on Special Teams
Clarke Schmidt

Likely to Undergo Tommy John Surgery
Nolan Arenado

Scratched from Saturday's Lineup
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Starting on Saturday
Corbin Carroll

Activated from 10-Day Injured List
Cincinnati Bengals

Shemar Stewart, Bengals Continue Contract Talks, No Progress Made
Ha-Seong Kim

Removed Early During Season Debut
ARI

Christian Fischer Retires From NHL at 28
NHL

Spencer Martin Moves to Russia
WAS

Anthony Beauvillier Re-Signs With Capitals for Two Years
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Sitting Out With Foot Issue
Isaiah Neyor

Impresses at Minicamp
Bo Bichette

Back in Blue Jays Lineup
Miles Sanders

Works With Starters During Mandatory Minicamp
Chimere Dike

Titans Could Move Chimere Dike Inside
Keandre Lambert-Smith

KeAndre Lambert-Smith not Guaranteed Roster Spot
Anthony Bradford

Working Hard to Win Back Starting Job
Clarke Schmidt

Placed on Injured List
SJ

Sharks Claim Nick Leddy Off Waivers
SJ

Sharks Sign Dmitry Orlov to Two-Year, $13 Million Contract
CAR

Nikolaj Ehlers Joins Hurricanes on Six-Year Contract
COL

Brent Burns Inks One-Year Deal with Avalanche
STL

Blues Land Pius Suter on Two-Year Deal
Morgan Frost

Agrees to Two-Year Extension with Flames
WPG

Gustav Nyquist Moves to Winnipeg
Cody Glass

Devils Re-Sign Cody Glass to Two-Year Deal
PIT

Anthony Mantha Joins Penguins
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF