Brewer Fanatic Draft Preview: Aidan Miller

Over these final few days before it all happens, we're going to be providing you with profiles of 10 players the Brewers could take with the 18th overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. Today, it's an infielder who would take a good amount of money to sign, but who could turn out to a difference-making corner infielder.

Who is He?
Aidan Miller is the younger brother of Jackson Miller, a catcher in the Reds system who was drafted in the second round of the 2020 COVID-shortened draft. Currently ranked 17th on the Consensus Big Board, Aidan suffered a hamate injury this season and missed the majority of his final high school campaign. He impressed enough scouts last summer, though, to stay in first-round consideration despite the setback. He was the MVP of the All-American Game last Auguat, and was gaining steam as a potential top-10 selection before the hand injury. 

Why the Brewers Will Draft Him
Miller has the type of bat you dream about. Swinging from the right side, he generates easy power underpinned by strong exit velocities. His overall hit tool projects to be at least average, as well. For all intents and purposes, Miller is your prototypical third-base prospect.

There is no such thing as having too many excellent hitters in your lineup, and Miller could provide excellent value to the Brewers because of his injury and teams not being able to get a sustained look at him over the course of the spring to inspire the requisite confidence for first-round investment. It’s entirely possible that Miller would have cemented himself as a top-10 pick, had he just been healthy enough to compete.

Why the Brewers Won't Draft Him
First and foremost, the Brewers tend to lean heavily toward college hitters over prep hitters. Most indications are that the Brewers are expected to stick to the college hitter demographic again in the first round this year.

Additionally, the value of this potential first-round pick is almost entirely tied to his bat. While most scouts believe Miller will be able to stick at third base (at least early in his career), there are others who question the body enough to think that he’s destined to be a first baseman. He’s listed as 6’ 2”, 205 pounds, and nothing is too concerning about that, but he appears to have a frame that might outgrow those dimensions. At this point in his career, he would be more likely to get reps at shortstop than first base. But that will become a different story by the time he starts knocking on the big-league door.

Miller also has already turned 19, which doesn’t look as good in data-driven models. Older prospects get dinged. And it’s hard to ignore his lack of a senior season to round out and update the evaluation. Regardless of how much the Brewers (or any team) has seen Miller, they’ve seen him a lot less over the last four months than they would have seen a healthy high-school prospect.

What do you think of Miller as a prospect? How would you feel about him being the Brewers' pick at 18th overall? Join the discussion in the comments.

Previous Draft Articles and Profiles
Brayden Taylor
Yohandy Morales 
Enrique Bradfield, Jr
Tommy Troy
Nolan Schanuel

Nygaard Mock Draft v.2

Consensus Big Board Profiles: 26-50
Consensus Big Board Profiles: 1-25