Most of the articles written on Brew Crew Ball recently have focused on the Brewers’ performance in the playoffs, for good reason. This is going to be different. As BCB’s resident minor league writer, I feel a duty – no, an obligation – to remind you just how stacked the Brewers’ farm system is.
While this season may have ended without a World Series berth, Milwaukee is still an incredibly talented team with just as much talent in the minors. If you’re already looking forward to next season, here are a few more reasons to be excited about the Brewers.
While the majority of the Brewers’ minor league talent are still a few years away from making an impact in the big leagues, that doesn’t mean they don’t have guys who can help the Brewers next year.
Jefferson Quero (No. 4) had an up-and-down season, which is somewhat understandable considering he missed the entire 2024 season and the first two months of 2025 due to a torn labrum in his right shoulder. Are more-more arm initially didn’t look as impressive as he did during his last healthy season (2023), which – again – is somewhat understandable. The most encouraging part of Quero’s 2025 is that his arm strength improved throughout the season, which also correlated with him playing more as a catcher and less as a design hitter. Milwaukee even named him to the taxi squad in late September. In the words of Brewers GM Matt Arnold, this was because:
“It gives (Quero) an opportunity to be in our meetings and be a part of them … we all have different ways to get him used to our information and just prepare for the highest level.”
“Preparation at the highest level.” Yeah, Quero isn’t going to the minors for another full year. His hitting stats (.748 OPS) weren’t bad either. Danny Jansen likely won’t be back next season, so Quero could even make the Opening Day roster if he proves himself in Spring Training.
Other than what I want Logan Henderson (No. 5) has Major League experience. The right-hander pitched extremely well (1.78 ERA) in five starts with Milwaukee last year. Henderson will likely open the season in Milwaukee, depending on how things go with some of the Brewers’ veteran pitching options. Robert Gasser (No. 18) is also still technically a prospect, even though he was on the Brewers’ NLCS roster.
Craig Yoho (No. 16) has struggled with control in his short time in the major leagues this year, but has the secondary stuff (well, the changeup) to develop into a leverage reliever. Even if that isn’t his role in 2026, a little tinkering with the Brewers “Pitching Lab” could turn him into an effective reliever at the big league level. Coleman Crow (No. 25) was one of the biggest risers in the corporate system this year after starting the season with Double-A Biloxi. That’s how it was Tate Kuehnerwho had one of the most productive seasons (2.77 ERA) of any pitcher in the organization while splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A Nashville.
Milwaukee doesn’t have much talent for position players ready for the big leagues outside of Quero. Tyler Black (No. 24) doesn’t seem to fit into the Brewers’ long-term plans right now, though he could serve as trade bait for a team willing to take a risk on a former top 50 overall prospect. There is an outside recording Cooper Pratt (no. 3) or Luke Adams (No. 8), both currently in Double-A, could be promoted to Triple-A early enough to make the big league sometime in September. On the other hand, Adams missed a few months due to injury and Pratt had a bit of a down season (.691) at the plate – even considering the somewhat pitcher-friendly nature of the Southern League.
Probably not next year, but…
Since there are so many exciting prospects to talk about that could fall into this category, I’m going to limit myself to players who could somewhat realistically be ready sometime in 2027. The obvious one is an 18-year-old phenomenon. Jesus made (No. 1), one of the top prospects in baseball. Made started the season at Single-A Carolina, but played at High-A Carolina and earned a promotion to Double-A Biloxi just in time for the playoffs. Jackson Chourio’s trajectory would land him on the 2027 Opening Day roster after splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A. Even if Made needs time to adjust to the higher levels of the minors, he could easily be tied with Milwaukee by the end of the 2027 season.
Brock Wilken (No. 17) is already 23 years old and led Biloxi in home runs despite missing nearly half the season. He sometimes struggles to hit for average – striking out a little more than would be ideal – but the powerful tool has translated at every level of the minors. Wilken should get a chance to prove himself in Triple-A sometime next year. It’s not likely to happen this year, but there’s a world where the Brewers are hurting for power (or injuries) and bring Wilken in to see what he can do. He’ll likely arrive in 2027 as his approach still needs some work, but he has an enticing power stroke that should perform quite well at AmFam Field.
Blake Burke (No. 29) discovered his power hitting after being promoted to Double-A Biloxi. Burke hit .300 with a .956 (!!) OPS in 37 games with the Shuckers, going 11 yards in 140 at-bats. Jake Bauers and (probably) Andrew Vaughn will be on the big-league roster starting in 2026, and Milwaukee has a few other high-ranking corners (Adams, Wilken, Andrew Fischer, Mike Boeve) in their system. Burke also likely projects as a designated hitter at the big league level. But if he keeps hitting like this, it will be difficult to control him for too long.
Tyson Hardin (No. 20) broke out of High-A and made it to Biloxi before being shut down near the end of the season. Hardin is another older prospect (also 23) who already has the stuff to compete in Triple-A. Like Wilken, he likely won’t appear with Milwaukee in 2026, but 2027 seems more than possible.
Luis Pena (No. 2) was maybe the breakout player in the farm system earlier this year, posting a 4.8 mph jump in exit velocity and an .844 OPS with Single-A Carolina while quickly rising in the prospect rankings across the league. Peña was called up to High-A Wisconsin along with Made, but struggled a bit more, both defensively and offensively (.517 OPS). He probably won’t be ready until 2027, but I’ll take him anyway because he’s still super young (18) and talented enough to end up in Triple-A by the end of the season – if he figures it out this offseason.
Another dark horse Andreas Fischer (No. 6), who was drafted by the Brewers in the first round of the 2025 draft. Fischer is already 21 and has the profile of a player who should rise quickly through the Brewers system. In nineteen games in High-A with the Timber Rattlers, Fischer hit .311 with an .848 OPS. It won’t be ready next year, but 2027 isn’t off the table yet.
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