How Brewers Exploited Draft Inefficiency to Build Top MLB System

The Milwaukee Brewers have quietly become one of Major League Baseball’s most creative franchises in player development. Since MLB cut the amateur draft to 20 rounds in 2021, the Brewers have taken a bold, unconventional approach—targeting late-round high school players instead of piling up cheap college talent.

This model is already making waves, strengthening Milwaukee’s farm system. It might even nudge other teams to rethink their own draft tactics down the road.

The Brewers’ Late-Round High School Focus

Most MLB clubs spend rounds 11 through 20 picking college players who sign easily and fill out minor league rosters. The Brewers, though, chase under-the-radar high school prospects who might otherwise get missed.

How the Strategy Works

Milwaukee’s front office uses early rounds to negotiate underslot deals, signing players for less than the assigned draft value. This saves bonus pool money, which they later use to offer mid–six-figure signing bonuses to high-upside high school talent in later rounds.

It brings in more players with real potential to grow into major league contributors. The gamble? It’s risky, but the upside is tough to ignore.

Leading the League in High School Signings

Since the draft changes in 2021, no team has drafted and signed more high school players in rounds 11–20 than Milwaukee. On average, the Brewers sign three to four high school prospects per draft in these rounds. That’s more than any other organization, by a good margin.

Notable Success Stories

Several late-round signings are already turning heads in Milwaukee’s system. Among them:

• Bishop Letson – A power-arm pitcher signed for under $500,000.
• Josh Adamczewski – An athletic infielder with advanced hitting skills.
• Luke Adams – A versatile corner infielder with strong offensive upside.

Other teams overlooked each of these players. Sometimes it was limited scouting, or maybe teams thought they couldn’t sign them. Milwaukee took the shot anyway.

The Scouts Behind the Success

While the front office sets the plan, the Brewers’ regional scouts make it happen. Ginger Poulson stands out—her knack for spotting overlooked talent has powered much of this late-round success.

Finding the Undervalued Gems

Area scouts zero in on players who are under-scouted, undercommitted, and often from the Midwest. These prospects don’t always get national buzz. By building real relationships with players and families, the scouts get a better read on signability and make sure Milwaukee can use its bonus pool edge.

Why This Approach Works

The Brewers’ model runs on a simple idea: after round 10, most college players don’t offer much long-term value. By investing in raw high school talent, Milwaukee gets players with more development time and higher ceilings.

Precise Planning is Key

This isn’t something you can wing. It takes:

• Bonus Pool Management – Saving funds through early-round underslot deals.
• Accurate Signability Assessment – Figuring out who’ll actually sign.
• Quality Talent Evaluation – Spotting future potential others ignore.

A Blueprint for Future Drafts

Even with a shorter draft, Milwaukee’s approach finds the inefficiencies. By daring to go against the grain, the Brewers have built one of baseball’s strongest farm systems—without those coveted top-10 picks.

Will Other Teams Follow Suit?

As these late-round high schoolers climb through the minors, you have to wonder if other MLB teams will try copying Milwaukee’s playbook. Right now, the Brewers seem to have carved out a real edge by blending sharp scouting, clever spending, and some gutsy long-term thinking.

It’s a world where every tiny advantage matters. The Brewers are digging in the draft’s forgotten corners, and honestly, that payoff might stick around in Milwaukee for a long while.

 
Here is the source article for this story: How The Brewers Exploited A Draft Inefficiency To Help Build One Of MLB’s Top Systems