Milwaukee Brewers: Top performing 2017 draft picks

As with every draft class there are those who rise above expectations and those who fall. While the Milwaukee Brewers top picks are performing, there are some under the radar selections that are getting the job done.

Many of these players only played in rookie leagues, and they could easily fizzle out against higher competition. But their performances during their first taste as professionals in the Milwaukee Brewers organization bring hope for great value in the selections.

The obvious performer is first round selection Keston Hiura. He top the list of players tearing the cover off of the baseball. His combined numbers across the rookie leagues and full season A ball are simply phenomenal. His .371 batting average couples very nicely with four home runs and seven triples.

His bat is not the question, nor was it ever. It was the injury possibility and glove work that brings him down. Too bad there is no DH in the NL. Although many fans of the Crew may be calling for one following the injury to Jimmy Nelson.

Unfortunately, the time in the minors has not answered any of the fielding questions. He has played three games at second base, resulting in one fielding opportunity. Hiura did make the play, if that is any consolation.

Personally, if he is healthy, I think Hiura’s bat is too good not to plug into lineups. If the situation is dire for defense, just don’t run him out there. There are plenty of different options in the Milwaukee Brewers organization for middle infield. And who is to say that he won’t develop a solid enough glove as he works through the minors. At worst, if he is hitting, Hiura could be shipped off to the AL for some serious value.

As the ninth overall selection, Hiura is expected to hit this way. There are several other picks with great performances as well. While some also come with lofty expectations, others are a bit of a surprise.

If these young players continue to play well, the Brewer future will continue to brighten. Unfortunately, only one of the early draft standouts are pitchers. As hitters get better, it may just take a little more time for arms to adjust. In any case, the hitting is on fire.

Dallas Carroll

After sneaking into the top 10 rounds, the Milwaukee Brewers ninth round pick hit extremely well. In fact, his .336 batting average in Helena warranted a promotion to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

At the next level, Carroll hit .261 through 30 games. That places him third for the team among players who played in as many games or more. His minors career is off to a great start, made evident by the nine homers he has slugged and combined .300 batting average.

Being a third baseman does not make his road any easier. The organization is crawling with talented infielders. His seven errors across both leagues do not help his case. He saw a couple games at second and first, but he is primarily at the hot corner.

Being a mid-season all-star for Helena shows enough potential to find a spot for him. It is not unheard of to transfer a solid bad and strong arm at third to catcher. The Cardinals did that with Carson Kelly, who now sits as the top catcher prospect. No matter what, his bat plays.

Je’von Ward

In terms of getting total value out of a pick, Ward is still the farthest away of anyone on this list. The reason he is worth mentioning is the offensive potential displayed during his time with the Arizona League Brewers where he hit a respectable .276.

It isn’t a number that will shoot off of the page, but the Milwaukee Brewers 12th round pick showed off some tools. He swiped bases, he showed gap power and he hit for a good average from the left side of the plate. Oh, did I mention he is only 17?

That’s right, he is playing straight out of high school. He won’t even be old enough to vote until October. That makes the offensive numbers more impressive.

That being said, there is no excuse for an outfielder to commit nine errors. While his hitting ins on a great track, his glove needs some work. The seems to be a trend for the Brewer youngsters, but that is also what developmental coaching is for.

Dylan File

Finally, the lone pitcher makes his appearance. The Milwaukee Brewers 21st round selection showed glimpses of promise during his time with the Helena Brewers. File appeared in 12 games, starting seven of them, walking away with a 4.02 ERA. That is pretty impressive from a guy who just last year was playing for a Division II college in Utah.

While the 34 strikeouts in 47 innings isn’t going to blow anyone away, it is worth mentioning he only walked 13 batters. The young righty displayed some excellent command of the strike zone to open up his career.

The hope is that File will only get better with time. He put together a solid first season while adjusting to the new level, but the key is to keep improving. He is certainly worth keeping an eye on moving forward.

Brent Diaz

Another catcher who is performing with the bat. This is a good sign. Diaz is the Milwaukee Brewers 29th round selection out of Louisiana Tech. After a shaky performance with the Helena Brewers, he found himself playing in the Arizona rookie league by the end of the season.

In Helena, Diaz put together a season where he hit .267. He went through a stint where he only hit safely three times in 21 at bats. Following that, he found himself demoted. That possible was the best thing for him at the time.

The young backstop hit .368 in Arizona. His bat came alive. If he can continue to mature as a hitter, he can find that success at higher levels. The interesting tool that is presented by Diaz is his speed. Though his four steals may not seem like a lot, for a catcher he has some wheels. And he is smart about it. He was only thrown out once all year.

Kenny Corey

The Milwaukee Brewers 36th round selection is listed a second baseman on his player profile. However, the draft list more accurately lists him as a utility player. During his lone season with the organization, he has seen time at second base, third base, shortstop, left field, and center field. All with a fair degree of success.

While a guy picked so late may not come with a large degree of excitement, his .371 batting average in Arizona is certainly worth noting. He even found success to the tune of a .286 batting average with Helena, along with walking 24 times across both leagues.

For such a late pick, he is showing some kind of talent so far. Again, it is only one year. But it is good to see him finding a groove so quickly.

Next: Who will replace Jimmy Nelson?

There is a reason he was there in the 36th round, and that could surface as he moves through the minors. But late round pick does not mean he can’t blossom into a professional hitter. His defensive flexibility is a huge plus.