MILWAUKEE -- The Brewers finished Day 1 of the MLB Draft on Monday by picking a projectable pitcher, spending their second-round selection on 6-foot-6 right-hander Caden Lemons from Vestavia Hills (Ala.) High School outside Birmingham.
"Super exciting," Brewers scouting director Tod Johnson said. "He's lean, lanky, really quick arm, really good fastball, developing secondary. We saw a lot of his starts. … This guy has a ton of upside."
:: 2017 MLB Draft coverage ::
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Johnson saw Lemons touch 95-96 mph in a start. One report mentioned 98 mph. Lemons finished his senior season with a 7-1 record, 1.74 ERA and 79 strikeouts in 62 innings over 10 appearances.
"He throws hard now," Johnson said, "and we think he's going to throw really hard in the future."
After going 46th overall, Lemons now has a decision to make. Sign with the Brewers and begin his professional career? Or accept a scholarship to Ole Miss?
"Either way, I just want to play," Lemons told AL.com last week. "And whatever team gives me the best opportunity to play, that's what I'm going to take. And if I don't get that best opportunity, I'll have a career ahead of me at Ole Miss where I can get my degree and play SEC baseball. Which is, it doesn't get much better than that."
The Brewers' pick at No. 34 overall on Monday faces a similar decision. Outfielder Tristen Lutz has a scholarship waiting at the University of Texas.
• Brewers' No. 34 overall: Tristen Lutz
"Those [signability] discussions are a big factor in the process of making these decisions," Johnson said. "Ultimately, if we take them, we believe we're going to sign them. In this case, I believe that to be true as well."
The Draft continues on Tuesday with Rounds 3-10. The MLB.com preview show begins at 11:30 a.m. CT, with exclusive coverage beginning at 12 p.m. CT.