The first-round of the MLB Draft has been kind to the Brewers in recent years.

Entering the 2021 Draft earlier this month, the Crew’s last three first-round picks --  Garrett Mitchell (2020), Ethan Small (2019), and Brice Turang (2018) – had already emerged as the team’s first, second and fourth-ranked prospects, respectively.

Now, outfielder Sal Frelick hopes to join that standout group after becoming the Brewers top pick this summer.

Here are three things to know about Sal Frelick as he begins his professional career.

An Advanced Approach at the Plate

Frelick won’t wow you with gaudy power numbers. But the 21-year-old Boston native can still make a significant impact with his bat and on-base skills.

Batting from the left side of the plate, Frelick excels at making contact, drawing walks and avoiding strikeouts.

As a junior at Boston College, he racked up 70 hits in 48 games, good for a .359 batting average and a First-Team All-ACC selection. Frelick also uses his speed to leg out extra bases when he puts the ball in play -- he racked up 17 doubles and two triples in 2021, boosting his slugging to an excellent .559.

Perhaps most impressively, Frelick doesn’t give away free outs. Over his three collegiate seasons, he tallied more walks than strikeouts – a testament to an impressive eye for the strike zone at a young age.

Big-Time Defensive Potential

The Brewers have proven to covet strong defensive center fielders in recent years.

On top of employing two Gold Glovers in Lorenzo Cain and Jackie Bradley Jr. at the Big League level, the Crew drafted speedy center fielder Garrett Mitchell with their first-round pick in 2020. Now, Frelick enters that conversation with his immense defensive potential.

After playing primarily right field earlier in his career at Boston College, Frelick shifted to center field with excellent results in 2021. He took home the ACC Defensive Player of the Year Award and was named a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award, recognizing the top amateur player in the United States.

Frelick still has a lot to learn as he continues to improve his defense, but the Brewers are confident he has the tools to stick up the middle going forward.

Elite Athleticism

Frelick is a man of many talents.

Well before the Brewers made him their first-round pick earlier this month, Frelick served as the captain of his football, hockey and baseball teams for Lexington High School in Massachusetts. That athleticism translated to his collegiate career with Boston College, especially in the field and on the base paths.

On top of his excellent defense, Frelick stole 13 bases in 48 games in 2021 and 18 in 39 games as a freshman in 2019. When you factor in his contact skills and ability to get on base, that speed becomes even more dangerous.

Now, it’s up to the Brewers to get the most out of Frelick’s athleticism as they develop him over the coming years.