Milwaukee Brewers: Whats the 2007 draft class up to?

What happened to the 2007 Milwaukee Brewers draft class? A few players drafted then are still making an impact in 2018.

In 2007, the Milwaukee Brewers signed 32 of the 46 players they drafted. Of the unsigned players, only left-hander Chad Bell enjoyed a cup of coffee in the Major Leagues. All of the Brewers first four draft picks played at least one game at baseball’s highest level.

Who made it to the Majors?

The Milwaukee Brewers started their 2017 draft by taking first baseman Matt LaPorta seventh overall out of the University of Florida. LaPorta looked like a ‘can’t miss bat’ ahead of the draft. He actually did miss.

LaPorta never played for the Brewers. He was flipped to the Cleveland Indians as part of the package for C.C. Sabathia. He spent parts of four seasons in Cleveland, but never found the success that was predicted. LaPorta was out of baseball before he turned 30.

Jonathan Lucroy was selected in the third round, and he’s still chugging along in the Majors at 31 years old. He blasted 79 homers and posted a .779 over seven season in Milwaukee.

Fourth rounder Eric Farris and fifth rounder Caleb Gindl both appeared in the Majors. Gindl is still working his way through the Minors, while Farris hung up his spikes after the 2016 season.

10th rounder Eric Fryer and 14th rounder Donovan Hand also made a few appearances at the Major League level. Fryer has managed to appear in 159 games over parts of seven seasons in the Majors.

Was there anyone else who found success?

Well, not in America. The Milwaukee Brewers drafted Zelous Wheeler in the 19th round as a third baseman. Wheeler did appear in the Majors with the New York Yankees in 2014. However, he choose to sign with Rakuten Golden Eagles of the Japanese Pacific League in 2015. From 2015 to 2017, Wheeler blasted 72 homers and posted an .824 OPS in 373 games. He’s still with Rakuten, but he’s only hit four homers with a .676 OPS in 47 games this year.

Any players with famous relatives taken?

Yes. The Milwaukee Brewers took outfielder Joey Paciorek out of Blaine High School in the 15th round. Paciorek is the son of Jim Paciorek, and the nephew of Tom Paciorek.

Next: What happened to the 2013 draft class?

The 2017 Milwaukee Brewers draft class essentially provided one capable player to the Major League roster, but it did have a greater impact. Without LaPorta, the Brewers never get Sabathia. If the goal of a draft is to find players who will make the Major League roster better, the 2007 draft class accomplished that.