The Milwaukee Brewers went the high school route with the first three picks in Major League Baseball’s Amateur Draft.
The Brewers started in round 1, using the 12th overall pick on left-handed pitcher Kodi Medeiros. The 6’2, 195 hard throwing lefty was clocked at 97 mph during a May 29th workout at Miller Park. The Brewers say he’ll be a starting pitcher.
Medeiros went 7-1 with a 0.97 ERA with 83 strikeouts against 14 walks in eight games this past high school season. He becomes the first Hawaiian high schooler to be drafted in the first two rounds since 2001, and the highest-drafted native Hawaiian ever.
The Brewers also selected shortstop Jacob Gatewood from California with the 41st pick in the Competitive Balance Round A and outfielder Monte Harrison out of Missouri in the second round with the 50th selection.
The 6’5 Gatewood won the junior portion of the home run derby at the All-Star Game at Citi Field in July. Gatewood has signed with USC and was non-commital when asked if he would sign.
Harrison has committed to play both baseball and football at Nebraska. He’s considered one of the best athletes in the draft, but the Brewers may have a hard time signing him. But Brewers Amateur Scouting Director, Bruce Seid considers him worthy of the risk.
AUDIO: Bruce Seid said Monte Harrison was worth the signability gamble :11
AUDIO: Bruce Seid on 1st round pick Kodi Medeiros :13
The Brewers will select eight more players in rounds 3-10 today. The final day of the draft is Saturday.