Article: Final Brewer Fanatic Mock Draft

[Jeremy Nygaard]

The draft kicks off tomorrow evening and we have the Final TwinsDaily/Brewer Fanatic Mock Draft.

Despite being on the clock for the last nine months, the Orioles haven’t given any clear indication about the direction in which they plan to go. When paths deviate before the draft even starts, mock drafts can be a mess in a hurry. But, like I said before, that doesn’t mean we sholdn’t try!

1. Orioles - Brooks Lee, SS, Cal Poly - Druw Jones and Jackson Holliday could be the direction they go here. Termarr Johnson could be a good money-savings option. I keep coming back to Lee, who might not be the flashiest option, but can help the Orioles quicker than the prep options.
2. Diamondbacks - Druw Jones, OF, Georgia HS - This seems to be the best prospect’s floor. While Jones is a near-lock to be under consideration for the first pick, it’s entirely possible that the Diamondbacks are willing to outspend the Orioles on Jones, taking him out of the running for the first pick. But if Jones goes first, then Holliday goes here.
3. Rangers - Jackson Holliday, SS, Oklahoma HS - If the Rangers get this chance, they jump on it. If they don’t, they take Kevin Parada. One of Lee or Parada falls out of the top 3. 
4. Pirates - Cam Collier, 3B, Chipola JC - The Pirates would have a number of good options if the draft played out like this. Collier, Termarr Johnson and Kevin Parada all would be in play.
5. Nationals - Kevin Parada, C, Georgia Tech - Back to my original projection with the Nationals, though Elijah Green and Termarr Johnson are two prep names to keep in mind here.
6. Marlins - Jacob Berry, DH, LSU - In this scenario, the Marlins pass on both Elijah Green and Termarr Johnson.
7. Cubs - Termarr Johnson, 2B, Georgia HS - The Cubs wait anxiously and get the guy they wanted all along.
8. Twins - Gavin Cross, OF, Virginia Tech - Take a haircut on an overdraft, try to find other money to overpay Elijah Green or stay true to their value board and take Cross. Those are the options the Twins face in this scenario.
9. Royals - Justin Crawford, OF, Nevada HS - The Royals traded a pick and the slot money that goes with it to acquire a centerfielder earlier in the week, so what sense does it make to take an underslot centerfielder now? It doesn’t. But the draft doesn’t always make sense.
10. Rockies - Jace Jung, 2B, Texas Tech - When Green drops to this point, it becomes about money. The Mets have it. The Rockies don’t. The Rockies take the top available college hitter.
11. Mets - Elijah Green, OF, IMG Academy - The drop stops here. The Mets will do what they planned to do last year and pay their first pick over slot. If Green does get to this point, there is decent reason to believe he would drop to fourteen, with the Mets locking up their savings first.
12. Tigers - Connor Prielipp, RHP, Alabama - The Tigers might prefer a college bat - but they’ve been picked over - or Cade Horton, but Prielipp’s price tag could make him more appealing.
13. Angels - Brandon Berriera, RHP, Florida HS - If shutting down for the season to keep healthy can lead to being the first prep arm off the board, then Berriera may have started a movement.
14. Mets - Brock Porter, RHP, Michigan HS - Instead of cutting the deal here, the Mets will spend big again and figure out how to stay below the tax threshold later.
15. Padres - Dylan Lesko, P, Georgia HS - I don’t know if it will go this way, but I’ve felt good about this since the first mock and I can’t bring myself to change it.
16. Guardians - Cade Horton, RHP, Oklahoma - It’s almost unfair for the Guardians to get Horton, who was very impressive on his march through the NCAA Tournament.
17. Phillies - Gabriel Hughes, RHP, Gonzaga - The Phillies seem likely to go the pitching route and going the college route is a safer bet than dipping into the prep pool.
18. Reds - Daniel Susac, C, Arizona - The Reds can get great value here and turn around and select a falling prep pitcher at 32.
19. A’s - Zach Neto, SS, Campbell - Here’s another pairing that I can’t bring myself to change. Neto could certainly be off the board much sooner.
20. Braves - Cooper Hjerpe, LHP, Oregon State - Did the Braves make the trade with the Royals with a bigger plan in mind? We’ll know on Sunday if they land Dylan Lesko. Otherwise, taking a college pitcher makes sense.
21. Mariners - Kumar Rocker, RHP, Vanderbilt/Indy ball - I haven’t heard anything linking the two, but the Mariners are in on college pitching and the guys they might prefer are off the board.
22. Cardinals - Cole Young, SS, Pennsylvania HS - The Cardinals have made a habit out of scooping up falling prospects. 
23. Blue Jays - Tucker Toman, 3B, South Carolina HS - There’s been buzz on Toman to Toronto for a while now.
24. Red Sox - Jett Williams, SS, Texas HS - Like I said before, the Red Sox have had success with tiny infieders before, haven’t they?
25. Yankees - Spencer Jones, OF, Vanderbilt - Another connection that is making the rounds.
26. White Sox - Blake Tidwell, RHP, Tennessee - The White Sox try their luck on another college pitcher.
27. Brewers - Drew Gilbert, OF, Tennessee - There are a number of college hitters still available and while Gilbert could go much earlier, he would be a good get for the Brewers.
28. Astros - Chase DeLauter, OF, James Madison - The Astros, like the Brewers, have a lot of hitting prospects on the board.
29. Rays - Robby Snelling, LHP, Nevada HS - The Rays know how to draft pitching and they’re getting a really good one late in the first round.
30. Giants - Dylan Beavers, OF, Cal - The first round comes to a close by the Giants taking yet another college outfielder. 

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[brewers888]

Unless the team feels the player is far and away above the other available talent I would hate to see the Brewers draft yet another outfielder. 

[Jeremy Nygaard]

36 minutes ago, brewers888 said:

Unless the team feels the player is far and away above the other available talent I would hate to see the Brewers draft yet another outfielder. 

With their highest-ranking prospects being outfielders and two of the top 15 prospects being pitchers, it would definitely make sense to go the pitching route.

I think BPA will be the move and Gilbert is the BPA in this scenario.

Collect the best assets you can.

[brewers888]

3 hours ago, Jeremy Nygaard said:

With their highest-ranking prospects being outfielders and two of the top 15 prospects being pitchers, it would definitely make sense to go the pitching route.

I think BPA will be the move and Gilbert is the BPA in this scenario.

Collect the best assets you can.

If they think he is a potential star I get it but how many outfielders does this team need to draft or sign from Latin America. I admit that I haven't seen any of these guys play so its hard to form an opinion about any of these players but I find it hard to believe that the best player available is always an outfielder when the Brewers pick.

Pitching is always a need so no issue with picking an arm with big upside and we really need a third base prospect in the worst way so if its a close call I would hope they pick someone other than another outfielder.

This organization has been pitiful when it comes to drafting position players which is proven by the fact that we don't have one homegrown everyday starting position player in our lineup. Yes we have Chourio and some other promising guys in the system but this team has done far better drafting pitching and thats the way I would go in round one.

[CheeseheadInQC]

I'm very much a BPA guy in round one. If you build up a depth of prospects at one position, well, trades happen. Even if you pick an outfielder first it's not saying you couldn't draft three or four pitchers and a corner infielder and/or catcher with the rest of your picks in the first five rounds.

Once you get later then organizational depth chart affects things. Like unless there is still somehow someone on the board they REALLY like, I doubt you see any college infielders or outfielders taken in rounds 11-20 simply because the organizational opportunity won't necessarily be there.

[clancyphile]

I thought this could be a cool mock for the Crew:

1. Dalton Rushing, C, Louisville, L/R

2. Jacob Melton, CF, Oregon State, L/L

CB2. Tanner Simpson, 2B, Georgia Tech, L/R

3. Andrew Pintar, 2B/DH, BYU, R/R

4. Kordell Brown, SS, San Juaquin Delta College, S/R

Entirely college/JUCO bats, but I really think it could help the system out, especially as offense has been an issue.

[Joseph Zarr]

Absolutely agreed on the BPA route. If it's an outfielder, take an outfielder. The rest will reveal itself in the draft and as trade deadlines approach. I think what has become more clear this season is regardless of position the Brewers have very solid depth 1-10 but then quite a bit of question marks beyond that. At least, I consistently find there hasn't been much separation in the pack of players developing beyond the top-tier prospects. They've also shown an ability to find many a worthwhile Minor League FA and these FA's are willing to sign-on. With that, again, the BPA has to be the route. Talent. Talent. Upside. Upside. Position becomes meaningless, then, in my humble opinion.