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06-08-2005, 06:54 AM
<b><font size=4>Brewers hope Braun's a hit at third</font>
Infielder is team's top draft pick</b>
In watching Miami's Ryan Braun make the transition from shortstop to third base, the Milwaukee Brewers concentrated on what he did right rather than what he did wrong.
"We've watched him extensively the last six weeks, and particularly the last couple of weeks, he has played very well defensively," said Brewers scouting director Jack Zduriencik.
With Braun already proven with the bat, the Brewers had no reservations in making him the fifth pick in the first round of the draft Tuesday. And it certainly didn't hurt that the Brewers had a need at that position in their farm system.
"You always have needs," said Zduriencik. "You never know what a year or two can do to change the complexity of your ball club. But, if you look at our minor-league system, he fits nicely."
In an exceptional year for college third basemen, Nebraska's Alex Gordon, Virginia's Ryan Zimmerman and Braun were expected to go quickly, and they did. Kansas City took Gordon with the second pick and Washington tabbed Zimmerman at No. 4 (and already has signed him), leaving the Brewers with a somewhat easy decision. Some scouts who saw Braun, 21, were not as convinced that he projected as a major-league third baseman. Instead, there was talk about having to move the right-handed power hitter to the outfield.
But Zuriencik said he fully expected Braun to remain at third base in the Brewers' system.
"We've watched him since high school," said Zduriencik, who passed along credit to area scout Larry Pardo and East Coast crosschecker Bobby Heck. "They switched him from short to third because they felt it made the club better. We're real excited about how well he made that transition.
"The switch from shortstop to third base is not an easy transition. It was just a matter of him getting comfortable. He's got a lot of tools."
Braun went to a good source to discuss his position switch - Alex Rodriguez, who made that same move after being traded to the New York Yankees. Rodriguez lives in Miami and works out at the Hurricanes' complex, and Braun picked his brain on a couple of occasions.
"I had an opportunity to talk with him about the transition and what he went through," Braun said during a conference call. "He gave me some pointers and hints. He told me everything he went through.
"As the year progressed, I've definitely improved. I have the athleticism to make the switch. I understand there's an opportunity for me to advance through the (Brewers') system pretty quickly as a third baseman."
Braun is batting .396 with 18 home runs and 75 runs batted in for the Hurricanes, who play at Nebraska this weekend in the NCAA Super Regionals. A berth in the College World Series is at stake in that best-of-three match-up.
Braun said he would like to begin his professional career as soon as possible after Miami finishes its season.
"I understand that the quicker you get started, the quicker you can move through the system," he said. "I'm absolutely thrilled to have a chance to play for the Milwaukee Brewers."
Braun was not drafted out of high school, but neither was Rickie Weeks, the Brewers' first-round draft pick in 2003 now considered the organization's top prospect.
"I've heard he's a great player and a great kid," said Braun. "I hope to be a part of the same infield with him in the future."
The Brewers did not have a second-round pick, having forfeited it to Oakland for signing free agent catcher Damian Miller. Most notable among their other picks was eighth-rounder Jemile Weeks, a high school shortstop from Altamonte, Fla., and brother of the aforementioned Rickie Weeks.
"We hope some day he becomes like Rickie," said Zduriencik. "We didn't draft him just because he's Rickie's brother."
In the seventh round, the Brewers drafted high school outfielder Michael Brantley, son of former big leaguer Mickey Brantley.
Brewers owner Mark Attanasio, participating in his first draft, came away impressed with both the preparation of the team's scouting staff as well as the selection of Braun.
"Jack has it organized like a military operation," Attanasio said. "It really gave me an appreciation of how much work goes into this.
"It's a little bit like your first-born. Ryan Braun will always be my first draft pick. We felt he was the best player available and he also happens to be a third baseman, which we need."
As expected, the first round was dominated by college players, with 19 selected, including Wade Townsend, who pitched at Rice in 2004 and didn't sign after going in the first round to Baltimore last year. The first pick, however, came out of high school, with Arizona selecting infielder Justin Upton of Chesapeake, Va.
Upton's brother, B.J., was the second pick in 2002 by Tampa Bay, making them the highest-drafted pair of brothers in major league history. Eighteen rounds were completed on the first day, with 32 more scheduled for today.
Infielder is team's top draft pick</b>
In watching Miami's Ryan Braun make the transition from shortstop to third base, the Milwaukee Brewers concentrated on what he did right rather than what he did wrong.
"We've watched him extensively the last six weeks, and particularly the last couple of weeks, he has played very well defensively," said Brewers scouting director Jack Zduriencik.
With Braun already proven with the bat, the Brewers had no reservations in making him the fifth pick in the first round of the draft Tuesday. And it certainly didn't hurt that the Brewers had a need at that position in their farm system.
"You always have needs," said Zduriencik. "You never know what a year or two can do to change the complexity of your ball club. But, if you look at our minor-league system, he fits nicely."
In an exceptional year for college third basemen, Nebraska's Alex Gordon, Virginia's Ryan Zimmerman and Braun were expected to go quickly, and they did. Kansas City took Gordon with the second pick and Washington tabbed Zimmerman at No. 4 (and already has signed him), leaving the Brewers with a somewhat easy decision. Some scouts who saw Braun, 21, were not as convinced that he projected as a major-league third baseman. Instead, there was talk about having to move the right-handed power hitter to the outfield.
But Zuriencik said he fully expected Braun to remain at third base in the Brewers' system.
"We've watched him since high school," said Zduriencik, who passed along credit to area scout Larry Pardo and East Coast crosschecker Bobby Heck. "They switched him from short to third because they felt it made the club better. We're real excited about how well he made that transition.
"The switch from shortstop to third base is not an easy transition. It was just a matter of him getting comfortable. He's got a lot of tools."
Braun went to a good source to discuss his position switch - Alex Rodriguez, who made that same move after being traded to the New York Yankees. Rodriguez lives in Miami and works out at the Hurricanes' complex, and Braun picked his brain on a couple of occasions.
"I had an opportunity to talk with him about the transition and what he went through," Braun said during a conference call. "He gave me some pointers and hints. He told me everything he went through.
"As the year progressed, I've definitely improved. I have the athleticism to make the switch. I understand there's an opportunity for me to advance through the (Brewers') system pretty quickly as a third baseman."
Braun is batting .396 with 18 home runs and 75 runs batted in for the Hurricanes, who play at Nebraska this weekend in the NCAA Super Regionals. A berth in the College World Series is at stake in that best-of-three match-up.
Braun said he would like to begin his professional career as soon as possible after Miami finishes its season.
"I understand that the quicker you get started, the quicker you can move through the system," he said. "I'm absolutely thrilled to have a chance to play for the Milwaukee Brewers."
Braun was not drafted out of high school, but neither was Rickie Weeks, the Brewers' first-round draft pick in 2003 now considered the organization's top prospect.
"I've heard he's a great player and a great kid," said Braun. "I hope to be a part of the same infield with him in the future."
The Brewers did not have a second-round pick, having forfeited it to Oakland for signing free agent catcher Damian Miller. Most notable among their other picks was eighth-rounder Jemile Weeks, a high school shortstop from Altamonte, Fla., and brother of the aforementioned Rickie Weeks.
"We hope some day he becomes like Rickie," said Zduriencik. "We didn't draft him just because he's Rickie's brother."
In the seventh round, the Brewers drafted high school outfielder Michael Brantley, son of former big leaguer Mickey Brantley.
Brewers owner Mark Attanasio, participating in his first draft, came away impressed with both the preparation of the team's scouting staff as well as the selection of Braun.
"Jack has it organized like a military operation," Attanasio said. "It really gave me an appreciation of how much work goes into this.
"It's a little bit like your first-born. Ryan Braun will always be my first draft pick. We felt he was the best player available and he also happens to be a third baseman, which we need."
As expected, the first round was dominated by college players, with 19 selected, including Wade Townsend, who pitched at Rice in 2004 and didn't sign after going in the first round to Baltimore last year. The first pick, however, came out of high school, with Arizona selecting infielder Justin Upton of Chesapeake, Va.
Upton's brother, B.J., was the second pick in 2002 by Tampa Bay, making them the highest-drafted pair of brothers in major league history. Eighteen rounds were completed on the first day, with 32 more scheduled for today.