Milwaukee Brewers

TRACK RECORD: Outfielder Hedbert Perez led a Venezuelan-heavy international class for the Brewers in 2019. In their next class—moved from July, 2, 2020 to start on Jan. 15, 2021—the Brewers again were strongly focused on Venezuelan prospects, led by the signing of Chourio.

SCOUTING REPORT: Chourio has a lean, athletic frame with exciting tools now and physical projection for them to get better with strength gains. He has a quick-twitch explosion that shows up in his bat speed, helping him drive the ball with surprising carry off his bat for a wiry teenager, especially to the opposite field. He drives the ball with impact already and could grow into plus power, with a mature approach for his age with his ability to recognize offspeed, use the whole field and make consistent contact in games. He's at least a plus runner now, making him a potential power/speed threat in the middle of the diamond. Chourio has seen time at shortstop and center field, with the Brewers planning to develop him as a shortstop. His offensive game is ahead of his defense, so he could still end up in center field.

THE FUTURE: Chourio isn’t as advanced as Perez was at the same stage, but his tools already make him one of the Brewers’ most promising prospects at the lower levels. He will make his pro debut in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Garcia was young for the 2018 international signing class, finalizing a $1.1 million deal with the Brewers when he turned 16. He has played just 10 official games in two years after a broken ankle cut his 2019 season short and the coronavirus pandemic erased the 2020 minor league season. The Brewers pushed Garcia aggressively to their alternate training site in Appleton, where he was understandably overmatched given his age and the level of competition. He looked more comfortable during instructional league against age-appropriate opponents.

SCOUTING REPORT: Garcia has shown promising flashes, but he's difficult to evaluate given his limited playing time. Signed with a skinny 6-foot-2 frame, he has added 25 pounds to a still lean, well-proportioned build. Garcia primarily stands out for his defensive ability at shortstop with soft hands and good defensive actions. He's a tick below-average runner but shows good body control to go with a plus arm. Garcia has added more leverage to his swing, but scouts are mixed on his offensive potential. He hit well during his brief time in the DSL and shows flashes of being an average hitter with 15-home run power, but there's more uncertainty with his bat than his glove.

THE FUTURE: Garcia will make his stateside debut in 2021. How he performs at the plate will be crucial to watch.

TRACK RECORD: Rodriguez was one of the most advanced pure hitters in the 2017 international class and signed with the Brewers for $1.355 million. He lived up to that reputation by hitting over .320 in each of his first two seasons as a pro. Rodriguez spent time at the alternate training site in 2020, where he wasn't a standout but held his own against significantly older competition and a lefty-heavy pitching group.

SCOUTING REPORT: Rodriguez's bat control is among the best in the Brewers' system. He has a career strikeout rate of just 10% and has a knack for putting the bat to the ball. He doesn't walk much, in part because he makes contact early in counts, and will need to be more selective to enhance his on-base skills. Rodriguez's power is mostly to the gaps. While he added strength in 2020 and started driving the ball, he's mostly a line-drive hitter with 8-12 home run potential. Where Rodriguez ends up defensively is his biggest question. He's an average runner without the burner speed of a typical center fielder. Some observers like his defensive instincts in center, while others think he looks more comfortable in a corner.

THE FUTURE: There's some tweener outfield risk with Rodriguez, but he has hit at every level so far and that may be enough to carry him.

TRACK RECORD: Rasmussen had Tommy John surgery at Oregon State as a sophomore in 2016. The Rays drafted him 31st overall the following year but didn't sign him due to concerns about his elbow. Rasmussen returned to school and had a second Tommy John surgery that wiped out his 2018 season, but the Brewers still drafted him in the sixth round and signed him for $135,000. Rasmussen returned in 2019 and jumped three levels up to Double-A on the strength of a fastball up to 99 mph. He began the 2020 season at the alternate training site and made his major league debut in August.

SCOUTING REPORT: Rasmussen's best pitch is his fastball, which he pumps at 96-99 mph. The pitch has good life to miss bats when he pitches up in the zone, but his control escapes him at times, leading to too many walks and hard contact. His 85-88 mph slider is a slightly above-average pitch with good bite that could still tick up, though he has trouble landing it in the strike zone. Rasmussen is primarily a fastball/ slider pitcher, but he mixes in a fringe-average curveball and an occasional below-average changeup at 89-91 mph.

THE FUTURE: Rasmussen should break camp with the Brewers in 2021. He has the stuff to pitch highleverage relief innings if he can sharpen his command.

TRACK RECORD: Topa had Tommy John surgery in college in 2011 and, after signing with the Pirates for $70,000 as a 13th-round pick in 2013, had a second Tommy John surgery in 2015. He was released and spent 2017 pitching in the independent Can-Am League before signing a minor league deal with the Rangers in 2018. Topa joined the Brewers on a minor league deal in 2019 and reached Double-A. He generated buzz at the alternate training site and earned his first big league callup in September as a 29-year-old.

SCOUTING REPORT: Topa flourished in his brief time in Milwaukee and didn't look like a fluke. He throws a heavy sinker that sits at 96-99 mph with lively armside run and peaks at 100 mph. His plus slider plays well off his fastball with two-plane depth and deep lateral break. Both pitches are swing-and-miss weapons against both righties and lefties. Topa has demonstrated plus control throughout his career and didn't issue a single walk 7.2 innings with the Brewers. FUTURE: Already entering his 30s, Topa's window to produce is limited. He has the high-octane stuff to be a key reliever for the Brewers right away in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Parra signed with the Brewers for $210,000 during the 2018 international signing period as one of the youngest players in the class. He made his pro debut in 2019 in the Dominican Summer League and hit .275/.398/.486 after the all-star break. The Brewers brought Parra to Arizona for instructional league 2020, though he was a late arrival and didn't get many at-bats.

SCOUTING REPORT: Parra is a big, physical infielder with a patient hitting approach for his age, good bat speed and above-average raw power. His power comes with some swing-and-miss, as he struck out 26 percent of the time in the DSL, though he was also just 16 years old nearly the whole season. If he can keep his strikeout rate to a manageable level, his ability to draw walks should help keep his on-base percentage up. A below-average runner, Parra has split time between second base and third base. His range probably fits better at third base. His hands and feet work well for his size and he has a plus arm.

THE FUTURE: Parra will still be 18 in 2021. He will spend most of the year at the Rookie level.

TRACK RECORD: Hamilton had a standout sophomore year at Texas and but he ruptured his Achilles tendon and missed his entire junior year. The Brewers still took him in the eighth round and signed him for an above-slot $400,000. Hamilton returned to the field in 2020 and played in the independent Constellation Energy League, where he hit .296/.430/.370 and went 20-for-20 on stolen bases in 27 games. He reported to instructional league and drew attention as a top offensive performer.

SCOUTING REPORT: Hamilton is 22, so he was one of the older players at instructs, but the quality of his at-bats was impressive. He has a sound lefthanded stroke, uses his hands well at the plate and consistently barrels balls while showing a good eye for the strike zone. He doesn't have a ton of home run power, but he's a sound hitter with a good approach. Hamilton is a good athlete and a plus runner. He showed a solid-average arm and played steady defense at both middle-infield positions during instructs.

THE FUTURE: Hamilton is advanced enough that he could jump to high Class A for his pro debut. He has a chance for a breakout season now that he's healthy.

TRACK RECORD: Kahle had a breakout junior season at Washington in 2019, hitting .339/.506/.532 with more than twice as many walks (59) as strikeouts (28). The Brewers drafted him in the fourth round and he had a solid pro debut in the Rookie-level Pioneer League. With the coronavirus pandemic canceling the 2020 minor league season, Kahle played independent ball in North Dakota for Fargo-Moorhead in the American Association before heading to Arizona for instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: Kahle has a short, direct swing and a disciplined offensive approach. He recognizes pitches well and seldom expands the strike zone. Kahle is mostly a doubles threat who might hit 8-12 home runs and will need to be able to do more damage on contact against advanced pitchers. Kahle drew mixed reviews for his defense as an amateur, with scouts praising his blocking and receiving skills but questioning his fringe-average arm. Kahle has made significant progress on his throwing while working with minor league coach Nestor Corredor. He threw out 44% of baserunners in his pro debut and carried that over to instructs in 2020. Kahle also draws positive reviews for his all-around baseball IQ.

THE FUTURE: If Kahle can drive the ball with impact, he has a chance to develop into a high-OBP catcher. He got a taste of high Class A in 2019 and should open back there in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Cantrelle hit well his first two years at Louisiana-Lafayette and batted .315/.427/.438 in the Cape Cod League after his sophomore year. He struggled in his junior season, however, batting .146/.320/.237 before college baseball shut down. The Brewers still drafted him in the fifth round and signed him for $300,000. Cantrelle spent the summer playing in the independent City of Champions Cup league and led his team in on-base percentage before going to Arizona for instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: At his best, Cantrelle shows a controlled, compact swing from both sides of the plate and solid feel for the strike zone. His stroke is more contact-oriented from the right side, with more sneaky pop from the left side, though still gives him an on-base over power profile. Cantrelle is a plus runner with the baserunning savvy to be an efficient stolen base threat. He plays with good rhythm and footwork at shortstop and has an average, accurate arm. He's also a potentially above-average defender at second base and his speed makes him an option in center field if needed.

THE FUTURE: Cantrelle doesn't have huge tools, but his high baseball IQ is evident in all phases of the game. He should make his full-season debut in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: The Brewers’ 2019 international signing class leaned heavily on Venezuelan players, including outfielder Hedbert Perez and catcher Jeferson Quero. Their biggest bonus went to Medina, who signed for $1.3 million. The Brewers brought him to instructional league in 2020 after the coronavirus shutdown and he struggled to get his timing back against older competition, but the quality of his at-bats improved as he readjusted to live pitching.

SCOUTING REPORT: Medina’s best tool is his plus raw power. He has a loose swing, good bat speed and a chance for his power to tick up even more. Medina has a solid idea of the strike zone for his age but can get pull-happy, which gets him to drift out front early and leads to swings and misses. Even when he does pull off the ball, his hands work well enough to still make contact. Medina has played center field, but he projects as a corner outfielder and should develop into an average defender. He’s around an average runner with solid defensive instincts and a tick above-average arm that fits in right field.

THE FUTURE: Medina’s pro debut awaits in 2021. He’s likely to begin in the Rookie-level Arizona League.

TRACK RECORD: Bettinger split between starting and relieving at Virginia before pitching exclusively out of the bullpen as a senior. The Brewers drafted him in the 10th round, signed him for $10,000 and developed him as a starter. Bettinger ranked second in the Double-A Southern League in strikeouts in 2019 and spent 2020 at the alternate training site. The Brewers added him to their 40-man roster after the season.

SCOUTING REPORT: Bettinger doesn't have a plus pitch, but he throws strikes, is durable and has a feel for pitching that has yielded better results than his stuff would suggest. There's some funk and deception in his release, which gives him a little more margin with a fastball that sits 89-93 mph with occasional cutting action and can scrape 94-95 mph. The pitch has good vertical movement, helping him miss bats when he elevates. Bettinger's best secondary pitch is his changeup, which is a solid-average pitch with good sink and fade when it's on. He mixes in a curveball that has been effective against minor leaguers, though it's typically a fringy pitch which might not get major league hitters to bite.

THE FUTURE: Bettinger faces questions about whether his stuff will work against major league hitters. He should open 2021 in Triple-A and is in position to make his debut if he pitches well.

TRACK RECORD: Uribe was old enough to sign out of the Dominican Republic in 2017 but wasn't officially registered with Major League Baseball, so the Brewers signed him in 2018 for $85,000. Uribe's fastball topped out in the low 90s when he signed and has since skyrocketed. He began touching the mid 90s in his stateside debut in 2019, then sat 95-98 mph and touched 101 at instructional league in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: Uribe has always had fast arm speed, and his velocity spike came as he gained strength and became more consistent with his delivery. He has thrown just 28.1 official innings in three years, mostly as a reliever, so the rest of his development beyond his velocity lags behind. Uribe's fastball command and overall strike-throwing has been erratic and he tends to overthrow. He has shown a feel for a slider that's ahead of his changeup, but because he often falls behind in counts his focus has been on learning how to throw his fastball for strikes.

THE FUTURE: Uribe has a chance to be a power-armed reliever. He'll need to throw strikes to get there.

TRACK RECORD: The Brewers drafted Lutz with the 34th overall pick in 2017 and signed him for $2.352 million. He had an excellent start to his pro career, but he's since struggled with strikeouts at both Class A levels. Lutz spent 2020 at the alternate training site in Appleton, Wis.

SCOUTING REPORT: Lutz's best attribute is his above-average power. He's a strong, physical player and a good athlete for his size. Lutz isn't a total free-swinger, but he has had trouble making consistent contact. He has issues making contact in the zone along with some chase tendencies. An average runner, Lutz has spent most of his time in center field but projects to right field, where his slightly above-average arm fits.

THE FUTURE: Lutz has intriguing power, but he will need to make more contact and tighten his plate discipline against more advanced pitching. Double-A is up next.

TRACK RECORD: File went to Division II Dixie State, where he won Pacific West Conference freshman of the year in 2015 and co-pitcher of the year in 2017. He has exceeded expectations as a pro, showing a combination of durability and control that has led to success through Double-A. The Brewers brought him to their alternate training site in 2020 and added him to the 40-man roster after the season. In February 2021, File had surgery to fix a stress fracture in his right elbow, which is expected to keep him out until midseason.

SCOUTING REPORT: File relies on his ability to throw strikes and mix four pitches. His fastball ranges from 88-92 mph and touches 94 in short bursts. He has some deception in his delivery and is able to get elevated swings and misses with his fastball despite below-average velocity. File has plus control, filling the strike zone and hitting his spots. He lacks a true putaway pitch with an average curveball and slider to go with a fringe-average changeup. He gets ahead in counts and sequences hitters effectively.

THE FUTURE: Whether File's stuff will work against advanced hitters remains a question. Once he’s healthy, he should head to Triple-A with a chance to make his major league debut during the year.

TRACK RECORD: Vargas played for Venezuela in the COPABE 14U Pan American Championship in 2017 and signed with the Brewers for $650,000 two years later. He stood out for his baseball IQ and strong offensive performance as an amateur and has continued to showcase those attributes as a pro, first in the Dominican Republic after signing and during instructional league in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: Vargas stands out more in games than in a workout. He doesn't have loud tools or the prettiest swing, but he gets on base, makes frequent contact with good plate discipline and uses the whole field. Vargas is physically behind his peers, so he's mostly a line drive hitter with doubles pop. There's room on his frame to add more strength, but he doesn't project to be a big home run threat. Vargas is an average runner who lacks the quick-twitch actions teams prefer at shortstop, but he has a chance to stick there because of his internal clock, secure hands, solid-average arm and advanced instincts.

THE FUTURE: Vargas will still be 17 on Opening Day 2021. He is set to begin his pro career in the Rookie-level Arizona League.

TRACK RECORD: The Brewers bet on Wiemer's tools and drafted him in the fourth round in 2020 despite a lack of standout performance in college at Cincinnati. He signed for $150,000 and spent the summer playing for Birmingham Bluefield of the independent United Shore Baseball League. He struggled there before heading to instructional league, where a thumb injury limited his playing time.

SCOUTING REPORT: Wiemer has a fast bat and plus raw power. He isn't a free-swinger, but he hasn't tapped into that power in games and faces questions about his pure hitting ability because of all the moving parts in his unorthodox swing. He loads with a big leg kick, drops his hands from behind his head to just above his waist before raising them back again and unleashing an aggressive hack. All of that creates timing issues and will be tested once he faces better velocity. Wiemer has plus speed underway and good instincts on the basepaths. He runs well enough to play center field, though he projects as a corner outfielder due to his size. He clocked up to 104 mph in outfield throwing drills and has an 80-grade arm.

THE FUTURE: Wiemer will make his pro debut in 2021. If he doesn't hit enough, his arm strength and athleticism make pitching a fallback option.

TRACK RECORD: The Brewers signed a trio of Venezuelan shortstops at the top of their 2020-21 international class that opened on Jan. 15, 2021, including Barrios, one of the best defensive shortstops in his class.

SCOUTING REPORT: Barrios is a smooth, instinctive defender who is light on his feet with good body control, soft hands and fluid actions. An average runner, Barrios has a good internal clock, especially for his age, with a strong arm that projects to be above-average. He has added strength over the last couple of years with some more physical projection to dream on to help grow his current gap power. He's a switch-hitter who is better from the right side, with a sharp eye for the strike zone, good bat-to-ball skills and a line-drive approach.

THE FUTURE: Barrios is a promising shortstop prospect, but he is still far away with a lot to prove. He will get his first professional experience in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: When the 2020-21 international signing period opened on Jan. 15, Guilarte was one of three prominent Venezuelan shortstops the Brewers signed at the top of their class, along with Jackson Bryan Chourio and Gregory Barrios.

SCOUTING REPORT: Compared to Barrios, Guilarte is a bit more physically advanced right now but with good strength projection remaining in his wiry 6-foot-1, 165-pound frame. His tools have already started to trend up over the past year, as he's now a plus runner and flashing a plus arm with the defensive actions to stay at shortstop. Guilarte has good bat-to-ball skills and a solid idea of the strike zone for his age. He has the bat speed and strength projection to grow into more than his present gap power, though his swing is geared more for low line drives than loft.

THE FUTURE: Guilarte’s tools have trended up over the past year, but he’s still 17 and a long way from the majors. He will make his pro debut in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: The Brewers had high hopes when they drafted Ray fourth overall in 2016. He won MVP of the Double-A Southern League in 2018 but scuffled upon reaching Triple-A in 2019, when a wrist issue limited his playing time. He spent 2020 at the alternate training site.

SCOUTING REPORT: Ray has a promising combination of power and speed, but his swing-and-miss rate has hampered his production. His swing gets long, he has difficulty recognizing offspeed pitches and he chases too many pitches outside the strike zone. Those holes have been exposed against better pitching, with Ray striking out in 32% of his plate appearances at Double-A and Triple-A. Ray is a plus runner who is a dangerous stolen base threat. He is an average defender in center field with an average arm.

THE FUTURE: Ray will open 2021 back at Triple-A. He needs dramatic improvement with his contact rate and strike-zone management to have any kind of major league career.

TRACK RECORD: It was a long road to the majors for Perdomo, who signed with the Blue Jays when he was 17. He failed to advance past high Class A in seven seasons and signed with the Brewers as a minor league free agent after 2018. Perdomo saw more success after shifting to the bullpen and spent most of 2020 at the alternate training site. He earned his first major league callup in August.

SCOUTING REPORT: Perdomo has a powerful left arm and a track record of high strikeout rates. He throws slightly across his body, sitting 93-96 mph with the ability to miss bats when he elevates his fastball. He pairs it with a low-80s slider that is inconsistent but flashes plus with long horizontal break across the zone. He also throws an occasional below-average, 88-90 mph changeup. Perdomo frequently fell behind in the count in the majors, which allowed hitters to tee off on his fastball. He is 6-foot-8 and, like a lot of pitchers his size, struggles to sync up his delivery, which leads to below-average control.

THE FUTURE: Perdomo will be 27 in 2021. If he can learn to repeat his delivery and throw more strikes, he could stick around in Milwaukee's bullpen.