Article: 2023 MLB Draft Day 2 Thread

[Jeremy Nygaard]

The Brewers added three players on Sunday night and will add eight more on Monday. This article will be updated with each Brewers pick, so check back often.

Image courtesy of Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Today's portion of the draft, which will include rounds 3 through 10, will begin at 1 p.m. CT.

Keep up to date with the Brewers Draft Tracker. 

A quick recap from yesterday:

1 (18) - Brock Wilken, 3B, Wake Forest
21 years old. 6-4, 225. 
Draft Article / Draft Tracker 

1C (33) - Josh Knoth, RHP, Patchogue Medford HS (NY)
17 years old. 6-1, 190.
Draft Article / Draft Tracker 

2 (54) - Mike Boeve, 3B, Nebraska-Omaha
21 years old. 6-2, 210. 
Draft Article / Draft Tracker 

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3 (87) - Eric Bitonti, SS, Aquinas HS (CA)
17 years old. 6-4, 218. 
Draft Tracker

Bitonti has an athletic profile that's easy to dream on. At 6'5, 215, he's already showing above average power that could be 70 grade when he's done developing. His swing is pretty steep which results in easy power that can come at the expense of contact. Bitonti is long levered and his swing can get long at times. He's played shortstop to date but as a below average runner and lateral mover, he may move to third base or even a corner outfield spot long term. If he puts it all together, he's going to be an impressive power bat as a pro. Bitonti is currently an Oregon commit. - JD Cameron

Draft slot: $872,400

4 (119) - Jason Woodward, RHP, Florida Gulf Coast
20 years old. 6-1, 180.
Draft Tracker  

Draft slot: $557,900

5 (155) - Ryan Birchard, RHP, Niagara County CC (NY)
19 years old. 6-0, 207.
Draft Tracker  

Draft slot: $392,700

6 (182) - Cooper Pratt, SS, Magnolia Heights HS (MS)
18 years old. 6-5, 210.
Draft Tracker  

Cooper Pratt is ranked 58th on the Big Board and as he slipped into the middle of day two, seemed to be headed to college. Jim Callis suggests he's going to need "seven figures... and we're not talking one million dollars" to sign, so this will be an interesting one to watch.

Pratt is a tall, prep shortstop who has been a quick riser up draft boards this year, thanks to at least four above average tools. He has a crouched, right-handed swing that currently has gap to gap power but will likely add home run juice as he fills out more. Pratt has a good combination of a low chase rate and strong contact rates, particularly in the strike zone. Defensively, while not particularly quick, Pratt moves well and should get a chance to prove he can stick at shortstop. Pratt is currently committed to Ole Miss and might be a tricky sign away. - JD Cameron

Draft slot: $309,900

7 (212) - Tate Kuehner, RHP, Louisville
22 years old. 6-1, 195.
Draft Tracker  

Senior-sign. Likely to be a lefty reliever, up to 95 with a decent slider.

Draft slot: $242,400

8 (242) - Craig Yoho, RHP, Indiana
23 years old. 6-3, 2225.
Draft Tracker  

Another senior.

Draft slot: $196,700

9 (272) - Mark Manfredi, LHP, Dayton
23 years old. 6-4, 210.
Draft Tracker  

A senior lefthander with a 6-foot-4, 210-pound frame, Manfredi led Dayton in innings this spring during his second year with the program. He posted a 4.99 ERA over 15 starts and 79.1 innings, with a 27% strikeout rate and 10.7% walk rate. After that strong campaign, he headed to the Cape Cod League, where he pitched well with Wareham in his first three starts and posted a 2.08 ERA over 13 innings, with 16 strikeouts and four walks. Manfredi pitches in the 90-94 mph range with his fastball, which has just average life, though a lower release point via a sidearm slot helped it play up and generate a solid, 25% whiff rate this spring. He pitched heavily off the fastball, but used a slider, curveball and changeup each about 10% of the time to round out a four-pitch mix. His slider is a low-80s breaking ball with short action that he mostly throws to the glove side and looks like his best bat-misser, while his mid-70s curveball is slower with more slurve-like shape and is more of a get-me-over offering. His mid-80s changeup hasn’t been much of a swing-and-miss pitch, though he has used it to generate a solid number of weakly hit ground balls. Manfredi could be an interesting senior sign on day three who brings unique release point traits to the table. - Baseball America

Draft slot: $176,700

10 (302) - Morris Austin, RHP, Houston Christian
23 years old. 6-2, 215.
Draft Tracker  

Draft slot: $166,800

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In the meantime, what did you think about what happened Sunday night? What are you looking forward to on Monday?

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[Brock Beauchamp]

When looking back at past drafts, day two is often what makes a good draft turn great. It will be interesting to see what strategy the Brewers employ today.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Here's a rundown on the top names still on the board today.

https://www.mlb.com/news/2023-mlb-draft-day-2-overview-and-schedule

[Spencer Michaelis]

I was putting my thoughts on Twitter yesterday, but I'll summarize where I landed by the end of it.

I like Wilken the player more than I like the fit with the Brewers PD. I worry about them being able to improve a players hit tool / K-Rate. But there's a Pete Alonso type of bat in there, and he might even be able to stick at third. The upside is legit.

Knoth is my favorite pick from Day 1. I loved his profile when I thought he only threw 90-93 (T95), but I learned after the pick that he was up to 98 and sitting more in the 94-95 range over the last few months. The curve is probably already the best secondary offering in the system (assuming that he signs). At 17, his upside on the mound might be second only to Misiorowski, in the Brewers system. Love his delivery, think it's very repeatable and I just love an athletic delivery like his. 

Boeve was on my shortlist for the third pick. I know it seems a little weird to double up on third base, but Boeve can handle second base as well. I see a lot of Tyler Black similarities with Boeve. He was a favorite of mine the whole draft process. Had a feeling the Brewers would like the profile too.

As for today... Some personal favorites that I'd love to see as part of the haul today:

NCAA Pitchers

• RHP Alejandro Rosario - Miami
• RHP Teddy McGraw - Wake Forest
• RHP Brody Hopkins - Winthrop
• RHP Zach Fruit - Troy
• RHP Drew Conover - Rutgers
• LHP Christian Oppor - Gulf Coast State College (JUCO)
• RHP Sam Knowlton - South Alabama
• RHP Carson Hobbs - Samford
• RHP Chris Kean - Louisiana Monroe
• LHP Hunter Owen - Vanderbilt
• RHP Cam Minacci - Wake Forest
• LHP Kyle Carr - Palomar (Calif.) (JUCO)
• RHP Ryan Birchard - Niagara (JUCO)

NCAA Position Players

• OF Jack Hurley (I'm honestly shocked he hasn't been picked yet) - Virginia Tech
• OF Jace Bohrofen - Arkansas
• OF Spencer Nivens - Missouri State
• OF Travis Honeyman - Boston College
• OF Cam Fischer - UNC-Charlotte
• OF Zach Levenson - Miami
• OF Avery Owusu-Asiedu - Southern Illinois
• OF Alberto Rios - Stanford
• 1B Garret Forrester - Oregon State
• SS John Peck - Pepperdine

High School (assuming they have enough bonus money)

• C Zion Rose
• SS Antonio Anderson
• RHP Justin Lee
• SS Trent Caraway
• SS Eric Bitonti
• RHP Steven Echavarria
• RHP Joey Volchko

[nate82]

Some that I like on day two:

1B CJ Kayfus

1B Brock Vradenburg 

OF Jack Hurley

RHP Tanner Witt (probably unsignable)

LHP Grayson Hitt

 

[LouisEly]

Back in 2021, the Brewers drafted LHP Hunter Hollan in the 15th round out of JC but he didn't sign.  Hollan is ranked #100 on MLB.com, and the Brewers have been known to follow guys they didn't sign.  From MLB:

Known more for his polish than his stuff at San Jac, Hollan averaged 87 mph with his fastball last spring before sitting at 93-94 and touching 97 with late life in shorter stints last fall. He has operated at 90-92 mph and hit 97 as junior while flashing three solid secondary pitches, the best of which is a 71-75 mph downer curveball that could use a bit more power but gets swings and misses. He utilizes a two-plane slider that parks around 80 mph and a firm mid-80s changeup with some tumble.

Hollan mixes his four offerings well and throws them all for strikes. He has an athletic delivery that he repeats well and a lean frame with room to add more strength. Even though he hasn't held all of the power he added when he first arrived in Fayetteville, his high floor as a pitchability left-hander could land him in the third round.

I like the "athletic delivery" which suggests that he might be able to add more strength and get he velo back up to mid-90's.

[LouisEly]

Also in that 2021 draft, they picked Roc Riggio in the 11th round but he didn't sign either.  Rumors were that the Brewers offered up to $1M for him to forego college.  Riggio is a draft-eligible sophomore being 21 years old; he has leverage to go back to Oklahoma State but maybe he's open to $1M given that he's 21 now.  Had a really good year at OSU, increased his walks and decreased his K's, but with a "fringy" arm is still limited to 2B or LF.

[Brewcrew82]

Hoping we go heavy pitching today. 

[narwhalattack]

Eric Bitonti- SS/3B

We’re really loading up on potential 3Bs this year! It’s as if the FO is making up for all the years they’ve neglected the corner IF position.

[duewizard]

Thoughts on Eric Bitonti?

[StearnsFTW]

7 minutes ago, duewizard said:

Thoughts on Eric Bitonti?

Big arm, big power potential.  Probably a 3B, simply too tall to be a shortstop probably.

 

This is one of the guys that stood out when I was doing my (somewhat limited) research.  Seems like professional coaching will do him a world of good.

 

Definitely a project though imo.

 

[umphrey]

Wow another HS, he is 17 years old. Not sure if this is just the FO taking the best player, or going young on purpose because they don’t think the MLB team is all that close. 

[duewizard]

Found this on the consensus board:

 

Bitonti has an athletic profile that's easy to dream on. At 6'5, 215, he's already showing above average power that could be 70 grade when he's done developing. His swing is pretty steep which results in easy power that can come at the expense of contact. Bitonti is long levered and his swing can get long at times. He's played shortstop to date but as a below average runner and lateral mover, he may move to third base or even a corner outfield spot long term. If he puts it all together, he's going to be an impressive power bat as a pro. Bitonti is currently an Oregon commit.

[markedman5]

 

 

[StearnsFTW]

I saw Spencer Nivens mentioned above as well.  That's another guy I'd love for the Brewers to grab.  Huge potential.

 

[duewizard]

Hunter Owen for 118 would be nice 

[duewizard]

Jason Woodward 4-119

[brewcrewdue80]

Don't see a writeup on this guy via mlb.  Must be a slot money saving pick towards the HS picks.

Quote

 

 

[narwhalattack]

No idea who Woodward is, but makes sense as an underslot guy given that Bitonti likely isn’t gonna come cheap.

[LouisEly]

2 minutes ago, duewizard said:

Jason Woodward 4-119

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=woodwa000jas

Only 3 games this past season (injured?), started all three, 13.2 IP, 7 H, 6 BB, 18 K.  There's something there.

Pitched in CCL in 2022, gave up a lot of hits but 9.3 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 in 23.1 IP. 

[duewizard]

Jace Bohrofen, Spenser Nivens or Michael Carico at 155 maybe?

[markedman5]

Nivens now gone 

[narwhalattack]

Carico gone too. Damn Cubs 😒

[nate82]

Nicholas Judice is someone I think fits the Brewers profile as a pitcher.

 

[umphrey]

I fully support an under slot pick here to add high end quality