The 3rd Man In

Brewers: Who will get called up next?

After two blockbuster trades on Monday, the Milwaukee Brewers now have one of the top farm system’s in baseball, featuring eight top 100 prospects according to MLB.com.

With the Brewers in rebuilding mode and a farm system thriving with talent, fans are anxiously awaiting to see these prospects in the big leagues soon.

The Brewers called up their No. 1 prospect in shortstop Orlando Arcia to make his major league debut on Tuesday, and now it’s just a matter of time before fans begin to witness other top prospects receiving the call to the show.

Here are the next five prospects fans can expect to see in a Brewer uniform by opening day next year:

1. Lewis Brinson, OF

Acquired from the Texas Rangers in the Jonathan Lucroy and Jeremy Jeffress deal, Brinson is the 21st ranked prospect in baseball. Known for his elite combination of power and speed, Brinson could be a 25-25 guy in the big leagues. He has the tools to potentially be a five-tool player someday.

2. Josh Hader, LHP

After posting a 0.95 ERA in 11 starts at Double-A Biloxi, Hader has struggled at Triple-A Colorado Springs, recording a 6.05 ERA in eight starts in 2016. Although these aren’t the results the Brewers were hoping for, don’t be surprised to see him in a Brewer uniform soon. The 22-year-old left is the 43rd ranked prospect in baseball and has an above-average fastball and slider.

3. Brett Phillips, OF

The main trade chip in the 2015 deal that sent Carlos Gomez and Mike Fiers to the Houston Astros, Phillips has had a rough 2016 season. Hitting only .223 at Double-A Biloxi, Phillips hasn’t lived up to last season’s success when he batted .309 with 16 home runs and 77 RBIs. Phillips has a fascinating mix of power and speed that could make him a dynamic top-of-the-order bat. An above-average defender, Phillips figures to play center or right field.

4. Jorge Lopez, RHP

After making two starts in the majors with the Brewers last season, expectations were high for Lopez in 2016. However, Lopez has struggled this year, splitting time between two levels. Lopez originally started the year in Triple-A, but after registering a 6.81 ERA in 17 games (16 starts), the Brewers demoted Lopez to Double-A at the end of July. The Brewers have to remain patient with Lopez, who has a plus fastball and curveball. But he needs to improve his command significantly if he wants to make a return to the big leagues.

5. Jacob Nottingham, C

As of now, Nottingham profiles as the Brewers catcher of the future. But, a move to first base could be in Nottingham’s future. Known for his power at the plate, Nottingham has average arm strength and needs work on his blocking and receiving skills. He also has below average speed. It will be interesting to see what position Nottingham plays in the big leagues, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Brewers give him a chance to stay behind the plate long-term.

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