Milwaukee Brewers Prospect, with Scary Injury Behind Him, Takes Double-A Lead in HRs

Now 22, Wilken was the No. 18 overall pick by the Brewers in 2023 after he set an Atlantic Coast Conference career record with 71 home runs at Wake Forest. Milwaukee sent him to Biloxi to start the 2024 campaign, and he was hit in the face by a 94 mph fastball in the first week of the season and sustained multiple facial fractures.

He returned after three weeks but couldn’t match what he achieved after the 2023 draft, when he hit .285 with five home runs and 29 RBIs across three levels and 47 games. Last season, he batted .199 with 17 homers and 51 RBIs and an OPS of .675 in 108 games at Biloxi.

While his average hasn’t rebounded this season – he’s batting .219 – he has an OPS of .902. He’s got 27 RBIs to go along with the dozen homers and 78 total bases. And he’s being more selective at the plate, with 44 walks and 53 strikeouts compared to 63 and 133, respectively, last season.

Here’s what MLB Pipeline said about Wilken heading into the 2024 season:

“It's tough to balance the impact of the early-season HBP, as well as the move to the pitcher-friendly Southern League. Batting hunched over from the right side with a toe tap, the Demon Deacons legend is built to rip hard-hit balls in the air to the pullside, and he still has ample strength. His 17 homers were fourth-most in the SL, but he’s also proved to be extremely vulnerable to soft stuff low and away, and pitchers took advantage.”

The Brewers must like what they are seeing for Wilken and by this point of the season have figured out the areas where he needs work. Executives in Milwaukee undoubtedly will continue to watch his progress.