Eight Milwaukee prospects are part of this year’s AFL
At about the halfway point of the Arizona Fall League season, we’re here to provide you with a peek at the stats for the Milwaukee Brewers’ eight prospects in this year’s AFL. As a reminder, here’s a short article from the start of the season outlining the prospect involved.
Peoria Javelinas
The Javelinas as a team currently sit in last place in the AFL with a 5-12 record, 6.5 games back of the first-place Surprise Saguaros. While they rank right in the middle of the pack with 106 runs scored (6.2 runs/game), they’ve allowed a league-worst 156 runs (9.2 runs/game).
They rank fourth of the six teams with an .800 team OPS, hitting .278/.373/.427 with 16 homers and 25 steals this fall. On the pitching side, they sport a 9.13 ERA and 2.16 WHIP with 157 strikeouts over 143 innings. They’re just 3-for-10 in save opportunities with a league-high 118 walks and 191 hits allowed.
RHP Ryan Birchard
Birchard has had his share of struggles this fall, though his ERA is the best of the four Brewers pitchers on the roster. He’s allowed five runs over nine innings (5.00 ERA) across three starts, allowing just five hits but walking a league-high 12 batters compared to 11 strikeouts.
RHP Coleman Crow (Milwaukee’s No. 30 prospect)
Crow, who missed the entire season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, has still not made his debut in the Brewers system after being acquired in the Adrian Houser/Tyrone Taylor trade last December. He made his return in the AFL earlier this month, as he’s made three appearances (one start) for the Javelinas thus far, allowing five runs across six innings (7.50 ERA) on eight hits and two walks with five strikeouts.
LHP Mark Manfredi
Manfredi has had a very rough AFL season, allowing eight runs (six earned) on five hits and six walks with three strikeouts across 2 1⁄3 innings for a 23.14 ERA, though he has picked up a save.
RHP Nick Merkel
Merkel has totaled 5 2⁄3 innings and allowed four runs (6.35 ERA) on seven hits and two walks with seven strikeouts. He’s primarily struggled with the home run ball, giving up three across his three appearances this season.
3B/2B Juan Baez (Milwaukee’s No. 27 prospect)
Baez has been the most impressive of Milwaukee’s prospects this fall, as he’s hitting .389/.511/.667 with two homers, one triple, two doubles, 10 RBIs, 14 hits, 12 runs, and two steals across 36 at-bats in 11 games. He’s also walked eight times compared to nine strikeouts.
3B Brock Wilken (Milwaukee’s No. 8 prospect)
Wilken, who had a mediocre sophomore season with Double-A Biloxi, has continued to struggle in the AFL. Across 46 at-bats in 12 games, he’s hitting just .130/.236/.261 with two homers, five RBIs, five runs, and six hits. He’s drawn seven walks but struck out 17 times this season.
OF Luis Lara (Milwaukee’s No. 17 prospect)
Lara, turning 20 in November, falls somewhere between Baez and Wilken in terms of AFL production, as he’s hitting .222/.333/.333 with one homer, five RBIs, four steals, seven runs, and 10 hits across 45 at-bats in 13 games.