2021 MLB Draft Thread (Pre-Draft Discussion)

[Eye Black]

The Brewers were awarded a comp A pick and will have the 32nd pick in the 2021 draft.

 

At least until they deal it. That pick may not last the week LOL.

I hope they keep it, but the trade value of that pick likely exceeds the trade value of any prospect they have outside of maybe their top 5 or so currently in the farm system.

 

Last year's #33 overall pick had a slot value of $2.202 million, so beyond the value of picking at that spot is the fact a team could use part of the money allocated to the pick (plus an overage of up to 5%) to leverage draft prospects to fall to their other picks. It's a strategy that carries risk, but one that some teams have successfully deployed in the past.

[madbad2000]

I thought Bauer was going to keep signing year-to-year contracts. So that should put him below $50m if that happens.

[Eye Black]

I thought Bauer was going to keep signing year-to-year contracts. So that should put him below $50m if that happens.

He has since walked that back to the point I will be shocked if he signs a one year deal.

[Austin Tatious]

I hope we keep the pick and go to a youth movement. We can have a mini rebuild while remaining competitive. You have a core of Yelich, Hiura, Woody, Burnes and Williams and hopefully build around them with younger talent.

[Eye Black]

According to the MLB Trade Rumors article on this subject these comp picks can only be traded during the regular season? That’s the first I’ve seen that reported, it obviously hasn’t been the case in the past. It would obviously increase the likelihood that the pick remains with the Brewers.

 

From the article:

 

These draft choices can be traded, which means the order listed above isn’t necessarily set. However, these picks can only change hands during the regular season, and they can do so just once.

 

I’ll remain slightly skeptical until I see that change more widely reported.

[JosephC]

The Brewers were awarded a comp A pick and will have the 32nd pick in the 2021 draft.

 

At least until they deal it. That pick may not last the week LOL.

 

Time to deal the pick for another middling reliever with an 85 mph fastball

 

I'd make the prediction that they'd trade the pick for Brent Suter but they already have Brent Suter.

[Eye Black]

MLB Pipeline recently released their Top 100 Draft prospects for '21

 

For those that want to skip straight to the list of their top 100 draft prospects here’s the Link

[monkeyman343434]

Drafting at 15, 32, and 50 could/should be a nice shot in the arm with an influx of talent, I sure hope they keep that pick.

[wibadgers23]

Really hoping 3B Alex Binelas is still around when we pick at #15. I also hope they keep their comp pick!

[nate82]

I know I know another OF but James Wood's scouting report sounds a lot like what the Brewers have been drafting lately.

 

Jordan Wicks is another who I think will be at the top of the Brewers draft board. Maybe the Brewers will get lucky again and have someone drop to them again. I doubt Alex Binelas will drop but that would be the best case scenario if he does.

[Eye Black]

Baseball America did their first full 1st round MLB Mock Draft

 

For this mock draft they used scouts and "industry insiders" to make selections in a draft format.

 

They have the Brewers taking high school shortstop Brady House (from Winder-Barrow HS in Georgia).

 

Included in the explanation is the following: Our scout stops a bit of a slide for House, who entered the summer as the top-ranked prep player in the class but wasn’t quite as dominant offensively over the showcase circuit as teams would have liked. He still has a chance to have plus hitting ability and power and those are first-round tools regardless of where he best fits defensively in the future.

 

They also go on to point out that the Brewers haven't been hesitant to take players sliding down the draft board in recent years (i.e. Turang, Mitchell).

[balsamlaker]

House is very similar to Turang in that he was very highly thought of during his junior year and is fading a little in scouts' eyes.

[narwhalattack]

I certainly wouldn’t mind House. From what I’ve read about him, he’s got a big arm and potential for power. Perhaps we could move him to 3B.

[Jenkins5]

I hope we keep the pick and go to a youth movement. We can have a mini rebuild while remaining competitive. You have a core of Yelich, Hiura, Woody, Burnes and Williams and hopefully build around them with younger talent.

 

Exactly, we need to reload the system with young talent and grow them. #15, #32, and #50 is a great opportunity to continue to shot the system back in the arm. Think the combination of the core you mentioned, CC's coaching that seems to usually get more out of a team than people expect, and Stearns little moves such as waiver pick ups will keep team at least competitive and watchable. Don't think we need a fire sale rebuild but there are pieces and cost that could be moved to get our system strong. We need to get back to a place where we have talent coming up and producing and having options to trade for pieces when needed. Right now, we don't really have either option. Brewers have little money to spend, limited minor league trade bait that won't cripple system, and lack of impact players knocking on door. Tough to sustain success living like that in baseball.

 

I think the recent drafts and international signings are starting to build some promising talent. Don't be throwing away picks. We need every lottery ticket we can get!

[DR28]

I certainly wouldn’t mind House. From what I’ve read about him, he’s got a big arm and potential for power. Perhaps we could move him to 3B.

 

Since we probably won't be able to get Binelas... OMG yes I want House.

 

A high school shortstop, House is a fringy to average runner who almost certainly will move to third base in pro ball. The Tennessee recruit should be at least a solid defender at the hot corner and possesses a plus arm that can pump fastballs up to 96 mph off the mound. Scouts compare him to a more athletic version of Joey Gallo or 2018 Cardinals first-rounder Nolan Gorman.

[Eye Black]

Prospects Live Mock Draft 2.0

 

For the Brewers at #15...

 

Eric Cerantola

RHP, Mississippi State

 

Milwaukee and data go hand-in-hand, and Cerantola would be an excellent fit in their rebuilding of the farm system. The reports on Cerantola this fall have been amazing, with a fastball touching 98 MPH and the hammer curveball in the low-80's reaching spin rates near 3,300rpms. He's also got a change-up that flashes plus, providing potentially the loudest arsenal in the 2021 class if it all clicks. Cerantola has struggled with control and command during his Mississippi State career, but if that takes a step forward in the spring, he's destined to go early.

 

 

Also, Baseball America released their 2021 MLB Draft Stock Watch For The Top 30 Prospects. It isn’t a Mock Draft, but it has a write-up on their top 30 draft prospects for this year. The previously mentioned Cerantola didn’t make their top 30 list.

 

Here is the prospect that they listed at #15:

 

Richard Fitts

RHP, Auburn

 

Areas To Improve: Maintain stuff in starter’s role, improve control, develop changeup, start full season

 

One of the biggest risers from the fall, Fitts wowed evaluators with a big-time fastball, plus slider and—like many Auburn arms—a changeup with split action. If he can maintain the stuff he showed last fall in a starter’s role this spring, he should be off the board within the first 20 picks. Improving his command and making strides with his changeup would also help him answer starter/reliever questions, and with just six collegiate starts on his resume, starting a full season will be key.

[Eye Black]

The most important part of today’s Bauer signing is the Brewers Comp Round A selection gets bumped down a spot to #33. Reds receive the #30 selection.

[nate82]

WOAAAAAAAH SOLVD at 1B but when can we draft him?

 

[Eye Black]

The previously mentioned HS SS/3B Brady House had quite a weekend including 3 home runs (video courtesy of Kiley McDaniel):

 

House Home Run #1

 

House Home Run #2

 

—————————————

 

Here’s some video of Louisville 3B Alex Binelas from the weekend (via Burke Granger):

 

Binelas Batting Practice

 

Binelas Double

 

—————————————

 

I’ve seen some placed drop UCLA SS Matt McLain into the teens on their draft boards. I think he would be a Brewers target if he dropped to them, but I get the sense he’ll almost certainly be off the board by #15.

 

Here’s video of McLain from the weekend (via UCLA):

 

McLain Double

 

McLain Home Run

[Brock42]

Alex Binelas off to a 2 and 26 start. Most mock

drafts I’ve seen have him going 8-13 and we pick

15. Maybe he will drop to us?

[BallFour]

I know we all want a 3B prospect. One to watch for me is Zack Gelof from Virginia. Maybe a possibility with the Comp A pick, really like his power profile.

[Eye Black]

Alex Binelas off to a 2 and 26 start. Most mock

drafts I’ve seen have him going 8-13 and we pick

15. Maybe he will drop to us?

Keith Law dropped Alex Binelas down to 29th on his draft board. He also dropped the previously mentioned McLain to 19th and said he’ll probably have to move to second base in pro ball.

[nate82]

I wonder with Binelas having a bad start if he will drop like Turang did and allow the Brewers to pick him when he should be going in the top 10. Somewhat similar to Mitchell though he dropped for other reasons.

 

Ultimately I think the Brewers continue with drafting up the middle type of players so either another SS or CF type of a player in the 1st round.

[brewers888]

I wonder with Binelas having a bad start if he will drop like Turang did and allow the Brewers to pick him when he should be going in the top 10. Somewhat similar to Mitchell though he dropped for other reasons.

 

Ultimately I think the Brewers continue with drafting up the middle type of players so either another SS or CF type of a player in the 1st round.

 

This organization badly needs some prospects that can hit and hit with power especially at third base or they will continue to struggle offensively.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

I wonder with Binelas having a bad start if he will drop like Turang did and allow the Brewers to pick him when he should be going in the top 10. Somewhat similar to Mitchell though he dropped for other reasons.

 

Ultimately I think the Brewers continue with drafting up the middle type of players so either another SS or CF type of a player in the 1st round.

 

This organization badly needs some prospects that can hit and hit with power especially at third base or they will continue to struggle offensively.

 

You are talking about two different things. Yeah, I'd like to see a top-flight 3B prospect in the system, but drafting a guy this year isn't going to solve any perceived offensive deficiencies at the MLB level any time soon. Frankly, the Brewers not being able to develop Lucas Erceg and Jake Gatewood at 3B has been a major deficiency in the system, but it isn't like the Brewers have struggled for production at 3B over the last decade until 2020 rolled around. They've managed to actually find some very good 3B production over the years, magically no thanks to their minor league system (unless I suppose you count dealing Thornburg for Shaw and Phillips for Moose).