Prospecting for Gold:
Serving Minors in Beertown

Dan Troy

There's no putting too fine a point on the fact that things have been rough for Brewer fans for some time. The team's last division championship was won in 1982, and they've finished better than third only once since then. They haven't finished a season above .500 since compiling a 92-70 record in 1992. After totaling a National League-worst 56 wins in 2002, it would be hard to fault the Milwaukee faithful for seeking solace in malty beverages while considering the plight of the hometown nine.

While there are still likely to be a tough couple of years ahead for the descendants of Gorman Thomas, something very interesting is going on in the minor leagues. Thanks to some smart drafting, and certainly the superior draft position the big club's record afforded them, the Brewers have managed to corral a gaggle of promising prospects that may potentially lead to a franchise renaissance. Of particular note is a trio of infielders too young to remember the glory days of Robin, Cecil, Ben, Gorman, or perhaps even Rob (Deer, of course).

As a rule, I rarely spill much ink over guys with fewer than 70 professional at-bats, but considering Rickie Weeks' debut in Beloit (Milwaukee's affiliate in the low-A Midwest League) alongside his record-breaking college career, I think you'll agree he's earned the benefit of the doubt. For those who missed it, Weeks established a new all-time NCAA record for career batting average during his three years at Southern University by stroking a modest .473. In his final season as an amateur, he hit .483 with a .602 OBP and a SLG of .948. For those scoring at home, that's an OPS of 1.550.

You want plate discipline? Weeks walked 48 times against 17 strikeouts in 172 at-bats. You want power? He hit 17 HR and 46 percent of his hits went for extra bases. You like speed? He was successful in all 31 of his stolen base attempts. All this from a second basemen. It makes you wonder what kind of player the Brewers could have selected if they had picked first in the draft instead of second.

While I won't overanalyze his 63 at-bats in Beloit—the sample size is way too small to indicate anything particularly meaningful—it's certainly encouraging to see that Weeks continued his disciplined batting approach by drawing 15 walks in just 19 games. The key question is whether or not he'll be able to handle second base defensively, as his bat is far ahead of his glove right now. Weeks had been primarily a shortstop and outfielder prior to moving to second in 2003, and he's been somewhat error prone since the move.

The Brewers feel confident in his ability to successfully make the transition, however. As good offense is relatively hard to find in the middle infield, it makes sense to keep him at second until he proves he can't handle it. Regardless of where he ends up, he's likely to be a significant offensive force at the big-league level.

Prince Fielder won't be tried in the middle infield—he'll just be asked to hit. The available evidence suggests this won't be a problem for the 2002 first round pick. Some teams were a little leery of Cecil's kid due to his girth (he reportedly tipped the scales at over 300 lbs., though he's slimmed down over the past couple of years), but to date, he's certainly justified his draft position.

At a mere 19 years of age, the young first baseman had an outstanding 2003 season for Beloit, earning MVP honors for the league. The numbers speak for themselves: In 502 at-bats, Fielder batted .313/.409/.526 with 27 home runs. His OPS was a healthy 37 percent better than the league average. He demonstrated impressive control of the strike zone by walking 71 times against 80 strikeouts. That's a tremendous BB:K ratio for a player of his age in full season ball, and it indicates he's ready for advancement to higher levels.

Indeed, the Brewers won't rule out the possibility of Fielder skipping high A and beginning the 2004 season in AA Huntsville. Patient approach. Quick left-handed stroke. Thunderous power. His name is Prince. What's not to like?

Well, there is that girth. While most reports indicate Fielder is actually pretty athletic, it won't get any easier for him to keep that weight down as he gets into his 20s—and I can speak from experience on that subject. His play at first is pretty raw at this time, as evidenced by his 18 errors. If he can't stick at first, then he's just another DH, which reduces his value and forces a move to the American League. However, such a scenario is far from certain (the Brewers remain optimistic), and he appears to possess the Thome/Giambi-caliber bat that is valuable to his team whether he wears a glove or not. Make no mistake, Prince Fielder will rake.

There is at least one guy in the Milwaukee system that causes no concern over his glove. Since being drafted out of high school in 2001, J.J. Hardy has earned strong reviews for his excellent defense at shortstop. His bat, however, had been subject to question entering the 2003 season, due to middling performance in rookie ball (2001) and upon promotion to AA Huntsville in 2002. Indeed, the decision to promote him to AA seemed premature, as the then-19-year-old had not yet fully shown a mastery of the strike zone in the hitter-friendly California League. He posted a regrettable .228/.269/.297 over 146 AA at-bats last year.

Fortunately for the organization, Hardy rebounded impressively this season. In 416 AA at-bats, he hit .279/.368/.428, which is very good for a AA shortstop who played the bulk of the season at age 20. You've really got to love the dramatic improvement in his plate discipline, as he walked more times than he struck out (58:54) only a year after striking out twice as often as he walked (57:28). Even more reason for hope is that 33 percent of his hits went for extra bases, a figure that surpassed the Southern League average and indicates that some decent power may eventually emerge from his 6'2" frame. The Brewers love his maturity and competitiveness, and he'll get the chance to continue his development in the upcoming Arizona Fall League season.

While it will take more than three good players to return the Brewers to contention, securing two plus-offensive players at the crucial middle infield spots alongside one big-time masher would be a promising start. With a little luck, Brewer fans might stop crying in their beers in the not-too-distant future.

about the author

Dan Troy misses the giant beer mug under Bernie Brewer's slide. Let him know you also miss the real slide, and the real Bernie Brewer, at dt@strikethree.com.

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