Milwaukee Brewers, as the smallest market in Major League Baseballthey will never be sedate competitors for any high-profile free agents who hit the market. That’s why reliever Willy Adames, who hit .251/.331/.462 with 32 home runs, 112 RBI and 21 stolen bases, likely won’t return to the team in 2025. They simply won’t be able to compete with larger market teams and the offers they will make him.
This has been the case in Milwaukee for a long time, but unlike the Dark Ages of the 1990s and early 2000s, the current Brewers organization has become specialized in drafting and developing players. You only have to look at the 2024 Opening Day squad, which included several rookies and second-year players, to see the impact their development program has had on the organization.
Brice Turang and Sal Frelick, who were drafted by the Brewers in the first round when they entered their amateur drafts, both won Gold Glove awards this year, for example.
Milwaukee Brewers hit home runs with international free agent signings
One of baseball’s brightest juvenile stars was the Brewers’ 2021 international free agent signing. It was, of course, Jackson Chourio, who worked his way through Milwaukee’s minor league system, emerged as a top prospect in baseball and provided Brewers fans with plenty of memorable moments as a 2024 rookie.
Just 20 years elderly, Chourio hit .275/.327/464 last season with 21 home runs, 79 RBI and 22 stolen bases, becoming the youngest player in Major League history with a 20-20 season.
Last year, Milwaukee signed Dominican goaltender Jesus Made during the international free agency period. He hit .331/.458/.554 with six home runs, 28 RBI and 28 stolen bases in 51 games in the Dominican Summer League.
He currently sits fourth in the Brewers’ bullpen and is expected to start 2025 in Low-A.
The Milwaukee Brewers are expected to sign Dominican star Kenny Fenelon
It sounds like Milwaukee is about to make another huge hit in the international free agent pool 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 significant Advantages of being a future Big League player:
On @MLBPipeline According to sources, among the top 50 international prospects in the 2025 signing class, the Brewers are expected to sign Kenny Fenelon (No. 35), Brailyn Antuñez (No. 41) and Christopher Acosta at No. 44. Fenelon is one of the best hitters in in its class with a plus figure. ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/L3UvReYgmr
— Curt Hogg (@CyrtHogg) September 23, 2024
Eric Cole z Infusion review wrote of Fenelon: “While he’s not the biggest guy right now (remember, these are still teenagers and their bodies will change), the 6-foot outfielder already has real power and speed that, if he breaks the barrier the right way, he could make him a legitimate 30-30 threat in the big leagues. His pure athleticism seems to make scouts optimistic that he could hold his own in the midfield as well.”
While it will be many years before he is ready for the Majors, Brewers fans should definitely keep an eye on his development if he does indeed sign with Milwaukee.
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