Brewers 1st Round Pick Brock Wilken - Photo by Wake Forest Athletics
MILWAUKEE, WI (WSAU) – The 2023 MLB Draft is underway and the Milwaukee Brewers did not waste any time attempting to solve their longtime issue at third base.
The Brewers selected Wake Forest third baseman and 2023 Baseball America Second Team All-American Brock Wilken. “There were a lot of guys potentially in play there, but when we landed on Brock, we were really excited to get probably the best power in the Draft,” Brewers scouting director Tod Johnson said. “I’m going to say it’s the best power in the Draft.”
Wilken increased his home run total to 23 as a sophomore at Wake Forest after setting a freshman record with 17 home runs in 2021. He also broke the school record for the most home runs in a season with 31 for the Demon Deacons, who were the top national seed in the NCAA baseball tournament. He also tied the ACC career record with 71 home runs, breaking the previous record at Wake Forest.
Milwaukee also drafted 17-year-old high school RHP Josh Knoth 33rd overall who was ranked 98th on MLB Pipeline’s big board. There is some doubt that Knoth will agree to play for the Brewers after committing to play for Ole Miss earlier this year.
Knoth is undoubtedly one of the best pitchers in Long Island high school baseball history. In 41 2/3 innings this year, he had a school-record 0.17 ERA, struck out 109 batters, and allowed only five hits (all singles). With 19 strikeouts against Riverhead, Knoth pitched his second perfect game of his career. In each of his seven outings, he had double-digit strikeouts and 15 walks while pitching four complete games.
Other notable players drafted by Milwaukee includes Nebraska third baseman Mike Boeve and high school shortstop Eric Bitonti, further showing that first-year GM Matt Arnold is committed to rebuilding Milwaukee’s infield after numerous seasons of inconsistent play at third base.
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