#1 ( - ) Lewis Brinson, OF, age 23
869 points (25 1st place votes) - 36 of 36 ballots

The excitement: Hit .331 last year at AAA. Fast and athletic, outstanding defender.

The not-so-excitement: Struggled in 21 games in Milwaukee (going 5 for 47). Stung by the injury bug again.

The Skinny: Five tool player who simply needs to stay healthy and get consistent reps.

Likely 2018 Destination: Milwaukee Brewers

#2 (+3) Corbin Burnes, RHP, age 23
817 points (2 1st place votes) - 36 of 36 ballots

The excitement: 1.67 ERA, 140K, and only 36 walks in 145.2 IP between Carolina and Biloxi. That just screams awesome.

The not-so-excitement: Might not have that true ‘out’ pitch to take him to another level.

The Skinny: Amazing 2017 for Burnes. If he can keep up his success he could very well be in Milwaukee by mid-season.

Likely 2018 Destination: AAA Colorado Springs

#3 ( - ) Brandon Woodruff, RHP, age 25
791 points (4 1st place votes) - 36 of 36 ballots

The excitement: Displayed confidence and poise in his first taste of the Big Leagues. Tossed 6.1 innings of shutout ball in his debut.

The not-so-excitement: Showed some inconsistencies in his mechanics. Got hit hard at the end of the season.

The Skinny: With Jimmy Nelson injured to start 2018, and Matt Garza gone, Woodruff will likely be in the Brewers rotation in 2018.

Likely 2018 Destination: Milwaukee Brewers

#4 ( - ) Keston Hiura, 2B, age 21
786 points (1 1st place votes) - 36 of 36 ballots

The excitement: The guy can hit. .371 BA between Arizona and Wisconsin. 25 extra base hits in 167 ABs.

The not-so-excitement: Needs to get on the field and not just DH. Strike out rate was a bit high - pushing 20%. Questions on how much power Hiura will produce.

The Skinny: Best pure hitter in the system.

Likely 2018 Destination: A+ Carolina

#5 (+3) Brett Phillips, OF, age 23
755 points (3 1st place votes) - 36 of 36 ballots

The excitement: After an exceptional year at AAA, Phillips more than held his own in a 37 game trial with the Brewers, hitting .276 on 87 ABs. Showed an 80 arm in Milwaukee.

The not-so-excitement: Strikes out too much. Will likely have some growing pains early on in the majors.

The Skinny: Even if he strikes out too much, the talented Phillips demonstrated his value with the bat and glove during last September’s playoff run. Expect him to be back in Milwaukee in 2018.

Likely 2018 Destination: Milwaukee Brewers

#6 ( - ) Luis Ortiz, RHP, age 22
655 points - 36 of 36 ballots

The excitement: Probably no pitcher in the Milwaukee system sports the tools and command needed to be a front-line pitcher than Ortiz.

The not-so-excitement: Needs to improve his health and durability and go deeper into games. Premium stuff hasn’t always translated into good performances.

The Skinny: Expect the Crew to push Ortiz’s workload in 2018. The young man has all the skills in the world - but people will want him to take a step forward next season.

Likely 2018 Destination: AA Biloxi or AAA Colorado Springs

#7 (+5) Freddy Peralta, RHP, age 21
625 points (1 1st place votes) - 36 of 36 ballots

The excitement: Between Carolina and Biloxi, struck out 169 batters in 120 innings (leading all of the minor leagues in strikeout rate) with a 2.63 ERA.

The not-so-excitement: Walked 62 batters last year.

The Skinny: After an electrifying 2017, Peralta will no longer fly under people’s radar. With his smaller size, some speculate he is destined for the bullpen, but if he can improve his control - just a bit more - he could easily be in the Brewer rotation in the future.

Likely 2018 Destination: AA Biloxi

#8 (+5) Monte Harrison, OF, age 22
614 points - 36 of 36 ballots

The excitement: Hit 21 HRs and stole 27 bases (87.1% success rate). Healthy all year, and moved from Wisconsin to Carolina without any dip in performance.

The not-so-excitement: Struck out 139 times. Would like to see a little higher walk rate.

The Skinny: May not ever hit for a high BA, but speed and power combo is one of the best in the Milwaukee system.

Likely 2018 Destination: AA Biloxi

#9 (-2) Isan Diaz, 2B/SS, age 21
599 points - 36 of 36 ballots

The excitement: Showed a nice combination of power (13 HR) and patience (62 walks) in a tough hitting environment.

The not-so-excitement: Struggled to make contact in 2017 (.222 BA). Ended the season early with a broken hamate bone.

The Skinny: After an impressive 2016, Diaz floundered. There is a ton of upside in Diaz, but he will need to answer some questions in 2018.

Likely 2018 Destination: A+ Carolina or AA Biloxi

#10 (+4) Lucas Erceg, 3B, age 22
564 points - 35 of 36 ballots

The excitement: Hits the ball hard. Plus arm and solid defense at the hot corner. Struggled early in 2017 (.651 OPS), but improved (.796 OPS) in the second half of the season.

The not-so-excitement: Needs to be a little more selective at the plate.

The Skinny: The combination of plus power and good defense makes Erceg an intriguing prospect who could take the step to the next level with a little improvement.

Likely 2018 Destination: AA Biloxi

#11 (+4) Tristen Lutz, OF, age 19
551 points - 36 of 36 ballots

The excitement: Big, powerful young hitter who pounded the Arizona Rookie League and the Pioneer League to the tune of a .957 OPS in 161 ABs. Also, he improved as he moved up to Helena - upping his batting average and walk rate while cutting down on his strikeouts.

The not-so-excitement: Enthusiasm should be tempered a bit due to the very hitter-friendly environment of the Pioneer League.

The Skinny: Lutz did everything you could have wanted from a kid out of high school. He appears to be one of the better power bats to join the organization in years.

Likely 2018 Destination: A- Wisconsin

#12 (-2) Trent Clark, OF, age 21
448 points - 36 of 36 ballots

The excitement: Healthy last year, Clark stole 37 bases and drew 98 walks while producing a .360 OBP.

The not-so-excitement: Clark bat did not come around as anticipated as he struggled with a .223 BA. 141 strike outs are not fun.

The Skinny: Patient to a fault, Clark has some intriguing skills, but he’s going to have to hit better. He has reworked his swing since high school, so perhaps another year of experience will get him to the next level.

Likely 2018 Destination: A+ Carolina or AA Bilox

#13 (-4) Corey Ray, OF, age 23
421 points - 34 of 36 ballots

The excitement: Excellent athlete with exceptional bat speed, speed and make up. Will take his walks and stole 24 bases last year.

The not-so-excitement: Production. Hit just .238. Time to put all the tools and intangibles together.

The Skinny: Talented athlete who’s skills haven’t translated into quality production as of yet. Make or break might be a bit overly dramatic, but it’s safe to say that a lot of people will be watching the former #5 overall pick.

Likely 2018 Destination: A+ Carolina or AA Biloxi


#14 (-3) Mauricico Dubon, SS/2B, age 23
420 points - 33 of 36 ballots

The excitement: Hit .274 and stole 38 bases between AA and AAA.

The not-so-excitement: Benefited greatly from the thin air of Colorado Springs (hitting .336 at home vs .196 on the road).

The Skinny: The glove and speed are there - but can he improve with the bat to be more than a utility infielder?

Likely 2018 Destination: AAA Colorado Springs

#15 (+1) Jake Gatewood, 1B, age 22
360 points - 34 of 36 ballots

The excitement: Hit 15 HR and 40 doubles to go with a .264 BA - mostly at Carolina.

The not-so-excitement: Strikes out a lot (161 times).

The Skinny: Tremendous improvements in 2017 give hope that Gatewood can develop into a plus power hitter.

Likely 2018 Destination: AA Biloxi

#16 (+1) Phil Bickford, RHP, age 22
298 points - 30 of 36 ballots

The excitement: Healthy and ready to go after missing most of 2017. Has displayed a plus fastball in his career - striking out 183 in 159.1 innings.

The not-so-excitement: Had a drug suspension and then an injury last season. Needs to stay healthy.

The Skinny: A lot of talent undermined by some poor choices and injuries, Bickford will need to step up to show he’s serious about a baseball career.

Likely 2018 Destination: A+ Carolina (very much a guess)

#17 (+1) Cody Ponce, RHP, age 23
248 points - 28 of 36 ballots

The excitement: Finished up 2017 with a nice 17.2 inning stint at Biloxi (1.53 ERA). Limits walks. Threw a career high 137.2 innings in 2017.

The not-so-excitement: Surrenders too many hits. Has has erratic control at times. Needs to stay healthy to keep progressing.

The Skinny: Ponce doesn’t do anything great, but he has enough in the toolbox to be a viable back-of-the-rotation arm, which - if achieved - is very valuable.

Likely 2018 Destination: AA Biloxi

#18 (+4) Troy Stokes Jr., OF, age 22
229 points - 27 of 36 ballots

The excitement: Hit 20 HR and stole 30 bases last year. Strong walk rate helps counter his low batting average.

The not-so-excitement: Hit tool is mediocre - batting average was .251 last season - and .260 for his career.

The Skinny: Stepped up big last year, moving onto many people’s radars. Has produced better numbers than many more heralded prospects, but he may lack any one great skill that will make him more than a utility OF.

Likely 2018 Destination: AA Biloxi or AAA Colorado Springs

#19 (+7) Taylor Williams, RHP, age 26
207 points - 23 of 36 ballots

The excitement: Welcome back to the Top 25! Struck out 57 in only 46.2 IP at Biloxi. After missing two full seasons, it was nice to see Williams return to the mound. He even got a September call up to Milwaukee.

The not-so-excitement: Needs to show better control - walking 21 batters at Biloxi. Brought along slowly, Williams only threw 51 innings in 2017.

The Skinny: Showed he was back last year. Williams was ranked as high as #8 on our prospect poll. Don’t be surprised if he lands in Milwaukee’s bullpen in 2018.

Likely 2018 Destination: Milwaukee Brewers (my not-so-scientific wild guess) or AAA Colorado Springs

#20 ( - ) Marcos Diplan, RHP, age 21
192 points - 30 of 36 ballots

The excitement: 119K in a career high 125.2 IP.

The not-so-excitement: Walked 71 batters.

The Skinny: Diplan has stagnated the last year and a half after dominating the lower realms of the minors.

Likely 2018 Destination: A+ Carolina or AA Biloxi

#21 (+3) Mario Feliciano, C, age 19
154 points - 27 of 36 ballots

The excitement: Held his own in the Midwest League at age 18, where he caught 27.4% of runners trying to steal bases.

The not-so-excitement: Hitting has been solid, but nothing special - which is not a shocker considering his young age.

The Skinny: Talented young player who handled full season ball - and the difficult position of catcher - without any issues. The Brewers feel that power will develop in time.

Likely 2018 Destination: A+ Carolina

#22 (+1) Jacob Nottingham, C, age 22
138 points - 22 of 36 ballots

The excitement: Caught 40% of runners trying to steal. Saw improvements in walk rate, strikeout rate, on-base % and slugging %.

The not-so-excitement: Hit only .209.

The Skinny: While Nottingham was better behind the dish in 2017, his .209 batting average was a disappointment. Still only 22, the club will hope he regains his hitting stroke of 2015 when he hit .316.

Likely 2018 Destination: AAA Colorado Springs

#23 (+2) KJ Harrison, C, age 21
132 points - 22 of 36 ballots

The excitement: Hit .308 with a .934 OPS at Helena in his debut.

The not-so-excitement: Has only caught 17 games in the pros. Struck out more than 25% of the time.

The Skinny: Polished college hitter needs to get a chance to see if he can stay behind the plate as a pro.

Likely 2018 Destination: A- Wisconsin

#24 ( new ) Jordan Yamamoto, RHP, age 21
129 points - 20 of 36 ballots

The excitement: Welcome to the Top 25, Jordan! After a fine 2016, Yamamoto followed it up by striking out 113 in 111 innings (plus a nifty 2.51 ERA) in Carolina.

The not-so-excitement: While he can hit 95 on the radar gun, at 6’0” tall, Yamamoto doesn’t have a lot of projection going forward.

The Skinny: The lack of projection has kept Yamamoto from being higher on prospect lists. His development, however, has been encouraging - and it will be interesting to see how his stuff works against higher competition in 2018.

Likely 2018 Destination: AA Biloxi

25T (-4) Trey Supak, RHP, age 21
115 points - 22 of 36 ballots

The excitement: Was lights out at Wisconsin, producing a 1.76 ERA in 41 innings, including 53K and just 10BB.

The not-so-excitement: Command was spotty after promotion to Carolina, resulting in a 4.60 ERA and a greatly reduced strikeout rate - and a greatly increased walk rate.

The Skinny: Despite having four years of pro ball under his belt, Supak has only thrown 224 innings despite mostly starting. He is a big man with a live arm - we just need to find out how to get the Trey Supak who dominated the Midwest League.

Likely 2018 Destination: A+ Carolina or AA Biloxi

#25T (-6) Kodi Medeiros, LHP, age 21
115 points - 22 of 36 ballots

The excitement: Struck out 121 in 128.1 innings while greatly improving most of his peripherals. Still gets lit up by right handers.

The not-so-excitement: Had a 4.98 ERA and walked too many batters while repeating A+.

The Skinny: Is a full-time conversion to reliever in the future for the one-time top prospect? Medeiros had an ERA of 2.31 out of the pen last year - compared to 5.98 out of the rotation.

Likely 2018 Destination: AA Biloxi (just guessing the team will push him)

The rest

Adrian Houser - 78 points
Bubba Derby - 75
Josh Pennington - 61
Gabriel Garcia - 37
Caden Lemons - 34
Dallas Carroll - 22
Carlos Herrera - 22
Jon Perrin - 21
Aaron Wilkerson - 21
Nathan Kirby - 16
Zack Brown - 13
Larry Ernesto - 11
Ernesto Wilson Martinez - 9
Cooper Hummel - 9
Jay Feliciano - 8
Gilbert Lara - 7
Nate Griep - 6
Jorge Lopez - 6
Demi Orimoloye - 4
Je’Von Ward - 2
Tyrone Taylor - 2
Carlos Rodriguez - 1
Nick Ramirez - 1
Jean Carmona - 1
Braden Webb - 1

All ages are as of April 1, 2018.

Full voting thread: viewtopic.php?f=64&t=36051

Observations from the latest poll

- Not a ton of movement from the last poll, which isn’t a surprise.

- It was nice to see Taylor Williams back in the Top 25 after being gone for two years. With a strong spring camp, Adrian Houser may be the next one-time prospect to get back on the board.

- Sad to see one time top prospects, including Tyrone Taylor and Jorge Lopez, fall to mere after thoughts. Clint Coulter didn’t garner a single ballot.

I think Harrison is getting some love from his strong finish and his performance in the Arizona Fall League, where he's hitting .314 with 4 HRs (just one behind the league leader) on only 35 ABs.

He has had a really nice 2017 - just keeps getting better and better.