Brewers: Complete grades of their 2021 MLB Draft Class

Round 11 (327): Roc Riggio, 2B/OF, Thousand Oaks (CA) HS

Round 12 (357): Caden Vire, LHP, Skyview (WA) HS

Round 13 (387): Quinton Low, RHP/1B, Chatfield (CO) HS

Round 14 (417): Jace Avina, OF, Spanish Springs (NV) HS

This is the “high upside” portion of the Brewers draft. After neglecting high school talent in the first ten rounds, Milwaukee started Day 3 of the Draft with four prep players.

The best of these is 11th round selection Roc Riggio. Seen by many as a potential 2nd or 3rd round talent, Riggio was actually ranked just four spots behind Brewers second rounder Russell Smith on MLB Pipeline’s big board. He fell to the 11th round due to signability concerns with his commitment to Oklahoma State.

However, the Brewers know Riggio very well. He’s been on their Area Code teams, their scout league teams, and has even been to workouts at Miller Park/American Family Field. With the money they saved on the college picks early on, they should be able to make a strong offer to Riggio.

Riggio is a very talented hitter with lots of raw power as well. Defensively, he could be a second baseman or an outfielder, but the bat is what has the Brewers excited. If they sign him, that’s a huge coup in the 11th round.

Another talented prepster is Caden Vire. He’s what you call a “projectable” lefty given he’s listed as 6’6″ and 170 pounds. There’s a lot of physical growth and maturity left in him that remains to be seen and developed. If Vire and the Brewers feel comfortable trying to develop that at the professional level instead of going to Arizona State, then perhaps a deal can be made.

There’s a lot of risk in Vire given how much projection is left for him, but the Brewers know they will have to be patient with his development if he signs.

Quinton Low was announced as a two-way player, and his position as a hitter is at first base. He has a big bat and some big power and can also throw heat from the mound. You don’t typically see too many high school first basemen drafted, but we’ll see if the Brewers sign him. Plenty of upside there if they sign him away from Santa Clara University.

Jace Avina is another Brewers draftee that’s a great athlete and has a strong hit tool. He can stick up the middle of the field and provide some production offensively. He’s signed to University of Nevada and is not a guarantee to forego college.

There’s plenty of upside in this group, and the Brewers are likely to sign at least one or two of them and if they had to choose just one, Riggio is the one Milwaukee would prefer.

Grade(s): A+ if Riggio signs

B+ if Riggio doesn’t sign