The Brewers protected five minor league prospects from
December's Rule-5-Draft last Tuesday, adding a pair of pitchers, a duo of
outfielders, and a second baseman to their forty-man roster. The additions
bring the team's total to thirty-nine rostered players, leaving just one spot
available for the Brewers own acquisitions on December sixth.
Outfielder Josh Prince is the talk of the bunch. Coming out
of Tulane in 2009, Prince put up expected numbers though various classes in the
past three seasons, including a .251 average with Class AA Huntsville earlier
this year. However, a breakout batting performance in the Arizona Fall League
had scouts from around the country interested in the Brewers-affiliate,
virtually overnight.
Following Prince's agreement with the Brewers on Tuesday,
assistant general manager Gord Ash told reporters that the outfielder's showing
in the Fall League was enough to guarantee him a spot on the roster going into
the winter. While Prince's relationship with the organization was perhaps
the most essential preservation, according to Ash, all five of the individuals
were important assets to withhold from other teams.
Right-handers Hiram Burgos and Nick Bucci both accomplished
bright seasons within their respective classes in 2012. Burgos was one of the
most impressive pitchers in the farm-system this year, earning a ten-and-four
record over twenty-seven starts. Putting up a 1.95 ERA over that time, the
twenty-four year old was promoted through all three classes of the league
throughout the season, beginning the year with single A Brevard County before
ending with Triple A Nashville. His performance garnered him the Brewers
minor-league pitcher of the year award, all-but guaranteeing him protection
from December's draft. At twenty-two, Bucci's early years in the farm-system were promising. Beginning the 2012 season with a strained shoulder muscle forced him to miss most of the year, halting what was hoped to be a successful season for the young pitcher. Fortunately, after reemerging at Class A Brevard County for four appearances on the mound, Bucci looked like he hadn't missed a beat. Pitching a 1.99 ERA with a two-and-two record, Ash said he hopes to keep Bucci as the thirteenth man in the line for the winter.
Like Bucci, outfielder Khris Davis also spent a good amount of 2012 on the disabled list. Despite that, he still managed to split eighty-two games between Huntsville and Nashville during the season, putting up numbers not-usually maintained by players with chronic injuries. A .350 average with fifteen homers and over fifty RBIs gave Davis one of the best bats in the league this year. Ash believes his offensive game is ready for the big-time, if he can get over his injured past.
Scooter Gennett Hot Brewers Prospect
The lone infielder taken by the Brewers before December,
second baseman Scooter Gennett has been in the organization's minor-league
program since graduating high school in 2009. He has made all-star teams in
each of his three seasons in the system, including this year's All-Star Futures
game. His performance at Huntsville in 2012 was average but respectable, and
Ash sees him as a budding star that just needs a chance at major league
coaching and guidance.
