Frelick goes to Brewers with 15th overall pick
Outfielder is Eagles' highest draft pick since 2009 and the program's sixth first-rounder.
With the 15th pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, the Milwaukee Brewers selected Boston College center-fielder Sal Frelick. After being mocked anywhere within the first 16 or so picks, Frelick was selected by Milwaukee and became the seventh college player off the board, the highest Eagles’ draft pick since 2009, and just the sixth first-rounder in program history.
A career .345/.435/.521 hitter across 102 games, Frelick was a two-time All-American, an ACC Defensive Player of the Year award winner, and the program’s first ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove winner. In 2021, Frelick was a Golden Spikes Award semifinalist and All-ACC First Team selection after hitting .359 with 17 doubles, six home runs, 13 stolen bases, 27 RBIs, and 50 runs scored.
Frelick had a meteoric rise up the draft boards after his breakout freshman season with the Eagles. Despite seeing his season cut short (39 games) due to injury, Frelick still earned All-ACC Second Team honors and was a Freshman All-American. COVID saw his sophomore season limited to just 15 games but he returned with plenty of hype and more than lived up to it. Many BC fans surely wish that they had the chance to watch more of Frelick in the maroon-and-gold, but it was still a highlight-reel filled career.
Here’s a round-up of what prominent MLB Draft analysts had to say:
The Athletic’s Keith Law:
There goes Frelick, a true center fielder with a short swing that should make him a high-contact hitter even with the wood bat in pro ball -- but he's got enough strength to drive the ball for doubles power and avoid getting the bat knocked out of his hands by velocity. The Brewers have really pivoted towards valuing defense in the last year or so, and Frelick fits that philosophy well.
Baseball America’s Ben Badler
Last year the Brewers got a potential steal when UCLA center fielder Garrett Mitchell fell into their laps with the 20th overall pick. Getting Frelick here at No. 15 overall isn't quite the same steepness of a slide, but the Brewers have to be happy to get one of the top college hitters in the draft in the middle of the first round. Frelick is an explosive, quick-twitch athlete who has premium speed and the hand-eye coordination to put the ball in play at a high clip. He's not a big power threat, but his contact skills, speed and ability to play a premium position give him a chance to develop into an above-average regular in the middle of the field.
ESPN’s David Schoenfield
The Brewers feel like they got a steal last year with the 20th pick in UCLA outfielder Garrett Mitchell, who is tearing it up in high A ball, and they may feel the same in getting another toolsy college outfielder in Frelick with the 15th pick. He's 11th on McDaniels' draft board and while the stats at B.C. were impressive, keep in mind that he didn't play baseball full time until college.
MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo
A lot of us thought Frelick would go a little higher as a college hitter who performed well in 2021, so this could be a good get for the Brewers. He runs well, finds the barrel of the bat frequently, gets on base and proved he can play center field.
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