Farm system
Joey Wiemer is clearly the pick of the rookie crowd. Coming up from Double-A Biloxi at season’s start, Wiemer has become a fan favorite for his power. He’s hit 11 home runs (that’s one off the team lead) and driven in 30 runs.
The question is whether the Brewers will have to live with Wiemer’s less attractive bat-to-ball skills. He’s hitting .210 and he’s already fanned 80 times, or once every 3.5 plate appearances. As a result, despite that power, Wiemer’s WAA impact measures only +0.4.
But at least Wiemer has been a modest asset. Arnold has used five other system products through the course of the first half, only one of whom (Bryce Turang) is presently with the team. A middle infielder splitting time at second base with Owen Miller, Turang is hitting .206, although his glove work has produced a positive Defensive Runs Saved. In WAA, he scores -0.6.
In his third season running the Brewers, Arnold has not yet produced a first-rate farm system product … unless you count Wiemer. The closest might have been pitcher Aaron Ashby, who came up in 2021 and made 19 starts last season. But he’s recovering from shoulder surgery and out for the full season.