Brewers: Where Will The Brewers Be Selecting In The 2022 MLB Draft?

Although still several months away, the Milwaukee Brewers now know where they will be picking in the first round of the 2022 MLB Draft.

With MLB’s Collective Bargaining Agreement expiring this December, there’s a chance new rules will be in place regarding the MLB Draft for next season and beyond. While there could be a push for anti-tanking measures and changing how the draft order is calculated, it’s far from a guarantee that will occur.

While the overall structure may change a little bit, what is for sure is that the Brewers will be selecting very late in the first round on account of their division title in 2021.

With a record of 95-67, the Milwaukee Brewers will get the 27th overall selection in the 2022 MLB Draft.

Milwaukee was tied with the Houston Astros for the 4th best record in baseball, behind the Rays, Dodgers, and Giants. On account of their intra-division record, the Astros are considered the higher seeded team, meaning not only do the Brewers get the better draft pick, but in the event of a Brewers-Astros World Series matchup in 2021, the Astros would have home field advantage.

This essentially means the Brewers, after tiebreakers, have the 5th best record in baseball, which would give them the 5th lowest first round selection.

But in a league with 30 teams, wouldn’t that give them the 26th pick?

Normally, yes. However, there’s an extra first round pick in 2022. Why? Because the New York Mets were unable to sign their 2021 first round selection, Kumar Rocker. They decreased their offer from a previously agreed to amount after a post-draft physical gave the Mets medical staff some concerns. Rocker refused to sign for the lower bonus offer. As per the CBA, if a team is unable to sign their first round selection, they gain a first round pick at a similar spot next year. Rocker was the 10th pick in 2021, and the Mets have the 11th pick as compensation in 2022.

This is how the Brewers got two first round picks in the Top 14 selections in the 2011 draft. They did not sign 2010 10th overall pick Dylan Covey and received the 11th overall pick as compensation, and used that selection on Taylor Jungmann.

The Brewers have had the 27th overall pick just once before in franchise history. It was in 2012 and Milwaukee used that selection on high school catcher-turned-outfielder Clint Coulter. Like most Brewers draft picks from that era, he didn’t work out.

This will be the latest selection the Brewers have had in the first round since 2019 when they selected Mississippi State ace Ethan Small with the 28th overall pick.

The 2022 Draft won’t be until next summer, but Milwaukee will have the 27th overall pick when it does come around.