Robert Gasser

A 24-year-old lefty who safely projects to make it as at least a back-end starter, Gasser has thrown 161.2 innings at Triple-A and finished 2023 with a 3.09 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 115 strikeouts over his final 93.1 innings. What Gasser lacks in quality offerings (zero plus pitches, 92-mph average fastball velocity) he makes up for in quantity -- he threw over 100 four-seamers, changeups, curveballs, cutters, sinkers, sliders and sweepers at Triple-A. His game is to keep hitters guessing while adeptly locating his pitches. What used to be a deep, talented Brewers rotation is now extremely top-heavy, so the back few spots should be cycled based on merit and health, and Gasser will surely get a look at some point, if not at the beginning of the season. He doesn't have the type of electric arsenal to be a bullpen weapon, so Gasser should stay stretched out all year.

We may never know for sure, but Gasser may have been the return piece Milwaukee most coveted from San Diego in the surprise Josh Hader deal at the deadline. Esteury Ruiz, the other top player the Brewers got back, has already been flipped in the three-team trade that sent William Contreras to Milwaukee. Gasser remains, and has a chance to follow in the impressive line of young starters to populate the Brewers' rotation. He had a 3.47 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 57:24 K:BB in 46.2 innings across nine starts at Double-A and Triple-A after the trade - the 23-year-old's first starts above High-A. As things stand, Gasser would be the most exciting option whenever the Brewers need a sixth starter, and he is nearing big-league readiness. That said, the team generally breaks in their prized pitching prospects out of the bullpen before moving them to the rotation full time. Gasser looks more like a No. 4 starter based just on his low-90s fastball velocity and secondary offerings. However, his deceptive left-handed delivery and the ride he gets on his fastball allow the pitch to play up when he is locating it. Additionally, his slider and changeup play perfectly off his fastball, so it's easy to see how the Brewers could turn him into a No. 3 starter as long as he throws enough strikes.