Yovani Gallardo just went #1 overall in the Milwaukee Brewers Alumni Legends Game draft, and yeah, you heard that right, he was picked *ahead* of Ryan Braun. Seriously. The selection went down at the Saint Kate hotel in downtown Milwaukee on July 23, setting the stage for some serious bragging rights. Team Wisco general manager Gord Ash definitely wasn’t playing it safe, making a move that had everyone scratching their heads and probably Braun raising an eyebrow.
Ash Went Big on Versatility, Snubbing a Legend
Ash, leading Team Wisco, made the bold call for Gallardo, a pitcher who threw for the Brewers from 2007-2014 and actually cranked out 12 career home runs. Ash even called Gallardo “the former Ohtani,” which, c’mon, that’s high praise. The logic? Getting a pitcher who can also swing a bat and play some field. You gotta wonder if this pick was a masterstroke or just pure chaos for the fun of it. That philosophy showed up again when Ash later snagged Brooks Kieschnick, another player known for versatility. Meanwhile, across the draft room, Team Milwaukee GM Doug Melvin and manager Ed Sedar wasted zero time scooping up Ryan Braun with their first-round pick. Melvin couldn’t resist a little jab about it, saying, “I’m going to have to tell him the game’s only three innings. He didn’t start hitting in the clutch until the seventh, eighth and ninth inning, so I’m a little worried.” Ouch.
Drama, Digs, and Mr. Irrelevant
The draft unfolded over 15 rounds, with players getting picked based on their positional availability and, hilariously, whether they were perceived to have “enough left in the tank.” Team Wisco, managed by Garth Iorg, loaded up with hitters like Jesús Aguilar, Bill Hall, Geoff Jenkins, Casey McGehee, Eris Sogard, and Eric Thames, along with catchers Erik Kratz and Jonathan Lucroy. Their pitching staff, alongside Gallardo, includes Chase Anderson, Brad Boxberger, and that versatile Brooks Kieschnick. Team Milwaukee countered, grabbing Corey Hart, Richie Sexson, Jeremy Jeffress, Carlos Villanueva, Jace Peterson, George Kottaras, Travis Shaw, Ben Sheets, Jeff Bianchi, Chris Narveson, Doug Davis, Dan Kolb, Manny Piña, and Jesús Aguilar’s teammate, Tim Dillard. Dillard, a team broadcaster now, appropriately became this draft’s Mr. Irrelevant as the final pick. And get this: Sedar immediately said he was interested in trading him! Melvin summed up his team’s outlook perfectly, saying, “I like our offensive power, and our pitching…you just don’t know. Story of my career.” Classic.
All this alumni madness leads to the main event: a three-inning alumni showcase on July 24 at American Family Field, happening right after the Brewers’ regular game against the Colorado Rockies, which kicks off at 3:10 p.m. CT. Bragging rights are absolutely on the line after a draft this wild!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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