The Milwaukee Brewers have officially signed supplemental first round pick Tristen Lutz.
Lutz was selected 34th overall out of James Martin Senior High School in Arlington, Texas. By signing this deal with the Milwaukee Brewers, he is turning down the offer to go to the University of Texas.
The team was able to sign their first round pick Keston Hiura for half a million dollars under pick value. That money went into inking Lutz, as he signs for $2,352,000. For the slot he was selected, the value was set at $1,983,600. All predictions say the money is well worth it.
Milwaukee’s newest member is an outfielder who bats from the right side. Scouts are impressed with his 6’3″ 210 pound build. But what was even more impressive was how far along his power is, despite his young age.
In high school he played center. However, as a professional he will move around to find his home. With a power bat, strong arm, and speed that will not impress anyone, Lutz looks to be a right fielder when it is all said and done.
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He was named Offensive Player of the Year by SportsDay after hitting .430 during his senior year. He also led his area with 11 homer runs and 49 RBIs.
Obviously his power comes from his large frame, but the scouts all say he has tremendous bat speed. That couples well with pitch recognition to make Lutz an exciting prospect for the Milwaukee Brewers.
During a draft there is a lot of talk about who these new professionals are comparable to. It is a useful tool to try and predict where a player may end up. The only comparable I have found for Lutz is Edwin Encarnacion. That is strictly his bat, as Lutz is more athletic than Encarnacion was in his prime.
Because Lutz is coming from high school there will be a definite learning curve to professional pitching. It may take him longer than it will the players coming from college. Part of the value in this pick was the monstrous upside, though. Whatever time it may take, if he puts it all together, it will be worth it.
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There is a legitimate chance that once Lutz adjusts to professional pitching his stock rises and he shoots though the minors. While anything can happen, scouts are very high on this draft pick. He can be a force in the Milwaukee Brewers lineup for years to come.