Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 45 | Overall: 40

It was easy for Baez to get lost in the international shuffle when he signed with the Brewers for only $10,000 in 2022, but his first stateside season cemented his place as a Top 30 prospect in a burgeoning system. The infielder was named an Arizona Complex League All-Star after finishing second on the Rookie-level circuit with a .370 average and 71 total hits over 48 games. He ended his age-18 season with nine more contests with Single-A Carolina, where he was humbled by going 7-for-30 (.233).

Baez has a pronounced leg kick to begin his swing from the right side, but the noise hasn’t affected his ability to make contact in the early going -- his 11.2 percent K rate was lowest among ACL qualifiers. Because of his good hand-eye coordination, he can tend to go hunting for that contact and expands the zone, hurting his walk rate (just 3.9 percent in the ACL) and OBP in the process. He flashed decent raw power at the complex, and getting more patient in search of drivable pitches could help that pop play even better in games.

The Dominican Republic native is an average but aggressive and savvy runner, swiping 19 bags in 21 attempts in 2023. His relatively limited range was likely going to push him more toward third base full-time in an organization loaded with low-level shortstops, and overall defensive inconsistencies -- even on simple plays like transferring the ball out of the glove -- put his glovework behind his bat. He’ll head back to the Carolina League for his age-19 season.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 45 | Overall: 40

Milwaukee added three players for seven figures at the start of the 2022 international signing window, including Top 10 prospect Luis Lara and Pirates trade acquisition Jhonny Severino. Much lower down the bonus list was Baez at just $10,000, but it hasn’t taken long for the Dominican Republic native to elbow his way into Top 30 territory. Having moved stateside this summer, the infielder has consistently flirted with a .400 average in the Arizona Complex League and has been a candidate to join Single-A Carolina mere months after his 18th birthday.

Baez has impressed Milwaukee officials with his ability to do everything well this early in his career. Using a pronounced leg kick, Baez manages to stay back on the ball, and after getting especially pull-heavy last year in the Dominican Summer League, he’s done a better job of spraying the ball around in year two, especially in regards to hitting balls back up the middle. He can be super-aggressive with his swings, but good hand-eye coordination has kept the swinging-strike rate low compared to his ACL peers. Getting a bit more patient in search of his pitch could help, though he already shows the potential for average power at just 5-foot-9.

Baez is an average runner but has shown an early knack for stealing bags efficiently. His lack of wheels makes some believe he’s headed for third base long-term, and a high error amount in 2023 doesn’t help his case. A lot of those errors have come on fixable mistakes, like transferring the ball out of the glove, rather than anything that speaks to a lack of talent, so he could still get to average on the dirt. Regardless, it’s the early bat work that makes Baez another interesting infield prospect in the Crew system.

Awards

Baseball America Rookie All-Star

Year	Team
2023

ACL Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2023

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	07/19/2024	Carolina Mudcats activated IF Juan Baez from the 7-day injured list.
	07/10/2024	Carolina Mudcats sent IF Juan Baez on a rehab assignment to ACL Brewers.
	05/31/2024	Carolina Mudcats placed IF Juan Baez on the 7-day injured list.
	05/31/2024	Carolina Mudcats placed IF Juan Baez on the 7-day injured list.
	03/07/2024	Milwaukee Brewers Prospects activated IF Juan Baez.
	02/29/2024	IF Juan Baez assigned to Milwaukee Brewers.
	08/29/2023	C Juan Baez assigned to Carolina Mudcats from ACL Brewers.
	06/02/2023	C Juan Baez assigned to ACL Brewers from DSL Brewers 2.
	06/05/2022	C Juan Baez assigned to DSL Brewers 2.
	06/04/2022	Milwaukee Brewers signed free agent C Juan Baez to a minor league contract.