This morning, Major League Baseball announced the rosters for the second annual iteration of the Spring Breakout games. These games were implemented during spring training last year with the goal of showcasing baseball’s future: the top prospects of MiLB.
During Spring Breakout, each team plays one game with a roster comprised entirely of prospects. The Brewers have the final game of the event, facing off against the Reds at American Family Fields of Phoenix on Sunday, March 16, at 6:40 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on MLB.TV, although it doesn’t appear to be listed on the FanDuel Sports Wisconsin or Brewers Radio Network schedules as of now.
This game is a fun opportunity to see the Brewers’ top prospects in action at the same time. As one of the minor league writers here at BCB, it’s going to be appointment viewing. Many of the prospects that my colleague Owen and I have written about will be appearing in the game. Let’s take a look at who will be suiting up for the Crew:
Who’s playing
The headliners for this game are three Brewers prospects who are included on every league-wide top 100 prospect ranking: infielders Jesus Made and Cooper Pratt and pitcher Jacob Misiorowski. All three of these prospects have already appeared this spring with the big club.
Made, who’s still just seventeen years old, has had three plate appearances during major league spring training (going 0-for-2 with a walk). He hasn’t looked overmatched this spring, so I’d expect to see him make at least one play indicative of his pedigree against fellow minor leaguers.
Cooper Pratt, a 2023 sixth-round pick out of high school in Mississippi, is hitting .364 with three RBIs in 11 at-bats this spring. He’s only had four at-bats in four games since his breakout game against Cleveland, so this game should be a good opportunity for him to get some extra reps in against other talented prospects. Pratt’s hot start has led to some buzz about whether he could get called up late this season. Balling out in the Spring Breakout game would be another sign that he’s quickly outgrowing the minors.
Misiorowski, a flamethrowing 6-foot-7-inch righty, is one of my favorite Brewers prospects. He’s struggled with control issues but has the stuff to be one of the best pitchers in the game. He’s walked three batters in three innings this spring, which is far from ideal. Misiorowski did pitch better in his second outing this spring, so hopefully he continues to improve. Playing well in the Spring Breakout game would give him some momentum going into the last couple weeks of Spring Training.
Eric Bitonti, Luke Adams, and Luis Peña (Milwaukee’s No. 8, 9. and 10 overall prospects respectively) are also on the roster. Bitonti and Adams are part of the Brewers’ suddenly crowded group of corner infield prospects, along with Tyler Black and Mike Boeve. Bitonti hit .282 with 16 home runs last season across Rookie and A-ball, while Adams hit 11 home runs last year in High-A. Peña, another one of my favorite Brewers’ prospects, is a shortstop with plus-plus speed and the ability to make consistent contact.
Yophery Rodriguez and Braylon Payne are the outfield prospects to watch. Rodriguez, a 2023 international signing, had a somewhat underwhelming season with the Carolina Mudcats — yet still posted a 117 wRC+. He was one of the youngest players in Low-A last season and has tons of raw power that hasn’t yet translated to the minors. I’m excited to see how he looks against older prospects after an offseason of development. The same thing goes for the even younger Payne, who was the Brewers’ first-round pick in 2024 and hit .438 in 19 plate appearances with Carolina last season.
Also on the roster are a few pitchers ranked in the Brewers’ top 20 prospects — Brett Wichrowski, Bishop Letson, and Bryce Meccage. All of these guys are pretty similarly ranked. Wichrowski is the closest to the majors, Meccage was the highest draft pick, and Letson put up the best numbers last season. Pitching well against high level competition is how each of these pitchers will separate themselves as prospects and eventually earn a call up to the big leagues. The Spring Breakout game is their first opportunity this season to do so.
Reliever Craig Yoho is also ranked in the Brewers’ top 20. He’ll likely start the season in Milwaukee and has pitched well this spring. I’m more excited to see how he performs in April than in this game, to be honest.
Who’s not playing
Jeferson Quero, the Brewers’ No. 1 prospect, is still rehabbing the shoulder injury that caused him to miss last season. Quero also doesn’t have much to prove anymore in the minors. As soon as he’s fully healthy and has his feet under him, he figures to be in Milwaukee.
Robert Gasser, the Brewers’ No. 2 pitching prospect after Misiorowski and No. 12 overall, is also rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. He should be ready to go at some point this season, but not anytime soon. Corner infielders Tyler Black (Brewers’ No. 5 prospect) and Mike Boeve (No. 6) also aren’t on the roster — most likely because the Brewers want to get a look at Bitonti, Adams, and Blake Burke (No. 17). Black is also an older prospect (24) who has already made his MLB debut.
Full Spring Breakout Roster
PITCHERS
Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, No. 4 (MLB No. 99)
Brett Wichrowski, RHP, No. 14
Bishop Letson, RHP, No. 15
Bryce Meccage, RHP, No. 16
Craig Yoho, RHP, No. 19
Tyler Bryant, RHP, NR
Will Childers, RHP, NR
Blake Holub, RHP, NR
Jack Hostetler, RHP, NR
Ryan Middendorf, RHP, NR
CATCHERS
Marco Dinges, C, NR
Darrien Miller, C, NR
Matthew Wood, C, NR
INFIELDERS
Jesus Made, SS/3B, No. 2 (MLB No. 55)
Cooper Pratt, SS, No. 3 (MLB No. 56)
Eric Bitonti, 3B/1B, No. 8
Luke Adams, 3B/1B, No. 9
Luis Peña, SS/3B, No. 10
Blake Burke, 1B, No. 17
Brock Wilken, 3B, No. 18
Jadher Areinamo, 2B, No. 24
Juan Baez, 3B/2B, No. 27
OUTFIELDERS
Yophery Rodriguez, OF, No. 7
Braylon Payne, OF, No. 11
Luis Lara, OF, No. 21
Jose Anderson, OF, No. 28
Dylan O’Rae OF, NR
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