With the 121st pick in the MLB Draft, the Milwaukee Brewers select Tyler McDonough, OF/2B, North Carolina State
There is a lot to like here with Tyler McDonough. A switch hitter, McDonough is an on-base machine with positional versatility up the middle of the field. That just screams everything an analytics-minded front office like the Brewers would love.
Despite playing catcher in high school, McDonough has successfully transitioned to center field thanks to his speed and good baseball instincts. He also played some second base this year as well before the shutdown. Defensively, McDonough has an active streak of 78 straight games without making an error.
MLB Pipeline ranks McDonough as the No. 151 prospect in this draft class.
McDonough has an above-average hit tool and a career .327/.407/.473 slash line for NC State. He doesn’t possess much power – just eight home runs over 1.5 seasons – but he could add some more as he continues to develop.
Power isn’t going to be a huge part of his game as he profiles more as a leadoff-type hitter, just looking to make contact and put the ball in play than drive the ball. For his college career, McDonough has just a 15.8% strikeout rate.
One scout that MLB Pipeline talked to said that McDonough was a “grinder in the mold of Adam Eaton“. Being called a grinder is certainly a positive in scouting circles and the Brewers wouldn’t be disappointed with finding a guy like Adam Eaton in the fourth round.
McDonough can play multiple positions, he can play up the middle, he’s a switch hitter, he’s fast, and he has an above average hit tool. He looks like a dream selection here in the fourth round.
Especially in this mock draft where the Brewers have not gotten an up-the-middle position player that’s not a catcher to this point, grabbing one here in the fourth would be a great spot. It’s a solid bet that the Brewers will grab at least one, if not two players that play either middle infield or center field. With McDonough, they get a guy that can play both.