10. Freddy Peralta, RHP
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 6/4/1996 (21)
2017 teams/levels played for: high-A Carolina Mudcats, AA Biloxi Shuckers
2017 Stats: 25 G, 19 GS, 120 IP, 2.63 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 12.3% BB, 33.4% K
Info: Peralta was originally signed by the Mariners out of the Dominican Republic and spent multiple seasons in the DSL before having a solid season in the AZL, attracting the attention of Milwaukee Brewers scouts and getting him as part of the package for Adam Lind.
Peralta uses every bit of his small frame to generate low-90s on his fastball and break on his plus slider
Peralta is a small pitcher, but he is able to get surprising extension to the plate due to long limbs and fingers. He really made big progress with his change in 2016 to the point where it’s a fringe-plus pitch, behind his fastball and slider, but is still now a legit 3rd pitch.
Peralta uses every bit of his small frame to generate low-90s on his fastball and break on his plus slider. That max-effort leads to issues when his delivery gets off and his control wavers, as he’s had below-average control throughout this pro career.
If Peralta can even bring that up to an average level of control, he could have a nice career as a mid-rotation starter, but his current wildness makes a bullpen role much more likely, though he could be a good candidate for a multi-inning role in the bullpen. The Milwaukee Brewers will have Peralta in the upper minors in 2018, likely opening in AA.
9. Jake Gatewood, 1B/3B
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 9/25/1995 (22)
2017 teams/levels played for: high-A Carolina Mudcats, AA Biloxi Shuckers
2017 Stats: .264/.333/.441, 570 PA, 15 HR, 10 SB, 51/161 BB/K
Info: A lean 6’5″ righty swinger, many have long seen Gatewood as a guy who would hit for big power but possibly struggle with plate coverage such that he wouldn’t be able to hit for enough average to make the power play.
The Milwaukee Brewers have allowed the surprisingly athletic Gatewood to get reps at multiple positions in his development, and when he had some vision correction done before 2017, he was able to show better reactions in the field and better ability to recognize the zone and pitches at the plate, allowing him to have his best season at the plate thus far.
Gatewood still had a big strikeout number, but he had 15 home runs along with 40 doubles in neutral to pitcher-friendly environments. He will need to continue to work to shorten his swing late in the count to create more contact, but he tends to be underrated for the development he’s made in the last year.
His better reactions on defense have allowed him to handle third base at an above-average level, and his plus arm showed up well at the position. He might be a guy who ends up finding an eventual home in right field where his long strides can allow his above-average underway speed to play up along with his big arm.
Gatewood has worked his way to AA, and the Milwaukee Brewers will be monitoring his development in Biloxi closely this year for sure.
Next: #7 and #8