The Milwaukee Brewers, as the smallest market in Major League Baseball, will never be serious contenders for any big name free agents that hit the market. This is why shortstop Willy Adames, who hit .251/.331/.462 with 32 home runs, 112 RBI, and 21 stolen bases, is likely not going to return to the team in 2025. They simply will not be able to compete with the bigger market teams and the offers they will make to him.
This is the way that it has been in Milwaukee for a long time, but unlike the Dark Ages of the 1990’s and early 2000’s, this current Brewers organization has become adept at drafting and developing players. One just has to look at the 2024 Opening Day roster, which was made up of several rookies and second-year players, to see the mark that their development program has had on the organization.
Brice Turang and Sal Frelick, who were both first round picks by the Brewers when they declared for their respective amateur drafts, both won Gold Glove Awards this year, for example.
The Milwaukee Brewers Have Been Hitting Home Runs with International Free Agent Signings
One of the brightest young stars in all of baseball was an international free agent signing by the Brewers back in 2021. That, of course, is Jackson Chourio who rocketed through Milwaukee’s minor league system, became the baseball’s top prospect, and provided Brewers fans with many memorable moments as a rookie in 2024.
Just 20 years old, Chourio hit .275/.327/464 with 21 home runs, 79 RBI, and 22 stolen bases this past season, becoming the youngest player in Major League history with a 20-20 season.
This past year, Milwaukee signed Dominican infielder Jesus Made during the international free agency period. Made hit .331/.458/.554 with six home runs, 28 RBI, and 28 stolen bases in 51 games in the Dominican Summer League.
He is now the Brewers’ fourth-ranked prospect and is expected to start 2025 with their Low-A team.
The Milwaukee Brewers Are Expected to Sign Dominican Star Kenny Fenelon
It sounds as if Milwaukee is about to make another huge splash in the international pool of free agents once the signing period opens on January 15, 2025. According to Brewers insider Curt Hogg, Milwaukee is expected to sign Dominican outfielder Kenny Fenelon, who has considerable upside as a future Big Leaguer:
On the @MLBPipeline top 50 international prospects for the 2025 signing class, the Brewers are expected to sign Kenny Fenelon (No. 35), Brailyn Antuñez (No. 41) and No. 44 Christopher Acosta, per sources. Fenelon is one of the best power hitters in the class with a plus frame. ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/L3UvReYgmr
— Curt Hogg (@CyrtHogg) September 23, 2024
Eric Cole of Reviewing the Brew wrote of Fenelon, “While he isn’t the biggest guy as of now (remember, these are still teenagers and their bodies are going to change), the 6’0 outfielder already possesses real raw power and speed which, if everything breaks the right way, could make him a legitimate 30-30 threat in the big leagues. His pure athleticism seems to be giving scouts optimism that he could stick in center field as well.”
While it will be a number of years until he is ready for the Majors, Brewers fans should definitely keep an eye on his development if he does end up signed by Milwaukee.
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