2020 Draft recap: Milwaukee Brewers
Following the five-round 2020 MLB First-Year Player Draft, MiLB.com takes an organization-by-organization look at each pick with help from team scouting executives.
Following the five-round 2020 MLB First-Year Player Draft, MiLB.com takes an organization-by-organization look at each pick with help from team scouting executives.
Brewers national scouting supervisor Doug Reynolds likes when a player has tools, so when the team had the chance to draft UCLA’s Garrett Mitchell, it wasn’t going to let the 21-year-old pass by.
“It's hard to argue that anybody has bigger tools than Garrett Mitchell,” Reynolds said. “He's a freak, and if he gets to all of them he's going to be pretty good.”
The Brewers took the speedy center fielder with the 20th overall pick in the First-Year Player Draft. Here's a look at Mitchell and the four other picks by the National League Central Division contenders:
First round: Garrett Mitchell (20th overall)
Some players are ready for the pros right out of high school. Others need to mature and refine their game in college. Mitchell is a mixture of both. His swing was a question mark out of Orange Lutheran High in California, he steadily improved during three seasons with the Bruins, hitting for more contact while maintaining the power from his 6-foot-3, 215-pound frame. As a sophomore in 2019, the lefty batted .349/.418/.566 with six homers, 12 triples, 14 doubles, 41 RBIs, 18 stolen bases and 57 runs scored.
“He's got a flat swing,” Reynolds said. “We don't want to change that. I don't think you ever change anybody, you just manipulate them into being more successful. I think power's going to be part of his game. He's just got to get comfortable with being that guy.”
The question facing Reynolds and the Brewers is where Mitchell might slot in the lineup.
“I think he's caught in between being a leadoff slap guy, but he's got too much power to stay like that,” Reynolds said. “I think he realizes that and I don't think it's anything other than an approach thing, personally. Just that kind of mentality thing like you're not up there to hit singles, you're up there to drive the ball.”
While Reynolds doesn’t see Mitchell as a basestealer, his speed will help him defensively.
“I think he's a plus center fielder,” he said. “He's getting better at that. He can throw.”
Mitchell joins a system that has solid outfield prospects in fourth-ranked Tristen Lutz, who reached Class A Advanced Carolina last season, and No. 8 Hedbert Perez who at 17 years old has shown flashes of a bright future. If Mitchell can put together all of his tools, Milwaukee could come calling sooner than later.
Second round: Freddy Zamora (53rd overall)
“I think probably everybody thinks he's a plus defender,” Reynolds said of the University of Miami product.
Zamora was the Hurricanes' starting shortstop for two seasons and, in 2019, became a key cog in the middle of the lineup with a .296/.393/.447 slash line, six dingers, 12 doubles, 46 RBIs and 43 runs scored. Poised for an even better season, he tore his ACL in February. Still, Reynolds thinks he has a future at the position.
“His bat has improved every year since high school and he's gotten to the point where I think he's got a chance to hit plenty to be an everyday shortstop,” he said.
With Orlando Arcia at the Major League level and top prospect Brice Turang and seventh-ranked Eduardo Garcia impressing in the Minors, Zamora is looking at plenty of competition.
Third round: Zavier Warren (92nd pick)
In three seasons at Central Michigan, Warren spent most of his three seasons at Central Michigan at shortstop. The Brewers have another position in mind, however.
“We want him to be a catcher,” Reynolds said. “I think he wants to give it a full go. He's played multiple positions -- shortstop, second base, third base. Catching is what we're interested in, and he knows that. I think he's interested in it as well.”
Warren hit .325 with nine homers, 104 RBIs and 126 runs scored in three years with the Chippewas, improving each season.
“We like the bat, we think he's got a good chance to hit,” Reynolds said. “If we can get his bat behind the plate and get his defensive skills up to par, he's got a chance to be pretty good. Again, he's not a runner, he's not that kind of athlete, but he's still a pretty good athlete. It's the theme of what we've landed this year.”
Much like the shortstop position, the Brewers have some talent in the system behind the plate, led by third-ranked prospect Mario Feliciano, who is expected to make his big league debut in 2021.
Fourth round: Joey Wiemer (121st pick)
A player who took advantage of the Cape Cod League to raise his stock last summer, Wiemer is a beast at 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds.
“Wiemer, he's an animal,” Reynolds said. “He's a big, strong, physical guy, big tools. He's got to prove he can hit more consistently. If he does, he's going to be really good because he's got everything.”
Despite his physical prowess, Wiemer totaled only six homers in 2019 while batting .263 with 13 triples and 28 RBIs. That doesn’t seem to concern Reynolds.
“He's got five tools if he hits because he's got power -- he can run, he can throw,” he said. “Ball comes off his bat. I mean, it's impressive when he squares it up.”
Viewed as a corner outfielder, Wiemer was seen as a solid pick in the fourth round.
"He's another pretty good physical athlete,” Reynolds said. “I mean, fourth round we thought there was a pretty good spot for a guy with his potential.”
The road to the big leagues could take some time for the University of Cincinnati product. Along with Lutz and Perez, Corey Ray (No. 10), Luis Medina (No. 11) and Carlos Rodriguez (No. 12) are ahead of him in the Minors and can play the outfield corners.

Fifth round: Hayden Cantrelle (151st pick)
The third shortstop selected by the Brewers, Cantrelle is a switch-hitter with surprising power -- especially from the left side of the plate -- for someone who stands 5-foot-1 and weighs 175 pounds.
“He’'s a wild card,” Reynolds said. “He's one of my personal favorites.”
As a sophomore with Louisiana-Lafayette in 2019, Cantrelle hit .309 with nine homers, 31 RBIs and 28 steals in 59 games. That was followed by an impressive stint in the Cape Cod League, where he batted .315 with three dingers, 14 RBIs and 19 thefts.
While Cantrelle got off to a slow start for the Ragin' Cajuns this spring, Reynolds thinks highly of his potential.
“The tools are worth it,” he said. “In the Cape, he was really good. He was much better than a fifth-round pick in the Cape. Things happen. Now he's got to go out and prove that he's who we hope he is, so whenever that happens.”
Much like Mitchell, Cantrelle will have to work his way up a crowded ladder. But when you listen to Reynolds, he could be a major sleeper.
“If he does what I think he's going to do, he could be our steal. I'm not going to say steal of the draft -- everybody wants to drop that term.”
Overall Outlook: The Brewers spent the abbreviated Draft focused on athletes and bypassed pitching, something with which Reynolds is fine.
“For five picks, I would say I thought it was pretty good. I told (vice president of domestic scouting) Tod (Johnson) just between me and him personally, I said, ‘I don't know how you did it, that was a helluva Draft. Good job.’”
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring
'Hungry' Alcántara hoping to pounce on big league prey in '25
MESA, Ariz. -- The thing about jaguars is, you don’t want to see one when it’s hungry. So when Cubs legend Sammy Sosa spoke to the organization’s No. 6 prospect per MLB Pipeline -- and the No. 89 prospect overall -- the former slugger gave him some apt advice. “His
Rainiers broadcaster Pay talks historic role on MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Prospect Santos 'electric' in Spring Breakout start
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Malcolm Moore knew Winston Santos was locked in before he even threw a pitch. In the second annual Spring Breakout game, Santos -- the Rangers’ No. 5 prospect, per MLB Pipeline -- was throwing to Moore, the Rangers’ No. 4 prospect and highest-ranked catcher. The battery more
Switch-pitcher Cijntje deals from both sides in Spring Breakout
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Jurrangelo Cijntje knew who’d be waiting for him in the batter’s box when he emerged from the visiting bullpen on Friday evening. The Mariners’ switch-pitcher had seen Guardians infielder Travis Bazzana recently at a card-signing event, to which they each joked, “I’m going to see you soon,”
Fans in this Minor League town are hungry for ... the Spicy Meatballs?!?
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Chandler adds mix to upper-90s heat in stellar Spring Breakout start
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- In the inaugural Spring Breakout game a year ago, as he was coming out to pitch the ninth inning, Bubba Chandler slammed a Red Bull and declared “let’s do this” before pumping upper-90s heat.