Scouting Report

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Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 70 | Arm: 45 | Field: 60 | Overall: 50 

Because he comes from the southern half of Texas and is one of the fastest players in his Draft, Payne elicits comparisons to Kendall George, the Dodgers' top pick (supplemental first round) in 2023. While he can't quite match George's top-of-the-scale speed, Payne is more aggressive on the bases and should provide more impact at the plate. He won't turn 18 until a month after the Draft, making him one of the youngest players in the high school class and enhancing his appeal to teams that put an emphasis on age. 

With a compact, flat left-handed swing, Payne likes to use his quick hands to smack grounders to the left side of the infield and his plus-plus speed to beat them out. He opens up early at the plate in an attempt to get down the line as fast as possible, yet he still manages to make repeated contact. Though he'll never be a slugger, he has enough bat speed and projectable strength to hit 15 or more homers per season once he learns to look for pitches he can drive. 

Payne focuses on getting on base and creating havoc with his speed. The Houston recruit has good instincts on the bases and in center field, where he has the ingredients to become a plus defender. He has fringy-to-average arm strength that's playable in center.

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 70 | Arm: 50 | Field: 55 | Overall: 50

Considered one of the fastest players in the 2024 class, Payne was also one of its youngest with his 18th birthday coming one month after the Draft itself. He was ranked as MLB Pipeline’s No. 53 prospect in the group but became a Day 1 shock when he went 17th overall to Milwaukee. Payne signed for below slot at $3.44 million, allowing the organization to spread savings for later in the Draft, and he played briefly for Single-A Carolina, including two games in the Carolina League postseason.

Payne’s plus-plus speed is a game-changer as he proved in that quick dip in the pros with four steals in five attempts. Batting from the left side, he can explode out of the box and often opens up early in his swing to give himself a head start on the way to first. That can often lead to ground balls -- some of which he’ll beat out with his legs -- and it’ll be important for him to add some more lift on his swings as he enters the pros over a larger sample. To his credit, he impressed some Brewers coaches with his physicality after reporting, and his exit velocities have been better than expected out of the gate, offsetting some strikeout concerns in 2025.

Because of his speed, Payne can track down balls gap to gap in center field, and he should get plenty of looks there throughout his career. Once considered fringy, the former Houston commit should also have an average arm to help his defensive work. Payne’s speed should work well in the modern game and gives him a decent floor, and considering he’ll be 18 for much of his first full season, he’ll be given plenty of space to fill out the rest of his game.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 70 | Arm: 45 | Field: 60 | Overall: 50 

Because he came from the southern half of Texas and was one of the fastest players in his Draft, Payne elicited comparisons to Kendall George, the Dodgers' top pick (supplemental first round) in 2023. While he can't quite match George's top-of-the-scale speed, Payne is more aggressive on the bases and should provide more impact at the plate. He didn’t turn 18 until a month after the Draft, making him one of the youngest players in the high school class and enhancing his appeal to teams that put an emphasis on age. The Brewers surprised the industry some by taking Payne 17th overall and signed him for below slot at $3.44 million.

With a compact, flat left-handed swing, Payne likes to use his quick hands to smack grounders to the left side of the infield and his plus-plus speed to beat them out. He opens up early at the plate in an attempt to get down the line as fast as possible, yet he still manages to make repeated contact. Though he'll never be a slugger, he has enough bat speed and projectable strength to hit 15 or more homers per season once he learns to look for pitches he can drive. 

Payne focuses on getting on base and creating havoc with his speed. The former Houston recruit has good instincts on the bases and in center field, where he has the ingredients to become a plus defender. He has fringy-to-average arm strength that's playable in center.

Awards

CAR Player of the Week

Week	Team
07/13/2025

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	08/12/2025	Carolina Mudcats activated OF Braylon Payne from the 7-day injured list.
	07/27/2025	Carolina Mudcats placed OF Braylon Payne on the 7-day injured list retroactive to July 26, 2025.
	03/06/2025	activated OF Braylon Payne.
	02/23/2025	OF Braylon Payne assigned to Milwaukee Brewers.
	09/05/2024	OF Braylon Payne assigned to Carolina Mudcats from ACL Brewers.
	08/05/2024	OF Braylon Payne assigned to ACL Brewers.
	07/23/2024	Milwaukee Brewers signed OF Braylon Payne.
	06/16/2024	College Workout activated OF Braylon Payne.
	05/29/2024	College Workout activated OF Braylon Payne.
	08/09/2023	OF Braylon Payne assigned to High School Workout.
	07/21/2023	OF Braylon Payne assigned to TSA South.