The Brewers have had a clear MLB draft strategy in place since 2020. They have preferred college position players at the top of the draft. Last year, they veered away from that slightly with their first pick, selecting prep outfielder Braylon Payne, before taking Tennessee first baseman Blake Burke with their second first-round pick in the Competitive Balance A Round.
This year, the Brewers hold the No. 20 pick, which comes with a $4.27 signing bonus allotment. The Brewers have a total signing bonus allotment of just over $13 million, which ranks 10th-best in the draft. They did have six picks in the top 100 before trading the No. 33 pick to the Red Sox for righty Quinn Priester earlier this year.
With the No. 20 pick, the Brewers are mostly connected to position players, especially on the college side. Here are five names to keep an eye on for the Brewers with their first pick in Sunday’s draft.
Caden Bodine, C, Coastal Carolina
Bodine is a 5-foot-10, 200-pound switch-hitter known for his advanced contact skills, strong plate discipline and emerging power. He doesn’t try to do too much at the plate and consistently drives the ball into the gaps.
Defensively, Bodine is an above-average defender with a strong arm and quality receiving and blocking skills. He is a quality framer and does a nice job controlling the running game, throwing out 39% of base stealers as a junior.
Listen to a detailed interview with Caden Bodine to learn more about his skill set and development here.
Gavin Kilen, 2B, Tennessee
Kilen is receiving interest from teams starting with the Athletics at No. 11 to the Brewers at No. 20. He is a former Wisconsin prep star, graduating from Milton High School in 2022.
Scouts rave about the left-handed hitter’s above-average bat-to-ball skills. He shows some power potential. Defensively, he profiles best at second base but could handle shortstop if needed due to his strong arm and athleticism.
Kilen draws comparisons to fellow Oak Creek native Gavin Lux, now a member of the Cincinnati Reds, from scouts.
Read a detailed feature story on Gavin Kilen to know more about his skill set and development here.
Jace LaViolette, OF, Texas A&M
LaViolette entered the season as arguably the top prospect in the draft. He has size and hits for power, but he swung and missed too frequently this spring, impacting his draft status. He is a polarizing prospect and could go anywhere in the top 20 picks.
The 6-foot-6 and 230-pound outfielder has power, speed and defensive versatility. He employs a smooth, left-handed swing to drive the ball to all fields, showcasing above-average raw power. If he can improve his plate discipline, he has the potential to become a star hitter in the middle of a major league lineup.
Defensively, he mostly played center field the last two years and excelled at the position. He is also strong defensively in right field.
Listen to a detailed interview with Jace LaViolette to learn more about his skill set and development here.
Gavin Fien, 3B, Great Oak (Calif.) HS
Fien was the best hitter, showing well-rounded skills, on the high school showcase circuit last summer. He didn’t necessarily duplicate that success this spring, but there is a lot to like with Fien.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound right-handed hitter uses an unorthodox setup but a quick swing to consistently barrel up the baseball and hit line drives. He projects to add more power to his game as he matures physically, with scouts viewing him as someone who could become a complete hitter in professional baseball.
Defensively, he is solid at third base. He isn’t flashy at the position, but he makes all the necessary plays, boasting a strong arm and quality instincts.
Gage Wood, RHP, Arkansas
Wood helped his draft stock after throwing a 19-strikeout no-hitter at the College World Series. He is a 6-foot-2, 205-pound right-handed pitcher known for his fastball and curveball combination. He also throws a slider and a changeup, but currently, he is essentially a two-pitch pitcher.
Wood’s fastball is elite. It sits in the mid-90s and touches 98 mph, showing quality velocity with movement. He garners tons of swing and misses, including in the strike zone.
Wood logged just 133 1/3 innings in his three years between Arkansas and summer leagues. He has the potential to thrive as a starter but battled shoulder issues in high school and earlier this season. He will need to prove he can handle a starter’s workload in pro ball.
Read more in-depth stories on top 2025 MLB draft prospects at Baseball Prospect Journal.
Dan Zielinski III has covered the MLB draft for 10 years. He has interviewed 580 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.
