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Brewers Release Brian Anderson

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October 2: The Brewers released Anderson today, per MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy. The move officially rules out Anderson for the club’s postseason roster, though it was already unlikely the club would have added him back to the 40-man roster to make him eligible for the postseason. Anderson heads into the offseason early, where he’ll look to catch on with a new club as he attempts to return to the form he demonstrated from 2018-2020.

September 28: The Brewers announced that outfielder Garrett Mitchell has been activated from the 60-day injured list.  In the corresponding move, third baseman/outfielder Brian Anderson was designated for assignment.

Mitchell’s official return to the active roster has been expected for a couple of days, after he rejoined the Brewers upon the completion of the Triple-A season.  The outfielder played in only 16 games in April before undergoing shoulder surgery, leaving some doubt to whether or not Mitchell would even make it back before the end of the 2023 campaign.  Fortunately, Mitchell was able to start a Triple-A rehab assignment earlier this month, and played in eight games in the minors.

The 25-year-old figures to get a bit more time to ramp up over the Brewers’ last few games of the regular season, as Milwaukee has locked up the NL Central title and the third seed in the NL bracket.  This gives the Brew Crew some extra time to rest some regulars and figures out who might make the cut for the playoff roster before the start of the Wild Card Series on October 3.

The 20th overall pick of the 2020 draft, Mitchell made his MLB debut last season and was expected to see regular action this year, even beginning 2023 as Milwaukee’s Opening Day center fielder.  Mitchell naturally still figures into the Brewers’ future plans, and what might’ve been an entirely lost season for the younger can be salvaged if he can play a role in any postseason success.  Mitchell likely won’t be line for regular duty ahead of Blake Perkins or Sal Frelick in center field, but he could contribute off the bench as defensive or pinch-running depth.  With Mitchell as an additional outfield option, the Brewers could use then use Mark Canha more regularly at first base or DH rather than in the outfield corners.

While Anderson’s DFA doesn’t technically rule him out of contention for the postseason roster if he clears waivers and is then eventually re-added to the 40-man roster, the writing has seemed to be on the wall that Anderson isn’t in the Brewers’ plans.  His start in yesterday’s game marked his first time in the lineup since August 22, and he has played in only 11 games total since returning from a 10-day IL stint on August 3.

The Marlins non-tendered Anderson last offseason after a pair of injury-riddled down years, and the Brewers signed him to a one-year, $3.5MM deal in the hopes of a bounce-back.  The experiment seemed to be working great in the first few weeks of the season, but Anderson quickly faded after that hot start, and he has a .226/.310/.368 slash line and nine home runs over 361 plate appearances while seeing a lot of action at third base and in right field.

Andruw Monasterio essentially took over the starting third base job after the All-Star break, though his own struggles led the Brewers to make the low-cost signing of Josh Donaldson on a minor league deal.  Donaldson hasn’t been overly impressive since joining the active roster, though his .191/.296/.447 slash line in 54 PA in a Brewers uniform is at least better than the .659 OPS he posted in 120 PA with the Yankees.  With Anderson now likely out of the picture, the Brewers look to be using Donaldson as their chief third base option for the postseason, with Monasterio perhaps acting as a utility infielder backing up Donaldson, shortstop Willy Adames, and second baseman Brice Turang.  Canha, Carlos Santana, and Rowdy Tellez are the first base/DH options.

NL Injury Notes: Hoskins, Davis, Mitchell, Candelario, Alzolay

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Phillies manager Rob Thomson isn’t ruling out the possibility that Rhys Hoskins will play in the postseason. More specifically, the skipper told hosts on the WIP Morning Show that if Philadelphia makes it back to the World Series, Hoskins could be available to DH or pinch-hit.

The first baseman tore his ACL during spring training and has not played for the Phillies since last October. However, he’s taking batting practice and running the bases, and he appears to be progressing well. The possibility of his return remains a long shot – Philadelphia would have to make the World Series first, and even then, it’s no guarantee – but still, this is encouraging news for the club.

Hoskins has an .846 OPS and a 126 wRC+ in his career, both of which would rank second among qualified Phillies hitters this season. He was instrumental to the team’s postseason run last fall, clubbing six home runs and driving in 12 across 17 games.

In other National League injury news…

  • J.D. Davis exited early on Tuesday night after a rough slide into third base. The Giants later informed reporters (including Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area) that the third baseman had suffered a shoulder strain, although the severity of the injury remains unclear. The 30-year-old has been San Francisco’s most durable player this season, leading the team in plate appearances and games played.
  • Brewers rookie Garrett Mitchell was spotted on the field ahead of Tuesday night’s contest with the Cardinals. The outfield prospect has been on the injured list since mid-April, but he is hoping to return for the playoffs. The 25-year-old told reporters (including Adam McCalvy of MLB.com) that he could remain on the IL for the rest of the regular season but still make the postseason roster. He is awaiting one final medical appointment before he is fully cleared to return, and he seems optimistic about his chances to play some kind of role for the Brewers this October.
  • Cubs manager David Ross spoke to reporters (including Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune) to provide an update on Jeimer Candelario. Chicago’s big addition at the trade deadline has been on the IL since September 11 with a lower back strain, but he could return as soon as this evening against the Braves. The Cubs could certainly use his switch-hitting bat in the lineup as they try to fend off their opponents in the Wild Card race over the final five days of the season. In other Cubs news, closer Adbert Alzolay is making progress in his attempt to return from a forearm strain. He is hoping to face live hitters in the next few days. 

Brewers Notes: Canha, Mitchell, Ashby

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The Brewers have already clinched a playoff berth and their magic number to clinch the NL Central is one, leaving Milwaukee on the doorstep of winning its third division crown in the last six seasons.  This will also be the Brew Crew’s fifth postseason appearance in that same six-year stretch, as the club has rebounded nicely after missing out on a wild card berth by just one game in 2022.

A 31-18 record since August 1 helped turn the NL Central race into a relatively comfortable finish for the Brewers, who hold a six-game lead over the second-place Cubs.  August 1 also happened to be Mark Canha’s first game with Milwaukee after being acquired from the Mets the day prior, and Canha has played a big role in the Brewers’ surge.  Canha had a solid but unspectacular .245/.343/.381 slash line over 303 plate appearances with New York prior to the deal, but he has kicked things up a couple of notches as a Brewer — Canha has hit .296/.388/.451 with five homers over 188 PA with Milwaukee.

There is perhaps a little good fortune involved, as Canha has a .321 BABIP with the Brewers as compared to a .278 BABIP with the Mets.  However, he has also reduced his strikeout rate and is hitting for a lot more power since changing teams, and Canha told The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel’s Todd Rosiak that he created a quick rapport with Brewers hitting coaches Ozzie Timmons and Connor Dawson.

This success has boosted Canha’s case heading into a possible trip to free agency.  This is the final guaranteed season of the two-year, $26.5MM deal Canha signed with the Mets in November 2021, and New York is still covering all of that remaining money (minus a prorated MLB minimum salary) as per the terms of July’s trade.  The Brewers are responsible for what’s next, whether it’s picking up a $11.5MM club option on Canha for 2024 or buying him out for $2MM.

It makes for a one-year, $9.5MM decision for the team, and Rosiak notes that Canha would be a nice fit for Milwaukee’s unsettled first base picture.  Carlos Santana has hit decently well since coming to the Brewers in another deadline deal, but Santana will also be a free agent, and Canha brings more defensive versatility as a player capable of lining up at either corner outfield slot as well as first base.

Canha would be eager to stay in Milwaukee, saying “I think this organization just really does it, quote unquote, right.  It’s just a place that has a good feel and a good idea of how to win ballgames and how to construct rosters….At this point in my career, when you’ve been in a bunch of different situations, year to year, you appreciate that.”

Garrett Mitchell also figures to be an important part of the Brewers’ outfield picture in 2024, but the former top prospect might be on the verge of still making an impact on this season.  A wayward slide into third base back in April resulted in a shoulder surgery for Mitchell, and the procedure threatened to end his 2023 campaign after only 16 games.  However, Mitchell has been diligently rehabbing, and was able to get back onto the field September 15 to begin a Triple-A rehab assignment.

That assignment is now eight games deep, and with the Triple-A season now over, MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy (X link) suggests that Mitchell might be activated from the 60-day injured list as early as today.  Getting back to the majors this season would present both an important psychological and physical achievement for Mitchell in the bigger picture, but he could also make a late bid for Milwaukee’s playoff roster.

Canha, Christian Yelich, Sal Frelick, Blake Perkins and Tyrone Taylor all look like certainties for the outfield depth chart heading into the postseason, as Taylor seems to have recovered from a minor hamstring issue that kept him out of a few games last week.  This is another area where Canha’s versatility is important to the Brewers, as if the Crew prefers him as a first base or DH option, it creates room for Mitchell to provide further depth in the outfield.

Aaron Ashby is another Brewers youngster recovering from shoulder surgery, but it doesn’t appear as though Ashby’s comeback attempt will lead to a return during the regular season or postseason.  The left-hander hasn’t pitched at all in 2023 due to arthroscopic surgery in April, though he has pitched in seven rehab outings in September, advancing from high-A ball to Double-A to Triple-A.  While rehab assignments are more about getting healthy than bottom-line results, the 15.43 ERA Ashby has posted over his seven total minor league innings indicates that he isn’t quite right yet, so it seems highly unlikely that the Brewers would turn to him as an option for a postseason roster.

Garrett Mitchell To Begin Rehab Assignment

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Brewers outfielder Garrett Mitchell has been cleared to begin a rehab assignment, per Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. He’ll head to Triple-A Nashville to get some game action on his way to rejoin the big league club.

Mitchell, now 25, made his major league debut with a splash last year, hitting .311/.373/.459 in 28 games down the stretch. He wasn’t going to sustain a .548 batting average on balls in play and his 41.2% strikeout rate was concerning, but it was an encouraging debut regardless.

He cracked this year’s Opening Day roster but suffered a shoulder injury after just 16 contests. That ailment was eventually revealed to be a left shoulder subluxation. Mitchell required surgery and manager Craig Counsell relayed that the rest of his season was in jeopardy.

Now it seems that it’s possible he could make it back before the campaign is done. There are still a couple of weeks left in the regular season and the Brewers are a virtual lock for the playoffs. They have a lead of 4.5 games over the Cubs in the National League Central and would surely still be in the mix for a Wild Card spot even if the Cubs manage a late surge.

That gives Mitchell a chance to act as a real wild card himself in the weeks to come. His major league performance has been inconsistent thus far, with the negatives being a 40% strikeout rate and .469 BABIP. But he’s nonetheless hit .286/.341/.462 in his 44 games, stolen nine bases and received strong grades for his center field defense.

Most of Milwaukee’s center field playing time has gone to Joey Wiemer this year. He’s considered a strong defender but has hit just .204/.283/.362 for the season. Sal Frelick was called up in July and has started to cut into Wiemer’s role, walking in 14.9% of his plate appearances and producing line of .252/.363/.374 while also providing above-average defense.

Perhaps the return of Mitchell could push himself or Frelick into a corner role, if the club wants them both in the lineup. Tyrone Taylor, Mark Canha and Christian Yelich are also in that mix, though the latter two have been dealing with minor injuries of late and could perhaps get some time off.  There’s also the designated hitter slot, where the Brewers have been using Josh Donaldson and Rowdy Tellez recently. Donaldson has hit well in his four games since being called up but is having a poor season overall, dating back to his time with the Yankees, whereas Tellez is also struggling through a down year. Of course, any other injuries sustained in upcoming games could change the entire equation.

However the club decides to divvy up the playing time, they are surely happy to have extra options for the next few weeks. It’s also just a good sign for Mitchell to get back this year, something that wasn’t necessarily seen as likely a few months ago.

Brewers’ Garrett Mitchell, Sal Frelick Undergoing Surgeries

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Brewers center fielder Garrett Mitchell will need to undergo shoulder surgery after receiving a second opinion, tweets Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. The procedure, scheduled for next week, will address a subluxation in his left shoulder.

Manager Craig Counsell informed reporters on Friday that a surgical option looked likely. A specific timetable hasn’t been announced but Counsell noted at the time that surgery would threaten his entire season. It’s a brutal blow to halt an impressive start to the year for the 24-year-old. The UCLA product had connected on a trio of home runs with a .259/.306/.446 line through 62 trips to the plate.

Mitchell is sure to land on the 60-day injured list whenever Milwaukee needs to clear a spot on the 40-man roster. He’ll collect service time for his time spent rehabbing and surpass the one-year threshold this season. The former top prospect won’t reach arbitration until after the 2025 campaign.

With Mitchell out, the Brewers have kicked rookie Joey Wiemer from right to center field. The biggest uptick in playing time has gone to Blake Perkins, while Brian Anderson has rotated between third base and right field. Owen Miller and Mike Brosseau have picked up a few extra infield reps while Anderson has been on the grass.

Mitchell’s injury theoretically could’ve opened the door for another top outfield prospect, Sal Frelick, to make his major league debut. Unfortunately, Frelick coincidentally suffered a left thumb injury while playing for Triple-A Nashville at the same time Mitchell went down. McCalvy tweets that Frelick also required surgery to repair the UCL in his thumb. He’s already gone under the knife and is expected to miss six to eight weeks.

A Boston College product, Frelick has mashed at a .323/.399/.464 clip in parts of three minor league seasons. The 2021 first round draftee had played his way to Nashville last year and hit .365/.435/.508 in 46 games. He’d been off to a slow start through this season’s first few weeks, though his overall minor league track record could’ve put him on the radar for a promotion. He’ll instead be out into June. Because Frelick suffered the injury while in the minor leagues, he won’t accrue any MLB service for his time spent on the IL.

Garrett Mitchell Will Likely Require Shoulder Surgery, Putting Season In Jeopardy

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Brewers manager Craig Counsell informed reporters, including Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, that outfielder Garrett Mitchell’s MRI revealed significant damage. Counsell said that Mitchell will seek a second opinion but surgery is likely and the remainder of his season is in jeopardy. Mitchell had been placed on the 10-day injured list earlier this week with a left shoulder subluxation.

Mitchell spoke after Counsell and provided more information to reporters, including Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. He said the plan is to go see Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles on Monday. If it is deemed that surgery is necessary, that will take place the following day.

At this point, it’s not a foregone conclusion that Mitchell will go under the knife, but it seems the most probable course of events. If it does indeed come to pass, it will be a very frustrating setback for Mitchell and the Brewers, given the promising start to his career. Between his debut last season and the start of this year, he’s been in 44 major league contests so far. He’s struck out in a worrisome 40% of his plate appearances but has still managed to be productive. He’s hit five home runs and currently has a batting line of .286/.341/.462, which translates to a 121 wRC+. He’s also stolen nine bases and been graded well for his defensive work in center field.

Whether Mitchell is ultimately out for the remainder of the season or some shorter timeline, the Brewers will be pressing on without him for the foreseeable future. Joey Wiemer, who had been playing right field, took over center field last night and is in there again tonight, pointing to him having the job for now. With Tyrone Taylor also on the injured list, Brian Anderson might now be the regular right fielder. He had been playing third base but that could now fall to Owen Miller and Mike Brosseau. Blake Perkins is also now up with the club and can provide cover at all three outfield spots. Outfield prospect Sal Frelick won’t be an option in the short term, as he has been placed on the injured list in the minors due to a thumb sprain, per Hogg.

Brewers Place Garrett Mitchell On IL With Shoulder Injury

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The Brewers announced that they have placed outfielder Garrett Mitchell on the 10-day injured list with a left shoulder subluxation. Fellow outfielder Blake Perkins has been recalled to take his place on the active roster.

Mitchell, 24, appeared to injure himself while sliding into third base during the 10th inning of last night’s game. He initially stayed in the game but then was removed after making a throw in the bottom of that frame. It’s unclear how long he’ll now be out but he tells reporters, including Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, that he will get an MRI tomorrow. The results of that imaging will hopefully shed some light on what lies ahead for him.

In the meantime, he’ll miss at least a week and a bit, slowing down a nice start to his career. Between his debut last year and the start to this season, he’s played in 44 major league games so far. Though he’s struck out in 40% of his plate appearances to this point, he also has five home runs, nine stolen bases and a .286/.341/.462 batting line for a 121 wRC+.

This leaves the Brewers down two outfielders, as Tyrone Taylor has been on the IL all year due to a sprained elbow. Rosiak relays that Taylor will soon begin a rehab assignment, but he’ll probably need a decent amount of playing time there since he missed Spring Training. Prospect Sal Frelick wasn’t an option either, with Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel relaying that he’s out of action in the minors due to a thumb injury. He’s also not on the 40-man roster and would have required a corresponding move to be added, but it seems the injury has made that a moot point.

Those circumstances have aligned to get Blake Perkins to the big leagues for the first time. The 26-year-old has been toiling away in the minors since being drafted back in 2015, spending time in the systems of the Nationals, Royals and Yankees. With the Yanks last year, he walked in 13.6% of his plate appearances between Double-A and Triple-A. He finished the year with a combined batting line of .246/.357/.456 and a 120 wRC+. He didn’t get a roster spot and became a free agent at season’s end, with the Brewers then signing him to a major league deal. That gave him a 40-man roster spot for the first time in his career, but he was still able to be optioned to the minors, having hit .292/.370/.417 in 13 Triple-A games so far in 2023. He’ll be making his major league debut as soon as he gets into a game.

Without Mitchell, the Brewers will have an outfield mix consisting of Christian Yelich in left and Joey Wiemer likely moving over from right to cover center. Right field could then go to Brian Anderson, who has been playing third base to cover for the injured Luis Urías. That could mean Mike Brosseau gets more time at the hot corner or maybe Owen Miller gets some time in right. Perkins is also capable of playing any of the three outfield spots, allowing him to factor in here and have the other pieces shuffled around as needed.

Sorting Through The Brewers’ Outfield Options

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The Brewers’ outfield is going to have a different flavor this year compared to 2022. Lorenzo Cain was released in June of last year, Andrew McCutchen reached free agency at season’s end and has since signed with the Pirates, while Hunter Renfroe was dealt to the Angels. That leaves room for some fresh faces to step up and take over. Let’s take a look at some of the options.

The Lock

Christian Yelich

Yelich, 31, is the one constant in the Milwaukee outfield picture, as his contract runs through 2028. He was one of the best players in the league in 2018 and 2019, winning National League Most Valuable Player in the first of those two seasons. In each of those two campaigns, he posted a wRC+ of 167 or higher, stole at least 22 bases and was worth 7.2 fWAR or more. His production has dropped off from those incredible heights over the past three years, but he’s still a solidly above-average player. Last year, he hit 14 home runs, stole 19 bases and walked in 13.1% of his plate appearances. That led to a .252/.355/.383 batting line, a 111 wRC+ and 2.3 fWAR.

His contract and past performance ensure that he’ll be part of the team on a regular basis, though he’ll likely serve as the designated hitter a few times, leaving plenty of outfield playing time for others. The last time he played the field in more than 115 games in a season was 2019. Since the club is invested in Yelich for the long haul, they’ll want to continue giving him the occasional breather to keep him healthy. Advanced defensive metrics are also split on his glovework, with Defensive Runs Saved and Outs Above Average both grading him as subpar last year and for his career, while Ultimate Zone Rating is much more encouraged.

Short-Term Vets

Jesse Winker

Winker, 29, is looking for a bounce back after a down season. In 2020 and 2021 with the Reds, he hit 36 home runs and produced a batting line of .292/.392/.552. Of all the hitters in the league with at least 650 plate appearances in that stretch, his 145 wRC+ was one of the 10 best. His work was even stronger with the platoon advantage, as he hit righties to the tune of .321/.417/.619 for a 167 wRC+, with only Juan Soto and Bryce Harper ahead of him in that department. He was traded to the Mariners prior to 2022 but struggled, hitting just 14 home runs last year and slashing .219/.344/.344 overall for a wRC+ of 109.

The Brewers acquired him as part of the Kolten Wong trade and will hope that a second change of scenery will suit Winker better than the first. It’s possible that injuries played a role as Winker required left knee surgery and a second procedure to address a bulging disc in his neck in October, though Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times has also reported that Winker’s work habits were a concern in Seattle. Regardless of the cause, Milwaukee is considered to be a much more favorable offensive environment than Seattle, which should work in his favor.

It remains to be seen how much the Brewers want to rely on Winker as a defender. His glovework has generally been rated poorly in his career and his numbers declined in that department in 2022. That could have been impacted by his health situation, but it’s possible he spends more time as the DH than in the field. However, as mentioned, Yelich will likely see his share of time in the DH slot as well, which will likely require Winker to spend at least a bit of time in the field. Winker is slated for free agency at season’s end.

Brian Anderson

Anderson, 30 in May, is also looking for a bounceback like Winker. From 2018-20, he hit 42 home runs for the Marlins and produced a line of .266/.350/.436, 115 wRC+. But the past two seasons have seen injuries diminish his playing time and performance. He got into just 165 total games over 2021 and 2022, hitting .233/.321/.359 for a 93 wRC+. He was eligible for one more pass through arbitration but the Marlins non-tendered him instead, with Anderson then signing a one-year deal with the Brewers.

Anderson has a bit more time at third base in his career than the outfield, and he told reporters last month he expects to see more time at third base than in the outfield. Milwaukee has Luis Urías to man the hot corner, through. That should leave Anderson in the mix for some outfield time, perhaps in a platoon role. He hits from the right side while Yelich and Winker both his left-handed, as do some of the guys below him on this list. Anderson has modest reverse splits for his career but did hit lefties better last year. Defensively, in over 1,500 outfield innings, Anderson has a -8 OAA but 8 DRS and 9.3 UZR. Even though he was hurt last year, his arm strength was still considered to be in the 99th percentile by Statcast, which could serve him well at third base or in the outfield.

Controllable Guys With Some Experience

Tyrone Taylor

Taylor, 29, has been largely a part-time option for the Brewers in recent years but took on a larger role last year as Cain was gradually phased out. He got into 120 games in 2022 and provided enough power to overcome some lackluster work at the plate otherwise. He struck out in 25.2% of his plate appearances and drew walks at just a 5.4% clip, but he did hit 17 long balls in 405 plate appearances. The result was a .233/.286/.442 batting line and a wRC+ of 102.

That work at the plate was just above average but he was much stronger on the other side of the ball. He played all three outfield positions but mostly in center, earning 6 DRS, 6 OAA and 2.0 UZR overall. It wasn’t a superstar performance but was competent in enough areas to produce 2.1 fWAR on the year. He’s set to reach arbitration for the first time after this year and can be retained through the 2026 campaign.

Garrett Mitchell

Mitchell, 24, was only drafted in 2020 but has already cracked the majors. He hit .287/.377/.426 between Double-A and Triple-A last year for a wRC+ of 118. He was selected to the major league club in August and was somehow even better in the big leagues. He hit .311/.373/.459 for a wRC+ of 136 in his first 68 MLB plate appearances. That’s a small sample size, however, and he did strike out 41.2% of the time. His defensive work was also graded as above average and he stole eight bases in 28 games.

Mitchell is a real wild card in this bunch since his 2023 could seemingly go in many different ways. On the one hand, he’s shown impressive results in all facets of the game and could be an immediate center field solution, pushing Taylor into a corner role. On the other hand, he has played less than 50 games above Double-A, the strikeouts are a real concern and his .548 batting average on balls in play will require serious regression.

Skye Bolt/Monte Harrison

Bolt, 29, and Harrison, 27, are in a similar boat to each other. They have both posted some solid minor league numbers but struggled in the majors. They’re now both out of options and had to settle for minor league deals for 2023. Bolt has a career batting line of .156/.205/.266 while Harrison’s is .176/.253/.294. They’ll likely only get a shot if the club gets bit by the injury bug a few times. Neither has reached arbitration yet and could theoretically be retained well into the future if they carve out a role.

Infielders That Can Play Some Outfield

Brice Turang/Mike Brosseau/Keston Hiura

With Wong having been traded to the Mariners, the second base job is up for grabs. Turang is one of the club’s top prospects and had a strong season in Triple-A last year, making him the favorite to take the job at the keystone despite not having cracked the majors yet. He played a bit of center field in Triple-A last year but is primarily a middle infielder. Brosseau can play all over and will be in a super utility role, allowing the club to pencil him in for any regular that requires an off-day. Hiura’s not quite as versatile, having only played first base, second base and left field in his big league career so far. He has tremendous power but has struck out in 36% of his plate appearances thus far, which will make it hard for him to carve out meaningful playing time.

On The Cusp Of A Debut

Blake Perkins

Perkins, 26, has long been considered a glove-first player but his bat seemingly took a step forward last year. Splitting his time between Double-A and Triple-A in the Yankees’ system, he stole 21 bases, hit 15 home runs and slashed .246/.357/.456 for a wRC+ of 120. He wasn’t added to that club’s roster at any point but the Brewers were intrigued enough to sign him onto their 40-man roster in November. He’ll likely be in the minors waiting for an opportunity to get called up, but he should have a decent floor thanks to his defense and speed. If the power he showed last year was a real development, he could be a well-rounded contributor.

Sal Frelick

Frelick, 23 in April, was the club’s first round pick in the 2021 draft but has quickly climbed the minor league ladder. Last year, he went from High-A to Double-A to Triple-A, hitting .331/.403/.480 for a wRC+ of 137, stealing 24 bases in the process. He doesn’t have much power but he’s very tough to strikeout, hitting 11 home runs last year but getting punched out at just an 11.2% rate. He’s still not on the 40-man roster but he’s considered one of the club’s top prospects and could force his way into the picture soon.

Joey Wiemer

Wiemer, 24 this weekend, is the inverse of Frelick with big power but strikeout concerns. He hit 21 home runs last year between Double-A and Triple-A but went down on strikes 26.8% of the time. The result was a .256/.336/.465 batting line and a 109 wRC+. Despite being a power hitter, he has sneaky speed, swiping 31 bags last year. Like Frelick, he’s not on the 40-man yet but is on the doorstep. Both he and Frelick are considered capable of playing center field.

Top Prospect That Could Show Up This Year

Jackson Chourio

Chourio is arguably the most exciting of this whole bunch but he might require patience since he’s very young, still over a month away from his 19th birthday. Last year, despite being just 18 years old, he went through Low-A, High-A and Double-A, hitting 20 home runs and stealing 16 bases in 99 games. His .288/.342/.538 batting line resulted in a 135 wRC+ and he got strong reviews for his glovework in center field.

Based on those excellent results at such a young age, he’s now considered the #3 prospect in the league by Baseball America, #8 by MLB Pipeline and #5 at FanGraphs. Given his youth and the fact that he’s played just six Double-A games, he won’t be a solution for the Brewers in the short term. Even reaching the big leagues by the end of the season seems like a long shot, but it probably can’t be completely discounted given the tremendous talent he seems to possess.

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There’s a ton of young talent here, including about a half dozen plausible center fielders. That puts the Brewers in great shape for the long haul, though it might take some time to allow these guys to sort themselves out. Chourio isn’t close, while Wiemer, Frelick and Perkins still haven’t made it to the majors. Mitchell had a great debut but will need a longer stress test. Taylor should be solid for now but isn’t elite at anything and could be surpassed by the younger guys in time. Winker and Anderson will both be free agents after this year but it seems like the club could easily replace them from within.

In the future, it seems likely the Brewers will not only have a strong outfield but will likely have enough options to make trades that address other areas of the roster. We already saw one such move when they included Esteury Ruiz in the three-team deal that netted them William Contreras as their potential catcher of the future. Not all young players end up panning out as hoped, of course, but the quality and quantity both appear to be strong here. If the club can keep pace with the Cardinals in the division this year and there’s enough development from this group, perhaps the Brewers could be key players for deadline deals to help them push to return to the postseason after missing last year for the first time since 2017.

Brewers Select Garrett Mitchell, Place Jonathan Davis On 10-Day IL

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The Brewers have selected the contract of outfielder Garrett Mitchell and placed outfielder Jonathan Davis on the 10-day IL with a right elbow effusion, the team announced. It will be the first taste of the majors for Mitchell, a former UCLA star and Milwaukee’s first-round pick (20th overall) in the 2020 amateur draft. Alex Jackson was transferred to the 60-day injured list in a 40-man roster move.

Mitchell has spent much of his season at the Double-A level this season, hitting .277/.353/.428 over 187 plate appearances.  This earned him a promotion to Triple-A for the first time, with Mitchell responding by delivering even more offense (.343/.435/.466) in 85 PA.  Unfortunately, Mitchell also missed about two months on the injured list due to an oblique strain, but he has made up for lost time with his strong Triple-A performance and now on the verge of his MLB debut.

A leg injury also limited Mitchell’s first pro season to 64 minor league games (roughly split between high-A and Double-A ball) in 2021, so simply staying healthy has been a bit of an issue for the 23-year-old.  His lack of hitting progress was also some concern, as scouting reports for both Baseball America and MLB Pipeline indicated that Mitchell hit too many grounders and didn’t exhibit enough power.  To this end, Mitchell’s offensive numbers could be fueled more by some excellent batted-ball luck — a .378 BABIP at Double-A and a .444 BABIP at Triple-A.

However, Mitchell also has the elite speed that lends itself to high BABIP numbers.  Both Pipeline and BA give him 80-grade speed, and between those wheels and an excellent glove and throwing arm, Mitchell’s defense already seems more than Major League-caliber.  This is good news for a Milwaukee team that has been looking for a regular center fielder, and with Tyrone Taylor also exhibiting some good glovework, the Brewers could use Mitchell and Taylor in a lefty/righty platoon that could at least solidify things defensively up the middle.

Brewers Agree To Terms With First-Rounder Garrett Mitchell

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The Brewers have reached a deal with first-round pick Garrett Mitchell, who posted earlier today that he’s headed to Milwaukee to finalize things. The bonus lands in the realm of the slot value of $3,242,900, MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy tweets.

Mitchell drew strong grades from several draft pundits. MLB.com and Baseball America each ranked him the sixth-best available player eligible for selection. This signing completes the Brewers’ draft business.

While Mitchell was already a highly productive collegiate player at UCLA. And he’s said to possess a slate of skills that give him even more room to grow. Mitchell is an exceptional baserunner and defender, giving him a great starting point for launching a hopeful MLB career. If he can tap into his natural power in games, he could become an offensive force.

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