The Milwaukee Brewers used the 7th overall pick in the first round of baseball's First Year Player Draft on 1B/LF Matt LaPorta from the University of Florida .
LaPorta is a two-time SEC Player of the Year (2007 and 2005). This past season, he hit .402 with 20 home runs, 52 RBI and 55 walks. He was a member of the 2005 USA Baseball National Team and was recently named a finalist for the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award given to the nation's premier amateur baseball player.
The Brewers completed day one by selecting C Jonathan Lucroy from Louisiana Lafayette University with the 101st selection in the 3rd round. In the fourth round (131st overall), Milwaukee selected 2B Eric Farris from Loyolla Marymount University. The final Brewers selection of the day was RF Caleb Gindl (5th round, 161st overall) from Pace High School in Florida. The draft resumes today.
Listen / Download – GM Doug Melvin on moving LaPorta to outfield. :18
Listen / Download – GM Doug Melvin says LaPorta fits nicely into outfield prospect pool