Brewers' compensation for lost 2024 draft pick finalized with intriguing 2025 selection

The Milwaukee Brewers 2024 draft class is shaping up to be a special one. Reviewing the Brew's Tyler Miller took a deep dive into the top five picks from a season ago and graded the picks after their first year in professional baseball. Matt Arnold and the Brewers' front office received near-perfect marks for their early-round selections in last year's draft, which was headlined by HS outfielder Braylon Payne, who was taken with the 17th overall pick.

However, despite the Brewers’ 2024 draft class being one of the best, it could have been even better. With the 67th overall pick in last year's draft, the Brewers selected promising high school pitcher Chris Levonas. When the Crew made the pick, they knew two things: the first was that Levonas was likely to honor his commitment to Wake Forest and forgo his offer from the Brewers, and the second was that if they did draft him and he chose not to sign with them, they would be awarded a compensation pick in the 2025 draft.

In the end, Levonas opted to attend Wake Forest, and as a result, the Brewers were given the 68th overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. Now, with the Brewers’ selection of left-handed prep pitcher Frank Cairone, it's easier to stomach the Crew missing out on the talent of Levonas a season ago.

Brewers select Frank Cairone with compensation pick from failing to sign Chris Levonas in 2024

In the end, the Brewers got their prep pitcher. However, unlike Levonas, Cairone is a southpaw, and at just 17 years old, he holds some serious potential. Despite not initially ranking high on many draft prospect leaderboards, Cairone's performance at showcases this spring and the MLB Draft Combine last month put him on several teams’ radars.

As noted on Prep Baseball Report, Cairone's velocity touched 96 mph in the spring, and he pairs it with a breaking ball that averages more than 3000 rpm. He's described as having a "silky smooth arm stroke" by Prep Baseball Report. It's a relatively effortless delivery from the 6'2" left-hander, which suggests that there's more potential that can be tapped into.

The Brewers should have the money to lure Cairone away from a commitment to Coastal Carolina, as they have selected several college players so far in this year's draft who generally require smaller signing bonuses than high schoolers. Paired with J.D. Thompson, a left-hander who the Brewers selected in the second round, and Jacob Morrison out of (ironically) Coastal Carolina, who they drafted in the third round, Milwaukee has added some intriguing arms to their farm system on the first day of the 2025 MLB Draft.