The future of the NL Central is filled with power, both in terms of arms and bats. But also, some of the more patient hitters that one will find among all the Minor League prospects presently playing in affiliated ball. Here’s a primer of what’s going on in May 2026 for the five NL Central clubs’ farm systems.

Brewers

Before getting into anything else, I want to show off this graph that perfectly illustrates what the Brewers have tried to build over the last few years:

In the Double-A Southern League, five Brewers prospects (Darrien Miller, Matthew Wood, Eric Brown Jr., Dylan O’Rae, Dasan Brown) were among the top 10 in terms of take percentage. Why does that matter? Takes, more often than not, result in long counts, walks, and you get the rest.

We’ll get to the “big” prospects in a second. But before then, it’s a good time to briefly write on the 25-year-old Miller, who’s done things right this season. Twenty-seven walks in 33 contests overall this season. And in May, seven home runs for the league lead as of this writing.

Moving on, a strong month from Jesús Made. An 17% Whiff% in May, just a tick better than the aforementioned Dylan O’Rae, who looks like one of those “pain in those you know what” kind of hitters. Twelve walks, 11 stolen bases, and 26 hits over his first 22 games of the month.

Andrew Fischer belted nine home runs in the High-A Midwest League during May. But it would be nice to see less swing-and-miss (34%), even though that may not be in the cards.

Cooper Pratt (7% Barrel% in May) showed some pop in Triple-A Nashville. And then there’s also Luis Lara with 33 hits and 19 total walks across 24 Triple-A contests this season.

Another nice story this month? Braylon Owens (33% Whiff% in May as of this writing) picked up 35 strikeouts over 25 innings, second-most in the Midwest League this season.

Josh Knoth, who missed all of 2025, struck out 13 over his first 11 innings this season. Knoth, a first-rounder from 2023 out of Long Island in New York, missed all of last season.

Cardinals

We may be getting close to a Joshua Baez promotion.

Baez, heading into play on May 30, had 15 batted balls considered barrels, for a 22.4% Barrel%. That raw total was the most among Triple-A hitters, and that top 25 in that level also saw the likes of Leo Bernal (15.4%) and recently-promoted Jimmy Crooks (19.5%) make that cut, as well.

There’s still a lot of chase (36% in May) in Baez’s game, which is a concern. Particularly when it comes to fastballs, with a 34% rate on four-seamers. But still, anytime a bopper can belt 10 home runs in a single month at the Triple-A level, you have to pay attention.

Josh Kross (30% FB%), a sixth-round two years from Cincinnati, had a fine month with 27 hits, including five home runs, over 22 contests.

Jesus Baez (six home runs) is an uber-aggressive hitter who takes fewer than 48% of the time and demonstrated pop seen at the High-A level last season. But there are holes in that game of his.

Rainiel Rodriguez sported an OPS of .503 in his first 13 games with Double-A after he was promoted from High-A.

Liam Doyle (40% Whiff% in May) has been simply excellent, as he approaches the one-year anniversary of the 2025 MLB Draft. Thirty-five strikeouts in the Texas League this month, second-most in that circuit and behind someone who was just ahead of him in the draft and taken by Seattle.

Cubs

We’re still waiting for Ethan Conrad, the Cubs’ 2025 first-round pick, to make his pro debut. But for now, there’s still plenty of other figures to write about, with respect to that franchise.

Pedro Ramirez was one of the best stories out of the Cubs’ farm system this year. Ramirez was promoted to the Majors on May 22 after what was a torrid run through Triple-A last season. It not only made him a Major Leaguer but also changed the perception a bit on someone who may very well be a nice piece of the Cubs’ future; however, he may fit into the organization long-term.

Aside from him, another one to watch in the Cubs’ system is Kane Kepley. Kepley was Chicago’s second-round pick from 2025, an elite speedster from UNC who has done nothing but get on-base and swipe bases. Overall, Kepley walked 45 times and stole 28 bases across 41 contests for High-A South Bend.

And what also works in his favor is not a ton of called strikes (30% in May) among those takes. Plus, an elite Whiff% (12.8%) rate.

The Cubs also have another one of those great contact hitters in Ty Southisene. who had 31 hits and 11 stolen bases across 21 contests with High-A South Bend as of this writing. Like with Kepley, not too much power with Southisene; he’s never hit a pro home run. But the former fourth-round (19.4% Whiff%) can hit.

Pierce Coppola (37% Whiff%) had a nice month, with 28 strikeouts over 17 innings for Low-A Myrtle Beach.

Pirates

If you’re in North Carolina, you might want to see the Greensboro Grasshoppers. Why? That team has some firepower, to say the least.

Nine players on the Grasshoppers hit five or more home runs this month for the squad. That list includes ex-college standouts Easton Carmichael and Jared Jones, two well-known sluggers in Axiel Piaz and Tony Blanco Jr., Yordany De Los Santos, Wyatt Sanford, Jhonny Severino, and Edward Florentino.

Florentino hit five home runs for High-A Greensboro, as the 19-year-old has been playing since he missed the first few weeks of 2026 on the injured list. There hasn’t been a ton of swing-and-miss (28%) in Florentino’s game, and he’s taken his pitches. It’s important to note that, as his batting average is below .230 this month.

Seth Hernandez joined the High-A team in May after he received a mercy promotion (and by mercy, we mean the hitters in the FSL don’t need to face him anymore) from Low-A. As we noted earlier in the month, he had a 52% swing-and-miss rate before that promotion.

However, Hernandez walked 11 times across 12 innings with the Grasshoppers.

Reds

Time for more tables. This one, in particular, is for the Florida State League, and who’s been having some problems down there for the Reds:

Breaking balls have killed Tyson Lewis, who came into 2026 as one of the more notable “prove it” hitters in the Reds’ system. The tools are there but the swing-and-miss was a real problem for him last year. And that’s been the case in 2026, although the numbers in May (32% overall) weren’t terrible.

Mason Neville, who played with Lewis this year in Daytona, has been struggling at the plate in general. Fifty-eight strikeouts over 33 games with the Tortugas, and more swing-and-miss (45% Whiff% in May). The Reds sent him to the ACL this month, as he looks for a reset.

But in better news, Edwin Arroyo could be headed to an infield in Cincinnati very soon. Eight home runs and 36 total hits this May, and a sub-20% swing-and-miss rate. Now, the Chase% (41% in May) is concerning, and it’s on every and any pitch. A 36% rate on four-seamers, and he’s not the only one who likes to expand outside. Hector Rodriguez (37% on four-seamers) and Rece Hinds (no longer with the team) were and are aggressive, as well.

Just something to keep in mind.

Lastly, Alfredo Duno is having no problems at High-A. Duno is tied for second in the Midwest League in home runs with 10, four behind Andrew Fischer of the Brewers.

Check out more of our Minor League coverage.