Many scouts will find themselves spending plenty of quality time in Zebulon, North Carolina, this year.
That’s because the Carolina Mudcats, the Milwaukee Brewers’ Class A affiliate, will open the season with two of the top performers in last year's Dominican Summer League sharing duties on the left side of the infield.
The Brewers are going with an aggressive assignment for Jesús Made, the club’s No. 1 prospect, and Luis Peña, the No. 11 prospect. At 17 years and 10 months, Made will almost certainly be the youngest player in the full-season minor leagues, while Peña, who turned 18 last November, won’t be far behind.
Last season, the duo set the DSL ablaze with their bats. Made stole most of the headlines with his flashy tools, but it was Peña who actually performed better, batting .393 with a 1.039 OPS, 16 doubles, six triples and 39 stolen bases in 44 games. Made hit .331 with a 1.013 OPS, six homers, six triples and 28 steals in 51 games.
Made and Peña will be part of a loaded infield for the Mudcats that also features Eric Bitonti, Josh Adamczewski and Filippo Di Turi.
Here are a few other notable minor-league assignments from the Brewers affiliates’ roster announcements Monday.
Cooper Pratt gets the bump
The Brewers were a bit in-between on what to do with Cooper Pratt, their No. 2 prospect, before spring training began. But then Pratt, who was on an invite to big-league camp, wowed with his play in all facets and general professional demeanor. There was no decision to make.
Pratt will open the year at Class AA Biloxi. The shortstop technically finished the season with the Shuckers but did so as a last-minute roster addition for the playoffs with the season at Class High-A Wisconsin ending. He played only 23 games for the Timber Rattlers and hit .221 with a .700 OPS, so it would’ve been reasonable for Milwaukee to send him back to Appleton to start 2025.
But Pratt took matters into his own hands this spring, and that’s exactly what you want one of your best prospects to do.
No Brett Wichrowski – yet
Brett Wichrowski was not listed on any rosters, causing some concern about a potential injury to a system that is already going to be missing some of its most tantalizing arms this year with serious ailments.
But rest easy, Wichrowski is simply stretching out still at the Brewers’ complex in Phoenix and will join an affiliate when he’s ready and there’s room. Coleman Crow is in the same boat, as well.
