Manitowoc pitcher drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers

Manitowoc native Noah Wech has been a baseball fan since he was a toddler watching his father’s slow pitch softball games. 

Coming off a senior season at Manitowoc Lincoln High School where he was named a player of the year in the Fox River Classic Conference, 18-year-old Wech thought there was a chance he could be selected in this year’s MLB Draft.

After hearing rumors he could be drafted on day two, Wech watched the second day of the draft with his family on Monday in hopes of hearing his name called. But when he wasn’t picked by the 11th round Tuesday morning, Wech decided to stop watching. 

Instead, the first team all-state utility decided it was time to sign up for housing at Oklahoma State, where he committed to playing college baseball.

But as he looked at his computer, a friend sent a text message congratulating him.

“He was messing with me on day two saying that I got drafted even though I didn’t, so I thought he was messing with me again,” Wech said. “And then he sent me a screenshot of the draft tracker, and I’m like, ‘holy smokes, I actually did get drafted.’”

Wech was selected in the 19th round of this year’s MLB Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers, the team he grew up cheering for. He’s the first player drafted by the Brewers right out of a Wisconsin high school since 2010, according to the MLB.

Prep Baseball Wisconsin called Wech one of top prospects in the Midwest, punching out 88 batters while allowing just seven earned runs. He also had the best maximum pitch velocity at the high school level in Wisconsin this year at 95 mph.

On Tuesday, Brewers Vice President of domestic scouting Tod Johnson said the team’s area scout spent a lot of time watching Wech play this season. 

“Local kid, it’s an interesting projection,” Johnson said. “High school arm, another one to kind of add to the portfolio of that group with the ones we took (Monday), as well.”

Wech described the feeling of being drafted by his favorite team growing up as “surreal,” “surprising” and “exciting.”

“I’m still in the middle of it all, just trying to take it all in at the moment,” he said. 

Manitowoc Lincoln High School Athletic Director Stan Diedrich has known Wech and his family for years. Diedrich said he believes Wech is the first Manitowoc Lincoln baseball player drafted to the MLB right out of high school.

He said the Manitowoc community of about 34,000 people has been very excited about Wech’s prospects of getting drafted by the state’s only professional baseball team.

“Some people were out to eat, and all of a sudden, they’re just hitting the table with excitement,” he said. “It’s one of our own here that’s got an opportunity.”

During his high school baseball career, Wech said the “constant support” from the community “means a lot” and “really shows the character of this town.”

“I really wouldn’t have it any other way, especially now with how much support I’m getting and how many text messages and phone calls,” he said. “Everybody’s just so proud. It’s pretty surreal and I really appreciate it all.”

While Wech’s skills on the pitcher’s mound are what attracted scouts, his character off the field also helped him stand out, Diedrich said.

“He’s a very mature 18-year-old,” the athletic director said. “It’s a very good family, a very supportive family.”

Wech has spent his summer playing baseball for the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders, a collegiate summer baseball team in the Northwoods League.

He said he’s still making up his mind about whether to play college baseball at Oklahoma State or whether to sign with the Brewers, who still have to sign the players selected in the earlier rounds of the draft.

“I’m gonna let them take care of that and do whatever they need to do, and then see where we’re at,” Wech said. “From there, when their decision is made on whatever they need to pay to certain guys, I’m sure the best decision will be in front of me and I’m gonna go at it at 100 miles an hour.”