The Detroit Tigers took away the Milwaukee Brewers' top home run threat when they signed Prince Fielder this offseason.

The Brewers turned to Ypsilanti for its next-generation power hitter on Monday, selecting Lincoln High School graduate Victor Roache in the first round of the 2012 Major League Baseball Draft.

Lincoln High School graduate Victor Roache led the NCAA with 30 home runs in 2011. Despite missing most of the 2012 season at Georgia Southern because of an injury, Roache was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the first round of the Major League Baseball draft on Monday.

Photo by Jeff Herndon

Roache was the 2011 NCAA home run leader with 30 as a sophomore at Georgia Southern. He also also knocked in 84 runs (second in the nation), had a .778 slugging percentage (fourth) and a .326 batting average.

Roache was off to a hot start in 2012, hitting .412 with two home runs and five RBIs through Georgia Southern's first six games, but had his junior season cut short after breaking his left wrist in February.

Despite the injury, the Brewers took Roache -- a 2009 Lincoln graduate -- with the 28th overall pick on Monday. The Brewers also had the 27th pick, which was acquired from Detroit in the Fielder deal.

The Brewers picked up three right-handed bats with power potential in Roache, high school catcher Clint Coulter with the No. 27 overall pick, and Mitch Haniger of Cal Poly with the No. 38 selection.

"We feel that these guys have a chance to hit the ball out of the park, have a chance to play defensively, which is definitely something we took into consideration," Brewers director of amateur scouting Bruce Seid said. "And we feel that these guys have superb makeup. So it's a good combination."

Victor Roache

Roache said he is still recovering from the injury, which required a plate and six screws to repair. It's unlikely that he'll be able to play this summer.

Seid acknowledged the risk in picking a player with an injury, but said the team's medical staff was comfortable with Roache's ability to make a full recovery.

"This is a premier, power-type guy," Seid said.

The Tigers drafted Roache out of high school in the 25th round of the 2009 draft, but Roache never signed with the club, opting for college instead.

He isn't likely to make that same decision this time around.

According to an Associated Press report, 31 of 33 first-round picks in 2011 received signing bonuses of more than $1 million, with two players receiving bonuses of $936,000. The 28th pick in last year's draft received a $1,134,000 signing bonus.

-- The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Contact Pete Cunningham at petercunningham@annarbor.com or by phone at 734-623-25612. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.