Eric Bitonti didn’t just show up to the Arizona Fall League, he absolutely crushed it, earning a spot in the HR Derby and hitting eight dingers in the preliminary round. This kid, who had a breakout regular season with a .916 OPS at High-A Wisconsin, kept that power going in the desert, putting up a .757 OPS in 65 at-bats. That 60-grade power is real, even with those 26 strikeouts against just 10 walks, and it’s got the Brewers buzzing about what’s coming next.
The Bats That Were Making Noise
It wasn’t just Bitonti bringing the heat, though he definitely stole the show. Matthew Wood, another player who had a breakout season this year, put up an insane .828 OPS over 43 at-bats, which was the highest of any Scorpion with at least 40 plate appearances. He smacked four doubles, too. Wood’s gonna be 26 on Opening Day and should start 2027 in Triple-A. But listen, with William Contreras’s catching situation looking a bit shaky, Wood could absolutely see some big-league time before the year is out. That’s a quick jump!
Then there’s Braylon Payne, who went 7-for-35 with a couple of triples. This dude also had a massive breakout year, going for a 25-homer, 25-steal season, making him the fourth-youngest minor leaguer to do that since ’46. Yeah, his 16 strikeouts in the AFL are a bit of a head-scratcher, especially since he was probably there to fine-tune his bat-to-ball skills. But come on, a 35-at-bat sample isn’t going to erase the incredibly high ceiling he showed all season. The potential is still off the charts.
The Comeback and the K-Machine
Jett Williams was also in Scottsdale, getting his feet back under him after missing three months with a right wrist injury. He hit .217 (15-for-69), but five of those 15 hits went for extra bases, including a homer, two doubles, and two triples. He also swiped an impressive 12 bases and walked 16 times against 19 strikeouts. Williams actually had the most at-bats among Brewers prospects out there, a clear sign they want him seeing pitching.
On the mound, Miqueas Mercedes, who had a 2.81 ERA in Single-A this season, turned heads with a 3.52 ERA over 15 1/3 innings in the Fall League. The 20-year-old, who doesn’t even turn 21 until next July, piled up 19 strikeouts while giving up only 10 hits. His main issue from the regular season followed him though: 15 walks. The dude is wild! But hey, the stuff is definitely there; he just needs to figure out how to consistently find the zone. If he can rein that in, watch out.
So, while the main Brewers squad is deep in their regular season grind, down in Arizona, these prospects were putting on a show. Keep these names on your radar, especially Bitonti’s power and Wood’s potential quick climb to the bigs. The Brewers’ farm system is looking pretty stacked with guys ready to make some noise.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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