2011 Milwaukee Brewers Draft Picks

As you will see below the 2011 MLB Draft is the draft of the pitchers, catchers, shortstops and center fielders for the Milwaukee Brewers. All told the Brewers selected: 24 pitchers (17 RHP and 7 LHP), 8 catchers, 6 shortstops, 6 center fielders, 2 first baseman, 2 third baseman, 1 second basemen, 1 right fielder, and 1 other outfielder. Irrespective of position, the Brewers took 30 college players and 21 high school players.

The information in parenthesis for each player is: position, side they hit from/arm they throw with, school, height, weight, and date of birth. Here are the 51 players the Milwaukee Brewers selected in the 2011 MLB Draft with some of my comments mixed in about each player:

1st Round (12th): Taylor Jungmann (RHP, R/R, Texas, 6’6”, 220 lbs, 12/18/1989): Let’s hope this power arm out of Texas is not as much of an a-hole as another former right handed power arm out of Texas that is currently being prosecuted by the federal government. Yes, I am talking about Rodger Clemens.

1st Round (15th): Jed Bradley (LHP, L/L, Georgia Tech, 6’4”, 224 lbs, 6/12/1990): The Brewer have this pick as a result of not signing their 2010 first round pick, Dylan Covey (RHP), because they learned after drafting Covey that he has Type 1 diabetes. Bradley is more of a nibbler than a power arm. After missing on pitchers in the first round the last two years Eric Arnett (2009) and Dylan Covey (2010), the Brewers would be ecstatic if either Jungmann or Bradley pitch in a meaningful major league game by 2013.

2nd Round (70th): Jorge Lopez (RHP, R/R, Caguas Military Academy, 6’4”, 165 lbs, 2/10/1993): Not sure if there is any track record for taking skinny guys out of Puerto Rico but it looks like we are about to find out.

3rd Round (100th): Andrew Gagnon (RHP, R/R, Cal State Long Beach, 6’4”, 190 lbs, 6/26/1990): Clearly the Brewers were trying to re-stock their farm system with pitchers after they traded away most of their top minor league pitchers (Jeremy Jeffress and Jake Odorizzi) in the Zack Greinke trade.

4th Round (131st): Nicholas Ramirez (1B, L/L, Cal State Fullerton, 6’3”, 225 lbs, 8/1/1989): With the impending loss of Prince Fielder after the season the Brewers would love to be able to plug in a guy like Ramirez right away in 2012 but unfortunately the MLB Draft is not like the NBA Draft or NFL Draft. Most players taken early in the NBA Draft and the NFL Draft are expected to play right but in the baseball most players taken in the 2011 MLB Draft will be lucky to see time in the big leagues in 2013. One final thing on Ramirez, he went 16 for 16 in save opportunities last year so if he struggles at the plate he can always try pitching.

5th Round (161st): Michael Reed (CF, R/R, Leander HS in TX, 6’0”, 190 lbs, 11/18/1992): I guess you take the best player available but the Brewers have needs at shortstop especially since they have a fair amount of young talent in center fielder at the major league level (Nyjer Morgan and Carlos Gomez) and the minor league level (Erik Komatsu and Kentrail Davis). Much like Ramirez, Reed can pitch too.

6th Round (191st): Danny Keller (RHP, R/R, Newbury Park HS in CA, 6’5”, 190 lbs, 6/30/1992): After a brief run of drafting non-pitchers that can still pitch, the Brewers got back on the tall pitcher draft train. For those scoring at home the Brewers used five of their first seven picks on pitchers that are at least 6’4” or taller. Their other two pickers were position players that pitched part-time last year.

7th Round (221st): David Goforth (RHP, R/R, Ole Miss, 5’11”, 180 lbs, 10/11/1988): Hopefully for Goforth’s sake the Brewers don’t take a picture of their top pitchers drafted in the 2011 MLB Draft because everyone besides Goforth is a tall drink of water. Despite being short, Goforth has a power arm that hopefully will continue to improve as he settles in as a relief pitcher in the minor leagues.

8th Round (251st): Dustin Houle (C, R/R, Brookswood Secondary School in Canada, 6’1”, 205 lbs, 11/9/1993): The last time the Brewers drafted a Canadian catcher (Brett Lawrie) they turned him into a starting major league pitcher (Shaun Marcum). Granted the Brewers used a much higher pick on Lawrie than Houle but they hail from the same school and with the sudden depth the Brewers have at catcher, this is the type of luxury pick that makes sense to me because for my money you can never have too many catchers. Furthermore Houle is the youngest player in the draft so the Brewers can take their time letting him develop.

9th Round (281st): Malcolm Dowell (CF, R/R, La Grange HS in GA, 5’11”, 185 lbs, 4/21/1993): I see themes emerging in the draft, the Brewers want talk pitchers and short center fielders.

10th Round (311th): Mike Strong (LHP, L/L, Oklahoma State, 6’0”, 175 lbs, 11/17/1988): Unfortunately Strong’s last name does not translate to his play on the field because he has a below average fastball.

11th Round (341st): Thomas Toledo (RHP, R/R, Florida, 6’3”, 190 lbs, 12/13/1988): Sometimes players should take the money and run. Toledo was taken in the third round coming out of high school but he decided to go to Florida instead where he struggled with injuries. Toledo joins the Brewers as a boom-or-bust pick.

12th Round (371st): Andrew Cain (OF, R/R, UNC Wilmington, 6’6”, 220 lbs, 3/24/1990): Are we looking at the next Corey Hart? Probably not, but as the Brewers have shown throughout the draft so far, you can’t teach size so you might as well take the tallest guy possible.

13th Round (401st): Mallex Smith (CF, L/R, Richards HS in FL, 5’9”, 155 lbs, 5/6/1993): Forget what I just said, the Brewers took another short center fielder.

14th Round (431st): Jacob Barnes (RHP, R/R, Fla. Gulf Coast U., 6’2”, 230 lbs, 4/14/1990): Since I have never seen Barnes pitch I will go with the low hanging fruit, Barnes seems a tad on a heavy side at 230 pounds. Hopefully with the horrible meals Barnes will eat in the minors he might be able to drop a few pounds.

15th Round (461st): Andrew Moye (RHP, R/R, Georgia Southern, 6’5”, 180 lbs, 9/11/1987): If Moye shows any ability early he should be on the fast track to the big leagues because of his frame and age.

16th Round (491st): Carlos Rodon (LHP, L/L, Holly Springs HS in NC, 6’2”, 12/10/1992): There were rumors that the Brewers considered taking Rodon much earlier if he would sign for slot but apparently Rodon wants to go to college unless he is offered a ton of money over slot. Looks like Rodon won’t sign with the Brewers. May be I am missing something but why did the Brewers draft him at all then?

17th Round (521st): Mario Amaral (C, R/R, Ronald Reagan HS in FL, 6’1”, 10/14/1993): After taking a Canadian catcher the Brewers decided to add an American catcher, as I said above, you can never have too many catchers.

18th Round (551st): Christopher McFarland (SS, R/R, Lufkin HS in TX, 6’0”, 200 lbs, 11/24/1992): Finally the Brewers took a shortstop. After trading away Alcides Escobar as a part of the Zack Greinke trade the Brewers needed to add depth at shortstop higher in the draft.

19th Round (581st): Renaldo Jenkins (SS, R/R, Whitewater HS in GA, 6’0”, 190 lbs, 3/1/1993): Taking shortstops back-to-back still doesn’t make up for waiting so long to take a shortstop.

20th Round (611th): Brandon Williamson (RHP, R/R, Dallas Baptist U., 6’3”, 180 lbs 4/22/1989): I guess this pick was all part of God’s plan.

21st Round (641st): Mike Nemeth (1B, L/R, UConn, 6’1”, 200 lbs, 4/4/1989): A very accomplished defensive first baseman with power seems like a great person to add this late in the draft.

22nd Round (671st): Dennis Jones (CF, R/R, Jefferson Davis HS in AL, 6’3”, 185 lbs, 9/4/1992): So far the Brewers have taken smallish center fielders but they changed course with Jones by drafting a taller guy. Hopefully Jones has some wheels to go along with his big frame.

23rd Round (701st): Benjamin McMahan (C, R/R, Florida, 6’0”, 201 lbs, 10/14/1989): After adding two high school catchers earlier in the draft the Brewers added a more experienced catcher to help balance out the draft class.

24th Round (731st): Michael Palazzone (RHP, R/R, Georgia, 6’2”, 190 lbs, 5/6/1989): I hate to be juvenile but Palazzone sounds like a type of Italian pastry that is huge in Italy but hasn’t quite caught on in the United States yet.

25th Round (761st): Parker Berberet (C, R/R, Oregon State, 6’4”, 205 lbs, 10/20/1989): It will be interesting to see whether this big body behind the plate will hold up or whether Berberet will have to play another position.

26th Round (791st): Josh Smith (LHP, L/L, Wichita State, 6’3”, 194 lbs, 10/11/1989): Although it is a long shot, hopefully this Josh Smith can have as good of a career as pitcher as the Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith has had in the NBA.

27th Round (821st): Chad Thompson (RHP, R/R, Orange Coast College, 6’8”, 210 lbs, 2/6/1991): You can’t teach height but you hopefully can teach how to throw strikes again because all the scouting reports say that Thompson has struggled with control since having Tommy John surgery.

28th Round (851st): BreShon Kimbell (C, R/R, Mesquite HS in TX, 6’1”, 210 lbs, 11/6/1992): This draft is quickly turning into the up the middle draft. Unless you are a catcher, pitcher or center fielder you better look for another team.

29th Round (881st): David Lucroy (RHP, R/R, Umatilla HS in FL, 6’2”, 202 lbs, 9/3/1992): Another pick, another player up the middle of the field. It would be pretty cool to have a family pitcher/catcher combo since David is the brother of starting big-league Brewer catcher Jonathan.

30th Round (911th): Trent Boras (3B, L/R, Junipero Serra Catholic HS in CA, 5’11”, 170 lbs, 6/26/1992): It took 31 picks to add a guy to play third base. Hopefully Trent Boras’ dad is not Scott Boras otherwise he is going to ride the Brewers to overpay his son since he is the devil reincarnated as a baseball agent.

31st Round (941st): Sean Albury (RHP, R/R, Nova Southeastern University, 5’11”, 180 lbs, 3/24/1989): Another pick, another pitcher, let’s keep the train moving.

32nd Round (971st): Alfredo Rodriguez (SS, R/R, Maryland, 6’0”, 175 lbs, 5/26/1990): This has to be possibly the strongest name that the Brewers have taken so far. No matter how much people hate the A-Rod that currently plays for the New York Yankees, if this A-Rod is 10% of that A-Rod the Brewers would be ecstatic.

33rd Round (1001st): Steven Okert (LHP, L/L, Grayson County College in TX, 6’3”, 210 lbs, 7/9/1991): We are officially in the quadruple digits for draft picks now so the odds of anyone from here on out actually playing for the Milwaukee Brewers is so minimal that I am moving to rapid fire mode from here on out.

34th Round (1031st): Adam Weisenburger (C, R/R, Miami U, 5’10”, 185 lbs, 12/13/1988): Can’t argue with taking a guy from big time college program. Hopefully Weisenburger becomes the Hebrew Hammer II with Ryan Braun being the original Hebrew Hammer (or Hebrewer depending on your nickname taste) from the University of Miami.

35th Round (1061st): Doug Elliot (C, R/R, UConn, 6’2”, 210 lbs, 8/31/1988): Bookend catchers in the 33rd and 34th round have the Brewers creeping toward the double digits for catchers taken in the 2011 MLB Draft.

36th Round (1091st): Mitchell Conner (RHP, R/R, Elon U, 6’3”, 210 lbs, 7/26/1989): Not too sure if he can pitch but he has two strong first names so that is a start.

37th Round (1121st): Casey Medlen (RHP, R/R, North Florida, 6’0”, 155 lbs, 8/4/1989): Some people live to eat (Prince Fielder) and some people eat to live (Mallex Smith and Casey Medlen).

38th Round (1151st): Chad Pierce (RHP, R/R, UWM, 6’1”, 215 lbs, 11/20/1987): I love taking a guy from UWM, keep it in the family. Ironically Pierce lives in Milwaukee and got drafted by a team based in Milwaukee but will have to move out of town to player in the minor leagues.

39th Round (1181st): Elliot Glynn (LHP, L/L, UConn, 6’1”, 160 lbs, 1/13/1989): Whoever is the area scout for UConn must be one persuasive fella because the Brewers selected three guys out of UConn with their first 40 picks.

40th Round (1211th): Kenton Aldridge (C, L/R, Glenwood HS in AL, 6’2”, 180 lbs, 7/20/1992): Throws righty and bats lefty, good combo for the last catcher taken by the Brewers.

41st Round (1241st): Jalen Harris (3B, R/R, Lambrick Park SS, 6’2”, 210 lbs, 7/7/1992): Nothing to add here so let’s just keep the train rolling.

42nd Round (1271st): Caleb Whalen (SS, R/R, Union HS in WA, 6’2”, 180 lbs, 10/19/1992): All I hear is Larry King saying “Union High School Washington, your on.”

43rd Round (1301st): Clinton Wilson (RHP, R/R, Navarro Junior College in TX, 6’0”, 215 lbs, 4/12/1992): The stars are big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas.

44th Round (1331st): Steven Adam (CF, L/L, Ecole Secondaire L'Esser, 5’11”, 170 lbs, 5/20/1993): Despite taking what feels like a dozen center fielders already this is the first one that hits and throws lefty.

45th Round (1361st): Adrian Williams (SS, R/R, UCLA, 6’0”, 175 lbs, 1/3/1991): I like taking guys from big school like UCLA. The only thing I wonder is how a guy goes from playing for a big-time college team in Los Angeles to riding buses from small town to small town to play double-headers.

46th Round (1391st): Ahmad Christian (SS, S/R, Trinity Christian Academy in FL, 6’0”, 190 lbs, 11/23/1993): It took 47 picks for the Brewers to finally grab a switcher hitter, seems like they should have nabbed one earlier though.

47th Round (1421st): Jecid Tarazona (CF, R/R, North Broward Prep HS in FL, 6’3”, 195 lbs, 9/12/1993): Finally the draft of the center fielder is over. It feels like the Brewers took about 75 center fielders in their first 48 picks right?

48th Round (1451st): Michael Francisco (LHP, R/L, Villanova, 6’4”, 224 lbs, 8/4/1988): I visited Villanova when deciding where to go to college and the highlight of the trip was a cheese steak from Pat’s. Needless to say I didn’t go to Villanova.

49th Round (1481st): David Elmore (2B, R/R, Yale, 5’7”, 175 lbs, 9/9/1988): The Professor of the draft out of Yale keeps the Cheesehead teams streak of drafting an Elmore alive. First the Packers took Ricky and now the Brewers took David. The ball is in your court (no pun intended) Bucks, you better take an Elmore to keep the streak alive.

50th Round (1511th): Matthew Franco (RF, L/L, St. Thomas Aquinas HS in FL, 6’1”, 200 lbs, 12/9/1992): Mr. Irrelevant finally puts an end to the 2011 MLB Draft for the Milwaukee Brewers. Hopefully Matthew puts in a better performance than James did hosting the 2011 Oscars.

Thanks for sticking around to hear my rambling and random thoughts on the 2011 MLB Draft for the Milwaukee Brewers. Check back over the next few weeks for coverage on the actual 2011 Milwaukee Brewers.