The Brewers leaned heavily on college pitching in the second and third rounds of the MLB draft. After selecting Tennessee first baseman Andrew Fischer in the first round and California prep shortstop Brady Ebel with the 32nd pick, Milwaukee followed by targeting arms on Day 1.
With their next three selections, the Brewers took pitchers in each spot, prioritizing experience and upside on the mound.
Pick 59: JD Thompson, LHP, Vanderbilt
Thompson is a well-built 6-foot, 205-pound left-hander known for his strike-throwing ability and durability. He had a strong 2025 season at Vanderbilt, posting a 4.00 ERA with 122 strikeouts and just 30 walks over 90 innings in the SEC.
His compact, low-effort delivery allows him to command a fastball in the low-90s that can reach 96 mph, complemented by a pair of solid breaking balls — a slider for lefties and a curveball for righties that show flashes of above-average potential. Thompson also mixes in a changeup with late tumble that’s particularly effective against right-handed hitters. With a polished arsenal, consistent command and a durable frame, Thompson projects as a starter in pro ball.
Pick 68: Frank Cairone, LHP, Delsea Regional (NJ) HS
Cairone, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound left-hander from New Jersey, caught teams’ attention with a strong showing at the MLB Draft Combine. He’s young for the class and has made major strides, jumping his fastball from the mid-80s last summer to touching 94 mph this spring with standout extension from a lower release point.
Cairone’s calling card is a sweeping breaking ball at 78-83 mph that pushes 3,000 rpm, complemented by a cutter and occasional changeup. He mostly relies on a fastball, slider mix with more control than command right now, but the pitch traits and upside have teams intrigued.
Pick 94: Jacob Morrison, RHP, Coastal Carolina
The Brewers added a towering presence to their system in Morrison, a 6-foot-8, 245-pound right-hander coming off a standout 2025 season.
After missing all of 2024 recovering from Tommy John surgery, Morrison returned in dominant form. He posted a 2.42 ERA with 104 strikeouts to 23 walks over 107 2/3 innings.
Morrison isn’t a big strikeout pitcher, but he commands a four-pitch mix headlined by a 93 mph fastball that can reach 96. His mid-80s slider is his go-to secondary and best swing-and-miss offering. He complements it with a mid-70s 12-to-6 curveball, which plays well with his over-the-top arm slot, and a low-80s changeup with some late fade.
Morrison projects as a durable, innings-eating starter in pro ball. If he sharpens his pitch mix and adds velocity to his fastball while generating more swing-and-miss, he has the potential to develop into a reliable contributor in a big-league rotation.
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. Hehas 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 hehas appeared on radio stations as a “MLB draft expert.” Follow him on Twitter @DanZielinski3.
