|
Braylon Payne
Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 70 | Arm: 50 | Field: 55 | Overall: 50
Considered one of the fastest players in the 2024 class, Payne was also one of its youngest with his 18th birthday coming one month after the Draft itself. He was ranked as MLB Pipeline’s No. 53 prospect in the group but became a Day 1 shock when he went 17th overall to Milwaukee. Payne signed for below slot at $3.44 million, allowing the organization to spread savings for later in the Draft, and he played briefly for Single-A Carolina, including two games in the Carolina League postseason.
Payne’s plus-plus speed is a game-changer as he proved in that quick dip in the pros with four steals in five attempts. Batting from the left side, he can explode out of the box and often opens up early in his swing to give himself a head start on the way to first. That can often lead to ground balls -- some of which he’ll beat out with his legs -- and it’ll be important for him to add some more lift on his swings as he enters the pros over a larger sample. To his credit, he impressed some Brewers coaches with his physicality after reporting, and there’s the potential he could get to decent power in time.
Because of his speed, Payne can track down balls gap to gap in center field, and he should get plenty of looks there throughout his career. Once considered fringy, the former Houston commit should also have an average arm to help his defensive work. Payne’s speed should work well in the modern game and gives him a decent floor, and considering he’ll be 18 for much of his first full season, he’ll be given plenty of space to fill out the rest of his game.
|