Five Hitters the Brewers Could Target With the Number 18 Overall Pick

We’ll start by profiling some hitters, before looking at pitchers next week. For each installment, we’ll use the positions of players on the Consensus Board as a proxy for who they might take, as opposed to trying to predict what each team will actually do. The goal is to give a flavor of the kind of talent and options that might be around when that pick hits, as we all know trying to predict the draft is perilous at best.

Matt Shaw
Position: SS, Age: 21, School: Maryland, Height: 5’11, Weight: 185, B/T: R/R, Rank: 15
Shaw has been floating around the teens of most draft boards throughout the pre-draft process, currently owning a tight cluster of rankings between 15th and 20th overall. Shaw is a solid-floored prospect due to the fact that he does a little bit of everything well. At the plate, it’s a slightly unconventional swing with a big leg kick to start out but it has a track record of results. Shaw has a track record of hitting in college and on the Cape, using all fields and possessing in-game power to all fields. He’s improved his approach in 2023, increasing his BB% and decreasing his K%. Defensively, he’s not a shortstop, although he has an above average arm and solid defensive actions. Given his solid all-round offensive profile, he’d provide the most value for a team at second base although he could stick at third also. In 2023 Shaw has put together a .359/.457/.743 line with 23 home runs and 17 stolen bases. He’s a legitimate offensive threat.

Aidan Miller
Position: 3B, Age: 19, School: Mitchell HS, FL, Height: 6’2, Weight: 210, B/T: R/R, Rank: 16
Miller is the younger brother of Jackson Miller, a catching prospect drafted by the Reds in 2020. Miller is one of the most physical prep bats in the class, generating exceptional bat speed with a steep swing that generates plus raw power, although it hasn’t shown up a ton in games yet. Miller’s operation at the plate is quite noisy, a hand hitch and big leg kick are both present in his swing, but he has a sound approach and generates frequent hard contact. Defensively, Miller is very athletic and is already well filled-out for a 19 year old at 220lbs. If he maintains his athleticism, it’ll be a solid third base profile with the perfect offensive profile to match. If it he doesn’t, he could move to a corner outfield spot and still put up the offensive numbers to carry the position. Evaluators haven’t seen as much of Miller at the front end of this season as he had a broken hamate bone which caused him to miss time. As a result, Miller’s evaluations have a bit more range to them than some other prospects in this area of the draft board. All that said, he’s one of the best prep bats in the class and should go in the 12-25 range. Miller is committed to Arkansas.

Bryce Eldridge
Position: RHP/1B , Age: 18, School: Madison HS, VA, Height: 6’7, Weight: 230, B/T: L/R, Rank: 18
Eldridge has been making moves up draft boards all spring and is a uniquely projectable, two-way prep prospect out of Virginia. The appeal is easy to see. On the mound, Eldridge has added to an already good fastball this spring which now sits 94-97 mph but can grab 98 mph with good run. He throws two breaking pitches, the slider the better of them currently looking like it might develop into a legitimate weapon and out pitch. Eldridge has also shown a propensity towards his changeup, which has some fade and good separation from his fastball. Offensively, Eldridge has some massive raw power to dip into, similar to Spencer Jones. Perhaps surprisingly, he has a relatively short, compact swing although he does have some swing and miss and it's definitely a power over hit profile offensively. Teams interested in Eldridge will have to decide whether to keep him a two way player or help him hone one of his prodigious skill sets. The University of Alabama commit has some helium right now.

Braden Taylor
Position: 3B, Age: 21, School: TCU, Height: 6’1, Weight: 180, B/T: L/R, Rank: 20
Taylor has fallen significantly on the consensus board since pre and beginning of season lists were formed. Let’s start with the positive. Taylor has an incredibly sweet swing and it might be the highlight of one of the best hit tools in the entire draft class. Taylor has a tremendous eye, rarely chases, and has exceptional in zone contact rates. Combine this with his ability to take a walk and you have a player who is going to get on base a lot. The power is average, maybe a tick above, and that’s where some of the concerns come in. Taylor makes plenty of flush contact but his 90th percentile and max EVs are towards the lower end of where you’d want to see them for a top hitting prospect (and haven’t taken much of a step forwards). Despite the fact that he’s hit double digit home runs every year in college, some wonder if that will transfer to the pro game. Defensively, Taylor is a solid third baseman. He could handily man left field if he struggles defensively as the hot corner. At the time of writing, Taylor had put together a .297./.422/.623 line with 19 home runs on the year. Taylor had a strong second half of the season.

Colin Houck 
Position: SS , Age: 18, School: Parkview HS, GA, Height: 6’1, Weight: 190, B/T: R/R, Rank: 21
Houck is one of the best prep athletes in the draft, showing ability to stick defensively in the infield with a good arm, good speed, and a well rounded offensive approach. At the plate, Houck doesn’t chase much and a combination of a compact swing, quiet operation, and upwards trajectory in his bat path should allow him to access more than the gap to gap power he’s shown in high school. Defensively, Houck shows great athleticism and solid defensive actions to go with an above average arm. As he fills out, he may outgrow shortstop. If that’s the case, he’ll be a plus defensive third baseman and should have the offensive output to match the position. A Mississippi St baseball commit, Houck has multiple D1 offers to play quarterback. He might profile as an over slot prep depending on where he’s drafted.

Also considered: Kevin Magonigle, SS (18), Blake Mitchell, C (19), Brock Wilken, 3B (23)
Which of the players profiled do you like best as a fit for the Brewers? Is there anyone you’ve read about or watched who you think is missing? Draft speculation is the best speculation, so join the discussion in the comments.