MARYVALE, Ariz. -- Maryvale is a far cry from Langley, British Columbia, and an even farther cry from Beijing. But Milwaukee Brewers prospect Brett Lawrie has enjoyed all three stops -- and more -- in his summer travels.

The Brewers' No. 1 pick in the June Draft out of high school, Lawrie held off signing until Aug. 5, the day before he left the country to join Team Canada. And when he put his name on the dotted line, it was with the understanding that he wouldn't report for a few more weeks.

The highest drafted Canadian position player ever at 16th overall and only the sixth Canadian first-rounder in history, Lawrie was considered one of the most gifted all-around high school hitters in the Draft.

With a quick bat and plus power, he's still something of a raw talent, as you might expect, but with a huge upside.

Lawrie got to show some of that upside this spring and summer when he played in the World Junior Baseball Championships before joined the Canadian Olympic team. Hitting .469 in that tournament, he also led all players with 16 RBIs.

After heading to Milwaukee briefly to officially join the fold and take a few swings in uniform at Miller Park, it was on to Beijing, with his sister, Danielle, by his side -- not as a chaperone but as a co-Olympian, as she was a member of the Canadian softball team.

While the end result for the Canadian Olympic team may have been a bit disappointing (the club went 2-5 and did not make it past the first round), it was an experience Lawrie never would have traded.

"That's something not everyone gets to do or even see in person. And walking into that stadium is something I'll never forget," he said. "There was a lot of pride playing for my country, only 18 years old. It was awesome to me."

Once he returned, though, it was time to get down to business. Milwaukee Brewers business.

Primarily a catcher, he's also seen time at second base, third base and the outfield. But when you have a player like Lawrie at such a premium position, the traditional wisdom is to keep him there until he plays his way out of it. And the Brewers' player development brain trust is nothing if not wise.

"He wants to catch and will get that opportunity, and then they'll make the decision where he ultimately plays," said Jack Zduriencik, the Brewers vice president and special assistant to the GM in player personnel matters. "But the catching position will get a real good go-round."

At instructional league in Maryvale, Lawrie is working closely with catching instructor Charlie Greene.

"Charlie does a great job with catchers and they're working on all the basics, all the fundamentals," Zduriencik said, "footwork, working with pitchers and just about anything a kid walking into pro ball would be introduced to at a little different level. Baby steps."

Lawrie's been more than happy to focus more on what goes on behind the plate than at it.

"Hitting is hitting," he said. "The big focus has been a lot of catching stuff. Every day, we've got five to six catchers in the cages, going, 'Boom, boom, boom,' with all the drills. I'm already a better catcher for it."

And even though it hasn't been easy, he's fine with that.

"You have to do this stuff first to be a catcher," Lawrie said. "Now I think it's hard. Further down the road, I think things will fall into place, I hope."

The Brewers aren't too worried about the future yet.

Lawrie's national and international experience already has featured opportunities to play against Minor Leaguers in both Florida and Arizona extended spring camps as well as in the Dominican Republic against some academy players. His success there, using wood bats, has been very impressive.

"His power numbers were ridiculous in the Dominican," Zduriencik said. "He's very strong with a great swing, a very powerful young man."

So while the Brewers might have rather welcomed Lawrie into the fold sooner rather than later, they understood his desire to represent his country and know it was a valuable experience for him.

"Probably in the big picture it was a positive for him," Zduriencik said. "Being selected for the Olympic team is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and the fact that his sister was on the softball team was phenomenal for the family. Would we have liked to have had him? Of course."