Prep catcher Norton the Crew's first backstop pick

MILWAUKEE -- The Brewers chose their first catcher of the First-Year Player Draft on Saturday in high-school backstop Tanner Norton, who was taken in the 13th round (392nd overall).

Norton, out of Bishop Brossart High School in Alexandria, Ky., bats from the left side and throws from the right.

The 6-foot, 190-pounder hit .437 with five home runs and 32 RBIs to help lead Bishop Brossart to a state runner-up finish last year and is the lone senior on the Mustangs' 2013 roster.

Brewers amateur scouting director Bruce Seid hopes the team can get Norton's bat in their system.

"We like him. He's a left-handed hitter, got a little power," Seid said. "As a young catcher, most of those guys take two, three, four years to develop as a catcher. Where we got him, we're hoping to get him out playing and signed. If that's the case he'll go to our rookie league team. We hope he becomes a Brewer. I know he wants to play, and I think that's the right thing for him to do as a young player."

If he does not sign with the Brewers, Norton will play at Western Kentucky.