Instant Takeaways: Brewers Select 2B Mike Boeve In Round 2 Of MLB Draft

With the 54th overall pick, sitting in the 2nd round of the 2023 MLB Draft, the Milwaukee Brewers selected Nebraska-Omaha infielder Mike Boeve. Here are my instant takeaways from this selection:

• After going with a college corner infielder and a high school pitcher with their first two picks, the Brewers round out Day 1 with a more typical hit over power infielder with elite bat to ball skills from the college ranks.

• Boeve compares similarly to Tyler Black, an early Brewers selection back in 2021. The Brewers go back to a hitter with traits they've targeted in the past. Boeve was ranked 81st on MLB Pipeline's big board.

• The standout tool with Boeve is the hit tool, which stands out as a true plus tool. It's the only plus tool in his profile, but his bat to ball skills are exceptional.

• This year for Nebraska-Omaha, Boeve hit an astonishing .401/.512/.563 with 15 doubles, just four homers, 32 walks, and only nine strikeouts. Boeve does not strike out. He makes a ton of contact but he also has the patience and pitch recognition to draw walks.

• The power is nothing to write home about with Boeve. He doesn't drive the ball in the air, focusing instead on making contact and just getting on base. The speed also isn't anything special, so he doesn't profile as a stolen base threat. He stole just six bases this year for Nebraska-Omaha.

• Defensively, Boeve doesn't have a perfect home right now. He's likely a fit at second base due to his fringe arm strength. He lacks the home run power to lock down a corner infield spot. He'll need to be an offensive minded second baseman, and there's a good reason to believe the bat will play.

• Boeve is from a mid-major program, which the Brewers haven't been shy about taking hitters from before. He really boosted his draft stock last year in the Cape Cod League when he played well against elite competition. The Brewers do love players who perform well on the Cape.

• This is more of a typical Brewers selection. Up the middle guy, a second baseman, with standout contact ability. Milwaukee went away from their mold over the last few years with their first two picks, but they go back to their tried and true draft philosophy in round two.

This was the Brewers final pick of Day 1. Their next selection is in Round 3 on Monday with the 87th overall pick