Brewers 2021 MLB Draft Prospect Profile: UCSB RHP Michael McGreevy

As the 2021 MLB Draft approaches, here at Reviewing the Brew, we’ll be covering all the bases to help get you prepared with looks at potential Brewers draftees and much more.

Our series profiling draft prospects for the Brewers continues after looks at Kansas State lefty Jordan Wicks and Ole Miss righty Gunnar Hoglund. Today, let’s look at UC-Santa Barbara right-hander Michael McGreevy.

What does 2021 MLB Draft prospect Michael McGreevy bring to the table and could the Brewers look to select him?

Few prospects have risen as much as Michael McGreevy over the past few months. The UCSB Gauchos ace had a dominant 2021 season in the rotation, making 16 starts with a 2.92 ERA in 101.2 IP with 115 strikeouts and just 11 walks.

Read that again. 11 walks to 115 strikeouts in 101.2 IP.

In the shortened 2020 season, McGreevy made four starts and had a 0.99 ERA in 27.1 IP.

The 6’4″, 215 pound righty throws a mid-90s fastball with a plus slider and two other solid secondary pitches in a curveball and changeup. McGreevy’s four pitch mix, plus command, and prototypical size make him an excellent bet to stick in the starting rotation going forward.

The Brewers have coveted pitchers with good command in recent years. Ethan Small, Dylan File, and Alec Bettinger are some prospect examples while Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff have displayed that focus at the big league level. Command can be difficult to develop while rising through the pro ranks, so if a player already has good command coming in, that’s very beneficial.

McGreevy’s dominant performance in 2021 has vaulted him into the first round conversation and he’s continued to climb from there. While most mock drafts currently have McGreevy in the latter half of the first round currently, he could jump a few more spots over the final few weeks leading up to the draft.

The Brewers are likely on the leading edge of McGreevy’s window to be drafted, so there’s a high likelihood he’ll be on the board when the Brewers pick at 15 overall. There may be some other college pitching options available at that spot, but if Milwaukee loves his command and believes they can continue to develop his four pitch mix, he may make some sense at that spot.

MLB Pipeline currently has McGreevy ranked 26th on their list of draft prospects. The UCSB Gauchos were eliminated in the NCAA Regionals, so we won’t see any more of him pitching before the Draft.

Milwaukee could look to stock back up on pitching in the lower levels after drafting all hitters last year. McGreevy has plenty of upside and has been rocketing up draft boards this season. The Brewers might nab a big time talent if they take McGreevy.