It doesn't create the buzz of the NFL Draft or the NBA Draft, but Major League Baseball conducts its First-Year Player Draft this afternoon in Orlando.

The Brewers, who hold six of the first 62 picks in baseball's First-Year Player Draft, used the 16th overall pick to select Canadian catcher / infielder Brett Lawrie.

Lawrie, 18, grew up in Langley, British Columbia and was a standout on Team Canada, which won a bronze medal at the 2007  World Junior Championships. Though he can play a number of positions, the Brewers introduced him as a catcher.  "We've been on this kid for a couple years," Brewers scouting director Jack Zduriencik said. "He has a strong desire to catch and we're going to give him that opportunity,"

That is fine with Lawrie. 

"They see me as a catcher," he said. "I've worked hard. I've given it all I can."

Lawrie is listed at 6 feet and 200 pounds. ESPN analyst Steve Phillips compared him to former Astros second baseman Craig Biggio, who began his career as a catcher. 

Baseball America, the leading amateur baseball publication, said scouts debate whether Lawrie is the best Canadian hititng prospect since Justin Morneau or Larry Walker. Lawrie was the sixth position player from Canada to be taken in the first round.

"There is a lot of pride (in that)," he said. "Whenver I can represent Basebal Canada, it's a big deal. I can show we're not just a hockey country."

Lawrie is friendly with fellow Canadian Russell Martin, who is a catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. "I see him as a close baseball friend," Lawrie said of Martin. "He actually called me today. 

"Last off-season, I was able to spend a week and a half with him in Arizona. We trained together."

The Brewers also hold the 32nd, 35th, 53rd, 54th and 62nd picks. With the 32nd pick, the Brewers chose right-handed pitcher Jake Odorizzi from Highland High School in Highland, Ill. Odorizzi is 6-3 and weighs 180 pounds and has a pending scholarship offer from Louisville.

With the 35th pick, the Brewers chose left-handed pitcher Evan Frederickson from the University of San Francisco.

The Brewers had three draft selections in the third round and drafted right-handed pitcher Seth Lintz from Marshall County (TN) High School with the 53rd pick.  With the 54th pick, Milwaukee chose centerfielder Cutter Dykstra out of Westlake High School in California.  He is the son of former major-league player Lenny Dykstra, who was part of the World Series-winning 1986 Mets team.  The Brewers took right-hander Thomas Adams from Southern Illinois with the 62nd selection.
 
In the third round, the Brewers took centerfielder Logan Shafer from Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo with the 94th overall pick. In the fourth round , Milwaukee took left-handed pitcher Romanski from the University of San Diego. The Brewers’ final two picks were right-handed pitcher Maverick Lasker from Sandra Day O’Connor High School in Arizona (fifth round, 158th overall) and shortstop Jose Duran (188th overall) from Texas A&M.

Here is a look at the first round. It's interesting to note that Oakland took Jemile Weeks, whose older brother, Rickie, plays second base for the Brewers. 

The Brewers drafted Jemile Weeks in the eighth round three years ago, but couldn't agree to financial terms. Weeks decided to go to college. 

Rickie Weeks was the No. 2 overall pick in 2003.

1. Tampa Bay: SS Tim Beckham, Griffin (Ga.) HS

2. Pittsburgh: 3B Pedro Alvarez, Vanderbilt

3. Kansas City: 1B Eric Hosmer, American Heritage HS, Plantation, Fla.

4. Baltimore: LHP Brian Matusz, San Diego

5. San Francisco: C Buster Posey, Florida State

6. Florida: C Kyle Skipworth, Patriot HS, Rubidoux, Calif.

7. Cincinnati: 1B Yonder Alonso, Miami

8. Chicago White Sox: SS Gordon Beckham, Georgia

9. Washington: Aaron Crow, RHP, University of Missouri

10. Houston: Jason Castro, C, Stanford

11. Texas: Justin Smoak, 1B, South Carolina

12. Oakland: Jemile Weeks, 2B, Miami

13. St.Louis: Brett Wallace, 3B, Arizona State

14. Minnesota: Aaron HIcks, Woodro Wilson HS, Long Beach, Calif.

15. Los Angeles Dodgers: Ethan Martin, 3B, Stevens Country School, Toccoa, Georgia

16. BREWERS: Brett Lawrie, C, Brookswood Secondary School, Langley, British Columbia

17. Toronto: David Cooper, 1B, Californa.

18. New York Mets: Issac Davis, 1B, Arizona State

19. Chicago Cubs:  Andrew Cashner, RHP, Texas Christian

20. Seattle: Joshua Fields, RHP, Georgia

21. Detroit: Ryan Perry, RHP, Arizona

22. New York Mets: Reese Havens, SS, South Carolina. 

23. San Diego: Allen Dykstra, 1B, Wake Forest

24. Philadelphia: Anthony Hewitt, SS, Salisbury, Conn.

25. Colorado: Christian Friedrich, LHP, Eastern Kentucky

26. Arizona: Daniel Schlereth, Arizona

27. Minnesota: Carlos Gutierrez, RHP, Miami

28. New York Yankees: Gerritt Cole, RHP, Orange Lutheran High School, Orange, Calif.

29. Cleveland: Lonnie Chisenhall, 2B, Pitt (N.C.) Community College

30. Boston: Casey Kelly, RHP, Sarasota High School, Sarasota, Fla.