2023 MLB Draft

[DR28]

I'm already looking forward to 23 draft this summer, I'm really hoping we can find our 3B of the future this year.... And that dude is Yohandy Morales... Unless he has a huge year, I can see him being available at 18.

He would be such a great fit for our future as we'll have Eric Brown Jr or Turang at SS, Robert Moore or Turang at 2B... Morales would look great at 3B for us for years to come... If we could find our 1B as well, that would be great!

 

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 45 | Arm: 60 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55

The son of former Cuban National Team member Andy Morales, who played briefly in the Yankees and Red Sox systems, Yohandy Morales was a Top 200 prospect as a Florida high school standout, but wasn’t taken in the shortened 2020 Draft largely because of his commitment to the University of Miami. He stepped right into the Hurricanes’ lineup in 2021, hitting 11 homers as a freshman, then took another step forward as a sophomore, hitting 18 home runs and finishing with an OPS over 1.000 before hitting .400 for Team USA over the summer.

In many ways, Morales has a similar profile to what scouts thought he might be coming out of high school. He’s an aggressive hitter looking to do damage and he does consistently barrel up the baseball, showing an ability to drive the ball to all fields. While he’s still power-over-hit, he has ironed out some of the moving parts of his swing that hurt him as a prepster, giving him a better chance to hit and get to that power.

A former shortstop who outgrew the position and moved to third, Morales’ strong arm works very well from the hot corner and he has the defensive actions to stay there long-term. That combined with the power profile teams covet from infield corner types should have him in early-round conversations.

[Harold Hutchison]

I'm intrigued by Bryce Eldridge. Could be a pitcher/DH like Ohtani, depending on how well he bats. Might be worth a look.

[nate82]

I like Colt Emerson, Aidan Miller, Brock Wilken and Jake Gelof at 3B.  One or multiple should be available where the Brewers are picking either in the 1st round or the Comp A pick.  Depending on how these players perform they should be available though Gelof and Wilken could skyrocket up the list if their hit tools improve. 

Emerson fits who the Brewers have been drafting and signing internationally.  Solid hit tool and solid defensively.  He is listed as a SS but I don't think he will stick there.  He did play 3B for Team USA and that maybe his position he has a solid arm and he looked like a 3B for Team USA defensively.  He has a commit to Auburn but I think a team could easily pull him away from that. 

A SS/3B who may slip is Jacob Wilson.  If he drops that would be the perfect scenario for the Brewers as he is another player that fits the Brewers profile of recent draftees and international signings. 

This might be the year the Brewers go pitcher in round 1.  Will Sanders is someone to watch with the Brewers pick.  I think if he is there during the 1st round that is who the Brewers take.  Tanner Witt is another pitcher to watch for.  College pitchers look to be solid this year with Dollander, Skenes, Waldrep, Lowder Sanders and Witt currently sitting at the top.  Dollander and Skenes should go in the top 5 and the others somewhere between 10-20. 

[SF70]

I’m hoping the team can add a couple of big-armed starter prospects into the system from this draft. We have a decent number of 3-5 starter potentials in the farm right now, but outside of Misiorowski, no realistic frontline starters.

[nate82]

3 hours ago, SF70 said:

I’m hoping the team can add a couple of big-armed starter prospects into the system from this draft. We have a decent number of 3-5 starter potentials in the farm right now, but outside of Misiorowski, no realistic frontline starters.

I am not sure if there is a top of the rotation arm in the first round to look at.  Maybe if Waldrep or Skenes drop then you have a top of the rotation pitcher but otherwise I think the Brewers will have to go the risky route out of HS or believe that the Brewers could get someone like Teddy McGraw to be more consistent with his pitches.  They would need to be able to get him to harness his stuff more and be more accurate with them.

I mentioned him previously but someone like Will Sanders is probably a safer bet at least in the 1st round.  Sanders profiles more like a #3 than a #1 or #2.  Sanders does have a solid changeup which can make a fastball that only sits 92-94 look more like 95-98. 

[sveumrules]

Haven't had a chance to dig in yet, but FanGraphs has updated their 2023 Draft Rankings with scouting reports for 69 (nice) prospects...

SAUSAGE LINK

[nate82]

Dollander has started out slowly but I don't think he will fall to the Brewers even with the slow start.  I still think the Brewers go college pitcher this year as that is very strong this year.   But then again it is the Brewers and while everyone is going college pitchers they go high school.  Sproat is another arm to watch. 

[brewmann04]

Never have enough Arms 

[Austin Tatious]

Informative mock draft here from Prospects Live

https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2023-mlb-draft-mock-3

[brewmann04]

thanks for that 

[CheeseheadInQC]

Anyone else read the last tidbit on Kemp Alderman in this article and think, yep, he's going to be a Brewer? Only sort of joking.

[nate82]

17 hours ago, CheeseheadInQC said:

Anyone else read the last tidbit on Kemp Alderman in this article and think, yep, he's going to be a Brewer? Only sort of joking.

Kevin Sim sounds more like a Brewers target but probably somewhere in the 4-5th round. 

An interesting 3rd round pick could be Brock Vradenburg (1B) out of Michigan State.  It is extremely hard to tell how good a player will be out of the Big 10 for baseball.  The competition is not all that great as he put up a .400/.492/.721 this year. 

[LouisEly]

#18:
Jacob Gonzalez, SS, Mississippi
Matt Shaw, SS/2B, Maryland
Brock Wilken, 3B, Wake Forest

#33:
Blake Wolters, RHP, HS
Jonny Farmello, OF, HS
Joe Whitman, LHP, Kent State

#54:
Nazzan Zanetello, SS, HS
Paul Wilson, LHP, HS
Brice Matthews, SS/2B/CF, Nebraska

#87:
Hunter Hollan, LHP, Arkansas
Homer Bush, Jr., OF, Grand Canyon
Alex Mooney, SS, Duke

#119:
Roc Riggio, 2B, Oklahoma State
Julian Brock, C, Louisiana-Lafayette
Brock Vradenburg, 1B, Michigan State

155:
Josh Bostick, RHP, JC
Ixan Henderson, LHP, Fresno State
Nicholas Judice, RHP, Louisiana-Monroe

[nate82]

1 hour ago, LouisEly said:

#18:
Jacob Gonzalez, SS, Mississippi
Matt Shaw, SS/2B, Maryland
Brock Wilken, 3B, Wake Forest

#33:
Blake Wolters, RHP, HS
Chase Davis, OF, Arizona
Joe Whitman, LHP, Kent State

I am not sure either Gonzalez or Shaw will be available at 18.  Wilken definitely should but I think Taylor would also be available at that spot and I like Taylor over Wilken.  I think the Brewers go Schanuel (1B) at 18 and then go a tough sign at 33. 

I don't think any of the players you have at 33 will be available especially Davis.  Davis has been mocked recently in the 10-15 range. 

[Austin Tatious]

I am biased toward college players in the first round but Aidan Miller has the kind of upside that is really enticing. 

I like Soto as a pitcher but it might be early. 

[LouisEly]

On 6/24/2023 at 12:30 PM, nate82 said:

I am not sure either Gonzalez or Shaw will be available at 18.  Wilken definitely should but I think Taylor would also be available at that spot and I like Taylor over Wilken.  I think the Brewers go Schanuel (1B) at 18 and then go a tough sign at 33. 

I don't think any of the players you have at 33 will be available especially Davis.  Davis has been mocked recently in the 10-15 range. 

Depends on your source.  Fangraphs has Gonzalez at #34 and I've seen some mocks where he drops to the Brewers.  Shaw is #18 on MLB.com and a few other places.  MLB.com has Wolters at #35, Davis at #39, and Whitman at #46.  I tend to lean towards MLB.com just like I lean towards NFL.com because they have access to the most team scouts/player personnel people.  When it comes to signability, bonus pool manipulation, inability to trade up/down, anything can happen in the MLB draft.

It was a tossup between Wilken and Taylor.  MLB.com has Wilken at #24 and Taylor at #30.  While Taylor is more athletic (24 SBs, 0 CS last two seasons), Taylor's K rate increased significantly in 2023 (14.8% in 2022 to 18.7%).  I do like that Taylor is LHH, but the K% increase is a bit concerning and perhaps he's striking out more in an attempt to hit more long balls.  Wilken's >.500 OBP tipped the scales for me.

[nate82]

17 minutes ago, LouisEly said:

Depends on your source.  Fangraphs has Gonzalez at #34 and I've seen some mocks where he drops to the Brewers.  Shaw is #18 on MLB.com and a few other places.  MLB.com has Wolters at #35, Davis at #39, and Whitman at #46.  I tend to lean towards MLB.com just like I lean towards NFL.com because they have access to the most team scouts/player personnel people.  When it comes to signability, bonus pool manipulation, inability to trade up/down, anything can happen in the MLB draft.

Rankings are not as important in MLB since you have to take into account a players sign ability.  You also need to take into account teams drafting players earlier than they should to get someone under slot.  Davis being ranked at #39 I believe is inaccurate and he should be in the 15-20 range.  More of the recent mocks even at MLB.com have Davis gone before the Brewers pick at 18. 

Mayo has Davis being picked 15th by the White Sox in his latest mock: https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-pipeline-2023-mock-draft-june-22

In that Mock Wilken is going to the Brewers at 33.  The MLB draft after picks 1-5 are basically a roulette wheel of who is going to be picked.

[LouisEly]

Someone agrees with me.  😁

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10080431-mlb-mock-draft-2023-predictions-for-1st-round-picks-college-world-series-edition

[nate82]

Keith Law has a new mock out with the Brewers taking Schanuel with the 18th pick.  I think this will be a pick where the Brewers try to get him under slot and maybe go after a tough sign at 33. 

https://theathletic.com/4646310/2023/06/29/mlb-mock-draft-paul-skenes-pirates/

Law also had Taylor if available and a maybe on Wilken, Morales, Nimmala or Eldridge at 18.  Nimmala maybe gone before the Brewers pick. 

[wiguy94]

19 minutes ago, nate82 said:

Keith Law has a new mock out with the Brewers taking Schanuel with the 18th pick.  I think this will be a pick where the Brewers try to get him under slot and maybe go after a tough sign at 33. 

https://theathletic.com/4646310/2023/06/29/mlb-mock-draft-paul-skenes-pirates/

Law also had Taylor if available and a maybe on Wilken, Morales, Nimmala or Eldridge at 18.  Nimmala maybe gone before the Brewers pick. 

I didn't see Chase Davis in his mock. If we could get Schanuel and Davis with our first 2 pick, I would be absolutely ecstatic.

[nate82]

Just now, wiguy94 said:

I didn't see Chase Davis in his mock. If we could get Schanuel and Davis with our first 2 pick, I would be absolutely ecstatic.

He doesn't have Davis in the 1st round but he mentioned him as a possible pick for a few teams.