2018 Draft Pick Discussion, Rounds 21-40

[Jenkins5]

While not the Dillard I called for yearly yesterday (Trey) can never go wrong with a Dillard in the system!

[Jenkins5]

Good read on Brandon Hylton who is a 6’6 220 1B from New Jersey. He is committed to Stetson which is really rising right now. Mixed with how raw he is, & the late pick... college seems likely imo

 

https://www.tapinto.net/towns/warren/articles/former-watchung-hills-standout-brandon-hylton-awa

[JDBrewCrew]

@ScoutTrio

Josh Watson OF TCU has some quick-twitch at the plate. He is athletic and can run a little bit too. Likely headed back to TCU for his senior year. We had a 4th RD Pre-Draft grade on him. Brewers #1055 35th Round. Report:

[JDBrewCrew]

MLB Draft Tracker

Verified account

@MLBDraftTracker

36 (1085): @Brewers select North Iowa Area CC LHS Brandon Williamson. http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/draft/y2018/drafttracker.jsp#ft=team&=mil … #MLBDraft

[JDBrewCrew]

jeff ellis

@jeffMLBdraft

Brandon Williamson was another late cut for me, Brewers taking a lot of these unsignable guys late

 

Jeff Johnson

@jeje66

Iowans in Baseball America's Top 500 MLB Draft list: NIACC P Brandon Williamson (168), Iowa OF Robert Neustrom (189), Kirkwood SS Korry Howell (385), Iowa P Brady Schanuel (408), Iowa P Nick Allgeyer (457), Iowa C Tyler Cropley (472).

 

Mike Tennyson

@MikeTennyson

Expect Brandon Williamson LHP ( Martin Co West HS & NIACC & TCU commit to be drafted today...6’5” w/live arm & 3 sport athlete. ......This follows Fairmont MN HS, NIACC and UK grad Luke Becker drafted Tues by Padres in 9th round...So MN small town baseball stars making good

 

Travis Hergert

@CoachHerg

More Travis Hergert Retweeted MLB Pipeline

MLB Pipeline ranks @NIACCBaseball LHP Brandon Williamson as the top prospect in the state of Iowa!

[JDBrewCrew]

MLB Draft Tracker

Verified account

@MLBDraftTracker

37 (1115): @Brewers select Central Florida (FL) RHP Franklin Hernandez. http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/draft/y2018/drafttracker.jsp#ft=team&=mil … #MLBDraft

[JDBrewCrew]

Scoutcast Baseball

@ScoutcastBB

FR RHP Franklin Hernandez (Dominican Republic) has been a pleasant surprise for @cfpats. Up to 92.4 in this Intrasquad, and has recently climbed to 96 w/ 2400+ spin and 2650 spin on the CB. Pitching coach @CoachBoveCF continues to do his part in developing arms @jucoroute

[JDBrewCrew]

MLB Draft Tracker

Verified account

@MLBDraftTracker

38 (1145): @Brewers select Rosemount HS RHS Aidan Maldonado. http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/draft/y2018/drafttracker.jsp#ft=team&=mil … #MLBDraft

[JDBrewCrew]

2. Aidan Maldonado, RHP, Rosemount (Minn.) HS (BA Rank: 287)

HS • 6-0 • 170 • R-R • Illinois

Maldonado popped up onto the national scouting scene with an impressive performance at the World Wood Bat Championships in Jupiter last October. In that short stint, Maldonado showed a 91-95 mph fastball and a two-plane power curve breaking ball that flashed above-average. Both pitches came from a fast, live arm. The arm strength has been there this spring as well, but he’s been more hittable than scouts would like and evaluators aren’t enamored with his delivery. The Illinois signee could still end up getting some money in the draft, but it’s more likely to come from a team drafting him on day three.

[JDBrewCrew]

MLB Draft Trackert

@MLBDraftTracker

39 (1175): @Brewers select Blue Springs HS (MO) C Caleb Marquez. http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/draft/y2018/drafttracker.jsp#ft=team&=mil … #MLBDraft

[Mass Haas]

"The Brewers know I am going to go to college but they just really liked what I did over the summer and this spring and they believe in me and they want to see me in three years"

 

Central Catholic’s Steve Hajjar drafted by Brewers

By Karl Capen, Boston Globe Correspondent

 

Steve Hajjar intends to honor his scholarship to play baseball at the University of Michigan this fall.

 

But the Central Catholic senior now has another option: pro ball.

 

On Wednesday afternoon, the 6-foot-4 lefthander from North Andover was picked in the 21st round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Milwaukee Brewers, with the 635th overall selection, realizing one of his childhood dreams.

 

Hajjar, the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year, received a call from a Brewers scout while en route to Central’s Super 8 first-round playoff game against Mansfield, an 8-3 victory.

 

“I just got into Haverhill . . . [and the scout] told me that I was drafted in the 21st round and they know I am going to go to college but they just really liked what I did over the summer and this spring and they believe in me and they want to see me in three years,” said Hajjar, who started at first base against Mansfield.

 

“It was just an amazing gesture and I couldn’t stop smiling for about a half an hour. It was one of the best moments of my life”

 

In a 12-4 start for the fourth-ranked Raiders, Hajjar posted a 2-1 record with a 0.26 earned run average and 41 strikeouts. He allowed just 12 total hits and one walk through 27-plus innings of work, and also has a .350 batting average, .490 on-base percentage and .500 slugging percentage.

 

Named the Merrimack Valley Conference Division 1 Player of the Year, Hajjar shut out Andover, 4-0, in his last start, on Saturday.

 

“I just remember being a little kid and saying ‘I want to play in the MLB,’” said Hajjar.

 

“It is every little kids dream, and then today, even though I am not going to go right out of high school, I mean, it is an unreal accomplishment. I never thought I would be drafted out of high school. I just can’t believe it. It is hard to put into words.”

 

“I don’t want to sell myself short, you know? My goal is to be a first rounder in the next three years so that is what I want to do. And if that wasn’t going to happen out of high school, I am going to try and make it happen out of college. That’s the goal.”

 

Central coach Marc Pelletier has a no cell phone policy at the field, but “I had to let [Hajjar] talk to his dad after [he was drafted] behind the dugout. I was thrilled.

 

“It is so great. Think of yourself being 18 years old getting call from the GM of the Brewers.”

[Mass Haas]

“I think he’s probably going to lean to go to college, which is probably why he fell where he did,” said Steve DiTrolio, director of recruiting at Diamond Nation in Flemington, where Hylton has been a part of the Diamond Jacks program since he was 13 years old. “College is very important to Brandon and very important to his dad.”

 

Brewers select Ridge's Brandon Hylton in MLB Draft

Greg Tufaro, mycentraljersey.com

 

Photo at the link above

 

The Milwaukee Brewers selected Ridge High School senior first baseman Brandon Hylton in the 33rd round of the 2018 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Wednesday with the 995th overall pick.

 

A two-time Courier News first-team All-Area selection, Hylton transferred before the start of this academic year from Watchung Hills, where he batted .372 with a .686 slugging percentage as a sophomore and crushed seven homers last season.

 

Hylton, who could not be immediately reached for comment, was one of eight scholastic players from New Jersey to be drafted, all but two of which were field position players.

 

Ridge head coach Tom Blackwell said he exchanged texts with Hylton after the first baseman was drafted early Wednesday night, and that he wanted to refrain from talking to him until the school day on Thursday because he wanted his star player to have some space.

 

The 6-foot-6 lefthanded slugger has already signed a National Letter of Intent to continue his baseball and academic career at Division I Stetson University, thus Hylton has options should the Brewers not be able to convince him to sign.

 

Had Hylton been considered more signable, he almost certainly would have been drafted in the earlier rounds.

 

“I think he’s probably going to lean to go to college, which is probably why he fell where he did,” said Steve DiTrolio, director of recruiting at Diamond Nation in Flemington, where Hylton has been a part of the Diamond Jacks program since he was 13 years old. “College is very important to Brandon and very important to his dad.”

 

DiTrolio said he believes Hylton projected as a draft pick because “he fits the profile of a pro hitter. He’s lefthanded, very athletic and real loose.”

 

“He definitely has a lot of room to grow. You can tell he is still young. He’s got a good frame. He’s going to put on some size in the next few years. Once he really matures, he’s going to be a beast.”

 

DiTrolio said he has watched Hylton mature into a “tremendous young man” whose disposition does not change, whether he went 4-for-4 or 0-for-4 in a game.

 

“He’s a lovable kid with a great personality,” DiTrolio said. “He’s got a good head on his shoulders that will really do him well whether he decides to go to Stetson or go to the Brewers. He just loves the game.”

 

Hylton, who throws right-handed, led Ridge to a 15-7 record and the Skyland Conference Raritan Division championship while batting .328 with three homers and a team-leading 16 stolen bases. Opposing hurlers pitched around him to the tune of 20 walks.

 

“He’s just an unbelievable kid,” Blackwell said. “I’ve never seen anybody have such an impact without saying a word. Obviously, he’s so big, he has such a presence. He’s a very quiet and humble kid. His work ethic in practice is amazing. He stood out. I’ve seen him do some things with a bat that I’ve never seen anybody do, and he makes all the infielders better and more comfortable.

 

"When you look up and see that kid standing over there (at first base), it (making a throw across the diamond) is a heck of a lot easier."

[markedman5]

So is the strategy to try and build relationships with kids like this now even though they obviously know he isn't signing?

 

I mean you could have a scout call the kid and tell him that without using a draft pick on them......I know you aren't going to sign everyone but the MLB draft is just kind of bizarre to me.

 

How many guys out of the 40 drafted typically sign?

[DHonks]

So is the strategy to try and build relationships with kids like this now even though they obviously know he isn't signing?

 

I mean you could have a scout call the kid and tell him that without using a draft pick on them......I know you aren't going to sign everyone but the MLB draft is just kind of bizarre to me.

 

How many guys out of the 40 drafted typically sign?

 

I think this is sort of like flirting with a girl now, knowing that she's seeing someone, but planting the seed in her mind that you're interested. The Brewers hope that a couple of these talented kids might not have seriously considered going pro yet. Now that they've been drafted, they're going to at least contemplate things before going to school. If a few kids realize their hearts aren't into college, then they now have an option.

[Mass Haas]

“All I wanted was an opportunity, and I got an opportunity.”

 

PHOTO at the link

 

Brewers select University of Hawaii’s Kekai Rios in 28th round of MLB draft

Stephen Tsai, StarAdvertiser.com (HAWAII)

 

Rios hit .318 in 24 Big West games this past season as a catcher, third baseman and designated hitter. He also handled a pitching staff that used eight different starters.

 

The Kansas City Royals had called Rios earlier today but made a conditional offer that was deemed too low. After a breakfast of pancakes and Portuguese sausage, Rios was returning to his family’s Hilo home when he learned he was selected by the Brewers.

 

***

 

Hey, I'm Portuguese, cacoila, oh yeah! -- Jim

[LouisEly]

I've always been of the opinion that it's hard to put a price on the experience of going to college during your 18-22 years.

 

It's even harder to put a price on it when you have an opportunity to play on one of the top sports teams at Florida State or LSU.

 

I can tell you, if you're a BMOC at one of those two schools (and many others) the quantity and physical attractiveness of the girls who will be interested in you is infinitely higher than if you were at Helena, Appleton, Zebulon, or even suburban Phoenix (lots of pretty women there, but you're just a guy in a big city with lots of athletes and rich dudes).

 

Go enjoy college, young men. There are certain aspects of it that you truly cannot put a price on.

[Jenkins5]

Dargan Southard

✔

@Dargan_Southard

One last update here. #Hawkeyes pitcher Brady Schanuel confirms he will indeed sign with the Brewers, which drafted him in the 27th round: https://dmreg.co/2LsfNUt

 

Left hand power arm, big strikeout, big control issue pitcher. Probably Reliever down road but can never complain about lefty power arms signing! Was the 7th best Big 10 pro prospect coming into season but awful season dropped him. Was a 20th rd pick last year

[Mass Haas]

“I’m going to celebrate tonight, then start negotiating, with my advisor & the Brewers.”

 

In this nicely detailed article, learn about prior "funny bone surgery" for Brewers 22nd round JUCO pick & Penn State commit LHP Joey Baran; very much on the signing fence, it seems

[Mass Haas]

“All I wanted was an opportunity, and I got an opportunity.”

 

PHOTO at the link

 

Brewers select University of Hawaii’s Kekai Rios in 28th round of MLB draft

Stephen Tsai, StarAdvertiser.com (HAWAII)

 

Rios hit .318 in 24 Big West games this past season as a catcher, third baseman and designated hitter. He also handled a pitching staff that used eight different starters.

 

The Kansas City Royals had called Rios earlier today but made a conditional offer that was deemed too low. After a breakfast of pancakes and Portuguese sausage, Rios was returning to his family’s Hilo home when he learned he was selected by the Brewers.

 

***

 

Hey, I'm Portuguese, cacoila, oh yeah! -- Jim

 

Here's a follow-up article that includes a video report (click arrow to go beyond initial photo), which indicates:

 

The junior said that he turned down a $75,000 signing bonus offer by the Kansas City Royals earlier in the draft, but agreed to what is expected to be a bonus in the neighborhood of $100,000 with Milwaukee.

[Mass Haas]

This. This is why we hunt down the follow-up hometown stories, no matter the Brewers draft round. Read this, see the photos & you'll understand that even the 39th round matters to these kids and their families, especially Missouri HS catcher Caleb Marquez.

 

A dream realized: Wildcats’ Marquez finally has name called in MLB Draft

[Mass Haas]

More quotes from a genuinely very excited and appreciative Brewers 33rd round pick, 6'6" New Jersey HS 1B Brandon Hylton, who is a Stetson commit. Signing decision still pending at this time, but fun comments!

 

"I have been watching the draft every single day. I have been on top of every one of the picks. Every morning, I've been waiting for the clock to strike 1:00 for the draft to begin. Every pick, my heart was racing. When I finally saw my name, I I had chills for the next 30 minutes. It was the best feeling for both me and my family."

 

Full article link

[Jenkins5]

Really intrigued with Caleb Marquez! Big kid at 6’3 240.... had D1 looks for football & sounds like he really wants to start a pro career!

 

Brandon Hylton seems pretty raw but another massive kid who hopefully the Brewers can develop him if he signs

[JDBrewCrew]

The article on Marquez sure makes it seem like he's signing...

 

"The best part of the “great ending” will come when Anderson visits the Marquez home this evening.

 

 

“Drew called right after everyone left,” Caleb said, “and he’s got some things to get done before he comes over to the house. I’m looking forward to him coming over and talking about my contract and becoming a part of the Brewers organization.”"

[Mass Haas]

jeff ellis

@jeffMLBdraft

Brandon Williamson was another late cut for me, Brewers taking a lot of these unsignable guys late

 

Jeff Johnson

@jeje66

Iowans in Baseball America's Top 500 MLB Draft list: NIACC P Brandon Williamson (168), Iowa OF Robert Neustrom (189), Kirkwood SS Korry Howell (385), Iowa P Brady Schanuel (408), Iowa P Nick Allgeyer (457), Iowa C Tyler Cropley (472).

 

Mike Tennyson

@MikeTennyson

Expect Brandon Williamson LHP ( Martin Co West HS & NIACC & TCU commit to be drafted today...6’5” w/live arm & 3 sport athlete. ......This follows Fairmont MN HS, NIACC and UK grad Luke Becker drafted Tues by Padres in 9th round...So MN small town baseball stars making good

 

Travis Hergert

@CoachHerg

More Travis Hergert Retweeted MLB Pipeline

MLB Pipeline ranks @NIACCBaseball LHP Brandon Williamson as the top prospect in the state of Iowa!

 

This headline tells you that the Brewers taking a flyer on the highly-ranked Williamson was for naught:

 

Williamson drafted by Brewers; opts for TCU

 

“It (the draft) didn’t quite work out the way my agent and I wanted it to, but I appreciate the Brewers’ consideration,” said Williamson.

 

More quotes at the link.

[And That]

Far from shocking, the Brewers will not sign 29th round SS Nander De Sedas. He'll be honoring his commitment to Florida State.