The Brewers had an unconventional first day of the MLB draft on Sunday. After targeting up-the-middle college position players with high floors and slightly lower ceilings in recent years, the Brewers selected players with some risk but the potential to pay off down the line.
It will be intriguing to see what direction the Brewers go with their eight selections on the draft’s second day. On Monday, they hold the 17th pick in the third round. The 87th overall pick has a slot value of $796,200.
Below is a look at five players the Brewers could realistically target with their third-round pick.
Travis Honeyman, OF, Boston College
Honeyman is a 6-foot-3, 195-pound outfielder with an all-around toolset that allows him to impact the game in numerous ways. Scouts rave about his contact ability and feel for the strike zone, as he rarely strikes out. He hits line drives consistently and currently shows average power potential.
Defensively, Honeyman has gone from playing shortstop and third base in high school to the outfield at Boston College. He struggled to adjust to the outfield at first, he admits. But as he has gained more experience, he has enhanced his skills, becoming a solid defender at all three outfield spots.
Honeyman played left field last season and right field this spring. He played center field in the Cape Cod League last summer, and scouts believe he can play there in pro ball. Honeyman has above-average speed and solid arm strength. He has the instincts to play all three outfield spots.
Read an in-depth draft profile to learn more about Honeyman and his skill set here.
Juaron Watts-Brown, RHP, Oklahoma State
Watts-Brown had high expectations entering this season after transferring to Oklahoma State in the offseason. The righty experienced mixed results, posting a 5.03 ERA with inconsistent command and control of his pitches.
Watts-Brown still has the potential to serve as a starting pitcher in pro ball. He also would thrive in an analytical-driven organization.
The 6-foot-3, 190-pound right-handed pitcher throws a four-seam fastball, two-seamer, slider, curveball and changeup from a three-quarters arm slot and clean, athletic delivery. His fastballs are average pitches that sit in the low-90s and touch 96 mph. He typically throws his four-seam fastball to left-handed hitters and two-seamer to righties.
Watts-Brown’s big-breaking curveball is a respectable pitch he started throwing consistently last year. His above-average slider is his best pitch, featuring tight-breaking action and quality command. It generates plenty of swings and misses.
Read an in-depth draft profile to learn more about Watts-Brown and his skill set here.
Trent Caraway, 3B, JSerra Catholic (Calif.) HS
Caraway is a 6-foot-2, 200-pound right-handed hitting shortstop/third baseman known for his offensive tools. He squares up the baseball consistently, including against premium velocity, and boasts above-average power potential. He uses simple mechanics at the plate, displaying a toe tap and smooth weight transfer, and drives the ball to all fields.
Defensively, Caraway has experience playing shortstop, third base and outfield. He played third base primarily last summer, and most scouts believe he profiles best at that position due to his size. Caraway has above-average arm strength and respectable athleticism.
While he has a solid all-around toolset, including quality makeup, his offensive skills will be his calling card moving forward.
Read an in-depth draft profile to learn more about Caraway and his skill set here.
Tre’ Morgan, 1B, LSU
Morgan is a 6-foot-1, 215-pound left-handed hitting first baseman. He does not have the prototypical first baseman profile. He doesn’t hit for a lot of power. Instead, Morgan drives the ball into the gaps to hit for a high batting average. He also has solid plate discipline, as he rarely strikeouts.
Defensively, Morgan has split time at first base and left field this season. He joined LSU three years ago as a first baseman, where he primarily played in high school.
Morgan is a great athlete with quality speed and instincts. He covers plenty of ground and is sure-handed at first base. He profiles best at first base, where scouts believe he is an above-average defender. But he also gives teams versatility with his experience in the outfield.
Read an in-depth draft profile to learn more about Morgan and his skill set here.
Levi Wells, RHP, Texas State
Wells is a 6-foot-2, 220-pound right-handed pitcher who throws a fastball, curveball, slider/cutter and changeup from an over-the-top arm slot. He has cleaned up his delivery throughout his college career, allowing him to throw a higher percentage of strikes.
Wells is an aggressive pitcher with a strong mentality on the mound and relies heavily on his mid-90s fastball, typically attacking hitters up in the strike zone.
His 12-to-6 curveball is an above-average pitch that tunnels well off his fastball. It features depth and serves as a strikeout pitch. He also mixes in his slider/cutter. He uses his slider against right-handed hitters and the cutter against lefties.
Wells didn’t have a great season this spring. But scouts believe he can start in pro ball due to his pitch mix and ability to attack the strike zone.
Read an in-depth draft profile to learn more about Wells and his skill set here.
Dan Zielinski III has covered the MLB draft for eight years. He has interviewed 433 of the top draft prospects in that period, including four No. 1 overall picks. Multiple publications, including Baseball America, USA Today, MLB.com, The Arizona Republic and The Dallas Morning News, have quoted his work, while he has appeared on radio stations as a “MLB draft expert.” Follow him on Twitter @DanZielinski3.
