2021 MLB Draft Thread (Pre-Draft Discussion)

[narwhalattack]

With all that consensus on Wicks you really have to expect him to be the pick.

 

The ESPN mock literally stated that the reason for mocking Wicks is because of his similarity to Small. There is no concrete connection to the Brewers otherwise.

[Eye Black]

Some new mocks today:

 

https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/story/_/id/31782968/2021-mlb-mock-draft-30-kiley-mcdaniel-predicts-first-two-rounds

 

Jordan Wicks, LHP, Kansas State

 

Wicks has some similarities with Ethan Small, a recent Brewers first round pick. This is also a pretty open mix, with Hoglund, Will Bednar, Jay Allen, Madden, Harry Ford and Cowser all mentioned.

 

https://theathletic.com/2696906/2021/07/09/2021-mlb-mock-draft-3-0-kumar-rocker-to-the-rangers-jack-leiter-to-tigers-in-keith-laws-latest/

 

15. Milwaukee Brewers: Harry Ford, C, North Cobb (GA) HS

This name has come up a few times with the Brewers already, as they’ve scouted him heavily and seem to buy into his bat, even with questions about his ultimate position.

 

Prospects Live Final 2021 MLB Mock Draft -- V 7.0

 

15. Milwaukee Brewers: Will Bednar, RHP, Mississippi State

 

The Brewers have been prolific at developing right-handed arms over the past few years, so the reluctancy to draft any of them really surprises us. There was a time where Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff and Freddy Peralta were all deemed potential relievers. Those days are gone and all three are front-of-the-rotation talents. With such roaring success, Milwaukee should target pitchers with riding fastballs and a dynamic breaking ball. That’s Bednar to a T. A show-time performer, Bednar is a changeup away from being a dynamic rotation piece at the next level. Should Milwaukee land him at 15, there’s a pretty reasonable chance he’s pitching behind their three-headed monster as early as 2023.

[narwhalattack]

I certainly wouldn’t mind Bednar. I think someone here also mentioned that his slider would make him a statcast darling.

[Mr Southpaw]

I hope half of their picks are big tall college arms from the SEC or similar conferences. They get to the big leagues quicker and if they fail as starters, they have all the qualities of being one inning sixth or seventh inning guys.

 

That being said, I have heard great things about Ford.

[patrickgpe]

Maybe Wicks won't be the pick and personally I would go with more upside but nearly every outlet that mocks the draft has him as the pick and it would be foolish to outright dismiss it.

its just not true:

 

https://www.ballysports.com/wisconsin/news/milwaukee-brewers-2021-mock-draft-roundup-jordan-wicks-will-bednar-colton-cowser?fbclid=IwAR0CZ0Y6QA-cfD-V0H5RkG1mhZ7zZl0W9UDk_7PYt1exoS629QXD0rKo440

 

He is mocked in (1/3) of them 5 for 15 in the current mocks that bally's describes, but that's not a consensus.

[Eye Black]

It was widely known at least the day of the draft that Medeiros was likely to be the pick.

It’s a lot more nuanced than just pointing out a time or two where the mock drafts were correct. I think Kevin Goldstein summarized it best when he said focus more on the blurb written underneath than the actual player listed for a team in these mock drafts. In the case of Medieros there was leaked information that he’d had an impressive workout at Miller Park and people started to connect the dots. There hasn’t been that sort of knock-us-over-the-head obvious favorite this year.

 

FanGraphs most recent mock did have Wicks listed, but if you are taking advise from Goldstein himself (who said him and Longenhagen spent a lot of time on the phone with team contacts) then you should focus more on this paragraph they included in their mock draft…

 

Like San Francisco, Milwaukee is believed to be lining up the second tier of college arms. This could be the floor for Hoglund. If their board gets blown up by a run on college pitching, then they might cut a deep deal with a college bat like ECU’s Connor Norby or Trey Sweeney of Eastern Illinois. Sweeney’s name is getting peppered throughout the rest of the first round starting here.

 

Even with that being said as others have pointed out, Harry Ford has been mentioned as reportedly having had a strong following from the Brewers scouts and staff.

[Eye Black]

Final Mock Draft from Baseball America, MLB Mock Draft 6.0

 

15. Brewers: Matt McLain, UCLA, SS

 

Notes:

We’re in the range where the board should open up pretty quickly, and the Brewers have been consistently hard to pin down to a specific player. That’s partially due to the fact that most teams in this range are dealing with a very large group of players thanks to the uncertainty at the top of this year’s class.

 

 

If McLain falls to the Brewers I’ll be ecstatic. I’ve been holding out hope for that possibility all along.

[DR28]

I want one of Bednar, Hoglund or Ford.

[Eye Black]

Perfect Game is doing a live video staff Mock Draft on their website and they have Harry Ford as the Brewers selection.

[nate82]

I can't remember who on this board works or has worked at perfect game but I think they hinted at Medeiros being a possibility. Majority of the mocks still had the Brewers taking someone else though.

[Eye Black]

I can't remember who on this board works or has worked at perfect game but I think they hinted at Medeiros being a possibility. Majority of the mocks still had the Brewers taking someone else though.

Patrick Ebert (colbyjack)

[nate82]

I can't remember who on this board works or has worked at perfect game but I think they hinted at Medeiros being a possibility. Majority of the mocks still had the Brewers taking someone else though.

Patrick Ebert (colbyjack)

 

Thanks old age is starting to catch up to me can't remember names all the time.

[Eye Black]

Anyone have any good mlb draft podcasts or brewers related draft podcasts?

The Keith Law Show - Talking Draft w/Jonathan Mayo

 

Baseball America Future Projection - Episode 14: A 2021 Draft Preview & Roundtable

 

FanGraphs Chin Music, Episode 21: Giant Pieces of Foam

 

All of those can also be found in the normal places podcasts are available.

 

For Brewers specific draft content check out the “Cold Brew Podcast”, they interviewed Joe Doyle from Prospects Live during the second half of the podcast they released today.

 

Also, if you search “Kiley McDaniel” in the Apple store he has appeared on a number of draft focused podcasts including one Red Sox centric podcast (SoxProspects.com) I occasionally listen to.

Prospect One Podcast - Episode 256: MLB Draft Weekend with Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline

[narwhalattack]

Another guy I kinda like is Benny Montgomery since I'm a sucker for loud tools. However, his 45 hit tool that I see on most scouting reports gives me pause. IIRC there's been waaay too many guys who were phenomenal athletes who just couldn't hit enough to get anywhere.

[Eye Black]

Another guy I kinda like is Benny Montgomery since I'm a sucker for loud tools. However, his 45 hit tool that I see on most scouting reports gives me pause. IIRC there's been waaay too many guys who were phenomenal athletes who just couldn't hit enough to get anywhere.

He’s an uber athlete, but the only questions seem to be on the hit tool (and a bit of a hitch to his swing). Seems to be a lot of late smoke that he could go in the top ten to a team like the Rockies. Also heard some speculation that Harry Ford might go sooner than is being projected currently (the thinking being teams are higher on him then they are currently letting on).

[PeaveyFury]

Ford is my guy as well, which almost certainly means he won’t be the pick.

[Austin Tatious]

I agree on Ford, Hoglund, and Bednar. Any of those three, and I’d be happy.

 

Montgomery is an interesting athlete but I can’t handle low hit tools this high in the draft. This kind of profile tends to underachieve based on our drafting history.

 

I made my opinion on Wicks clear, but if we do happen to take him, I will hope for the Cole Hamels outcome as someone mentioned. I really don’t think we are going to take him, though.

 

Maybe a top tier guy drops to us, though, as Mitchell and Turang did. If we are on the lookout for that type of profile, it might be somebody toolsy who aren’t anticipating as much.

 

If we are quietly eyeing Colson Montgomery, a left handed hitting 3b prospect, that would be exciting. I initially was thinking 33 with him, but he’s been steadily rising and both Chicago teams seem to be eyeing him.

 

PS I like the Xavier Warren at 3b idea.

[SRB]

I haven't been following the draft this year, but is this considered an especially deep class? Seems like a lot of great prospects that will be around even at #15.

[CheeseheadInQC]

If college pitching drops like some have suggested, might Ty Madden be the guy who is unexpectedly still on the board?

[Eye Black]

If college pitching drops like some have suggested, might Ty Madden be the guy who is unexpectedly still on the board?

I think he’ll be there when they pick, but Ty Madden scares me a bit. Baseball America had a good explanation for why he would’ve been a top five pick in the draft a decade ago, but teams are a little more cautious of his type of profile now. Madden is 6’3” and has top-tier velocity, with an ability to sink his fastball and attack hitters with a plus slider and above-average control.

 

They point out that he’s not what teams are looking for now because while his velocity is excellent, they said “it doesn’t play nearly as well up in the strike zone as it does when he drives it down in the zone.”

 

They also mentioned his induced vertical break on his fastball plays differently because of his arm slot. They said “Madden has an over-the-top delivery, with some spine tilt that further emphasizes his nearly 12 o’clock release point.”

 

I hope they go a different direction with the first pick.

 

The high school hitters that seem like real wild cards are Ford along with both Montgomery’s (Benny and Colson). I think one of those three ends up going in the top ten, and the other two might end up somewhere in the 11-20 range. The Reds draft two picks behind the Brewers and have the 4th biggest bonus pool in the draft so I also wouldn’t be shocked if they ended up with one of those three.

[brewers888]

Another guy I kinda like is Benny Montgomery since I'm a sucker for loud tools. However, his 45 hit tool that I see on most scouting reports gives me pause. IIRC there's been waaay too many guys who were phenomenal athletes who just couldn't hit enough to get anywhere.

 

This is exactly the profile we need to avoid. Without the ability to hit it doesn't matter how athletic you are.

[balsamlaker]

I still think the Brewers will go college in the first round with Ford as the one possibility of a high schooler. I could see them seeing who falls or cutting a deal with one of the college players that people believe are going to go in the fifteen or so picks after them to be able to save some money for some high school pitching later. It also would not surprise me to see them go Jaden Hill at #33.

[KCBrewerfan34]

Thoughts on Cowser?

[wibadgers23]

I'm hoping we can get Binelas with our 2nd round pick. Was a projected top 10 pick prior to the college baseball season but dropped after just an ok year (but not terrible at all). Local kid who plays a position of need too.

[brewerralph]

This is fun guessing who the brewers will draft {my guess is Ford}, but the baseball draft is different than other drafts. There are going to be teams taking cheaper players earlier, and some of the players we think are going to be gone are still going to be there. This draft is above average for the second and third rounds .Players like Mayer, Davies and Leiter will be gone ,but maybe someone on next level will be there like Madden, Frelick or Jobe. One of the writers from BA thought that several teams would use that strategy. What do you think.