Down on the Farm: Checking in on Top Triple-A Prospects

At the beginning of August, the Brewers made the decision to simultaneously promote some of their most touted prospects to Triple-A Nashville.

Two of these prospects were Sal Frelick and Garrett Mitchell, who joined Brice Turang on the Sounds to form one of the most exciting lineups in the International League.

Wondering how they’ve done? Here’s a look at how some of the Brewers top prospects have fared at Triple-A Nashville.

Sal Frelick

Since his call-up to Triple-A Nashville on August 2, the Brewers second-ranked prospect has thrived in his highest taste of professional baseball.

Through 76 plate appearances for the Sounds, Frelick has done nothing but rake – proving why he has the highest graded hit tools in the Brewers system. He’s slashed .446/.520/.554 since his call-up.

Without missing a beat, Frelick has progressed from High-A to Triple-A in a matter of months. Even after moving to a higher level of competition, his discipline has kept him from being overmatched by stiffer pitchers. Frelick has an impressive six-to-nine strikeout to walk ratio at Triple-A Nashville.

The dominant season from Frelick has garnered respect from multiple prospect lists. The Brewers 2021 first rounder has jumped up to the No. 49 overall prospect in MLB.com’s rankings.

Brice Turang

The fourth-ranked prospect in the Brewers system is enjoying one of his strongest Minor League seasons to date.

Spending the entire 2022 campaign with Nashville, Turang has been a fantastic table setter, hitting .290 with 28 stolen bases. In July, Turang enjoyed his best stretch of the season with a .326/.438/.535 slash line for the month, earning Brewers Minor League Player of the Month honors.

While posting career numbers at the plate, Turang also adds value defensively thanks to his positional versatility. Turang has made most of his starts at shortstop, but he’s also played second base, third base and center field – which is significant with Willy Adames entrenched as the Brewers Major League shortstop.

Since 2018, Turang has served as an above-average defender and runner in the Brewers system. However, his progress at the plate in Triple-A Nashville this season is an encouraging development as he gets closer to making his MLB debut.

Garrett Mitchell

Through just 16 games at the Triple-A level, Garrett Mitchell has already made an immediate impact on the Sounds.

Much like Frelick, Mitchell has been an on-base machine. In 67 plate appearances, the lefty has racked up seven multi-hit games on his way to a .316 batting average and a .418 on-base percentage. Within his first two weeks of Triple-A action, he put together an 11 game on-base streak.

Continuing a trend among the Brewers top prospects, Mitchell has also shown off his wheels. The 70-grade runner is six-for-six on stolen base attempts with Nashville.

Mitchell’s 137 wRC+ would be his highest since 2019 at the High-A level. Excelling once again in Triple-A Nashville, the outfielder has shown exactly why the Brewers made him their top selection in the 2020 MLB Draft.

Esteury Ruiz

Acquired from San Diego as a piece of the Josh Hader deal, Esteury Ruiz has continued his torrid run in the Minor Leagues this season at Triple-A Nashville.

Since his arrival to the Sounds, Ruiz’s tools have been on full display: he owns a .304 batting average with five stolen bases in his first 15 games.

His early success comes as no surprise after excelling on offense all season. Prior to joining the Brewers system, Ruiz posted a .935 OPS with 23 stolen bases in 28 games in Triple-A El Paso.

With his impressive numbers carrying over to a new team, Ruiz has vaulted himself into the eighth ranked spot in Milwaukee’s farm system.