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#3 (#21 on WPK Top Prospects list): Starting pitcher Rob Ibarra.
Some history: Rob Ibarra was the first round pick of the Milwaukee Cadets in the 1965 draft as an 18-year old out of Bremen High School in Midlothian, Illinois. He was the 7th overall pick that year. He came to the Brewers on July 24th, 1966 in a multi-player trade which sent relief pitcher David Windecker to the Cadets along with 4 minor leaguers, the most significant being RHP Chris Martin, who is now a member of the Milwaukee bullpen and projected to be a very good starting pitcher as he develops. As a Brewer farm hand, Ibarra has often looked very good and has obvious talents. Unfortunately, it also has turned out that he is very injury prone and he has spent a good deal of the past few years on the disabled list, including having to receive ligament reconstructive surgery on his throwing elbow in the middle of the 1968 season.
About his skills: When healthy, Ibarra displays well-rounded pitching ability with above average movement, potentially above average stuff, and mediocre control. He possesses three pitches which are already considered average to above average with the potential for a devastatingly good change-up. He has great stamina, controls the running game very well, and induces an above average number of groundball outs. But the keys words in this summary are the first two- when healthy. At this point, the rumors are that the organization is thinking very seriously about looking to trade Ibarra before the next big injury occurs and when his stock is still quite high around the league.
What does the future hold?: Well, as stated above, it might well hold a change of scenery to another organization. If the Brewers can get some solid talent in return a trade might make the most sense at this time. Unfortunately, it is starting to look like the Brewers got the bad end of the original deal that brought Ibarra to the team, especially if Chris Martin ends up reaching his potential for the Cadets. (Though it should be noted that the Brewers also got Josh McEwen in this deal, and McEwen is one of the current team leaders and after a rocky start to the 1969 season is now 3-0 with a 1.71 ERA as a middle reliever for the Brewers.)
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