Milwaukee Brewers Sign 1st Round Pick OF Trent Clark

With the 15th overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft, the Milwaukee Brewers selected prep outfielder Trenton Clark out of Richland High School in Texas. Clark was the first player chosen for Milwaukee by Ray Montgomery, headlining a strong draft class in the new Scouting Director’s first year at the helm. It’s been reported that the 18 year old Clark has officially signed with Milwaukee.

Adam McCalvy confirmed the report that Clark had signed. The left handed hitter took batting practice with the big league club earlier today, and will be introduced before the game tonight. Clark’s bonus of $2.7 mil is slightly above slot value at $7,300, but that small amount shouldn’t greatly affect the Brewers’ ability to sign the rest of their picks (the team has already saved in other places).

Before the draft, Trent Clark was rated at the 12th overall prospect by MLB.com, with Baseball America even higher on him at number 10. Four of his tools grade as average or better on the 20-80 scale:

Hit: 60
Power: 50
Run: 55
Arm: 45
Field: 55
Overall: 55

While it was surprising to see Clark fall to number 15 for the Brewers, they are no doubt thrilled to be able to add him to the system. Clark hit .565 with three home runs and five stolen bases in eight games for the gold-medal winning Team USA in the 18 and under Pan American Championship. He’ll likely begin his professional career as a center fielder, though he may have to move to left field down the road due his below average arm.

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Clark reportedly has a rather unorthodox “golf style” grip on the bat, but he is an excellent contact hitter with an advanced approach for a prep hitter. He shows above average bat speed and possesses incredible strength, which should help him develop at least average power. His hit tool is ahead of his power tool, however, which represents a change in philosophy in the higher rounds of the draft under a new regime (the Brewers selected powerful Clint Coulter and Jake Gatewood in the first round of recent drafts).

The Brewers (24-40) will welcome the defending American League champion Kansas City Royals (34-25) to town tonight, marking former manager Ned Yost‘s first visit to Milwaukee since he was fired in 2008. Carlos Gomez was scratched from the starting lineup for the Brewers with right leg tightness. Kyle Lohse (3-7, 6.27 ERA) will take the mound for Milwaukee, facing off against the Royals’ Edinson Volquez (5-4, 3.07 ERA).

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