2. Keston Hiura, 2B
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 8/2/1996 (21)
2017 teams/levels played for: Arizona Rookie League Brewers, low-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
2017 Stats: .371/.422/.611, 187 PA, 4 HR, 2 SB, 13/37 BB/K
Info: Considered by many to have the best college bat in the entire 2017 draft, Hiura was the third college hitter in a row selected when he went #9 overall to the Milwaukee Brewers, signing for below slot due to the fact that he had a partial tear in his throwing elbow that prevented him from playing in the field in his draft season at all.
He didn’t need to throw the ball to show the Brewers that he would have plenty of value as he hit .442 in college and just kept hitting in his pro debut. However, in fall instructs, Hiura not only was able to throw, but showed well at second base. Though he’ll likely never win a gold glove there, he does have good hands and feel around the bag that should allow him to handle the keystone well.
At the plate, Hiura is an exceptional talent to behold. His swing has unique power and control due to his strong wrists and body control within his swing. This allows Hiura to drive the ball throughout the field with authority, and some evaluators believe that he could end up being a high-average guy with 30-40 doubles and 20 home runs but that to “sell out for power” could cost his average and field-covering power.
Comparisons for Hiura often come back to Washington’s Daniel Murphy, and the Milwaukee Brewers would be overjoyed if he was able to replicate Murphy’s success. He very well could end up opening 2018 as high as AA with a good spring showing.
1. Corbin Burnes, RHP
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 10/22/1994 (23)
2017 teams/levels played for: high-A Carolina Mudcats, AA Biloxi Shuckers
2017 Stats: 26 GS, 145 2/3 IP, 1.87 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 6.4% BB, 25% K
Info: In the list linked above from last year, one of my biggest regrets was not highlighting Burnes as the newcomer of note. I chose Erceg due to his big performance, but when I was getting information on California players for the 2016 draft, I’d ask about a few players and then ask if there were guys I needed to know. I’ve never had such a unified response from a region of multiple different scouts all saying positive things about the same guy when I asked that last question, and the guy they all brought up was Burnes.
Burnes made a couple of adjustments to simplify his delivery while also going to a traditional windup
After a big college career at St. Mary’s, due to the small-school nature of his competition, Burnes fell to the 4th round to the Milwaukee Brewers, and he’s now on the doorstep of the major leagues and one of the best prospects in all of baseball, showing just how much that competition level meant.
Burnes made a couple of adjustments to simplify his delivery while also going to a traditional windup. This allowed him to pound the zone with his fastball that runs 92-95 with natural wiggle and cut. His curve is his best secondary pitch, and could play up even more as he works more out of the windup, perhaps giving him a second plus pitch. His slider and change are both average, but play up significantly due to his ability to manipulate all of his pitches for additional looks and to control.
The 2018 season looks to be a competitive one for the Milwaukee Brewers, and Burnes could find his way making starts in a playoff race during the season at some point, though he will open the year in AAA.
Next: Newcomer to watch