MLB Draft expert thinks Brewers will steal preseason No.1 overall pick

The 2025 MLB Draft is about six weeks away, with the event commencing on July 13. Milwaukee is one organization poised to add a lot of talent in the early portion of the draft, with four picks coming in the first 68 selections.

Through the Competitive Balance Round-B phase of the MLB Draft, Matt Arnold and company have picks at No. 20, No.32, No.59, and No.68 overall. The Brewers previously owned pick No.33 as well, but they traded that Competitive Balance Round-A pick to the Boston Red Sox during the Quinn Priester deal.

During the 2024 MLB Draft, the Brewers surprised many by taking High School outfielder Braylon Payne 17th overall. They then added slugger Blake Burke 34th overall during the Competitive Balance Round-A portion.

This year, the 2025 MLB Draft class does not have a definite top 10, which could result in players falling. One expert on the subject, Jim Callis of MLB.com, believes that the preseason No.1 overall projection could fall to Milwaukee in the first round.

Outfielder Jace LaViolette of Texas A&M predicted to fall to the Milwaukee Brewers during the 2025 MLB Draft

6'6" left-handed swinging and throwing Jace LaViollete was regarded as the top prospect entering the 2025 collegiate season. He set a freshman record with 21 home runs in 2023, and followed that up with 29 more his sophomore season as well as a 1.175 OPS and a trip to the 2024 Men's College World Series Finals.

This year, the outfielder isn't quite replicating that success, but he is still having a tremendous season. LaViolette has hit 18 home runs through 56 games and has maintained a 1.003 OPS. MLB.com now has him ranked as the 15th-best prospect in this year's draft.

The issue clouding LaViollete has been swing and miss. While his strikeout rates by year are not too crazily high, as evidenced by a K rate of 26.7% his freshman year, 24.2% as a sophomore, and 25.1% this year, Callis mentioned that he's frequently whiffed on hittable pitches, both fastballs and breaking balls.

It will be interesting to see where LaViollete ends up going in this year's draft. His power potential makes him a certain first-round pick, but what organizations think of his greatest weakness will play a big factor towards where he lands.