Free Write: Twigs Breaks Down the Brewers' Farm System

Twigs gives us a great look at the Brewers' farm system. He answers a lot of the questions we had after we emptied out the cupboard to acquire the very famous Zack Greinke. Enjoy.


By Tyler Olsen


Not so long ago current Brewers stars such as Weeks, Fielder, Gallardo and former star J.J Hardy were all dominating the minors together.  While the Crew’s current crop of minor leaguers doesn’t quite compare to the world beaters before them, there are still some nice prospects floating around.

 Wily Peralta 6'0" 240lbs Throws R 21 years old
       
Wily was signed as a 16 year old free agent out of the Dominican Republic.  Started out in Rookie ball at Helena in 2006 and made his way to double A Huntsville at the ripe age of 21.  His prospect forming season came in 2009 with the Single A Timber Rattlers club where he posted a respectable ERA of 3.47, with an outstanding K9 rate of 10.21 and just 46 walks in 103.2 innings pitched.  In 2010 his K9 rate dropped to 6.36 between A+ and double A in 147 innings.  So far in 2011 through four starts he has posted a 2.31 ERA in 23 innings with 6 walks and a K9 rate back over 10.  Wily has a live arm, throwing 92-95 with some nice, but raw breaking pitches.  The Crew was trying him out for their 5th starter role this spring so it’s obvious that the pro club thinks very highly of him.

Austin Ross 6’2” 200lbs Throws R 22 years old
        
An 8th round draft pick out of LSU in the 2010 draft, Ross has become a nice sleeper starter prospect in the system.  He throws 90-93 with a solid curve, but a below average change-up that needs to be worked on.  Through four starts with the Timber Rattlers so far this season he has been outstanding.  In 25 innings pitched he has posted a 1.08 ERA, K9 of 7.56, only 6 walks and opposing batters are hitting just .140.

Erik Komatsu 5’10” 190lbs Bats L 22 years old
        
Folks, meet your solution to the Carlos Gomez debacle.  Another 8th round pick this time from the 2008 draft out of college baseball powerhouse Cal State Fullerton.  Komatsu gets on base with the best of them; in 2010 with A+ Brevard County he had an OBP of .413, batted .323 with 28 stolen bases.  So far this year with double A Huntsville he has posted .471(!) OBP and slugging .512 for a top prospect OPS of .982.  He plays a pretty good CF and if he develops some power, look out.

D’Vontrey Richardson 6’1” 200lbs Bats R 22 years old
        
Easily the most toolsey player in the Brewers minor league system.  He was drafted by the Nationals in the 2006 draft but did not sign, instead deciding to enroll at Florida State to play baseball and also quarterback for the football team.  The Brewers saw the athleticism oozing out and took him in the 5th round of the 09 draft.  Amazing highlight reel outfielder with a cannon arm.  Extremely raw at the plate, but you just pray he figures it out because his ceiling is high as anyone the Brewers have.

After trading top prospect Brett Lawrie for Shaun Marcum, along with Jake Ordoizzi, Jeremy Jeffress, Lo Cain, Alcides “Web-Gem” Escobar for Zach Grienke the farm system was looking a little bare.  But with some solid prospects still in the wings and two top 15 picks in the June draft, the cupboard looks to get restocked for the future.