Draft pick Lutz forgoes dream college to sign

MILWAUKEE -- It wasn't easy for outfielder Tristen Lutz to forgo his commitment to his dream college, but the 18-year-old is ready to pursue his biggest dream of all: becoming a Major League player.
The Brewers and Lutz, their Competitive Balance Round A Draft pick at No. 34 overall, agreed on a contract Wednesday. Lutz, out of James Martin Senior High School in Texas, had committed to play for the University of Texas.
"Texas was my dream school growing up, and it was really tough not to go there, but my dream as a kid was to be an MLB baseball player, so that's what I'm starting [toward] right now," Lutz said. "That made it a little easier, that being my dream growing up."
• Brewers Draft Tracker

Welcome to the #Brewers organization, @TLutz37! Today we officially signed the OF (34th overall selection in the #MLBDraft). pic.twitter.com/EED7gN6d9Y

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) July 5, 2017

Lutz will receive a $2,352,000 signing bonus, per MLBPipeline.com's Jim Callis. The suggested slot value for the 34th overall pick is $1,983,600. He said while the signing process was long, he is happy with how it worked out.
"I don't want to say [it was] stressful, but just kind of uneasy not knowing where I was going to go," Lutz said. "But I trusted the process and knew that I had to wait a little bit, and I was pretty confident that I would end up in this situation, and just blessed to be here right now."

Lutz possesses big power potential from the right side of the plate and has a strong arm, too. He said he developed his power during his junior year of high school and hit over .500 as a senior. He played center field in high school but figures to see time at all three outfield positions as he begins his professional career.
"I always had power, but consistently doing it over and over again was always something that I struggled with a little bit," Lutz said. "I started kind of getting into my swing and understanding it a lot more, the finer details of it, so I was able to repeat it more."
Lutz took batting practice with the Brewers on Wednesday in his first trip to Miller Park. He will fly to Phoenix on Thursday to join the Arizona League Brewers, one of the club's Rookie affiliates, but he will get a day or two off since he hasn't played in an organized game since early June.
The Brewers also signed catcher Kainoa "KJ" Harrison, the 84th overall pick out of Oregon State, on Wednesday. According to Callis, Harrison signed for $666,600 (the slot value for the 84th pick).
Peralta's rehab
• Brewers right-hander Wily Peralta, who is on the 10-day disabled list with a right calf strain, began a rehab assignment Wednesday night with Triple-A Colorado Springs. The Brewers are hoping Peralta will pitch in two-inning stints. Brewers manager Craig Counsell said he doesn't expect Peralta's rehab to last the full 30 days.