Brewers First Round News

The First Year Player Draft kicks off in just a few short hours.  Players are constantly shifting around the draft board in the hours before picks start getting made, so speculation is still fun and a bit challenging.

I will be around all day to update anything and everything I hear out of the Brewers’ war room, but for now, I’d like to show you what I think Milwaukee will be getting out of the first round tonight.

The Brewers have the 12th and 15th pick in the first round, and they will be getting a lot of value out of that position. This year’s draft class is stocked with great pitching and position players, so there really isn’t a miss in the night.

Milwaukee – like everyone else in the league – is always on the lookout for more pitching, and beyond that there isn’t a lot of glaring holes in the farm system. This gives the Crew a little bit of freedom in terms of who they want and pick out the best talent out of the group.

Here’s how I see the two first round picks breaking down:

With the 12th Pick…

Taylor Jungmann RHP (Texas)

From everything I’ve been seeing, the Brewers have had their eye on Jungmann for a little while now, hoping he was going to drop out of the top ten and right into their lap. It is a distinct possibility, and Taylor would be an excellent pick. Jungmann has mid-90’s heat and a decent change, but what really impresses everyone is his work ethic. He has three complete games this season, and can regularly work deep into games. He needs a little bit of work, but I think he will make a great addition to any starting rotation.

Other Possibilities

There are a lot of teams with their eyes on Jungmann, so don’t be surprised if he isn’t around when we get on the clock. I think the Brew Crew will still take a pitcher with their first pick. Here are a couple of other people that could end up with Milwaukee

Jed Bradley LHP (Georgia Tech)

Our new minor league blog Seedlings to Stars is picking Jed for Milwaukee. Bradley has three pitches to work with right now, and like Jungmann he’s a workhorse who’s eager to keep improving. He’s going to need some coaching to really get his talent shaped, but I would not be upset to see him get picked.

Matt Barnes RHP (UConn)

Matt Barnes is a four-pitch righty who spent the last two years tearing up the Big East, Cape Cod League and Team USA tryouts. He has a blistering fastball and a very good curve, and so far the word has stayed pretty quiet on him. If he can keep out of the top ten, he would be a perfect pick for Milwaukee as well.

With the 15th Pick…

Javier Baez SS/3B (Arlington County Day HS, FLA)

Javier is one of the better High School infield prospects in the draft this year, and even though he projected all over the board in a lot of mock drafts, I feel like he fits well in the 10-20 range and would be available to pick up when the Brewers second pick comes around. Scouts love his bat and think he can hit equally well for power or average. He has a good arm and might end up being the long term solution the Brewers need in the infield. If he’s still available I think he’s the obvious pick.

Other Possibilities

Taylor Guerrieri RHP (Spring Valley HS, SC)

Guerrieri is another High Schooler the Brewers have been hot on, and he seems to be the consensus pick for Milwaukee at 15. Word on him says he has four decent pitches, including one of the best High School fastballs in the nation and wicked curveball. There are some whispers about his work ethic and a few other ‘behavioral problems’ that have the higher teams shying away from him. I don’t expect Milwaukee to pick him if Baez is on the board, but it would be fun to watch him develop into a future starter.

Mikie Mahtook OF (LSU)

Mahtook is power hitting outfielder that has speed on the base path and a pretty decent arm. Scouts see him as a pretty classic “five tool” player with plenty of upside. He’s coming off a great career at LSU which has produced some excellent outfield prospects (including Leon Landry, who is currently in the NFL). I would like to see him go to the Brewers simply for the sake of stockpiling offensive power – I’m just not sure he’ll be there when we want him.

Corey Spangenberg 3B (Indian River JC, FLA)

Spangenberg is a Ju-Co contact hitter that has been recieving a lot of looks as we get closer to the draft, and he is projected to go anywhere from the top ten to the bottom of the first round. He has a decent bat and can play multiple positions, which bodes well for him as a development project. Scouts aren’t sold on his arm, but they love his bat and he has quick feet. It’s never a bad idea to try to bolster your infield, but I think we will let Corey go if anyone else I’ve mentioned is still on the board at 15.

We’re about two hours from the opening of the draft now, and for the first time I’m actually excited about following it. It’s amazing what a little research does. Milwaukee is in a prime position to pick up some great future talent here. Stay tuned to Reviewing the Brew and we will keep you updated as the picks come in. If you have any ideas of who you’d like to see Milwaukee take or think that I’m way off base here, feel free to drop me a line in the comment section.