Milwaukee Brewers: 3 Outfield Prospects To Know For The MLB Draft

We’re rapidly approaching draft day and all of the Milwaukee Brewers’ scouts and crosscheckers are in town to make the final preparations for the MLB Draft. If the Brewers have depth at any position throughout the organization, it’s the outfield. After going with outfielders in the first round of the last two drafts, could they go to that well one more time and take an outfielder with their first pick? It’s entirely possible.

Jim Callis of MLB.com has the Milwaukee Brewers selecting an outfielder in his latest mock draft. They are also connected to a couple of high school outfielders. There figure to be plenty of options available to Tod Johnson and David Stearns at the ninth pick. According to Johnson, there are still 10-12 players still under consideration for the selection.

So who could these players be? Obviously he won’t tell us ahead of time but there figure to be some outfielders in that mix. There’s a number of outfielders that will go in the top half of the first round. Here are three of them that are likely to be selected by the Milwaukee Brewers.

Jordon Adell, OF, Ballard (Kentucky) HS

Adell was the outfielder mocked to the Brewers in Jim Callis’ latest predictions. He’s also been connected to the Brewers in many other mock drafts as well. The Brewers love athletic, toolsy outfielders and none are toolsier or more athletic than Adell.

Adell runs well, plays good defense and has a strong arm. He also displays plus power. What worries scouts the most is his tendency to swing and miss. The Louisville commit has trouble catching up to fastballs and doesn’t recognize breaking pitches that well.

He can also pitch a little, but figures to be drafted as a position player despite flashing a 97 MPH fastball. Adell looks like the high school player that will be drafted early, but needed to go to college to fix some problems. His issues are minor now, but they will be exploited into major issues at the professional level.

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Austin Beck, OF, North Davidson (N.C.) HS

Beck is the other high school outfielder pundits believe is a fit with the Milwaukee Brewers. Beck had ACL surgery a year ago and was unable to play in wood bat leagues as a result. Scouts look to the results of these wood bat leagues to see if prospects can hit at the professional level without an aluminum bat. Missing out on that opportunity leads scout to be uncertain if Beck can hit with wood just as well as he can with metal.

He still possesses all five tools, albeit with fewer questions about swing-and-miss issues that plague Adell. The only question about his bat is if it works well using wood. If Beck can hit with a wood bat, he has the potential to put together 25-homer, 25-steal seasons.

The University of North Carolina commit displays solid defense in center, but he may be better suited for right field at the Major League level.

Adam Haseley, OF, Virginia

Haseley’s stock has soared as much as anyone’s throughout the draft process. He now projects to be a top 10 pick. While Haseley has also worked as the starting pitcher for Virginia in 11 games and posted a 7-1 record (although a pitcher’s record is meaningless) with a 3.58 ERA, he projects as an outfielder at the professional level.

Haseley slashed .390/.491/.659 with 14 homers and 56 RBIs this season. He walked 44 times compared to only 21 strikeouts and racked up 10 stolen bases. He won’t steal a ton of bases, but shows above average speed. There’s plenty of potential in Haseley’s swing and more power will be unlocked as he develops.

Haseley possesses some attributes that Beck and Adell do not, namely versatility and a left handed swing. Both are aspects the Milwaukee Brewers covet in a prospect. Haseley can play all three outfield spots, and is as left-handed as they come. He may not have all the tools that Beck or Adell have, but scouts aren’t questioning his hitting ability like Beck and Adell.

Haseley’s stock may have soared too high for the Brewers to select him with the ninth pick. But he  would make a nice selection if he was available. Brewers fans don’t want to see another outfielder in the system and would like to see talent at other positions. However, of the three names listed here, Haseley would be the guy that will make a faster impact.

Next: Which Shortstops Could The Brewers Draft?

The Milwaukee Brewers will draft the best player available to them and if that’s an outfielder then they will draft another outfielder. These three guys figure to be in the mix early in round 1. The MLB Draft is as unpredictable as they come and it’s impossible to know who will all be available when the ninth pick rolls around.