Another Top 100 prospect ranking, and Jesús Made is back in the top 5. At this point, it’s hardly shocking. For scouts, it’s become commonplace to see an 18-year-old Milwaukee Brewers player being mentioned as the number one MLB contender — without the “alien” talents like Konnor Griffin or Kevin McGonigle — as a familiar sight.
But that very familiarity obscures a more noteworthy detail.
Kiley McDaniel’s latest ESPN list doesn’t just confirm Made’s status, or the Brewers having four shortstops in the Top 100. Instead, it quietly elevates another name to a new level: Bishop Letson.
Ranked No. 91 overall, Letson brings Milwaukee’s total to eight prospects in the Top 100 — a number that reflects the depth of the system rather than the weight of a few big names. And unlike many other rises, this jump isn’t from short-term hype.
McDaniel has had his eye on Letson for a long time.
Last summer, ESPN included the 21-year-old pitcher in the Brewers’ own top-10 prospect list. The reason wasn’t radar gun or flashy ERA. It was pitching geometry. Letson possesses near-maximum extension in professional baseball — only one or two inches short of the “best in all MLB.” This allows him to pitch at a very low release point, improving the fastball shape in a way that modern data particularly values.
Letson’s 92–96 mph fastball isn’t outstanding in terms of velocity, but it “plays” like an above-average pitch thanks to its shape and command. According to McDaniel, with just one or two more ticks of velocity, Letson could climb the rankings much faster.
Of course, this story isn’t perfect.
Letson is only expected to pitch 41 1/3 innings in 2025 due to a shoulder issue — a red flag that can’t be ignored. He dominates at the lower levels with a 30.8% strikeout rate, an ERA of 2.40, and a FIP of 2.70, but his only attempt at Double-A ended poorly. And most importantly: he has yet to shoulder the workload of a true starter.
2026 will be the real test.
If Letson can maintain his health and efficiency past 100+ innings, the Brewers will face a familiar but always difficult decision: speed up or be patient? Given Milwaukee’s pitcher development track record, a fast-track scenario is not far-fetched — especially if extension and command continue to excel.
Even in a more cautious scenario, where health and command slow progress, Letson remains a valuable long-term asset. Pitchers with such profiles rarely “disappear”; they just need time for the pieces to fit together.
The key takeaway is that Letson’s appearance in the Top 100 feels less like a prediction and more like a confirmation. McDaniel isn’t the only one who believes this—he’s just the one who said it earlier than most.
As the season progresses, it’s highly likely that a No. 91 ranking will no longer be considered “outlier.” It will become the minimum expectation.
And while much of the attention remains focused on Jesús Made and the Brewers’ crowded shortstop lineup, Bishop Letson is quietly stepping into the bigger conversation—where the future of Milwaukee’s pitching system could be reshaped.
Leave a Reply