The Milwaukee Brewers’ Cactus League record dipped to 1-2 on Monday afternoon after losing 8-3 against the Cincinnati Reds. There were a lot of prospects on both sides of this contest. For the Brew Crew, two teenagers were given opportunities, and Pat Murphy praised them after the game.
Pat Murphy would love to keep prospect Luis Lara in camp all spring.
19 year old switch hitter Luis Lara is one prospect who shot up the prospect ranking boards last season and is poised to make another big jump again in 2024. He didn’t hit for much power last year but across two levels of A-Ball he slashed .286/.373/.354, had a 15% k rate, and stole 30 bases.
Against the Reds he ended up going 0-2 but made a nice diving play in right field. Following the game Pat Murphy said this about Lara, “Love him. I’d bet on that kid for sure. This is what I do for a living, right? I watch young kids and try to predict their future and try to help them. I’m betting on that kid. I’d like to keep him in camp all camp, but they won’t let me.”
Yophery Rodriguez also played against the Cincinnati Reds.
18-year-old Yophery Rodriguez also made his debut. The Venezuela native was the Brewers’ best foreign signing in 2023 and is now placed 14th on the prospect rankings list. During the game, he struck out in his lone at-bat but played a few innings in center field.
After the game, manager Pat Murphy lightened the mood by joking, “He’s how old, 18?” First time in the United States. They warned us not to put him in today. Give him one day to sit on the bench. “Yes, I forgot about that.”
Prospects will continue to see playing time for the Milwaukee Brewers this spring.
“That is what spring training is about. It’s about having the possibility to make things happen and to see guys in various settings. It’s difficult to take it all in in one day. But we continue to do everything we can to squeeze it out, get them ready for the season, and learn more about these young players. Give them opportunities and observe how they respond to them.”
-Pat Murphy discusses playing prospects in spring training.
Related: Milwaukee Brewers’ 21-year-old pitching prospect stocks are “ready to explode”
The Milwaukee Brewers’ next spring training game will be on Tuesday, February 27. This will be the Angels’ first televised game of the spring.
