Jace Avina
Avina was committed to playing at the University of Nevada when the Brewers selected him in the 14th round in 2021 and signed him for sixth-round money with a $255,900 bonus. He shot out of the gate a year later as 2022 Arizona Complex League MVP with a circuit-best 10 homers, .630 slugging percentage and 1.066 OPS. He moved to Single-A Carolina in early August and was more humbled there, slashing .245/.336/.471 with five homers in 28 games. He returned to the Carolina League for 2023 and got off to a slow start, but he was named Brewers Minor League Player of the Month in August.
Avina shows double-plus raw power from the right side, and he’s capable of crushing some absolute moonshots to the pull side. It’s that slugging potential that made him command the attention of scouts and fans alike in his first taste of the Minors.
What soured many was that the blasts came with more-than-unhealthy strikeout rates around 35 percent. The right-handed slugger would get swing-happy in search of his next dinger and expand the zone so much that he would still punch out when pitchers wouldn’t dare throw him a strike. He’s improved the strikeout rate slowly in 2023 but not enough yet to project for better than a 40-grade bat at this stage.
A 6.7 60-yard runner in high-school showcases, Avina should keep enough speed to feature well at all three outfield spots. He has spent more time in the corners in 2023, partly in deference to Luis Lara, but he’s picked up 12 outfield assists from left and right entering September, highlighting how his arm can work out there. There is a wide chasm of outcomes for the Nevada native, all depending on his contact rate.
Brian Sanchez is a 19 year old lefty bat with no pop