Brewers fall to Cubs 5-3 on June 19, 2025, as Christopher Morel's homer bests Freddy Peralta. Is top prospect Brock Wilken the answer to their struggles?
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Another tough night at the Friendly Confines. The Milwaukee Brewers battled but ultimately fell to the Chicago Cubs 5-3, dropping another crucial NL Central contest. While the loss smarts, especially against a division rival, a different story is brewing down on the farm—one that might hold the answer to one of the team's most glaring needs.
Through 64 games, Brock Wilken leads all of Double-A with 18 home runs and ranks third in the league with a staggering .944 OPS.
The Brewers just couldn't solve Wrigley Field on Thursday. Freddy Peralta was solid but not spectacular, striking out eight but getting tagged for four runs (three earned) over 5.2 innings. The big blow came from Christopher Morel's two-run homer in the fifth, which proved to be the difference-maker. Offensively, it was a familiar story of missed opportunities. William Contreras continued his strong campaign with a 2-for-4 night including an RBI double, but the rest of the lineup couldn't string enough together to overcome the deficit. A late rally fell short, and the Brewers now sit at 39-36, still looking up at the Cubs in the standings.
While the big-league club struggled, third base prospect Brock Wilken was likely mashing another baseball somewhere in Biloxi. The slugging prospect is putting on an absolute clinic in Double-A. His 18 homers and 34 extra-base hits lead the entire level, and his .550 slugging percentage and .944 OPS are elite. With the Brewers getting inconsistent production from the hot corner all season, the calls for Wilken are growing louder. A promotion to Triple-A Nashville seems imminent, which would put him just one step away from Milwaukee. His power bat could be the exact jolt this lineup needs for the second half.
The loss to the Cubs is a frustrating setback, but the season is a marathon. The Crew needs to find a way to generate more consistent offense to support their pitching. As they look to salvage the series, fans will have one eye on the field in Chicago and the other on the box scores from the minor leagues. The rise of Brock Wilken isn't just a feel-good story; it could be the key to unlocking the Brewers' full potential this season.
