Brewers: New MLB Mock Draft Has Crew Bucking A Recent Trend With First Round Pick

The 2023 MLB Draft is rapidly approaching and as we get closer, more and more mock drafts are going to be put out as more information gets known.

MLB Pipeline's Jonathan Mayo just put out his first full mock draft and with the 18th overall selection, he has the Brewers bucking one of their own tendencies.

In a new MLB Mock Draft, Mayo has the Brewers selecting high school shortstop Colt Emerson in the first round.

The Brewers have been college-heavy drafters in recent years. Milwaukee's taken college prospects with each of their last four first round selections and six of their last seven. The most recent three were all position players as well.

Yet that didn't stop Mayo from projecting the Brewers to take a high school hitter with their first round pick. This wasn't because Mayo's ignorant of the Crew's tendencies, but rather based on intel he's received.

Milwaukee is always a good spot for college bats (first-rounders from that group each of the last three years), but they’re high on this prep infielder who is rising up boards with a strong spring.

A college bat is always a safe projection for the Brewers in a mock draft, but Mayo is reporting that the Brewers scouting department is "high" on the Ohio prepster Colt Emerson.

One look at Emerson's scouting report, and it's easy to see why.

Everything about Emerson fits what the Milwaukee Brewers like in a draft prospect except the fact that he's in high school instead of college. Pipeline gives Emerson a 60 grade hit tool, which is excellent, and while he doesn't have a lot of present power at 17 years old, he's likely to grow into some.

He has great bat speed, a beautiful swing, and an advanced approach at the plate from the left side, as well as high-level athleticism. Emerson doesn't strike out much, he doesn't chase outside the zone, and he doesn't have an obvious weakness at the plate.

Defensively, he's solid at short but will likely be pushed off the position as he gets closer to the big leagues, potentially to third base where he has an above-average throwing arm.

Mayo is reporting the Brewers are high on Emerson, who's gaining buzz as a first round pick and moving up boards as the Draft gets closer. While Emerson would buck a trend of college players for Milwaukee, the rest of his profile is everything the Brewers like to target.

The 2023 MLB Draft begins on July 9th, and we'll find out who the Brewers select then. If it ends up being Emerson, it will be the first time the Brewers took a high school player in the first round since 2018.