Brewers give a close-up to up-and-coming talent with new video series

The Milwaukee Brewers are hoping to familiarize the fan base with the next wave of talent, debuting the first episode of an in-house video series called "The Freshmen" looking at some of Milwaukee's up-and-coming players.

The 18-minute debut episode took a look at Garrett Mitchell, who made his big-league debut with Milwaukee last year, and his fellow members of the Milwaukee outfield prospect triumvirate, Joey Wiemer and Sal Frelick. The episode also spends time on infielder Brice Turang, who's had a strong spring training with the Brewers this year.

And yes, the series will eventually give a look at Jackson Chourio, a 19-year-old among the top 10 prospects in all of baseball, though he was only mentioned briefly in the first episode.

More:How might the Milwaukee Brewers' 2023 opening day roster shape up? Here's an early look.

Frelick, who's been busy with Team Italy during the World Baseball Classic, had a chance to flash his personality in practice footage and as an interviewee.

"He walks around the ballpark like he's the guy, like he's the best player on the planet," said Tom Flanagan, the team's player operations and baseball administration vice president. "And that's not a dig on Sal by any means. I think that's with a lot of these guys, a common trait that the best players have."

Joey Wiemer, another regular at spring training for the Brewers this year, garnered strong praise from Brewers general manager Matt Arnold.

"It's the kind of bat speed that makes you stand up in your chair," Arnold said. "He sent a video of himself swinging a snow shovel in a snowstorm. That's the kind of guy he is, he's got that blue-collar mentality … but the tool set is top end."

With Tyrone Taylor sidelined by injury for at least a month to open the year, Mitchell stands to be the Opening Day center fielder for the Brewers after he hit .312 with a .373 on-base percentage, two homers and eight stolen bases in 68 plate appearances last year. The 24-year-old was Milwaukee's first-round choice in 2020.

It could be a year full of new stars for the Brewers. Turang, Milwaukee's first-round pick in 2018 out of high school, was a difference maker for Class AAA Nashville last season, playing primarily shortstop but also seeing time at second base, third base and center field. Felick, the club's 2021 first-rounder, saw his numbers actually increase upon promotion to AAA, where he hit .365 with a .943 OPS, four homers and nine stolen bases in 215 plate appearances.

Wiemer, a fourth-round pick in 2020, has made a name for himself with his power, swatting 48 career homers and 52 doubles in the minors with 61 stolen-bases while getting caught just nine times.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers to go behind-the-scenes with young stars in video series