Article: Brewer Fanatic Mock Draft v.2.0 (Cameron Edition): Brewers Take High Octane Arm, Backstop

[Jamie Cameron]

We’re just over a month from the opening day of the 2024 MLB Draft. We’re starting to see steam connecting prospects and teams. Check out our second mock draft of the cycle.

Image courtesy of Brock Beauchamp

We’re starting to see a trickle of creditable steam surrounding draft picks and fits. We’ll have at least three more mocks in the coming weeks, including a dualing installment next time up. Given how chaotic this draft should be after pick 11 or so, we’ve opted to switch things up significantly. 

1. Cleveland Guardians - Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State
There's been steam connecting the Guardians to Bazzana in recent weeks. Whether accurate or not, he’s closed the gap between himself and Charlie Condon. Their composite rankings are 1.88 and 1.55 respectively. At this point, it’s close to a toss up who the industry prefers at the top.

2. Cincinnati Reds - Charlie Condon, 3B, Georgia
The Reds lucked out in the lottery big time. They’ll land one of the two best players (if they so choose) and have the financial flexibility to tap into prep talent further down the board. Condon won’t be on the board long if the Guardians pass.

3. Colorado Rockies - Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest
There are some decent pieces in the Rockies system, but they need talented arms if they are ever going to reemerge into relevance. Burns could be a game changer for their rotation.

4. Oakland Athletics - Jac Caglianone, 1B, Florida
Caglianone’s future is as a hitter. He’s improved his chase rates and bat to ball skills in 2024, to go with the 80 grade raw power that ameliorates the first base only profile on defense.

5. Chicago White Sox - Bryce Rainer, SS, Harvard Westlake HS, CA
The White Sox are in no hurry. They’ll likely strengthen their farm significantly before the trade deadline. They’ve been connected to Rainer and Griffin, the top two prep players on the board. Here we’ll go with Rainer, a polished, left-handed hitting shortstop. Braden Montgomery also makes plenty of sense here.

6. Kansas City Royals - Braden Montgomery, OF, Texas A&M
This is a great spot to be picking, despite getting some raw luck in the lottery (again). Montgomery has had a special 2024 season. Through regional play, he’s slugged .730 and hit 26 home runs. He’s better from the left side, and a plus arm makes him one of the best outfield prospects in the class. This would be a great get for KC. Rainer and Griffin could fit here, too.

7. St. Louis Cardinals - Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest
The Cardinals have roared back into relevance in the NL Central in 2024 after looking down and out. They have a difficult choice here. It’s hard to pass on Hagen Smith, but in Nick Kurtz, they have one of the best hit/power combos in the draft class. 22 bombs and a 1.294 OPS after a slow start will play.

8. Los Angeles Angels - Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas
We know the Angels type. They target players who can move and debut quickly at the MLB level, despite little evidence their strategy is working well. Smith could go as high as three, but his floor is likely around here after a dominant season in the SEC (164 Ks in 84 innings at the time of writing).

9. Pittsburgh Pirates - J.J. Wetherholt, SS, West Virginia
Wetherholt was 1:1 coming into 2024. Lingering soft tissue injuries have cost him playing time and exposure at shortstop (having previously played second base). If he can remain healthy, he could be the steal of the top half of the first round, with the best hit tool in the class. 

10. Washington Nationals - Konnor Griffin, OF, Jackson Prep HS, MS
Griffin is one of the best athletes in this class and could go several spots higher. The Nationals tend to like high upside prep players, and Griffin has that in abundance. It’s a high risk, high reward play.

11. Detroit Tigers - Trey Yesavage RHP, East Carolina
The Tigers have a relatively new team at the helm for their draft and came away with a promising 2023 haul, led by Max Clark and Kevin McGonigle. They’ve had less success developing college pitching in recent year, but Yesavage has firmly established himself as SP3.

12. Boston Red Sox - Seaver King, SS, Wake Forest
Seaver King has one of the wider range of outcomes for any first round college player. It’s athleticism, bat speed, and impact in abundance, but it’s still pretty raw. He’s one of the higher upside plays in the class on the college side.

13. San Francisco Giants - Cam Caminiti, LHP, Saguaro HS, AZ
Caminiti, to his credit, has maintained his draft stock throughout the process. It’s either him or Kash Mayfield for prep LHSP1. We’ll go with Caminiti here, despite some lingering concerns about his ability to spin the baseball.

14. Chicago Cubs - James Tibbs, OF, Florida State
This might be the most mocked pick this cycle. Tibbs to the Cubs makes tons of sense. It’s a pretty safe bat. If he’s off the board, Seaver King, Cam Smith, and Christian Moore all make sense). 25 home runs and a 1.267 OPS highlight an incredible season for Tibbs through regionals. If he was more athletic, he’d be a top eight pick.

15. Seattle Mariners - Kash Mayfield, LHP, Elk City HS, OK
The Mariners leaned into a strong prep position player class in 2023 with plenty of flexibility courtesy of abundant picks (and money). Their system could use some refreshing on the pitching side. Mayfield has one of the best deliveries in the draft class (college or prep) and would be my pick for prep LHSP1.

16. Miami Marlins - Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State
The Marlins need bats. Smith is a great option who had an outstanding 2024 season anchoring the Florida State offense with James Tibbs. It’s a solid defensive profile and an offensive skillset full of impact.

17. Milwaukee Brewers - Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa
The Brewers are ‘up there’ with the Mariners with the quality and consistency of their pitching development. Brecht might have the best one-two punch in the class between his fastball and slider. If he’s a first rounder, he’ll also set a record (high) for walk rate for a college pitcher. He improved in the second half of the season. If anyone can harness the immense ceiling, it’s Milwaukee.

18. Tampa Bay Rays - Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Kentucky
Waldschmidt is one of my favorite prospects in the 2024 cycle. He’s done everything for Kentucky offensively on one of the best teams in the SEC. There’s solid tools across the board. He’s a sure first round profile, for me.

19. New York Mets - Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina
Honeycutt has the best tools of any college position player. Elite center field defense, plus speed, and the chance for plus power. There’s legitimate swing and miss worries though, and a K% north of 25% is an orange flag.

20. Toronto Blue Jays - Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee
Moore is 35 on the consensus board currently. It’s way too low. A 1.229 OPS and 29 home runs through regional play in the SEC is a first round profile. Any number of teams should be thrilled to get him in this range.

21. Minnesota Twins - Slade Caldwell, OF, Valley View HS, AR
Caldwell is one of only three sure fire prep players who will go in the first round, for me. While it might seem antithetical to the Twins typical approach (lean into the strength of the draft), Caldwell would be a top 10 pick if he was 6’0 (he’s 5’9). It’s plus speed in centerfield and a great approach at the plate in a very hitterish profile.

22. Baltimore Orioles - Theo Gillen, SS, Westlake HS, TX
Gillen has been described as the best hitter in Texas. That ought to be good enough for a still loaded Orioles system.

23. Los Angeles Dodgers - Kellon Lindsey, SS, Hardee HS, FL
Lindsey is one of a handful of prep shortstops who will go in the 20-40 range. He’s an explosive athlete, an 80-grade runner, and the Dodgers make superstars out of prospects with these type of athletic tools. 

24. Atlanta Braves - Carson Benge, OF, Oklahoma State
A two-way player who should focus on hitting over pitching, Benge has gotten over his groundball whoas of 2023. Benge has a nice balance of power and bat to ball skills in his profile. He’s a high floored college bat who could go ten picks higher.

25. San Diego Padres - Ryan Sloan, RHP, York Community HS, IL
One of the best prep righties in the class, Sloan has an enticing combination of frame, velocity, and pitch mix. That’s exactly the type of clay the Padres like to mold. 

26. New York Yankees - Jurrangelo Cijntje, RHP/LHP, Mississippi State
A switch pitcher who will likely focus on pitching right handed as a pro. Cijntje has earned Marcus Stroman comps and has legitimate first round steam at this point. 

27. Philadelphia Phillies - Billy Amick, 3B, Tennessee
Amick’s momentum was slowed midseason by appendicitis. He’s handled third base better than expected. It’s a power over hit profile with some swing and miss concerns.

28. Houston Astros - Dakota Jordan, OF, Mississippi State
We haven’t talked much about Jordan. He might have the best bat speed in the class. There are major strikeout issues, and the contact rate is in the sixties. If the right player development team can help make it work, there’s massive impact in the profile

29. Arizona Diamondbacks - William Schmidt, Catholic HS, LA
Schmidt was an early riser in the cycle. The fastball took a velocity jump and it might be the best breaking ball in the prep class, an absolute hammer curveball.

30. Texas Rangers - Malcolm Moore, C, Stanford
This feels like a value play at this point. Moore has had a poor year offensively, but is still floating around the back half of the first round on most boards.

31. Arizona Diamondbacks - Tyson Lewis, SS, Millard West HS, NE
There’s tons of steam on the Diamondbacks and Lewis, who has risen quickly up boards. It’s a potential hit, power, speed combination at shortstop.

32. Baltimore Orioles - Kaelen Culpepper, SS/3B, Kansas State
A consistent performer throughout his collegiate career with no real gaps in his profile, and no real carrying tool either.

33. Minnesota Twins - Joey Oakie, RHP, Ankeny HS, IA
Given the Twins combination of picks and bonus pool, it makes too much sense for them to tap into a deep prep pitching class sometime in their first four picks. Oakie is one of my favorites with a nasty combination of running fastball and a sweeper with a ton of lateral movement. 

34. Milwaukee Brewers - Walker Janek, C, Sam Houston State
Janek is the best catcher in the class for me. He controls the run game with a plus arm and is a good defender. The offensive profile isn’t spectacular but he does everything well. If the Brewers take two college players, expect things to get weird from then on out. They have money and picks to leverage creatively.

35. Arizona Diamondbacks - Jared Thomas, OF, Texas
An impactful college bat who should stick in centerfield. Thomas has taken a step forward in 2024 with his offensive impact. It’s an appealing, well-rounded profile.

36. Cleveland Guardians - Braylon Doughty, RHP, Chaparral HS, CA
While Doughty doesn’t have a prototypical frame, it’s a smooth repeatable delivery, a good fastball, and a real ability to spin the baseball. A scary prospect in Cleveland’s player development system.

37. Pittsburgh Pirates - Wyatt Sanford, SS, Independence HS, TX
A spring riser, Sanford has a solid overall offensive profile for a system that’s very arm heavy.

38. Colorado Rockies - Caleb Lomavita, C, Cal
A value play at this point. I don’t love Lomavita’s offensive profile, personally, it’s a wild yet high impact approach. He’s had steam in the teens

39. Kansas City Royals - Mike Sirota, OF, Northeastern
Sirota has had a down year, but the tools and performance have been there before. He won’t last too long.

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[jay87shot]

I would love Brecht, not sure about the catcher with questionable offense. That being said I don't know much about the catcher.

[brewmann04]

can never have enough Pitching

[Jamie Cameron]

1 hour ago, jay87shot said:

I would love Brecht, not sure about the catcher with questionable offense. That being said I don't know much about the catcher.

Janek is the best catcher in the class, for me. .364/.476/.709 (1.185) with 17 HR (37 XBH), 40 BB, and 45 Ks isn't that questionable lol. I think he'll be solid average offensively at worst, in which case he'd accrue plenty of value. 

[Spencer Michaelis]

Janek is such a ridiculous athlete for a catcher, I'd definitely have no complaints with that one. I am weary of Brecht, though I do agree that if anyone will be able maximize him, the Brewers are near the top of the list of teams that can. Wouldn't hate the pick, because even without a ton of positive growth he could probably fall into a decent pen role.

[jay87shot]

13 hours ago, Jamie Cameron said:

Janek is the best catcher in the class, for me. .364/.476/.709 (1.185) with 17 HR (37 XBH), 40 BB, and 45 Ks isn't that questionable lol. I think he'll be solid average offensively at worst, in which case he'd accrue plenty of value. 

Nice, I can get on board with that. Just the description of questionable offense from the article was worrying. Those numbers with great defense and athletism would seem to be a solid comp.  pick.

[Team Canada]

On 6/12/2024 at 12:11 PM, Smichaelis9 said:

I am weary of Brecht

Leery, or wary, but not weary (tired). :)  Sorry, so many people get this wrong.

[nate82]

1 hour ago, Team Canada said:

Leery, or wary, but not weary (tired). :)  Sorry, so many people get this wrong.

We don't need your Canadian language here! We speak American!  Go back to Antarctica!

[biedergb]

3 hours ago, Team Canada said:

Leery, or wary, but not weary (tired). :)  Sorry, so many people get this wrong.

I am weary of discussing him ;)

And I said Buuu-urns

[bigred]

Brecht will end up a reliever because he's too wild. Hard pass on him in the 1st rd. 

[Spencer Michaelis]

On 6/14/2024 at 9:48 AM, Team Canada said:

Leery, or wary, but not weary (tired). :)  Sorry, so many people get this wrong.

But what if I want to combine those two options into one word? (Kidding, thank you, I actually knew that and still did it lol)

[Fear The Chorizo]

trying to find highlights of Brecht where he isn't walking everybody.  No thank you for a 1st round pick on a collegiate arm that can't throw strikes, no matter how electric it might be.

If he falls to that sandwich pick, pull the trigger there - but not at 17.  There are several other prep arms and bats/athletic position players listed between 17-33 in this mock I'd prefer the Brewers take with their top pick instead of Brecht.

[BrewerFan]

On 6/14/2024 at 5:26 PM, bigred said:

Brecht will end up a reliever because he's too wild. Hard pass on him in the 1st rd. 

Ya know...we're pretty good at taking College arms and getting the most out of him.

Give me a guy with absolutely filthy stuff from the cold who is wild over a guy with better command at the College level...every day of the week. If the guy wasn't wild, he would be a top 5-10 pick. 

Take him, get him in the lab and see if you can turn him into a Burnes or Woodruff. Two guys who had similar or I believe in Woody's case worse SO/BB ratios. 

 

Bottom line, this kid had a scholarship to play WR, he's STILL got a Whip of ~1.2 and a BAA that's obscenely low and his FB/Slider is comped to Skenes. 

 

I may be dating myself, but I'm Meg Ryan in the diner scene of "When Harry Met Sally." Difference is...I'm not faking it!

Just thinking about Misiorowski, Brecht, Knoth, Letson(who'll be throwing upper 90s as he fills out). Throw Ashby or Gasser in there(likely the later) with the young bats? 

Now I'm down the rabbit hole, but a wild Paul Skenes, 101 FB, dominant slider, elite athlete, command that needs work+Milwaukee Brewers= 1st rd pick. 

[bigred]

9 hours ago, BrewerFan said:

Ya know...we're pretty good at taking College arms and getting the most out of him.

Give me a guy with absolutely filthy stuff from the cold who is wild over a guy with better command at the College level...every day of the week. If the guy wasn't wild, he would be a top 5-10 pick. 

Take him, get him in the lab and see if you can turn him into a Burnes or Woodruff. Two guys who had similar or I believe in Woody's case worse SO/BB ratios. 

 

Bottom line, this kid had a scholarship to play WR, he's STILL got a Whip of ~1.2 and a BAA that's obscenely low and his FB/Slider is comped to Skenes. 

 

I may be dating myself, but I'm Meg Ryan in the diner scene of "When Harry Met Sally." Difference is...I'm not faking it!

Just thinking about Misiorowski, Brecht, Knoth, Letson(who'll be throwing upper 90s as he fills out). Throw Ashby or Gasser in there(likely the later) with the young bats? 

Now I'm down the rabbit hole, but a wild Paul Skenes, 101 FB, dominant slider, elite athlete, command that needs work+Milwaukee Brewers= 1st rd pick. 

If they draft him in the 1st, I wouldn't be against it, just think getting a more polished legit starter is the better choice. 🤷‍♂️

[MilwaukeeBeers]

In a pretty poor draft I am down for taking a high upside arm like William Schmidt. That curveball is tantalizing and being that good at his age seems like quite a rare trait to take a swing on. Get that boy in the lab! Gonna be expensive though.

[jay87shot]

I am not really in love with any college bat that will likely be there for us (love Cam Smith and really like Tommy White). It might be a good spot to take risk a HS bat. SS/OF Theo Gillen sounds like a smooth upside bat that is really intriguing.

[LouisEly]

On 6/17/2024 at 9:19 AM, Fear The Chorizo said:

trying to find highlights of Brecht where he isn't walking everybody.  No thank you for a 1st round pick on a collegiate arm that can't throw strikes, no matter how electric it might be.

If he falls to that sandwich pick, pull the trigger there - but not at 17.  There are several other prep arms and bats/athletic position players listed between 17-33 in this mock I'd prefer the Brewers take with their top pick instead of Brecht.

There has been talk of the Iowa coaches messing with his mechanics and pitch selection that caused him to get off to a slow start, but that improved as the year went on:

https://www.mlb.com/prospects/draft/brody-brecht-701679

He led NCAA Division I with a .143 opponent average in 2023 before getting off to a slow start this spring as scouts complained about how Iowa has messed with his pitches and mechanics. He made some adjustments on his own and finished strong, which should allow him to become the program's first first-rounder since Tim Costo in 1990.

If you're not picking at the top of the draft, those are the guys you have to find - the ones who weren't great because of bad coaching.

[jay87shot]

Here is my hopeful draft.

1) James Tibbs/Cam Smith/Tommy White

Ranked 14-16 on mlb.com, hopefully one of these 3 big bats could still be there at 17.

1(comp) P Levi Sterling     This would have a Knoth type feel. Big project able starter, with a high spin curveball. Ranked in the 50's he could even sign slightly under slot.

2) P Chris Cortez     This would be my bigger money saving pick. An electric reliever rank 100, he averaged 2-3 innings per game so developing him as a starter would be an option especially if we could improve his changeup.

2(comp) SS Luke Dickerson    I like his smooth swing and sturdy build. Feel free to flip this with the other 2nd round pick if need be.

3) 1B/C Corey Collins     Probably the best Senior prospect, he hit .354/.574/1.346 with 20 HR at Georgia. Ranked 171 we can save more slot money and get a bat to go to A+ or AA quickly.

4)P Brandon Clark/ Mack Estrada/ Connor Ware

Here is our Junior College pitcher all 3 of these guys seem to be borderline top 200 prosects.

5/6) 2 top ranked HS prospect available.

[SF70]

College bat at 17. 

I like Carson Benge. Good hit & power tool. Should be slot, and in MKE’s OF sometime in 2026. 

Organizational needs: power bats & power arms and Benge fills the OF power bat need. The rest of the draft can follow last years path with below slot early/above slot late.

[balsamlaker]

Definitely a strategy that is similar to Brewers' strategies in the past.  The challenging part is giving 'slot' deals in the first 2-3 picks makes it difficult to create much savings.  Hopefully the savings used last year work out better (Bitonti and Pratt) than the '14 draft of high schoolers that didn't provide much to the major league team other than a trade chip.

[SF70]

30 minutes ago, balsamlaker said:

Definitely a strategy that is similar to Brewers' strategies in the past.  The challenging part is giving 'slot' deals in the first 2-3 picks makes it difficult to create much savings.  Hopefully the savings used last year work out better (Bitonti and Pratt) than the '14 draft of high schoolers that didn't provide much to the major league team other than a trade chip.

Yeah, slot on the first pick would necessitate below slot on at least 2 of the next 3 picks if they want to have a similar type draft to 2023, which imo, was a spectacular draft-class.

After last years draft I have so much trust in the team’s prospect-procurement systems (‘24 IFA class was incredible as well) I’m just expecting another great class next month, especially with the extra $2.7M, and 2025 with Adames’s comp and comp A as well. Powerhouse farm system ahead.