The Milwaukee Brewers are a team in flux at the major-league level.

The minor leagues? That's a different story altogether.

With top-shelf talent spanning from Class AAA Nashville all the way down to the Dominican Summer League, Milwaukee's group of youngsters is generally regarded by talent evaluators as one of the top three or four in baseball.

It's the first time that's happened since 2016.

And one name, outfielder Jackson Chourio, sits atop that list as one of the top two or three individual prospects in the minors, a player who might very well make his Brewers debut in 2024 despite the fact he won't even turn 20 until March 11.

There is good balance with regard to both age and position beyond Chourio in the rest of the Journal Sentinel's annual top 10, a great sign for a Milwaukee organization that needs its youngsters – particularly its pitchers – to pan out to remain competitive as a small-market team.

Along with Chourio, infielder Tyler Black and left-hander Robert Gasser are the most likely to touch the majors in 2024, with right-handers Jacob Misiorowski and Carlos Rodríguez also having a chance.

More: From Jacob Misiorowski to Jackson Chourio, who has the best tools in the Brewers' farm system?

Chourio was the Journal Sentinel's top prospect going into 2023 as well, while Misiorowski, Jeferson Quero and Gasser also carry over.

Sal Frelick (No. 2), Joey Wiemer (No. 3), Brice Turang (No. 4), Garrett Mitchell (No. 5) dropped off the list after graduating to the majors. Eric Brown Jr. (No. 9) dropped out of the top 10 after being limited to 72 games by injury, but the team's 2022 first-round pick remains a promising prospect, especially after a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League.

Esteury Ruiz was last year's No. 10 but was traded to the Oakland A's as part of the deal that netted the Brewers William Contreras and Joel Payamps.

Following is a closer look at our top 10 entering 2024.

1. Jackson Chourio, center field

Age: 19. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 185.

Acquired: International signing, 2021, Venezuela.

Background: Chourio was regarded highly by international scouts as an amateur in Maracaibo, Venezuela, but no team was as certain of his potential as the Brewers, who scouted him feverishly before signing him to a $1.9 million contract in January 2021 at the age of 16. Three years later, he has rocketed up the Brewers system and is on the cusp of reaching the majors.

Chourio earned his second consecutive Brewers minor-league player of the year award in 2023, splitting the honor with Tyler Black, after posting an impressive season at Class AA Biloxi. Chourio, at only 19, batted .280/.336/.467 with 22 homers and 43 stolen bases. His 22 homers were the most by a teenager at Class AA since at least 2005.

Chourio earned a brief promotion to Class AAA Nashville for the final week of the season. He is considered to be one of the top three or so prospects in baseball and is the highest-ranked Brewers prospect of all time.

Scouting report: What’s not to like about Chourio? He has the ability to do it all as a true five-tool player, with some of those skills being well above-average.

Chourio is a plus runner with a real shot to also be an above-average defensive center fielder. But it’s his power that really stands out to evaluators. Chourio generates immense bat speed because of torque and ability to use his lower body, which in turn produces eye-popping exit velocities despite Chourio not having the largest frame. He utilizes all fields with power, including a seemingly easy inside-out swing to drive the ball to right field even though it looks like he’s just flicking his bat.

The biggest development in 2023 for Chourio was the advancement of his bat-to-ball skills. He has always had great feel for the barrel in his swing but was still prone to in-zone whiffs and poor swing decisions from time to time. Chourio struck out in just 12.5% of plate appearances over his final 68 games, which came after he often struggled with Southern League pitchers attacking him with breaking pitches low and away throughout the first two months of the season.

Chourio shows an ability to learn and adapt to new levels on the fly. As the youngest player at the Class AA level, his battles with swing decisions and pitch recognition against by far the best quality of breaking balls he’d ever seen in his life were evident – even despite the regular flashes of electricity from his bat. Over the second half of the season, Chourio posted a .931 OPS and struck out only 36 times.

Future: Chourio should receive his first invitation to major-league spring training, intensifying the spotlight on him even more. Then sometime in 2024, his major-league debut is likely to follow. He has long-term, star potential for the Brewers moving forward.

2. Jacob Misiorowski, right-handed pitcher

Age: 21 B-T: R-R Ht.: 6-7. Wt.: 190.

Acquired: Second round, 2022 draft (63rd overall), Crowder College (Mo.).

Background: Hailing from the same junior college as Aaron Ashby, Misiorowski went 10-0 with a 2.72 ERA and 136 strikeouts over 76 innings in 2022. He had one of the best pure arsenals in the draft that summer but teams’ general unfamiliarity with him played a role in him slipping to the late-second round, where Milwaukee plucked him.

He pitched across three levels in 2023, starting at Class A Carolina and finishing at Biloxi, posting a 3.41 ERA and 110 strikeouts in 71 ⅓ innings overall. Misiorowski, along with Chourio and Jeferson Quero, represented Milwaukee in MLB's All-Star Futures Game in July.

Scouting report: Misiorowski’s stuff gives him the chance to be the top pitching prospect in baseball.

His fastball sits in the upper 90s and regularly registers triple digits in games. His slider, a low-90s offering that wipes out both righties and lefties, is probably his best pitch. He also features a slower curve that also has the makings of a plus offering as well as a lower-usage changeup that needs improvement. Misiorowski is a good athlete for his size, which allows him to generate elite extension going down the mound, making his velocity that much more intimidating to hitters.

The questions surrounding Misiorowski are about control, command and health. Even league-average command would make Misiorowski an all-star in the majors, but while he showed flashes, he is still far from that point; across his five starts at Biloxi he walked 16 and hit 11. He has a ways to go in making his delivery repeatable pitch after pitch. There’s also the question of how healthy his arm can remain with such a high-octane delivery, although working in his advantage is a relatively low innings total throughout his career.

Future: Misiorowski was in loose consideration for a late-season promotion to the majors to pitch out of the bullpen but ran into struggles at Biloxi that, mixed with arm fatigue, ended those talks. The Brewers see him as a starter and he will likely begin 2024 back with the Shuckers, but there is risk of him being a reliever if the command doesn't progress – though, even then, Misiorowski profiles as a high-leverage arm. Misiorowski’s big-league ETA is early 2025, though it could be bumped up because his stuff is MLB-ready as it stands.

3. Jeferson Quero, catcher

Age: 21. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 5-11. Wt.: 215.

Acquired: International signing, 2019, Venezuela.

Background: Between Quero and Chourio two years later, the Brewers sure came away with quite the haul out of Venezuela over the course of three international signing periods. Quero made his full-season debut in 2022, splitting time between Class A Carolina and advanced Class A Wisconsin before impressing as a 19-year-old catcher in the Arizona Fall League.

He continued to take steps forward this past season, slashing .262/.339/.441 in 90 games with Biloxi. He popped 16 homers while also boosting his walk rate from 2.4% with Wisconsin to 10.0%. Because Quero spent the entire season on the same team as Chourio, it was easy to forget that, at 20 years old, Quero was also incredibly young for the level.

A hand injury suffered in the second half of the season seemed to impact Quero's production at the plate.

Scouting report: It's tough to find someone around the industry who doesn’t rave about Quero’s defense. That part of a young catcher’s game is often a roller coaster and can be challenging to develop. Not with Quero, who won the minor-league Rawlings Gold Glove Award at catcher this year.

He is lauded for his receiving as well as his game-calling and ability to handle a pitching staff, things that at the minor-league level can be harder to quantify. When Wade Miley returned to Milwaukee after making a rehab start in Biloxi this summer, he spoke highly of Quero’s presence behind the plate. Many Brewers pitchers who have worked with him during spring training shared similar sentiments. Quero also has a cannon for an arm that gives him a chance to be one of a select few catchers who can truly control opposing running games in this era.

Quero’s defense gives him a safe floor of a big-league catcher, and if he can become a league-average hitter he has true all-star potential. There were reasons to believe from his time in Biloxi he’s capable of that. Quero’s swing decisions are not always the best, but he made real strides, as evidenced by his improved walk rate. His frame is mostly filled out even though he’s just 21 but he’s showcased at least average big-league raw power and has the ability to tap into it. Quero also excels at flipping the ball into right-center, a sign of an improving approach at the plate.

Future: Milwaukee added Quero to its 40-man roster this off-season to protect him from the Rule 5 draft in December. He’s not far off from impacting the big-league club but hasn’t played at Class AAA yet, so he will need some extensive time there first.

4. Tyler Black, infielder

Age: 23. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 204.

Acquired: 1st round, 2021 draft (33rd overall), Wright State.

Background: A contact-rate and plate-discipline darling with defensive and competition-level questions coming out of a small school, Black was right up the Brewers’ alley when they took him in the Competitive Balance portion of the first round of the draft. Injuries hampered the Toronto native in 2022, but he broke out for good while adding more power to his game in 2023, slashing .284/.417/.513 with 55 stolen bases between Biloxi and Nashville.

Scouting report: Let’s start with Black’s elite skill: His plate discipline. Black’s chase rates are among the lowest in the minors. Pair it with the fact he doesn’t swing and miss much – though he did finally trade in some contact for power this year – and you have Black’s foundation as a hitter as a pesky at-bat.

Black hit 18 homers across 123 games in the minors this year after having just four in 107 coming, but it’s worth cautioning against declaring him to have suddenly added more power to his game. Rather, Black simply is accessing it better through some swing changes and an active attempt to catch the ball out in front rather than letting it travel on him. His fly-ball rate jumped while with Biloxi but against Class AAA pitching his swing often reverted to generating far more grounders than one would like.

Black is a plus athlete, savvy baserunner and extremely hard competitor. There remain questions about his defense, particularly if he can play third base in the majors, but he’s shown some reason for optimism that he can be a passable defender at either corner infield spot, even if he’s not there quite yet. His throwing arm is below-average for the hot corner yet accurate, and his athleticism allows for solid range to both sides. His durability has also been tested after having suffered several major injuries in the minors (thumb, scapula).

Future: Black is very much in the mix to make the opening-day roster out of camp. The roster picture is very much wide open at both positions he primarily plays and Black has proven his bat is deserving of a shot at the big-league level.

5. Robert Gasser, left-handed pitcher

Age: 24. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 192.

Acquired: Via trade from the San Diego Padres Aug. 1, 2022 along with LHP Taylor Rogers, RHP Dinelson Lamet and OF Esteury Ruiz in exchange for LHP Josh Hader.

Background: The 2023 season was the first full one for Gasser in the Milwaukee organization, and he made it one to remember by going 9-1 with a 3.79 ERA and 166 strikeouts over 135 ⅓ innings and 26 appearances (25 starts) at Class AAA Nashville – a performance that earned him International League pitcher of the year honors in a vote of team managers.

His .900 winning percentage led all qualifiers, he finished in the top five in seven major pitching categories with his strikeout total tops across the entire Class AAA and the Sounds going 17-8 in games he started. Gasser also limited left-handed hitters to a .215 average and OPS of .588.

Gasser shared Brewers minor-league pitcher of the year honors with Carlos Rodríguez, and his International League player of the year award was the first for a Nashville pitcher since Jimmy Nelson in 2014.

Scouting report: The Brewers wanted to see consistency from Gasser in his second full professional season and for the most part he delivered, while also earning positive marks for maturing in the way he went about his work from start to start.

Gasser throws three types of fastballs – a four-seamer, cutter and sinker – to go along with a slider and changeup. His cutter and slider are his two best pitches, with the challenge moving forward being to try and maintain his fastball velocity within his starts and developing his changeup into another true weapon.

Future: Considering the turnover that’s occurred – and could continue to occur – in the Brewers’ rotation this offseason, Gasser has an excellent shot at being a member of the starting five on opening day.

6. Luis Lara, center field

Age: 19. B-T: S-R. Ht.: 5-7. Wt.: 155.

Acquired: International signing, 2022, Venezuela.

Background: Milwaukee signed Lara for $1.1 million in January 2022 and he showed well in the Dominican Summer League after that, hitting .260 with two homers and 21 RBI over 58 games.

His first full professional season in 2023 was even more successful. In 87 games split between Class A Carolina and advanced Class A Wisconsin, Lara hit .286 with two homers, 29 RBI and 30 stolen bases as an 18-year-old throughout.

Lara hit leadoff and played center field.

“He was an exciting player to watch,” said vice president of player operations and baseball administration Tom Flanagan. “He does a little bit of everything – offense, baserunning, defense – and does it all above average. Seeing him perform the way he did at 18 years old, and get it done at the high-A level, really bodes well for his future.”

Scouting report: Lara’s ability to switch-hit, slap the ball and run make him an ideal top-of-the-lineup hitter, as he regularly led off for Carolina and hit second behind 2022 first-round pick Eric Brown Jr. in his 17-game audition at Wisconsin.

He was a much better hitter from the left side than the right (.307 average, .770 OPS vs. .211, .593) but both of his homers came against right-handed pitchers. What bodes especially well for Lara – especially at his age – is his understanding of the strike zone and discipline in the batter’s box; in a combined 397 plate appearances in 2023 he struck out only 61 times while walking 44.

Lara also racked up seven assists in 68 games in center for Carolina, showing his throwing arm is pretty good for his size. It stands to reason Lara will continue to grow stronger as he matures.

Future: As shown with Chourio and so many of their other prospects, the Brewers will continue to push Lara, allowing him to determine the speed of his progression through the system.

At his current rate of development, Lara would appear to be destined for his MLB debut in 2027.

7. Brock Wilken, third base

Age: 21. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-4. Wt.: 225.

Acquired: First round, 2023 draft (18^th overall), Wake Forest.

Background: Wilken was the best power hitter in the draft this summer, having slugged 31 home runs as a junior at Wake Forest and 71 in his three years with the Demon Deacons, an ACC record. He signed for an under-slot $3,150,000 and immediately went to work for the Brewers, who sent him to the Arizona Complex League for a quick professional primer.

From there it was to advanced Class A Wisconsin, where he hit .289 with two homers and 15 RBI in 34 games. Wilken capped his season with a six-game stint at Class AA Biloxi, where he homered twice more in six games as the Shuckers chased a Southern League playoff berth.

All told, Wilken put up a .285 average, five homers, 29 RBI and an OPS of .887 in 47 games at his three stops and his ratio of 47 strikeouts to 33 walks was promising.

“Coming straight out of the draft and finishing the season at Biloxi says a lot about how his pro debut went,” Flanagan said. “He impressed at each stop along the way.”

Scouting report: Power is Wilken’s calling card, as he has the ability to hit the ball out of any ballpark from foul pole to foul pole. But he’s also developed as an overall hitter in the last year-plus, with his .345 average in 66 games at Wake Forest as a junior a .116 improvement over his previous effort.

In his 47 games in the minors, Wilken hit right-handed pitching (.285, .867 OPS) just as well as he hit left-handed pitching (.286, .983).

Defensively, Wilken moves well laterally at third base for a man his size and he also has a strong throwing arm. First base could eventually be a fallback position, but there’s no reason to believe he can’t stick at the hot corner.

“His power gets everyone’s attention, but he has a great approach and showed some defensive abilities at third base as well,” said Flanagan.

Future: Only a few weeks after Wilken was drafted, one member of the Milwaukee brass said without equivocation he was expected to be a 2025 regular.

8. Carlos Rodríguez, right-handed pitcher

Age: 22. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 206.

Acquired: Sixth round, 2021 draft (177^th overall), Florida SouthWestern State College.

Background: Rodríguez was the third pitcher selected by the Brewers in 2021 and someone with far less pedigree than second-rounder Russell Smith out of TCU. Yet all he’s done is performed at each level, with his 2023 campaign his most impressive yet.

Rodríguez set the tone by starting for Nicaragua in the team’s World Baseball Classic pool play opener against Puerto Rico in Miami. Rodríguez allowed two hits, a run and a walk with three strikeouts in a four-inning start only about 10 miles from where he played in high school – a tremendous showing in a pressure-packed environment.

Rodríguez then went 9-6 with a 2.77 ERA and WHIP of 1.09 in 25 starts for Biloxi, striking out 152 over 123 ⅔ innings, and capped off his year with a start at Nashville, which is where he figures to open 2024.

His splits were largely even (.194/.563 vs. righties, .181/.566 vs. lefties). He shared minor-league pitcher of the year honors in the organization with Gasser, a year after winning the award himself.

“From his performance in the World Baseball Classic in Miami, through his last outing of the year at Nashville, Carlos was impressive,” Flanagan said. “He really knows how to attack hitters and compete.”

Scouting report: Rodríguez isn’t going to wow anybody with overwhelming stuff – he typically sits in the low 90s with his fastball and can hit 95 – but he pitches with the moxie and feel of someone much older, utilizing a four-seamer, cutter, slider, curveball and changeup.

“Kitchen sink,” is how Flanagan describes Rodríguez’s arsenal. “Has all the pitches. And everything plays better due to his ability to pitch, and his competitiveness.”

Future: The Brewers are hoping Rodríguez can follow in the footsteps of Gasser – meaning he puts together a good body of work at Nashville in 2024 and then enters the conversation seriously as a starter in 2025.

“Going forward, he just needs to log more innings and experiences at Triple-A,” said Flanagan. “But he is getting closer and closer to being able to impact the major-league team.”

9. Cooper Pratt, infielder

Age: 19. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-4. Wt.: 195.

Acquired: Sixth round, 2023 draft (182nd overall), Magnolia Heights (Miss.) High School.

Background: By the time the sixth round rolled around in this past summer’s draft, most figured Pratt, still undrafted despite being one of the top high-school position players in the class, was set on going to college at Ole Miss. Then the Brewers shocked the league by not only selecting him with the 182nd pick but also being able to sign him away from his college commitment for $1.35 million.

Pratt, along with other over-slot, high-school signings such as Eric Bitonti and Bishop Letson, put the stamp on what was considered an excellent draft by Milwaukee. He played in 12 games for the Brewers’ Arizona Complex League squad after signing, batting .356 with a .870 OPS.

Scouting report: Between 2021 and 2022 on the national high school showcase circuit, he swung and missed only 27 times against 581 pitches while putting 113 in play. There is not significant power in Pratt’s swing, but there is reason to believe he will add strength.

Pratt will get a chance to stick at shortstop with Milwaukee, though a move to second or third base is not out of the question.

Future: Pratt will either start out 2024 at Class A Carolina or arrive there shortly thereafter. He still has a long way to go before the majors but for a 19-year-old with minimal pro experience, there is less volatility in his profile than you’d expect from someone that age. His hit tool provides a nice base around which the rest of his skills can grow, though it will be worth monitoring how he handles enhanced velocity as he progresses.

10. Yophery Rodríguez, center field

Age: 17. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 185.

Acquired: International signing, 2023, Dominican Republic.

Background: This past January the club paid Rodríguez a $1.5 million signing bonus with Kevin Ereu ($1.4 million) and Filippo Di Turi ($1.3 million) right behind him. He trained under longtime major-league infielder Carlos Guillen and hails from the shortstop haven of San Pedro de Macoris.

More: Everything you need to know about the 29 international prospects the Brewers just signed

Rodríguez went right to work after that for the Brewers’ entry in the Dominican Summer League and in 52 games put together a strong line – .253/6/36/.842 with 12 stolen bases. His 41 walks against 40 strikeouts were especially impressive for player who would have otherwise been a high-school junior.

Scouting report: The early buzz on Rodríguez is the combination of his patience at the plate and his power potential make him a prospect to watch at a position the Brewers continue to be well-stocked at from the majors all the way down to the lowest levels of the minors.

“He really lived up to expectations during his first season,” Flanagan said of Rodríguez. “Very nice swing, along with a really good idea of the zone at the plate. And, he showed some really good bat-to-ball skills with power and he drives the ball to all fields.”

Rodríguez played across the outfield but saw far and away his most action in center (36 starts).

“He’s very capable there now, and may stay there in the future,” Flanagan added.

Future: Rodríguez is expected to come to the U.S. in 2024, with the Arizona Complex League the next challenge in front of him. Perform well there, and a promotion to Carolina wouldn’t be out of the question.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Outfielder Jackson Chourio leads talented Milwaukee Brewers prospects