Seven Brewers prospects are Arizona-bound after Major League Baseball released its 2026 Arizona Fall League rosters this week.
Headlining that group are two of the system’s most talked-about names this year, OF Braylon Payne and 1B/3B Eric Bitonti. Payne, a speedy outfielder who the Brewers drafted with their first-round selection in 2024, is a serious contender for breakout prospect of the year. Drafted with the hopes that he would eventually develop power, Payne did just that, going from eight home runs in Low-A last year to 28 between High-A and Double-A this season. He hit exactly .277 at both levels with a combined OPS north of .900.
Bitonti also had himself somewhat of a breakout this year. Unlike Payne, he’s always shown monstrous power that’s translated to games, but with that power has come a ton of swing-and-miss. Bitonti’s 32.9% strikeout rate is actually roughly the same as last year’s (33.5%), but he’s managed to raise his walk rate from 13% to nearly 17%.
Advertisement
Hitters like Bitonti, who can hit the cover off the ball, benefit from making pitchers throw them pitches in the zone, and that’s been reflected in massive jumps in OPS (.761 → .916) and batting average (.238 → .270) from last year to this year. Finally, it’s worth mentioning that he’s made legitimate strides defensively and is now seen as someone who could potentially be a viable third baseman at the major league level — making him an even more valuable prospect.
The other five names on the roster are a little less heralded, but the Brewers clearly see something in each of them worth continuing to develop. Here’s what you need to know about each one:
Ryan Birchard, RHP — This isn’t his first time in the desert; he made the 2024 Arizona Fall League as a Peoria Javelina and was named to the AFL Rising Stars team. This season, Birchard posted a 4.68 ERA through 34 appearances (two starts) with Double-A Biloxi.
Advertisement
Miqueas Mercedes, RHP — The 20-year-old Dominican righty, who put up a 2.81 ERA in 73.2 innings in Low-A this year, has what it takes to eventually become a major-league pitcher. However, he hasn’t generated much buzz outside the system because he walks way too many batters (45 in 73.2 innings). If he can figure out how to command his stuff, watch out.
Jose Meneses, LHP — Meneses, a lefty out of Venezuela, is a really interesting prospect. For starters, he’s been used as a high-leverage, multi-inning reliever in his time with the organization. He also has a slightly unconventional physical profile: he’s listed at 6-foot-1, but just 150 pounds. For context, Tim Lincecum was listed at 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds during his Cy Young seasons.
Size hasn’t stopped Meneses, though — he’s recorded a 2.21 ERA and 1.04 WHIP this season in 37 appearances between Low-A and High-A, striking out a whopping 72 batters in 57 innings.
Josh Quezada, RHP — Originally a Yankees signee out of Nicaragua, Quezada spent most of the season in Low-A Wilson, where he posted a 5.40 ERA in 45 innings.
Advertisement
Matthew Wood, C — A 2022 fourth-round pick out of Penn State who just posted his best season at the plate, breaking out with an .898 OPS and 18 home runs in his first full season with Double-A Biloxi. At 25, he’s the most experienced player in this group and a good bet to help steady a young pitching staff behind the plate.
You can catch all seven Brewers prospects playing for the Scottsdale Scorpions when the season kicks off on October 3rd. Games will stream here on MLB’s Arizona Fall League website.
Read the full article here
