2015 Brewers' 1st-Rd. Pick Speculation

[brewcrewdue80]

Since the potential to make the Playoffs is over and the Brewers are pretty much locked in to either the 17th or 18th(can we really lose a tiebreaker to Toronto in B2B years?) pick for 2015.

 

How about starting the 2015 1st rd pick speculation?

 

Taken from an article Players that may be on the top of the 1st rd:

High School

 

Daz Cameron, OF, Eagles Landing HS, Ga.: The son of former big leaguer Mike, Cameron was one of the best players on the field at the Under Armour All-American Game … a year ago. He's athletic and toolsy, just like his dad was, with an exciting power-speed combination.

 

Justin Hooper, LHP, De La Salle HS, Calif: In 2014, the top high school lefty hailed from San Diego. Next year, it could be the San Francisco Bay Area that can make that claim. Hooper is a 6-foot-6 lefty who's very athletic on the mound, with reports that he's up to the mid-90s with his fastball already.

 

Ryan Johnson, OF, College Station HS, Texas: Johnson joined Cameron as underclassmen at the Under Armour All-American Game a year ago. The TCU commit has some serious potential with the bat. He has bat speed and raw power from the left side of the plate. Big and strong, Johnson has the offensive profile teams look for in corner outfielders.

 

Brendan Rodgers, SS, Lake Mary HS, Fla.: The shortstop has bat speed and good raw power, especially for a middle infielder. He's a smooth and athletic infielder, with good hands and a solid arm, making the Florida State commit the best all-around high school shortstop in the class as of right now.

 

Kyle Tucker, OF, H.B. Plant HS, Fla.: Tucker's older brother is Preston Tucker, currently the No. 20 prospect in the Astros' system. The Florida commit can flat out hit from the left side of the plate, with the chance to have decent power as well. He runs well and plays a solid center field, but it's his bat that lands him on this list.

 

College

 

Alex Bregman, SS, LSU: Taken in the 29th round of the 2012 Draft by the Red Sox, this New Mexico native went on to LSU and has continued to excel. Named the college freshman of the year by Baseball America in 2013, Bregman wasn't quite as productive in 2014, but he has all the tools in the box, maximized by tremendous instincts.

 

Riley Ferrell, RHP, TCU: Serving as the closer for TCU, Ferrell has racked up 15 saves, including a win in Game 1 of the Horned Frogs' Super Regional team. He's consistently been in the upper-90s touching 98-99 mph with regularity. He couples it with a nasty upper-80s slider and has been virtually unhittable all year.

 

Michael Matuella, RHP, Duke: Duke had a rare first-round pick in Marcus Stroman in 2012 and Matuella has the chance to join him. If everything continues to click, he could far surpass him as a potential top-of-the-Draft-type of college arm. He developed into a four-pitch starter with a mid-90s fastball, two distinct breaking balls and a changeup.

 

Nathan Kirby, LHP, Virginia: Kirby dominated as the Friday starter for one of the best college programs in the country, helping Virginia reach the Super Regionals, a year after struggling a bit as a freshman. He carves up hitters with a 92-93 mph fastball and an outstanding power curve. His biggest improvement has been in developing an effective changeup to give him a very intriguing three-pitch mix.

 

Carson Fulmer, RHP, Vanderbilt: Vandy has been cranking out first-round pitching in recent years and Fulmer seems headed in that direction as well. The 15th-round pick in 2012 pitched behind Tyler Beede after moving into the rotation in 2014 and should take the helm as the Friday starter in 2015, using his fastball, breaking ball and changeup to continue carving up the SEC.

 

 

Would be cool to have Mike Cameron's son drafted.

 

Go ahead with thoughts, add on names to look at.

[narwhalattack]

As of right now it doesn't seem likely that Kirby, Matuella, Hooper, Rodgers, and Cameron will be available by the time the Brewers are picking.

[nate82]

I highly doubt the Brewers will have a 1st round pick next year. I wouldn't be surprised if the Mark A went hard after Sandoval and the Brewers lose their 1st round pick with that signing.

 

This is way to early to be talking about the draft right now a lot can happen between now and the draft unless you can predict who will under perform, who will impress some scouts, who will be injured, and if the Brewers will actually have a 1st round pick.

[brewcrewdue80]

This is way to early to be talking about the draft right now a lot can happen between now and the draft unless you can predict who will under perform, who will impress some scouts, who will be injured, and if the Brewers will actually have a 1st round pick.

 

Um, Last year's topic began July 4th. You chimed in your suggestions that day.

 

Why the sudden 180 calling Sept 27th too early to be talking about the draft? We have our draft slot now at 16th...well 17th? after Houston drafts 2nd for not signing Aiken at #1 last year.

 

The purpose of the thread is awareness. As someone mentioned after my post, most of the names I took from an article will likely not be around come 16th selection. Now I'm looking for any names that may be worth keeping a watch on. It's something that to me, I'm looking forward to. Based on current state of the team and within the division, I think the team is about to enter a 3year trend of sub .500 ball. Barring some great trade moves and awesome signings Pittsburgh/St Louis are taking 1-2 in the division next year and the Cubs look to be a strong 3 inching up to #1 in the years after.

 

So Youth is where to find hope. New blood in the organization that someday may lead us back to being competitive. In 2015 who will that be?

[monkeyman343434]

I'm not chiming in with any names, as I haven't done any research about possible talent for next year's draft, but I'm really hoping they don't sign a FA in which they'd lose the first rounder, and I really hope they don't trade away the compensation pick either. That would leave them picking at #17, #35, and #53. I would hope they would be able to draft a trio similar to what they took in 2014. I'd start to feel a lot better about the farm system at that point.

[IndyCrew]

Giving up your first round pick would be an awful thing to do to your new scouting director.

[monkeyman343434]

Kind of a random question, and if DM is still the GM, I don't see him even thinking about this, but what do people think it would cost for the Brewers to acquire another Round A or B Compensation pick?

 

These were the three competitive balance round picks traded last year:

 

Houston receives Baltimore's 2014 Competitive balance round A pick, OF LJ Hoes and SP Josh Hader for SP Bud Norris and International signing bonus slot # 91

 

Pittsburgh recevies Miami's 39th overall draft pick for Bryan Morris

 

# 69 Arizona receives San Diego's 2014 compensation round B draft pick, RP Joe Thatcher and RP Matt Stites for SP Ian Kennedy.

 

Seems to not be that much value given up for these picks. Maybe Miami would be interested in trading their pick again.

 

Wonder if the Crew would be able to pick up an extra pick while dealing a SP this offseason, as part of a bigger package

[JohnBriggs12]

I'm not chiming in with any names, as I haven't done any research about possible talent for next year's draft, but I'm really hoping they don't sign a FA in which they'd lose the first rounder, and I really hope they don't trade away the compensation pick either. That would leave them picking at #17, #35, and #53. I would hope they would be able to draft a trio similar to what they took in 2014. I'd start to feel a lot better about the farm system at that point.

 

Given the choice between feeling a lot better about the farm system or feeling a lot better about the major league team, I'll take feeling a lot better about the major league team and signing Sandoval would do that for me.

[paul253]

signing Sandoval would do that for me.

 

Sandoval

2013: .278/.341/.417

2014 .279/.324/.415

 

Ramirez

2013: .283/.370/.461

2014: .285/.330/.427

 

Sandoval is younger and will play more games but Ramirez' production has been better over the past two years. I'm not sure how signing Sandoval dramatically improves the team. Even if you play him at 1B those are not earth-shattering numbers. No way do I give up the 16th pick to sign Sandoval.

 

As far at the draft goes I will never argue with HS pitching in the first round. I liked the Williams pick and I liked the Medeiros pick (though Holmes is who I wanted). Obviously BPA but I like the HS pitcher route, preferably guys with better stuff as opposed to just extremely hard throwers.

[SRB]

Speculating about specific players this early is a fool's errand, but I will say that getting Mike Cameron's kid would be awesome.

[TooLiveBrew]

Speculating about specific players this early is a fool's errand, but I will say that getting Mike Cameron's kid would be awesome.

He could tell the story about how he always remembers his dad untucking his shirt after a hard day's work...

[colbyjack]

I think there's a huge pool of players that could be considered for the team's first-round pick at No. 17 at this point in time. I agree that Rodgers, Cameron and Matuella are gone by the time the Brewers pick, but I'm not so sure about Nathan Kirby, who has some red flags in his delivery, and Justin Hooper, who has said time and time again that he intends to head to UCLA.

 

I would put prep lefthander Kolby Allard on the list of players that are unlikely to be available at No. 17, as well as Brady Aiken, Phil Bickford and Carson Fulmer.

 

College guys I like that could be available in that range include Bregman, although if he bounces back next spring there's no way he falls, Cincinnati OF Ian Happ, Boston College OF/1B Chris Shaw, Vanderbilt SS Dansby Swanson and Kentucky RHP Kyle Cody, who hails from Chippewa Falls. Cody, like Bregman, is unlikely to be there with a big spring as he's a 6-7 RHP with a mid-90s fastball.

 

Some of my favorite prep players include OFs Jahmai Jones, Daniel Reyes and Mitchell Hansen as well as RHP Austin Smith. Each player mentioned offers a different package to be intrigued by, but next spring, probably more so than most, is going to go a long way to determine the top prospects, and the list then could look significantly different than it does now.

[Roderick]

Since the potential to make the Playoffs is over and the Brewers are pretty much locked in to either the 17th or 18th(can we really lose a tiebreaker to Toronto in B2B years?) pick for 2015.

 

The Brewers have the 16th pick, right?

[TheCrew07]

Since the potential to make the Playoffs is over and the Brewers are pretty much locked in to either the 17th or 18th(can we really lose a tiebreaker to Toronto in B2B years?) pick for 2015.

 

The Brewers have the 16th pick, right?

 

Covered here and here.

[paul253]

Theoretically they could move up if the Reds Marlins Padres Rays Mets or Braves sign a player who turned down a QO correct?

 

And now that Coulter has moved to RF, we are weak in the catching ranks again. Any catchers profile in the 15-20 range? I think now that 3B and SS, with guys like Neuhaus, Lara, Delmonico and DeMuth (3B) and Gatewood, Arcia, and Rivera (SS), have at least been given attention recently, catcher is now our weakest position in terms of both talent and depth.

[TheCrew07]

Yes the Brewers could move up if any of the teams in front of them decide to forfeit their 1st round pick, the draft order won't be finalized until next summer.

[nate82]

Theoretically they could move up if the Reds Marlins Padres Rays Mets or Braves sign a player who turned down a QO correct?

 

 

It is unlikely the Reds or Braves will sign a player in FA. The Padres may but I doubt they will sign anyone that is given a QO and the same can be said for the Rays. So it comes down to the Mets and the Marlins and I don't believe either of those teams will make a play on a FA.

 

I believe it is more likely that the Brewers will lose their 1st round pick than any of those teams picking up a player in FA who have a QO attached to them.

[JohnBriggs12]

signing Sandoval would do that for me.

 

Sandoval

2013: .278/.341/.417

2014 .279/.324/.415

 

Ramirez

2013: .283/.370/.461

2014: .285/.330/.427

 

Sandoval is younger and will play more games but Ramirez' production has been better over the past two years. I'm not sure how signing Sandoval dramatically improves the team. Even if you play him at 1B those are not earth-shattering numbers. No way do I give up the 16th pick to sign Sandoval.

 

As far at the draft goes I will never argue with HS pitching in the first round. I liked the Williams pick and I liked the Medeiros pick (though Holmes is who I wanted). Obviously BPA but I like the HS pitcher route, preferably guys with better stuff as opposed to just extremely hard throwers.

 

Signing Sandoval keeps your from getting substantially worse at a position that had been a strength but won't be with a rapidly declining Ramirez, or a young unproven player. The areas where this team can improve is 1B, RF and SS with a better player at 1B and better seasons from Segura and Braun. Preventing a position from becoming another black hole is just as important as filling a black hole.

 

Sandoval played in a pitchers' park so his numbers would be likely to improve significantly playing in Miller Park too.

[reillymcshane]

 

Sandoval played in a pitchers' park so his numbers would be likely to improve significantly playing in Miller Park too.

Over the last few years,Sandoval has hit equal or better at home (SF) than on the road:

 

Year: Home OPS / Away OPS

2014: .774 / .704

2013: .754 / .761

2012: .874 / .718

 

Doesn't mean he wouldn't get better at Miller Park, but recent history shows SF's ballpark hasn't hurt his hitting.

[pogokat]

I know with confidence that the brewers are talking to Al Jones...he's a name to keep an eye on. He's probably a better fit as a sandwich pick, but I doubt he'll sign unless he goes first round.

[splitterpfj]

My way too early look things - the Brewers' first pick will come from this list...

 

Chris Betts, Catcher, Wilson HS, CA

 

Ian Happ, 2B/CF, Cincinnati

 

Alonzo Jones, 2B/CF, Columbus HS, GA

 

Mike Nikorak, RHP, Stroudsburg HS (PA)

 

Nick Plummer, LF, Brother Rice HS (MI)

[narwhalattack]

My way too early look things - the Brewers' first pick will come from this list...

 

Chris Betts, Catcher, Wilson HS, CA

 

Ian Happ, 2B/CF, Cincinnati

 

Alonzo Jones, 2B/CF, Columbus HS, GA

 

Mike Nikorak, RHP, Stroudsburg HS (PA)

 

Nick Plummer, LF, Brother Rice HS (MI)

 

Even on draft day it will be hard to predict who the Brewers will take. Nobody expected the Brewers to take Medeiros, although we do have a new scouting director.

[splitterpfj]

Narwhal, you're right. Jacob Gatewood was a projected Top 5 pick at this point last year....but heck, its fun to talk about these guys anyway.

[brewcrewdue80]

I just enjoy the list in terms what looks like top 5-10 today are going to be ranked on upside HS or Polished College.

 

I'm happy with the Medeiros pick because he's actually a guy who was moving up the boards. I'm happy with the Gatewood pick because he was a top 5 pick HS'er who has the major upside about him, but didn't showcase the right amount of progress to maintain that steam.

 

See right now I want to read about the projected top 10 today. Read about the Upside of a few of these HS players and then I'll remain excited if/when they happen to fall to Milw. Now if it's that Polished College player who falls to us, I'm probably going to feel disappointed.

 

Again, more or less the point is to have more info about the potential draft picks and maybe when we have a predict the Brewers 1st rd pick someone here can take a guy from that list say they want Milw to select him(with a real possibility) and then can gloat and talk all about how their guess and the Pick is going to be so Fantastic for the Franchise.

[colbyjack]

To splitter's point, Gatewood was mentioned quite a bit in last year's thread on the same topic, especially when we thought the Brewers would have a pick among the top 5 overall. Overall, a fun thread to go back and read:

 

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