2017 Milwaukee Brewers Top 10 Insider
See Also: Brewers Top 10 Prospects
Talent Infusion: Draft Report Card
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SEASON IN A SENTENCE: The Brewers weren’t competing in 2016, not with the game’s lowest payroll, but they found pieces who should be around when Milwaukee is ready to contend again.
HIGH POINT: Milwaukee was never at .500 after April 15, so the focus was more on individual highlights, such as first baseman Chris Carter, who tied for the National League lead with 41 homers, including two the final weekend at Colorado to tie the Rockies’ Nolan Arenado. That same weekend, shortstop/third baseman Jonathan Villar stole two bases to finish with 62, which led the majors.
LOW POINT: Milwaukee never lost more than six games in a row, with both six-game skids coming in August, the team’s worst month with a 10-20 record. The second skid included a 9-6 loss to the Pirates as Milwaukee blew a 5-1 lead that starter Jimmy Nelson, in the midst of a 16-loss season, couldn’t hold.
NOTABLE ROOKIES: Veteran minor leaguer Junior Guerra, 31, unexpectedly became Milwaukee’s top starter, going 9-3, 2.81 in a career-high 121.2 innings. Fellow rookie Zach Davies was the team’s wins leader in an 11-7, 3.97 campaign. Top prospect Orlando Arcia pushed Villar to third base but had an uninspiring debut (.219/.273/.358), while 26-year-old rookie Keon Broxton looked like a potential keeper, showing power and speed in a 75-game trial.
KEY TRANSACTIONS: First-year GM David Stearns stayed busy, making 17 trades and 10 waiver claims in his first year on the job, among other moves. The biggest deal was his midseason trade of catcher Jonathan Lucroy and closer Jeremy Jeffress to the Rangers for a passel of prospects, including outfielders Lewis Brinson and Ryan Cordell and righthander Luis Ortiz. Milwaukee also got a two-time first-rounder, righthander Phil Bickford, plus catcher Andrew Susac, from the Giants for lefthander Will Smith.
DOWN ON THE FARM: After the farm system had a big year in 2015, Milwaukee stumbled in ’16, with its domestic affiliates going just 302-379 (.443), second-worst in baseball. Prospects such as Arcia, righthander Jorge Lopez (3-11, 5.78 overall) and outfielder Brett Phillips (.229/.332/.397) faltered, while high Class A Brevard County lost a minor league-worst 97 games. Shortstop Isan Diaz led the low Class A Midwest League with 20 homers, while righthander Brandon Woodruff went 14-9, 2.68 and led the minors with 173 strikeouts.
OPENING DAY PAYROLL: $69,282,737 (28th)
| BEST TOOLS | |
| Best Hitter for Average | Trent Clark |
| Best Power Hitter | Lucas Erceg |
| Best Strike-Zone Discipline | Trent Clark |
| Fastest Baserunner | Johnny Davis |
| Best Athlete | Corey Ray |
| Best Fastball | Brandon Woodruff |
| Best Curveball | Corbin Burnes |
| Best Slider | Kodi Medeiros |
| Best Changeup | Devin Williams |
| Best Control | Jon Perrin |
| Best Defensive Catcher | Dustin Houle |
| Best Defensive Infielder | Angel Ortega |
| Best Infield Arm | Lucas Erceg |
| Best Defensive Outfielder | Tyrone Taylor |
| Best Outfield Arm | Clint Coulter |
| PROJECTED 2020 LINEUP | |
| Catcher | Jacob Nottingham |
| First Base | Ryan Cordell |
| Second Base | Isan Diaz |
| Third Base | Lucas Erceg |
| Shortstop | Orlando Arcia |
| Left Field | Corey Ray |
| Center Field | Lewis Brinson |
| Right Field | Trent Clark |
| No. 1 Starter | Josh Hader |
| No. 2 Starter | Luis Ortiz |
| No. 3 Starter | Brandon Woodruff |
| No. 4 Starter | Marcos Diplan |
| No. 5 Starter | Zach Davies |
| Closer | Phil Bickford |
| TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE | ||
| Year | Player, Pos. | 2016 Org |
| 2007 | Yovani Gallardo, rhp | Orioles |
| 2008 | Matt LaPorta, of | Did not play |
| 2009 | Alcides Escobar, ss | Royals |
| 2010 | Alcides Escobar, ss | Royals |
| 2011 | Mark Rogers, rhp | Did not play |
| 2012 | Wily Peralta, rhp | Brewers |
| 2013 | Wily Peralta, rhp | Brewers |
| 2014 | Jimmy Nelson, rhp | Brewers |
| 2015 | Tyrone Taylor, of | Brewers |
| 2016 | Orlando Arcia, ss | Brewers |
| TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE | ||
| Year | Player, Pos. | 2016 Org |
| 2007 | Matt LaPorta, of | Did not play |
| 2008 | Brett Lawrie, c/3b | White Sox |
| 2009 | Eric Arnett, rhp | Did not play |
| 2010 | *Dylan Covey, rhp | Athletics |
| 2011 | Taylor Jungmann, rhp | Brewers |
| 2012 | Clint Coulter, c | Brewers |
| 2013 | Devin Williams, rhp (2nd round) | Brewers |
| 2014 | Kodi Medeiros, lhp | Brewers |
| 2015 | Trent Clark, of | Brewers |
| 2016 | Corey Ray, of | Brewers |
| *Did not sign | ||
| LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY | |
| Corey Ray, 2016 | $4,125,000 |
| Rickie Weeks, 2003 | $3,600,000 |
| Trent Clark, 2015 | $2,700,000 |
| Taylor Jungmann, 2011 | $2,525,000 |
| Kodi Medeiros, 2014 | $2,500,000 |
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