Brewers Mock Draft Update: The Preseason Number One Player In The Class To The Brewers At 20?

[Jamie Cameron]

Image courtesy of © Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

This draft cycle, we’re going to try something new. Every few weeks, I’ll post an article here listing who the Brewers would select based on their position on the consensus draft board. As the consensus board is updated, the players in those spots will be adjusted, and I’ll post another update.

This is not a mock draft. Instead, I’m hoping it’ll give readers an idea of the caliber of talent in each of the team’s first few picks. Additionally, it should help readers who want to dig into draft coverage a bit more get familiar with the class.

Here are the Brewers' first three picks by consensus draft ranking as of June 6, 2025.

1st Round (20th Overall): Jace Laviolette, OF, Texas A&M
Laviolette was one of the preseason favorites to go number one overall coming off the back of a monster '24 season in which he put up a 1.175 OPS and hit 29 bombs in 68 games for a deep Aggies lineup.

Laviolette is upright and quiet in the box, with a slightly open stance and an efficient load that allows for some serious bat speed. Laviolette ran a 109 mph EV90 in 2024 (max 116 mph) to go with a 92nd percentile chase rate (17%). He's a borderline passive hitter with some swing and miss in the profile (21.2% IZ-Whiff%). That could be a dangerous combination as he enters pro ball.

Defensively, it's not a center field profile for me. He's made improvements defensively but it's just an average arm better suited to a corner. This is a power-reliant corner profile already maximizing his pulled batted-ball events. There's plenty to like but the fact that he’s now 20th overall by consensus after starting the season as number one in the class is indicative of the type of risk his profile carries.

Free Agent Compensation (32nd Overall): Zach Root, LHP, Arkansas
After two seasons at East Carolina, Root transferred to Arkansas and has posted consistently midway through the 2025 season. He's a more unusual college pitching profile as his current value is dependent on a high-quality and diverse arsenal of secondary pitches. Root throws from the left side and has a funky delivery. He hides the ball behind his head, turning so forcefully that his left throwing shoulder is almost facing the batter as he winds up.

His fastball sits in the low 90s but has been as high as 96-97 mph. Despite the solid velocity, it doesn't have great shape and doesn't miss a ton of bats. Root has a ton of interesting secondary pitches. His changeup is exceptional and his slider is above average too, the changeup generating plenty of arm side movement. You don't see many lefties with such a well developed, diversified arsenal pre-draft. Root has performed consistently thus far in SEC play. He's cementing himself as a day one arm.

2nd Round (59th Overall): AJ Russell, RHP, Tennessee
Russell is going to be a high risk, high reward proposition for an organization in the 2025 draft. He has a great frame at 6'6", 200 pounds and one of the most metrically appealing fastballs in the class. He can run it up to 98 mph (although it sits mid-90s) with an extremely low release height from a wide angle. It'll get run and carry up in the zone too, it's a bit of a unicorn pitch. Russell has a second plus pitch in his slider, a tight sweeper that, given his release traits, is an uncomfortable experience, especially for right-handed hitters. Russell gets decent extension too, adding to the overall appeal. Russell has a changeup too, more of a third pitch at present.

So what's the catch? Russell had internal brace surgery to repair his elbow last June. There's a significant injury history here, and that, combined with the primarily two pitch mix, gives some reliever risk. It's some of the better stuff in the class, though. If he clicks, he'll give an org huge value.

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[James Zumstein]

If LaViolette is still there at 20, I think we would have to take him, much like we took Garrett Mitchell when he slid in 2020.  Considering he was expected to be a top-3 or so pick to start the year, falling to #20 could give him a massive chip on his even more massive shoulders.

I love Zach Root and his repertoire. He may "only" be a mid-rotation guy, but he'll be an outstanding one at that. I've been following him closely all year and he has yet to show me anything that says he wouldn't be a great pro. He would be a very safe pick if we decided to take LaViolette. 

Russell, along with his Vol teammate Marcus Phillips, could be a top of the rotation guy, or could be a high-leverage reliever. Some similarities to Misiorowski in that regard.  Of course, there's his health history to consider as well.  He'd be a lock to go in the first round if he had pitched all year, but having only thrown 23 innings this season, teams will have to weigh that risk versus the reward.

[ghostdrew]

What does he have that a guy like Ethan Frey from lsu  doesn't have

[LouisEly]

On 6/7/2025 at 9:11 AM, ghostdrew said:

What does he have that a guy like Ethan Frey from lsu  doesn't have

Frey is an interesting guy, thanks for mentioning him.

MLB.com has Frey at #130 which kind of belies the positive scouting report they have on him.

Only red flags I see with Frey are that he doesn't have a long track record (.281 SLG in 2024 in 65 PAs, not a huge deal as he wasn't getting regular ABs, but also a low SLG in the Northwoods League in 2023) and the labrum surgery last year - that will need to be vetted and checked with a physical.  

I wouldn't go Frey at #20 or #32 given those risks, but I'd definitely consider him at #59/#68 if the medicals check out.

[SF70]

Yeah, if LaViolette is still there at #20 I think we have to take him.

Power OF bats is this systems #1 weakness, imo, and getting his 65 grade power into the system would help mitigate the OF power void.

I believe this is a critical draft for the team and hoping to see a college positional that can start out at Wisconsin, getting ahead of the incredible teenage positionals this team has in the lower minors.

Regardless, another draft similar to 2024, which, imo, was incredibly underrated, should give this system enough talent to remain a force for many years ahead.

[Soupy]

Add the 2024 and 2023 draft plus the international signings and it is a very strong farm system. If the 2025 draft is strong the system will be loaded. 

[wallus]

1 hour ago, Soupy said:

Add the 2024 and 2023 draft plus the international signings and it is a very strong farm system. If the 2025 draft is strong the system will be loaded. 

The system is loaded now....

[brewmann04]

Think we see a hitter