MILWAUKEE – Brewers first-round pick Braylon Payne doesn’t lack confidence -- “I’m a true five-tool player,” he said Monday -- but even he was surprised when his agent Ryan Ware called during the middle of the first round of the MLB Draft on Sunday night. Payne was hopeful he’d be drafted, but didn’t expect a call that early.

Do you want to be a Milwaukee Brewer?

“When I heard those words, my legs went numb and tears of joy started to come out of my eyes,” Payne said. “I’ve made the first step in my baseball career.”

Moments later, Payne, a 17-year-old center fielder from Elkins High School in Missouri City, Texas, was sitting on his couch next to his mother when MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced the Brewers’ pick.

Both of Payne’s parents have worked for the Houston Police Department (his dad just retired) and have played a significant role in the development of one of this Draft’s youngest eligible players.

“My mom, she’s always been there for me,” Payne said. “She’s my rock. Everything that’s gone on in my life, she’s been right there next to me and helped me go through it. She keeps my head up when I’m low. She keeps me in a good headspace for the 17 years I’ve been living. And my dad’s been the same way.”

Picking Payne that early snapped a streak for Milwaukee, which had used its first selection on a college hitter in each of the previous four Drafts, and six of the past eight. The club went a different direction with Payne, a prep player who turns 18 on Aug. 14.

He is ranked the No. 53 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline. His selection at No. 17 -- which carries a pick value of $4,534,100 -- could help the Brewers manage the rest of their Draft pool in an annual effort to add as much value to the Minor League system by the end of the three-day event.

“He was certainly very close [to the first-round mix],” said Brewers VP of domestic scouting Tod Johnson of the industry’s view on Payne during a Zoom session with media on Sunday night.

“We felt like it was a really good opportunity to grab a player that we really, really liked. We wanted to do it at [No.] 17 and make sure we didn't miss out on the opportunity on a guy we think could be a really big impact player for us down the road.”

Payne was the first of the Brewers’ four selections on Sunday. They drafted University of Tennessee first baseman Blake Burke 34th overall -- a pick they acquired from the Orioles in the Feb. 1 trade of Corbin Burnes.

Milwaukee also selected prep right-handers Bryce Meccage (No. 57 pick) and Chris Levonas (No. 67, Competitive Balance Round B) on Sunday. Meccage, from The Pennington School in New Jersey, was the No. 51 overall Draft prospect, while Levonas, from Christian Brothers Academy in New Jersey, was ranked No. 59 in MLB Pipeline's Top 250 Draft Prospects.

Payne, a center fielder, bats and throws left-handed and has plus speed. According to MLB Pipeline, he has 70-grade speed on the 20-80 scouting scale.

Payne has good contact skills (50-grade hit tool, according to MLB Pipeline) that pairs well with his speed, further adding to his ability to get on base. And with his bat speed, he has the potential to hit 15 or more home runs per season as he continues to develop at the plate and fills out his 6-foot-2, 186-pound frame.

“I’m a kid that has speed, a kid that can actually hit and has sneaky power, and honestly I can track any ball down in the outfield,” Payne said. “I’m still working on my arm strength to get even better. Like I said, I’m just a true five-tool player.”

He cited Padres star Luis Arraez as an offensive inspiration -- a player who hits his way on base and adds value without 40-homer power. As far as an all-around player, Payne mentioned the Mariners’ Julio Rodríguez.

“He’s young and really projectable,” Johnson said. “He's at least a 70-runner, maybe an 80-runner, so top-of-the-scale speed. Very good defensive center fielder. High-contact bat with, we think, some development to come with strength [added] and getting more power as he gets older and matures and just gets stronger.

“He’s a really good player. The kid’s great, too. [We] love him, good character kid. He's going to be somebody that becomes a leader as he matures into that as well.”

Payne comes from a high school familiar with Major League talent. Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter, a three-time MLB All-Star, and former Dodgers first baseman James Loney also attended Elkins High School. Payne surpassed Carpenter as the school’s all-time hits leader.

“That was surreal,” Payne said.

In his 2024 senior season, Payne batted .531 (51-for-96) with nine doubles, four triples, three homers and 32 stolen bases. He drew 21 walks compared to just seven strikeouts in 119 plate appearances. He has a college commitment to the University of Houston.