Org Ranking: 28
I've ranked every farm system, as well as the top 100 MLB prospects for 2015. Below, I've ranked at least the top 10 Brewers prospects, plus an overview of the system and any other names of note beyond the top 10. I also discuss any prospects who might help the big league club in 2015, one or two prospects whose stock has taken a big hit in the past year, and a sleeper prospect who I think can jump into the main top-100 list for 2016.
Non-Insider subscribers: Check out the free Tampa Bay Rays top-10 prospects report to see what these entail.
Top 10 prospects
1. Orlando Arcia, SS
2. Tyrone Taylor, OF
3. Devon Williams, RHP
4. Clint Coulter, C/DH
5. Monte Harrison, OF
6. Michael Reed, OF
7. Jorge Lopez, RHP
8. Marcos Diplan, RHP
9. Gilberto Lara, 3B
10. Jacob Gatewood, SS
Overview
One of the worst systems in the majors over the last few years, the Brewers' minor leagues have virtually no near-in talent to help the big club this year, and five of their top 10 prospects spent 2014 in short-season ball and/or just signed their first pro contracts. The system is likely to improve in the next few years as these teenaged prospects progress, and because Milwaukee rehired Ray Montgomery, formerly Arizona's scouting director, to oversee their amateur scouting operations. The Brewers also added Diplan in the Yovani Gallardo trade; he's a bit undersized at barely 6 foot, but is athletic with a loose, quick arm, 90-96 mph already at age 17 last summer with a curveball and changeup that both have promise. He's a few years away from being a top prospect, but a very good add to a light system.
Of their top three draftees this year, Harrison impressed scouts the most in his pro debut, while Gatewood played better defense than expected but badly underwhelmed at the plate. Lefty Kodi Medeiros (13) was tabbed a future reliever by every pro scout to whom I spoke about him. First baseman David Denson (14) still has a chance to turn into a regular; he had a better approach this year than expected, but didn't show much of his prodigious power in games.
2015 impact
Taylor Jungmann (12) made some small adjustments in 2014, tweaking his breaking ball grip and moving toward the other side of the rubber, dominating Double-A and pitching reasonably well in Triple-A, enough to be the first guy recalled when the Brewers need another starter. Kyle Wren, acquired in a minor deal with Atlanta this winter, could surface as an extra outfielder.
The fallen
Victor Roache, the team's second first-round pick in 2012 along with Coulter, has been an abject disaster through two seasons in the minors, even accounting for the broken wrist he suffered before the draft; he has a max-effort, uphill swing, doesn't recognize breaking stuff, and isn't a good defender. He may go the way of 2010 fourth-rounder Hunter Morris, recently removed from the roster after the trade of Gallardo.
Sleeper
Miguel Diaz (11) is a projectable right-hander who's already touching 96 with an average breaking ball and change for an average to above-average changeup. Lara, Diplan, and Diaz are all fair bets to move up the main list in the next two years, as the Brewers have no one else with their kind of upside if everything clicks.