Brewers sign another former first-round pick to minor league pact ahead of 2026 season

Another day, another former first-round pick heading to the Milwaukee Brewers organization.

Though it is yet to be confirmed by the team, according to MLB insider Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com, who reported the Brewers' interest in catcher Reese McGuire just days before the team signed him, Milwaukee has agreed to a minor league contract with outfielder Jordyn Adams.

As Cotillo notes, Adams was a multi-sport athlete in high school before he was selected by the Angels with the 17th overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the fact that Adams was set to attend the University of North Carolina as a wide receiver, the now 26-year-old outfielder is incredibly fast -- 98th percentile sprint speed fast. MLB Pipeline handed Adams a grade of 80 (on the 20-80 scouting scale) for his run tool -- 80s are rarely given out by prospect evaluators.

However, despite his speed, the rest of Adams' game has yet to break through, and as a result, he's struggled to find big-league opportunities. Though he did make his debut with the Angels back in 2023, Adams collected just five hits in his first 40 major-league plate appearances. The following season, 2024, he earned even fewer opportunities, and shortly after the campaign came to an end, Adams was designated for assignment.

The former first-round pick landed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles prior to the 2025 season, and had two brief stints with the big-league club, but Adams failed to record a hit, and was mostly used as a defensive replacement and pinch runner. Now, the 26-year-old speedy outfielder joins the Brewers hoping to find the success that has eluded him up to this point in his career.

Brewers reported addition of outfielder Jordyn Adams continues two trends present in Milwaukee's recent transactions

Given the swath of outfielders on the Milwaukee's 40-man roster, and the several more they have signed to minor league contracts this offseason, it's difficult to imagine Adams seeing much playing time in a Brewers uniform this season, but his signing does adhere to two trends that the organization's front office has created in their recent transactions.

As previously mentioned, Adams is a former first-round pick, though many were surprised by the Angels' selection seven years ago. The Brewers have recently made a habit of acquiring former first-round picks, whose careers have stalled, and trying to tap into the potential that made teams so interested in them in the past. The trend includes major success stories like Quinn Priester and Andrew Vaughn, but it has also extended to the organization's minor league signings. In addition to Adams, both Greg Jones and the aforementioned McGuire, whom the Brewers have signed to minor league contracts this offseason, are former first-round picks.

The strategy makes sense; these players had enough talent that a major league organization saw fit to use their first-round selection on them. Yes, the MLB draft differs from other amateur drafts in that there's another factor -- bonus pool money -- impacting teams' selections, but even still, Adams was the 37th overall draft prospect according to MLB Pipeline back in 2018. Not every former first-rounder that the Brewers add to their organization will tap into the potential that made them a coveted draft prospect years ago, but draft pedigree means something, and when it only requires a minor league contract to add these players, why not make the low-risk, high-reward move?

The second strategy that Milwaukee has clearly adopted in recent seasons is adding players to their organization who have impressive speed. Already this offseason, the Brewers have signed Jones, Dasan Brown, and now Adams to minor league contracts, all three of whom at one point earned a grade of 80 for their run tool from MLB Pipeline.

The Brewers continue to hunt for market inefficiencies -- something they must do to remain competitive in a league where their payroll is a fraction of the size of the teams they compete with. In other words, the Brewers have to find value that doesn't cost much on the open market. Speed and draft pedigree are two factors that could lead to value, but don't necessarily require much of a financial commitment to acquire. Jordyn Adams has both speed and draft pedigree, and while that certainly doesn't guarantee success, it's an intriguing profile to add to the organization, especially on a minor league deal.