Baseball America has published its "Early Draft Preview" in its latest issue, including the order of draft picks through the first few rounds.
Thanks to the four extra draft picks the Brewers picked up for losing Class A free agents Scott Linebrink and Francisco Cordero over the off-season, they'll have quite a haul in the June draft. Here is the order of their first five picks, as listed by Baseball America:
No. 16 -- The Brewers' regular pick in the first round.
No. 32 -- A supplemental first-round pick for losing Cordero to Cincinnati.
No. 35 -- A supplemental first-round pick for losing Linebrink to the Chicago White Sox.
No. 52 -- What was the Reds' second-round pick, which they forfeited to the Brewers.
Though much will change between now and June in terms of players' worth and standing in the draft, BA projected the first-round picks. No. 16, which is where the Brewers pick, is University of Arizona right-hander Ryan Perry, whose stock rose after a strong performance in the Cape Cod League.
No. 53 -- What was the White Sox's second-round pick, which they forfeited to the Brewers.
The Brewers also have their own second-round pick, again picking 16th in that round.
There is one adjustment that has to be made since BA published its latest issue. When the Twins signed free agent pitcher Livan Hernandez the other day, it gave Arizona a supplemental first-round pick for losing him.
Accordingly, the Brewers will have the Nos. 53 and 54 picks in the second round, as well as their own, which now stands at No. 62.
According to the scouts who talked to BA, this is going to be a strong draft, which is good news for the Brewers. There are many strong college bats, good depth in college pitching and some strong high school players as well.
With so many picks in the early going, the Brewers probably will mix up some college picks -- who could move quicker to the big leagues -- with some high school selections.
When you consider how many outstanding players Brewers scouting director Jack Zduriencik and his staff have found in the draft since the turn of the century, there is good reason to be excited about what could prove to be quite a haul this June.
The Brewers are in agreat position to re-stock the Farm System.