2008 Draft, Rd8, #260, Dan Brewer

Born: 19/07/1987
Height: 6′0″ Weight: 185 lbs
Position: CF
Bats: R Throws: R
Transactions: Selected in 8th round (260th overall) of 2008 draft out of Bradley University.

Video
MLB Scouting Video
http://mlb.mlb.com/media/player/mp_tpl_3_1.jsp?w_id=701883&w=/2008/open/draft/broll/br_brewer_daniel_400.wmv&mid=200805302799316&pid=gen_video&vid=11071&cid=mlb&v=2&bypass=true

Photo
http://yankees.scout.com/PictureGallery.aspx?PlayerId=117174&Title=Dan%20Brewer

The Pinstripe Press
http://nyyankeesnews.blogspot.com/2008/06/of-daniel-brewer-bradley-university.html
After selecting high schoolers with their previous four picks in the 2008 MLB Draft, the Yankees selected a proven college bat, OF Daniel Brewer, in the eighth round (260th overall). Having bounced around from second base to shortstop in 2006 and 2007, Brewer found a home in centerfield for the Bradley Braves, earning first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors as a junior.

Brewer batted .341 with 15 doubles, six home runs, 36 runs batted in and 19 stolen bases. He stole 19 bases and led Bradley in runs scored (51), slugging percentage (.551), and on base percentage (.436).

Brewer jumped onto scouts’ radar with an impressive showing in the Cape Cod League last season. He earned All-Star honors for the Hyannis Mets, hitting .297 with seven home runs and a team-high 30 RBIs in 43 games.

In 163 career games at Bradley, Brewer had a .333 average and .411 on base percentage with 101 RBIs and 142 runs scored. He became the first player in Braves history to club at least 20 career home runs (21) and swipe at least 40 bases (47). He ranks among Bradley’s all-time top 10 in six offensive categories: triples (9, 4th); hit-by-pitches (19, 4th); stolen bases (47, 7th); doubles (47, 7th); runs scored (142, 7th); and total bases (325, 9th).

While the Yankees drafted Brewer as an outfielder, Brewer may get a try at second base. He will start off at short-season Staten Island.

Perfect Game (by Allan Simpson & David Rawnsley)
SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Brewer was one of the Cape Cod League’s most potent offensive players last summer, hitting .297-7-30 for Hyannis. That came on the heels of a productive .313-10-30 sophomore season at Bradley. Brewer is athletic and most of his tools play to an acceptable level as he has power, speed and arm strength. His bat is his best tool, though his leadership skills and obvious passion for the game may be his best attributes. He can drive balls on the inner half of the plate and punishes mistake pitches. He is a fluid runner and uses his speed best going from first to third. Brewer’s biggest drawback, from a scouting perspective, comes in identifying a true position. Primarily a shortstop in his first two seasons at Bradley, Brewer simply lacks the range and reactions to be an everyday player at that position. He played five different positions last summer, spending most of his time in right field. If he doesn’t settle in as a utility player, right field would appear to be his home down the road as his arm works well there, though his speed also plays in center field. He began the 2008 season for Bradley at third base, but struggled there from the start and was eventually moved to center field.

UPDATE (5/15): Scouts made it clear that when you are drafting Brewer, you are drafting a bat with a high-energy approach to the game and the position will have to figure itself out later. He is the most polished hitter in Illinois and was actually more impressive with the bat during the summer in the Cape that he really was at Bradley this spring (.341-6-36, 19 SB). One scout made the comparison between Brewer and another Missouri Valley standout, Northern Iowa shortstop Brandon Douglas, and the comparison seems appropriate. Brewer tried most positions on the field this year, but ended up in center field, where his speed and aggressiveness play well at the college level. But he’s short, tools-wise professionally, for that position. However, a team will find a place for him as long as he’s hitting.