Call to the pen
Fansided

Milwaukee Brewers 2018 minor league awards

By Benjamin Chase

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 16: Fredddy Peralta #51 of the Milwaukee Brewers delivers a pitch in the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Four of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium on October 16, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 16: Fredddy Peralta #51 of the Milwaukee Brewers delivers a pitch in the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Four of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium on October 16, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
Milwaukee Brewers
BIRMINGHAM, AL – JUNE 19: Biloxi Shuckers outfielder Corey Ray during the 2018 Southern League All-Star Game. The South All-Stars defeated the North All-Stars by the score of 9-5 on June 19, 2018 at Regions Field in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Milwaukee Brewers Minor League Hitter of the Year: Corey Ray

Level(s): AA Biloxi
Stats: .239/.323/.477, 135 G, 600 PA, 32 2B, 7 3B, 27 HR, 37 SB, 60/176 BB/K

After struggling at multiple levels, Corey Ray finally was able to show his power and speed both in 2018. The #5 overall pick in 2016, Ray came into pro ball with concerns about his contact and swing and miss, and those still exist.

He was able to maximize his power and utilize his speed at AA, and he’s getting close to the major leagues, but he will need to shorten up his swing to have success with the Milwaukee Brewers in the future.

Runners-up

Considered the best pure hitter in the 2017 draft, the Milwaukee Brewers drafted Keston Hiura in spite of recovery from Tommy John surgery that would leave his defensive position in question until his first full season. That was 2018, and he split his time between DH and second base as he worked between high-A and AA, hitting .293/.357/.464 with 34 doubles, 5 triples, 13 home runs, and 15 steals. He still has work to do in controlling the strike zone, but that may be his last thing to conquer at the plate before being ready to tackle the majors.

Grabbed off of waivers in the offseason, Dylan Moore was a revelation for the Milwaukee Brewers this season between AA and AAA, hitting .299/.363/.522 with 31 doubles, 9 triples, 14 home runs, and 23 stolen bases. Moore does not strike out a ton, but he does not have the defensive chops at any one position in the infield to take over one long-term. He could have a future off the bench as a utility guy, however.

A 28-year-old minor league veteran, Nate Orf earned his major league debut this season by playing around the infield and even playing corner outfield while handling the bat well. He hit .298/.397/.426 with 27 doubles, 6 home runs, and 22 steals for AAA Colorado Springs. He struggled in the majors, hitting under .100, but he did get his major league shot.

Originally a 4th round selection out of high school in 2014 by the Milwaukee Brewers, Troy Stokes has worked his way up the farm system one step at a time. His 2018 season was spent with AA Biloxi, and while his contact rate wasn’t great, he was able to exhibit his power and speed, hitting .233/.343/.430 with 23 doubles, 6 triples, 19 home runs, and 19 steals.

Home/Milwaukee Brewers