2025 MLB Draft

[jay87shot]

On 7/11/2025 at 3:21 PM, snoogans8056 said:

Very odd.

Every other team's write up has like 3 guys to look for at their next pick, and then they name drop like 10 guys for us including ones that aren't even in the Baseball America database.

That being said, all those names certainly check out as "Brewer guys".

Coy James (75% of slot) and Brady Ebel (slot-ish) definitely seems like something we would do, along with Luke Hill and Davalan as underslots in the second.

Could see this as very hitter heavy at the top, as most of the starting pitching spots in Carolina are already spoken for. Ideally we stock up the Arizona rotation like we did this year in the late rounds.

I agree, I do think there are a number of college guys in the top 150 or so who could go right to Appleton or just be relievers the rest of this season based on overall innings. I do like being a bit more hitter heavy early though. 

[James Zumstein]

Here are my predictions on who the Brewers will take on Sunday (Number in parentheses is final BF Consensus Board ranking):

#20) Ethan Conrad – OF, Wake Forest (#27) - Average or better skills across the board, and excelled on the Cape with a wood bat last summer; should be a solid everyday corner outfielder

Alternate: Andrew Fischer – 1B/3B, Tennessee (#26) – Plus power, average hit, proven offensive weapon

#32) Ryan Mitchell – SS, Houston, TN (#41) - Very athletic up-the-middle defender with some of the best bat-to-ball skills in the draft; plus hit with everything else being average or above

Alternate: Korbyn Dickerson – OF, Indiana (#75) – Well-rounded player with plus speed, defense, and bat speed

#59) Taitn Gray – C/OF, Dallas-Grimes, IA (#77) - Switch-hitter with massive power from both sides of the plate and average hit tool; tremendous athlete, strong work ethic, and still 17 years old

Alternate: A.J. Russell – RHP, Tennessee (#55) – Plus FB and SL, above-average control, pitched 25.1 effective innings this season after elbow surgery in 2024

#68) Antoine Jean – LHP, Houston (NR) – 23-year-old was the Big 12 pitcher of the year in 2025 while leading NCAA in BAA (.168) and 2^nd in K/9 (14.8); three above average pitches and great control

Alternate: James Quinn-Irons – OF, George Mason (#93) – A10 POY, four above-average tools

#94) Frank Cairone – LHP, Delsea, NJ (#107) – Still 17 until this fall, his fastball is now nearing mid-90’s and his slider approaches 3,000 rpm with plus extension; lots of traits the Brewers love here

Alternate: Uli Fernsler – LHP, Novi, MI (#87) – Above-average control with three average or better pitches

[CheeseheadInQC]

The Brewers certainly have draft tendencies in a whole draft view (Likely to finish in the top 3 if not first in number of high schoolers picked. Tons of pitching and very little college hitting after round 5, The occasional "Is he a catcher?" pick.). And they will likely exit Day 1 with more hitters than pitchers simply from a logistics standpoint (the whole avoiding college bats after round 5 thing). As far as any first round tendencies, though, their collection of recent picks seems to indicate something akin to what the old TV show "Sports Night" claimed was Napoleon's battle plan: Show up and see what happens.

Couple questions for people more plugged in on specific draft prospects than I am:

Murf Gray was in the top 30 on Fangraphs' preseason list and even his MLB writeup says that he had momentum after his performance in the Cape Cod League. It also says that he didn't carry that momentum into the 2025 season, but the stats certainly look good. Was it a not performing well against the better teams he faced thing? Otherwise I'm not getting that comment.

Second, anyone know any good "Is he a catcher?" type guys from this year? Just looking at stats (dangerous when it comes to the draft, I know), it seemed like Eddie Madrigal and Lucas Steele were two possibilities, but one thing I read made it sound like knee injuries ended Madrigal's catching days for good and Steele apparently said he is headed back to Auburn.

[snoogans8056]

Just keep drafting like you’re insane.

These last two drafts have been so much fun just due to how little we or anyone else seems to know what’s going on.

i feel like we lost out on a couple late round signings just due to how long the Levonas talks went on. Would have loved to get Malamazian in… So I’d like to avoid that whole ordeal again.

[MilwaukeeBeers]

Really hoping Bodine isn’t the pick. Hoping he’s off the board before we get the chance even.

[James Zumstein]

2 hours ago, CheeseheadInQC said:

The Brewers certainly have draft tendencies in a whole draft view (Likely to finish in the top 3 if not first in number of high schoolers picked. Tons of pitching and very little college hitting after round 5, The occasional "Is he a catcher?" pick.). And they will likely exit Day 1 with more hitters than pitchers simply from a logistics standpoint (the whole avoiding college bats after round 5 thing). As far as any first round tendencies, though, their collection of recent picks seems to indicate something akin to what the old TV show "Sports Night" claimed was Napoleon's battle plan: Show up and see what happens.

Couple questions for people more plugged in on specific draft prospects than I am:

Murf Gray was in the top 30 on Fangraphs' preseason list and even his MLB writeup says that he had momentum after his performance in the Cape Cod League. It also says that he didn't carry that momentum into the 2025 season, but the stats certainly look good. Was it a not performing well against the better teams he faced thing? Otherwise I'm not getting that comment.

Second, anyone know any good "Is he a catcher?" type guys from this year? Just looking at stats (dangerous when it comes to the draft, I know), it seemed like Eddie Madrigal and Lucas Steele were two possibilities, but one thing I read made it sound like knee injuries ended Madrigal's catching days for good and Steele apparently said he is headed back to Auburn.

I agree with your assessment of how things could possibly shake down for this draft. As for potential, but not for certain, catchers, I have been locked on Iowa high schooler and Oregon commit Taitn Gray for months now.  Devastating offense potential and he has been committed to catching, even if others think he'll eventually end up in the OF. Other possible catchers include current Oregon Duck Anson Aroz, Richmond's Jack Arcamone, Tennessee's Dalton Bargo, Utah Valley's Luke Iverson, and two JuCo players, Brendan Brock and, quite possibly my favorite name in the draft, Blade Carver.

Murf Gray had a solid offensive season and was a finalist for a Gold Glove at 3rd base, but his lack of speed hurts his profile overall.  He may not stay at 3rd as a pro and might have to move across to the cold corner.

[LouisEly]

23 hours ago, James Zumstein said:

#94) Frank Cairone – LHP, Delsea, NJ (#107) – Still 17 until this fall, his fastball is now nearing mid-90’s and his slider approaches 3,000 rpm with plus extension; lots of traits the Brewers love here

Well done

[brewmann04]

Who everyone targets gr tomorrow 

[Jenkins5]

This doesn’t seem right, Been on this site for basically every draft since 2003 & it’s not often everyone likes all the picks ha Lot of time left I guess though. A Debbie Downer is sure to pop up soon enough. 
 

Really like what they have done. Big fan of Fischer not only the bat but the mentals. Think he has that it factor to him.
 

Brewers continue to target young 17 year old HS players early.. Ebel is very intriguing. Coaches son who grew up around players & very strong fundamentally. Good upside there. Kid who wants to make it & will no doubt put in the work training, watching film, and growing.
 

Also continue trend of dedication to scouting cold weather HS arms when their competition tends to over look them. Sure we will see some Midwest HS arms tomorrow. Cairone is definition of a Brewer pitcher. Spins the ball with the best. Has tools & stuff for lab to maximize.

Both college arms are have both winning pedigree with being Aces for for #1 Vandy & CW Coastal Carolina & great stuff to build on. Velo for both will up tick up a bit but even if they don’t both have good life to them.

See how numbers look but have to think they saved some to to be aggressive in few spots tomorrow. 

 

[biedergb]

6 hours ago, Jenkins5 said:

This doesn’t seem right, Been on this site for basically every draft since 2003 & it’s not often everyone likes all the picks ha Lot of time left I guess though. A Debbie Downer is sure to pop up soon enough. 

I think that even some of us (or just me) who maybe didn't like the draft so far (and it's just an opinion based on gut and irrational wishes for other picks or profiles), but have learned to wait until it's over to see the whole process, and then also have some trust in the scouts and front office. There will be a real head scratcher at some point, but that head scratcher could be the next Craig Yoho type pick.

[Jenkins5]

1 hour ago, biedergb said:

I think that even some of us (or just me) who maybe didn't like the draft so far (and it's just an opinion based on gut and irrational wishes for other picks or profiles), but have learned to wait until it's over to see the whole process, and then also have some trust in the scouts and front office. There will be a real head scratcher at some point, but that head scratcher could be the next Craig Yoho type pick.

Been saying it since he took over, in Tod Johnson I trust. Through their analytic models & in person scouting they know exactly what they are looking for. Then they pass these kids off to a great development program that can maximize those markers/skills at high level.

2nd part of it is the money approach. People will complain about reaching on picks but Johnson & Crew have an overarching plan that tends to make sense more sense once draft is done & kids are signed. They know where the money is with each kid (except dropping ball a bit last year for first time in top 10 rounds). Then back to the scouting profiles/development, those cheap underslots do not perform like cheap underslots 

[snoogans8056]

23 minutes ago, Jenkins5 said:

Been saying it since he took over, in Tod Johnson I trust. Through their analytic models & in person scouting they know exactly what they are looking for. Then they pass these kids off to a great development program that can maximize those markers/skills at high level.

2nd part of it is the money approach. People will complain about reaching on picks but Johnson & Crew have an overarching plan that tends to make sense more sense once draft is done & kids are signed. They know where the money is with each kid (except dropping ball a bit last year for first time in top 10 rounds). Then back to the scouting profiles/development, those cheap underslots do not perform like cheap underslots 

2024 was a worst case scenario for fans that don’t buy in.

We reached for a no name first rounder, paid nobody slot except for Meccage, and then didnt sign our biggest swing.

We ended up with a pretty great draft anyway. Just gotta trust these guys.

 

[wiguy94]

52 minutes ago, snoogans8056 said:

2024 was a worst case scenario for fans that don’t buy in.

We reached for a no name first rounder, paid nobody slot except for Meccage, and then didnt sign our biggest swing.

We ended up with a pretty great draft anyway. Just gotta trust these guys.

We just don't know as much at the time. At the time Payne seemed like a huge reach but he clearly wasn't a reach now and we also know the Dodgers were on him if he fell to 23 so we wouldn't have had another chance to get him.

[Jenkins5]

With any draft, MLB, NFL, etc it’s hard for me to buy in on theories of “reaches.” Mocks & rankings are entertainment. They work on a fraction of the information of scouting departments. BA & so on do not have analytical models crunching large sums of data on every player to guide their boards like a Brewers data driven board does. They aren’t meeting kids & their families. Talking to coaches to know these kids at deeper level. They work with available information, film, and what they hear from pro scouts. That info can be smoke & mirrors at times. Like mentioned, Payne seemed like a reach due to lack of information from national services but there were teams right behind Crew gunning for him. Then throw in money aspects that change where kids fall on boards.
 

In any draft, outside of the obvious Top 5-10, a pro scouting departments board looks very little like a national media board. The ones that do, often are not great departments.