4 Prospects the Brewers Might Focus on with the #54 Pick

The Brewers are in a strong position entering the 2023 MLB Draft. In addition to having the 12th-largest bonus pool, north of $10.95 million, they have four top-100 picks, and three in the top 55. The 2023 Draft class is loaded with talent, one of the strongest in years. In the run-up to the Draft, we're going to share some names to watch at particular spots that give an indication of the caliber of talent that might be available for a particular pick. Today, we'll dig into the Brewers pick at 33 overall.

Sammy Stafura
Position: SS, Age: 18, School: Walter Panas HS, Height: 6’0, Weight: 185, B/T: R/R, Rank: 51
Stafura was a sudden arrival on the Consensus Board in May, going from unranked to the 50s, and he’s been climbing on Draft boards all spring. It’s easy to see why, a cold-weather bat that doesn’t get a lot of visibility in early spring, but Stafura has a great, well-rounded profile. In the box, it's a quiet operation with a smooth, timely load and good bat speed. He has a good approach, doesn’t whiff much in zone and shows good power to all fields. There will be more there as he fills out. Stafura is a really good athlete. He’s already a plus runner and has a solid arm. Defensively, he’s one of the better defensive prep shortstops. He has good footwork and good defensive actions. He should be able to stick at shortstop as a pro comfortably. Stafura is a Clemson commit, but he has an appealing all round profile that could see him go in the top 40 selections in July.

Hunter Owen
Position: LHP, Age: 21, School: Vanderbilt, Height: 6’6, Weight: 260, B/T: R/L, Rank: 54
6’6 left handed college pitchers with a strong track record in the SEC are going to be a coveted group. Owen fits that description. Originally an intriguing prep prospect out of Maine, Owen elected to make good on his commitment to Vanderbilt and it has paid off. He’s improved significantly every year for the Commodores. This is particularly evidenced by his control. He walked 15 hitters in 16.2 innings as a reliever in his first season, and 17 in 64 innings in 2023 as a starter, despite being limited by injuries in the second half of the season. Aside from throwing more strikes, Owen has a solid arsenal to work with. His fastball is average, a 93-95 mph offering without any remarkable shape. He has a pair of breakers, a curveball that he seems to prefer, with good depth, and a slider which evaluators prefer. He also has a changeup with good fade. Owen struck out 76 hitters in 64 innings in 2023 while putting up respectable run prevention in a season in which many pitchers struggled to do so. The consistent improvement over three seasons, his handedness, and an established four pitch mix that he commands give Owen an enticing profile.

LuJames Groover
Position: 3B, Age: 21, School: North Carolina State, Height: 6’2, Weight: 200, B/T: R/R, Rank: 55
Groover is an intriguing prospect with a wide range of rankings. As of early June, he ranked anywhere from the 40s to the low 100s on inputs into the Consensus Board, indicating a split of evaluators in how he is perceived as a prospect. Promoters of Groover will cite his ability to hit the ball hard (a max EV north of 113 mph), good barrel control, and excellent bat to ball skills. In 2023, Groover put together a .332/.430/.546 line with 13 home runs. Some of Groover’s best contact is on the ground, and adding more consistent loft to batted balls could take his home run totals into the 20-25 range as a professional. Detractors of Groover will cite an uncertain defensive home. After initially playing first base at North Carolina State he moved to third base in 2023. He’s limited defensively, with solid enough defensive actions but limited range and a fringy arm. He’s also played at second base and in the outfield. The offensive profile is exciting, but a drafting team will have to figure out where he fits defensively long term.

Alonzo Tredwell
Position: RHP, Age: 21, School: UCLA, Height: 6’8, Weight: 230, B/T: L/R, Rank: 57
Tredwell had TJ surgery during the 2020 season and has had his 2023 significantly impacted by injuries. That’s probably expected when you’re a 6’8 pitcher, but it is a cause for concern with his profile. After filling the role of closer for UCLA in 2022 he moved into the rotation, with encouraging results. In 45.1 innings in 2023, Tredwell struck out 51 hitters and walked just 12, putting up good production in the PAC 12. Tredwell has good command for his size and has a four pitch mix. His fastball velocity has increased significantly in the last two seasons, up from 91 mph to the 94-96 mph range. His best secondary offering is a slider that misses a lot of bats. HIs changeup is above average too and his curveball is more average. Tredwell has a repeatable, compact delivery. A high release point and excellent extension are additional positives in an intriguing starting pitcher profile.

Who are your favorite prospects mentioned? What are other names that intrigue you with this pick? Join our draft speculation in the comments below.