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Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
8 MLB Draft Prospects That Would Be Perfect Fits for the Brewers
8 MLB Draft Prospects That Would Be Perfect Fits for the Brewers originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The MLB Draft is the lifeblood of the Milwaukee Brewers organization. It is the way that such a small market team can remain competitive year in and year out. If the Brewers fail in the Draft, their whole system of success collapses from the ground up. Advertisement That makes it imperative that the Brewers draft well and get the right kind of players into the organization. They've done that quite a bit in recent years, landing first round talents such as Brice Turang, Garrett Mitchell, and Sal Frelick and later gems like Jacob Misiorowski, Aaron Ashby, and Logan Henderson that are helping the big league club win games. The Brewers have a draft model to find the right kind of players they're looking for. While we don't know what all exactly goes into that model, there are certain traits they historically have appeared to target. In the 2025 MLB Draft, these eight players exhibit those traits. Jun 13, 2025; Omaha, Neb, USA; Coastal Carolina Chanticleers pitcher Dominick Carbone (40) and catcher Caden Bodine (17) celebrate after defeating the Arizona Wildcats at Charles Schwab Field. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images Caden Bodine, C, Coastal Carolina The leader of the National runners up Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, Caden Bodine fits a lot of the traits the Brewers love to target in first round picks. He plays an up-the-middle position at catcher, he's a strong defender, and he makes a ton of contact with excellent swing decisions. Advertisement The Brewers have taken a position player in the first round in each of the last five drafts and eight of the last nine. Six of those eight position players have been from the college ranks. Bodine is a switch-hitter, which is incredibly rare for a catcher. He also has struck out just 68 times in his entire college career that spans more than 700 ABs. He also drew 112 walks in those three seasons at Coastal Carolina. All of that combines to make Bodine a bona fide option for the Brewers with the 20th overall pick. 2. Daniel Pierce, SS, Mill Creek (GA) HS The Brewers don't go the high school route often with hitters, but they took a high school shortstop in 2018 with Brice Turang and that's worked out pretty well. If they go that route again, Daniel Pierce would be a logical choice. Advertisement Pierce has a very similar profile to Turang as a hit-over-power shortstop with plus speed and excellent defense up the middle. His approach at the plate is mostly hitting the ball to all fields and finding ways to get on base. Pierce is a player that's trending up with the growth he's made at the plate this year and if the Brewers want him, they'll have to get him at 20. He's committed to Georgia. 3. Charles Davalan, OF, Arkansas If Pat Murphy could design a player from scratch, it might look something like Charles Davalan. Standing at 5-foot-9, the lefty-swinging Davalan has a knack for making contact and getting on base. This year for the Razorbacks, Davalan hit .346 with a .443 OBP. He also slugged 14 homers. Advertisement Davalan has the versatility to play all three outfield spots and certainly has the speed to make an impact on the bases and play in centerfield. His arm strength may move him to left, but there's decent enough power for him to maybe stick in a corner or even move to the dirt at second base. Davalan originally grew up in Montreal, and the Brewers have a history of selecting Canadian players in the Draft. He might be a target for the Crew with that 2nd round pick at 59 overall or if they don't think he'll last that long, he'd be an under-slot target at 32. 4. Gavin Kilen, 2B, Tennessee The Brewers plucked the first baseman from the Tennessee Volunteers last year with Blake Burke and they could very well go back to the SEC powerhouse with Gavin Kilen in 2025. A middle infielder, Kilen has built a reputation as one of the best contact hitters in this draft class, a trait that Milwaukee adores in college players. Advertisement He took steps forward in improving his swing decisions this year, which have vaulted him to first round consideration and he'd be an excellent choice at 20 to lead the class. In his lone season at Tennessee, Kilen hit .357/.441/.671 with 13 doubles, 15 homers, and 30 walks to just 27 strikeouts. He split time at second base and shortstop, but is likely a better fit at second base at the next level. His plus hit tool will be very attractive to the Brewers at either position, especially as a more polished college player. Oh and Kilen hails from Milton, Wisconsin to boot. 5. Jack Bauer, LHP, Lincoln Way-East (IL) HS The Brewers like to take calculated upside risks when it comes to young pitchers. They don't generally do it with their first pick, but with their second or third selection? Absolutely. They've done it with Jacob Misiorowski, Josh Knoth, and Bryce Meccage in each of the last three drafts. Jack Bauer could be that pick in 2025. Advertisement No, not the Kiefer Sutherland character, this Jack Bauer hails from the Midwest, an area the Brewers have targeted heavily in recent years, and happens to throw 103 MPH as a left-hander. Imagine a slightly shorter left-handed version of Misiorowski. Like Misiorowski, and most lanky, young pitchers with high velocity, control is certainly a concern. He's also struggled to maintain that big velocity deep into games. However, the raw talent is clearly there, and he also is able to post high spin rates on his secondary pitches, a trait that the Brewers have targeted over and over again in recent years. If the Brewers can get him in their pitching development system, they can teach him how to control and harness his power arsenal. He'd be a very intriguing and unique addition to the system and should be a target at 32 overall. He'll have to be signed away from a Mississippi State commitment. 6. Matthew Fisher, RHP, Memorial (IN) HS Again, we're going back to the Midwest, an area the Brewers have pulled a lot of recent players from, and we have Matthew Fisher, the Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of Indiana. Advertisement Fisher has a low-mid 90s fastball, but it has high spin rates and a good movement profile. He pairs that pitch with a high-spin slider and curveball. The Brewers love, love, love high spin rates. Fisher is also a fluid athlete, and the Brewers do prioritize athleticism in their draft picks as it makes it easier for them to adapt to whatever changes need to be made as they develop. He's a very projectable young pitcher at 6-foot-3 with a lot of weight he can still pack onto his frame, which should add to his velocity. He'd be in a similar mold of the Brewers other young, projectable righties - Josh Knoth, Bryce Meccage, Bishop Letson - they've taken from the high school ranks. Keep an eye on Fisher for the Brewers at 32 overall. 7. Matt Barr, RHP, Niagara CC There are few things the Brewers love more than a Junior College pitcher and Matt Barr out of SUNY Niagara is the best one in this year's class. Not only is he from the same JuCo that the Brewers' 2023 fifth round pick Ryan Birchard hailed from, everything about him on the mound is exactly what the Brewers tend to target in pitchers. Advertisement Long and lean at 6-foot-6 and 195 pounds, Barr has a fastball up to 97 MPH and everything he throws has elite spin rates. He'll need to learn some command, but the Brewers have never shied away from that kind of project before and he's still just 19 years old. The projectability is perfect for what the Brewers do best. He was one of the best strikeout arms at the NJCAA DIII level and it would not be a surprise to see the Brewers select him late on Day 1. 8. Cade Obermueller, LHP, Iowa Before you ask, yes, Cade is the son of former Brewers pitcher Wes Obermueller, who also happens to be a pitching coach for the University of Iowa. Advertisement Cade Obermueller is a bit undersized, but is a left-handed starter with pitch data that the analytics people in the Brewers front office are going to love. He can reach back for the upper 90s on his fastball and has shown the ability to manipulate his pitches and create nightmares for hitters. He could move quickly as a fastball-slider guy out of the bullpen, but the chance is still there for him to start. Obermueller's ground-ball stuff, with improved command and strikeout ability this season should have him rate well in the Brewers model, plus the added sentimental benefit of him being a second-generation Brewer makes him a very possible selection for Milwaukee in this Draft. Related: 5 Prospects the Brewers That Could Be Attractive Trade Chips at 2025 Trade Deadline This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
Dominion Post
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Dominion Post
Preston High Bryson McNew named 2025 Johnny Bench Award recipient as state's best catcher
KINGWOOD – Preston High School baseball's Bryson McNew was selected as the 2025 Johnny Bench Award winner as the top catcher in West Virginia. The award is given to the top baseball and softball catcher from the NCAA, as well as the four best high school catchers from Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and West Virginia. The award was first awarded to players below the collegiate level in 2019 when the Johnny Bench Award partnered with the Cincinnati Reds. McNew was named one of two catchers to the 2025 Class AAAA all-state first team (his second selection in as many seasons) after hitting over .600 at the plate with 31 hits and 27 RBI. He hit five doubles, two triples, and eight home runs, drawing 24 walks and striking out only seven times in 74 plate appearances. 'First of all, I want to give thanks to my Lord and savior Jesus Christ when it comes to an award of this caliber,' McNew said. 'Secondly, I just feel honored to receive an award with such prestige. Especially one that is associated with the greatest to ever be behind the plate. Being recognized as the best catcher in our state is something I won't ever forget and something I hope to continue to do.' Tayler Likens of Frankfort High School was the softball winner of the Bench Award in WV, while Coastal Carolina University's Caden Bodine was named the recipient for the NCAA. Bryson is the second area-coverage catcher to win the award in the last three seasons, as former Morgantown High School catcher Ty Galusky won in 2023. McNew says having the chance to meet catchers that he looks up to, like Bench and Bodine, is a dream come true. 'Ty is someone I grew up watching, and I love the way he plays the game,' McNew said. 'Also, Caden Bodine is one of my favorite college players in the game to watch right now, so being able to meet him and Johnny Bench and all the other great catchers from the other states is something I'll never forget.' The ten winners will be honored at the Johnny Bench Awards Luncheon on July 29 at Great American Ball Park and will be recognized that evening during on-field ceremonies before the Reds vs. Dodgers game at 7:10 p.m. 'Now in its seventh year, the Johnny Bench Awards honor more than just impressive stats; they celebrate the leadership, toughness, and heart required to be a great catcher,' said Hall of Famer Johnny Bench. 'I'm proud to recognize this year's winners for upholding that standard.'
New York Times
21-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
How to watch the 2025 Men's College World Series between LSU and Coastal Carolina
Fresh off an enlivening and altogether chaotic comeback, the LSU Tigers have a chance to win their eighth NCAA title in program history this weekend. On the other side, the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers will try to go 2-for-2 in College World Series appearances, and the team brings a 26-game winning streak into the championship action. We're primed for a good one in Cornhusker country. Advertisement College World Series broadcasts are also available on ESPN+. Chanticleers coach Kevin Schnall rightfully insists on the proper pronunciation. 'It's SHON-ta-cleers, not CHAN-ta-cleers,' he clarified after another momentous win, this time over Oregon State. With two more wins, they can also call themselves national champs. Catcher Caden Bodine, a top-round prospect, leads Coastal Carolina's balanced and intimidating lineup. Right-handers Jacob Morrison and Cameron Flukey make for a strong 1-2 punch atop the mound. And first baseman Colby Thorndyke comes in with a searing swing. He recorded five RBIs last time out in Wednesday's 11-3 demolition of Louisville. The Chanticleers made their maiden World Series trip in 2016, dropping the opener to Arizona before bouncing back with consecutive wins. Their opponents, meanwhile, have won the series seven times, more than any school in the country except USC (which hasn't made a final since 2001). LSU last won it all in 2023, when current MLB superstar Paul Skenes led his team past Florida. This year's iteration has a flair for the dramatic, reaching the World Series off an 11th-hour comeback against SEC rival Arkansas. The Tigers were down 5-3 in the ninth inning, before a pair of defensive mishaps by the Razorbacks put Jared Jones in walk-off position. LSU's first baseman had previously tied the game up with a solo moonshot in the eighth inning. He followed that up with the decisive base hit into straightaway center field. The Tigers enjoy tone-setting starting pitching. Southpaw Kade Anderson is a contender for the No. 1 pick in the upcoming MLB Draft, while right-hander Anthony Eyanson more than holds his own. The duo racks up strikeouts and has delivered in pressurized situations, and will have to do it again. Streaming, betting and ticketing links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication. (Photo of Jared Jones: Steven Branscombe / Imagn Images)
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Coastal Carolina jumps on Louisville for an 11-3 win and earns a spot in College World Series finals
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Coastal Carolina advanced to the College World Series finals with a 11-3 victory over Louisville on Wednesday, scoring five of its six first-inning runs before making an out and extending its win streak to 26 games. The Chanticleers (56-11) will play LSU or Arkansas in the best-of-three finals starting Saturday. They are going for their second national championship in two all-time appearances in Omaha. They won their first in 2016. Advertisement Louisville (42-24) started left-hander Colton Hartman, primarily a reliever who hadn't appeared in a game since May 17. He didn't last long. Caden Bodine singled leading off and Sebastian Alexander and Blake Barthol were hit by pitches to load the bases. Walker Mitchell punched a ball into right field to bring in two runs, and then Hartman issued a four-pitch walk. Out went Hartman (2-1) and in came Jake Schweitzer. Colby Thorndyke greeted him with his second bases-clearing double in two games to make it 5-0. Thorndyke came home on Ty Dooley's one-out single and finished 3 for 4 with five RBIs. The Chanticleers padded their lead with Pete Mihos' two-run triple in the fifth and two more runs in the sixth. Coastal Carolina is 43-0 when leading after six innings. Advertisement The Chanticleers made an impressive run through their bracket, beating Arizona 7-4 and Oregon State 6-2 before eliminating the Cardinals. They led or were tied all the way through except for a half-inning against Arizona. Riley Eikhoff (7-2), making his second start in the CWS, held the Cardinals scoreless until Tague Davis drove an RBI double into the right-center gap in the sixth. Matthew Potok, Hayden Johnson and Dominick Carbone combined for 3 2/3 shutout innings of relief. Cardinals ace Patrick Forbes, who pitched 5 1/3 innings in a 4-3 loss to Oregon State on Friday, had asked to be the starter against the Chanticleers on four days' rest, according to ESPN. Coach Dan McDonnell planned to hold him back for a possible second bracket final against the Chanticleers on Thursday or use him for one inning if needed Wednesday. Hartman's disastrous start all but ended Louisville's hopes of forcing a winner-take-all game. ___ AP college sports:
USA Today
18-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Coastal Carolina thriving at 2025 College World Series by building an elite pitching staff
Coastal Carolina thriving at 2025 College World Series by building an elite pitching staff Show Caption Hide Caption Which NCAA baseball teams could blow up the bracket The Montgomery Advertiser's Adam Cole and The Southwest Times Record's Jackson Fuller break down who could wreck the tournament bracket. Coastal Carolina's pitching staff, ranked second nationally in ERA, is a key factor in its success. Most of Coastal Carolina's pitchers are homegrown talents who have shown significant improvement this season. The team's new pitching coach, Matt Williams, and catcher Caden Bodine have played crucial roles in the pitching staff's development. OMAHA, NE ― Jacob Morrison walked off the mound at Charles Schwab Field to a rousing standing ovation. The Coastal Carolina starting pitcher had just finished pitching 7⅔ scoreless innings. He didn't walk anyone and struck out seven. Four outs from the bullpen later, the Chanticleers had clinched their spot in the College World Series semifinals, where they will take on Louisville on June 18 needing one win to play for a championship. Morrison, the Sun Belt pitcher of the year, has a perfect 12-0 record this season with a 2.08 ERA. But Coastal Carolina coach Kevin Schnall didn't choose him to start him in its CWS opener − the Chanticleers didn't need to. Instead, Schnall went with a combination of Riley Eikhoff, who is 6-2 with a 2.98 ERA, and Cameron Flukey, who is 7-1 with a 3.29 ERA. Coastal Carolina won that game against Arizona. Armed with a pitching staff that ranks second nationally in ERA, the Chanticleers are now in the driver's seat to advance to the College World Series finals for the first time since their 2016 national title run. "I think we can continue to be the best pitching staff in Omaha," Eikhoff told USA TODAY Sports after the win over Oregon State. Perhaps even more impressive than Coastal Carolina's pitching success is how it happened. There aren't any big-name transfers among the group. Nine of the Chanticleers' 10 most used pitchers began their college careers with Coastal; the one who didn't, closer Ryan Lynch, started at a junior college. The group is also relatively young, including two freshmen and three sophomores. The 2024 Chanticleers were in their final season under longtime coach Gary Gilmore. They were one of the last four teams to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. When Schnall, who was assistant under Gilmore since 2016, took over before this season, the team was picked to finish fourth in the Sun Belt. A big reason why Coastal Carolina exceeded those expectations − winning the Sun Belt regular season and tournament titles and riding a 25-game win streak − was across-the-board improvement of the Chanticleers' returning pitchers. Many of those arms credit the success to the hire of pitching coach Matt Williams, who spent the 2024 season at South Carolina, as well as to the impact of catcher Caden Bodine, who is considered one of the top defensive catchers in the country. "Pounding the zone has been a huge part," Lynch said. "All of our starters are very efficient. Get early strikes, pound the zone, try to limit walks, then just having our defense behind us. ... And then having (Bodine) behind the plate, just him getting pitches that would be off the plate or low that he's getting strikes for us." Coastal Carolina's 8% walk rate is the lowest among teams in Omaha and fifth-lowest of all Division I teams in 2025. But while low walk rates are often associated with a lack of high-octane stuff, that's not the case for the Chanticleers, either. Morrison, whose fastball touches 95 mph at 6-foot-8, was ranked the No. 181 MLB draft prospect for 2025 by MLB Pipeline. Flukey, whose velocity has been up to 98 mph, is considered a top-three rounds prospect for the 2026 draft. Lefty reliever Dominick Carbone has a nasty slider. For Morrison, a big part of his development was working through Tommy John surgery rehab. He had a 6.55 ERA in 13 starts as a freshman in 2023 but missed the entire 2024 season with injury. "I've always been a big strike thrower," Morrison said in the press conference after the Oregon State game. "My freshman year, I threw a ton of strikes but I had a hard time keeping the ball out of the middle of the plate. That was a big thing, not only in my rehab last year, but even in freshman year development, throwing pitches where I want." FAMILIAR FACES Oregon State, Coastal Carolina led by former players Flukey, a sophomore who had a 5.73 ERA in 19 appearances as a freshman, credits his improvement to putting more trust in his stuff and becoming more willing to attack within the strike zone. This season, he has a 3.29 ERA and cut his walk rate from 10.9% to 5.7%. Eikhoff, a fifth-year, had an ERA above 4.43 in each of his first three seasons, but in 2025 he has a 2.98 ERA. He was the one Schnall trusted with the ball in the opening game. Part of Williams' impact has been the confidence he's instilled in the pitching staff. He came in during the fall and gave each pitcher a goal to work towards. From there, the pitchers went to work to build one of the country's best pitching staffs − one good enough to win a national championship. "Coach Williams has a lot of credit to (our success), I think," Flukey said. "But also, as a family, we've all kind of pushed each other and made sure everyone's on their stuff, but Williams has been the start of that, and then we all kind of took a leadership role." Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@ or on X @aria_gerson.
