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The Milwaukee Brewers are reshaping their franchise with an injection of youth and prospects.
Every Thursday for the rest of the season, FOX Sports Wisconsin will take a closer look at some specific young players in Milwaukee's farm system -- as well as noting others who might be stepping up -- measuring, highlighting and evaluating their progress.
This is the 3rd edition of the 2017 Young Brewers Tracker.
Lewis Brinson (age 22/Triple-A)
Last week: 7 games, 21 AB, 7 H, 3 2B, 4 R, 2 RBI, 1 SB, 7 BB, 4 K, .333 BA.
Season: 28 games, 110 AB, .327 BA, .409 OBP, .518 SLG, .927 OPS, 9 2B, 0 3B, 4 HR, 26 R, 15 RBI, 5 SB, 15 BB, 28 K.
Notable: After drawing just eight walks in his first 21 games, Brinson had seven last week and has a free pass in six straight contests. At El Paso on May 16, Brinson went 2 for 3 with two doubles, two runs, two RBI and two walks.
Ryan Cordell (Age 25/Triple-A)
Last week: 7 games, 22 AB, 8 H, 3 2B, 1 HR, 5 R, 5 RBI, 2 SB, 3 BB, 5 K, .364 BA.
Season: 32 games, 126 AB, .317 BA, .389 OBP, .563 SLG, .952 OPS, 11 2B, 1 3B, 6 HR, 29 R, 25 RBI, 5 SB, 13 BB, 26 K.
Notable: Cordell had his 10-game hitting streak snapped when he struck out as a pinch hitter on May 17. Cordell is 9th in the Pacific Coast League in slugging percentage and 10th in OPS.
Isan Diaz (age 20/Single-A)
Last week: 5 games, 17 AB, 5 H, 2 2B, 2 HR, 5 R, 6 RBI, 0 SB, 5 BB, 5 K, .294 BA.
Season: 38 games, 143 AB, .280 BA, .354 OBP, .490 SLG, .843 OPS, 9 2B, 0 3B, 7 HR, 23 R, 27 RBI, 5 SB, 18 BB, 40 K.
Notable: Diaz hit home runs in back-to-back games on May 13-14 vs. Winston-Salem and is now tied for fourth in home runs in the Carolina League.
Mauricio Dubon (Age 22/Double-A)
Last week: 7 games, 29 AB, 13 H, 3 2B, 1 HR, 6 R, 6 RBI, 6 SB, 3 BB, 2 K, .448 BA.
Season: 40 games, 156 AB, .314 BA, .371 OBP, .404 SLG, .774 OPS, 8 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 18 R, 15 RBI, 22 SB, 13 BB, 21 K.
Notable: Dubon is riding an 11-game hitting streak and has had two hits in 10 of those contests. Dubon upped his season steal total to 22 -- which is two times more than anyone else in the Southern League. Only one other player in all of organized baseball -- Cole Tucker of Bradenton in the Single-A California League -- has more steals (25).
Lucas Erceg (age 22/Single-A)
Last week: 6 games, 23 AB, 5 H, 2 2B, 2 HR, 5 R, 7 RBI, 0 SB, 3 BB, 2 K, .217 BA.
Season: 34 games, 140 AB, .214 BA, .262 OBP, .350 SLG, .612 OPS, 7 2B, 0 3B, 4 HR, 19 R, 17 RBI, 2 SB, 8 BB, 25 K.
Notable: Perhaps things are turning around for Erceg. He had hits in five of his six games last week with two homers and more walks than strikeouts.
Jake Gatewood (Age 21/Single-A)
Last week: 7 games, 26 AB, 8 H, 4 2B, 6 R, 3 RBI, 0 SB, 2 BB, 5 K, .308 BA.
Season: 39 games, 143 AB, .329 BA, .415 OBP, .538 SLG, .953 OPS, 15 2B, 0 3B, 5 HR, 30 R, 19 RBI, 3 SB, 21 BB, 42 K.
Notable: Gatewood extended his hitting streak to 23 games -- tying the longest streak in Carolina Mudcats history -- before it was snapped.
Josh Hader (age 23/Triple-A)
Last week: 1 game (1 start), 0-0, 5 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 4 K
Season: 8 games (8 starts), 3-2, 4.20 ERA, 40.2 IP, 31 H, 9 HR, 24 BB, 36 K, .214 OBA, 1.35 WHIP.
Notable: Hader allowed his ninth runs this season last week -- he gave up six all of last year, including five in 69 innings with Colorado Springs.
Jacob Nottingham (age 22/Double-A)
Last week: 5 games, 18 AB, 4 H, 1 2B, 1 R, 3 RBI, 0 SB, 2 BB, 6 K, .222 BA.
Season: 30 games, 98 AB, .194 BA, .301 OBP, .296 SLG, .597 OPS, 8 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 8 R, 9 RBI, 3 SB, 8 BB, 26 K.
Notable: Nottingham had a hit in four of his five games last week and in 10 of his last 11.
Luis Ortiz (age 21/Double-A)
Last week: 2 games (2 starts), 1-0, 10.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 7 BB, 7 K
Season: 7 games (7 starts), 2-3, 2.57 ERA, 35 IP, 21 H, 5 HR, 13 BB, 33 K, .174 OBA, 0.97 WHIP.
Notable: For the third time this season, Ortiz allowed no hits in five innings. He did it May 16 vs. Mississippi and also April 15 vs. Pensacola. Ortiz has given up fewer hits than innings pitched in five of his seven starts and in the other allowed five in five innings. Ortiz is ninth in the Southern League in ERA and sixth in WHIP.
Brett Phillips (Age 22/Triple-A)
Last week: 7 games, 23 AB, 7 H, 1 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 5 R, 6 RBI, 1 SB, 2 BB, 8 K, .304 BA.
Season: 32 games, 115 AB, .304 BA, .385 OBP, .609 SLG, .993 OPS, 7 2B, 2 3B, 8 HR, 24 R, 32 RBI, 2 SB, 15 BB, 42 K.
Notable: Phillips' power surge continues. He had two home runs and a triple along with three runs and four RBI at El Paso on May 16. Those were Phillips' first two homers on the road this season, but he is hitting .315/.362/.574 away from home. Phillips ranks fifth in the PCL in slugging percentage.
Corey Ray (age 21/Single-A)
Last week: 6 games, 20 AB, 6 H, 1 2B, 1 3B, 5 R, 5 RBI, 1 SB, 7 BB, 5 K, .300 BA.
Season: 27 games, 111 AB, .252 BA, .339 OBP, .387 SLG, .726 OPS, 11 2B, 2 3B, 0 HR, 14 R, 18 RBI, 8 SB, 15 BB, 37 K.
Notable: Ray nearly doubled his season walk total last week (8 to 15). On May 16, he went 3 for 3 with a double, two runs and two RBI and followed that up the next day with a bases-loaded triple.
Others: 1B Garrett Cooper (6th round, 2013) was placed on the disabled list. He's batting .331/.370/.591 in 31 games. … Biloxi 2B Javier Betancourt batted .458/.462/.833 last week with three doubles, two homers, six runs and five RBI. … 2B Wendell Rijo, who was acquired in last year's Aaron Hill trade, was promoted to Double-A Biloxi … Carolina RHP Cody Ponce (2nd round, 2015) has had three straight starts going seven or more innings and allowing two or fewer runs. … Not to be outdone, teammate Corbin Burnes (4th round, 2016) allowed his first run in three starts (1 R, 7 IP). … Wisconsin OF Demi Orimoloye hit .292 with three steals. He has a team-leading 11 stolen bases.
Statistics courtesy milb.com
Dave Heller is the author of the book Ken Williams: A Slugger in Ruth's Shadow as well as Facing Ted Williams - Players From the Golden Age of Baseball Recall the Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived and As Good As It Got: The 1944 St. Louis Browns
