Official 2014 Draft Day Thread, Day 1

[LaBombo]

Dee Gordon at the 1/3 point of the season is playing at 4 fWAR level as we speak.

 

As I said before the draft, I think the Twins missed on Jackson- I'm a BPA guy first & always, those of us that agree on that could be right or wrong, time will tell (and perhaps you and I are in agreement on that?). Once the top 3 pitchers were gone, what else could the Twins have done? Maybe reached for Touki or Newcomb? There must be reasons they fell to the middle of the first round. Having said that, it really isn't realistic to expect that every position player the Twins draft in the first round is going to be the next Byron Buxton at his position.

 

If we get a guy that projects to be much better than Dee Gordon in the infield, potentially playing at an All Star level in 3-4 years or so, I'd consider ourselves quite fortunate.

 

Good post, and it reminded me not to take it for granted that BPA in the MLB draft is not a universally accepted concept. And that I still don't understand why. Makes for some good debates, though...

[TRex]

My guess is that it has something to do with the fact that Vielma can't hit or steal bases or do many things one expects out of a baseball player.

 

Don't look now, but Vielma has hit .340 over his last ~90PA. While 90 PA doesn't guarantee anything, perhaps it can knock the 'unequivocal' can't hit down a notch or two. Maybe the Twins knew something when they convinced KLaw that he was a real prospect.

 

That being said, I also think his hit tool (if it continues to develop) will be more like Ben Revere than Stephen Drew.

[cmb0252]

From Crawford's pick-by-pick analysis:

 

The brother of Dodgers second baseman Dee and the son of former All-Star pitcher Tom, Gordon saw his stock rise significantly through the spring. He is a shortstop who needs to gain some weight, but he can already play the big-league position, and there's sneaky power in his left-handed bat. He reminds some of Francisco Lindor, and like Lindor he could move quickly through the Twins system. Gordon might be their everyday shortstop by 2017 -- maybe earlier if he shows the same bat he did for most of the spring.

[blairpaul715]

I guess I will be the first to predict our 2nd Rd pick, if he is on the board, I will go with Luke Weaver RHP Florida State

 

Ok now that he was off the board, and I was thought that either St Louis or Atlanta would take him, but he went earlier than I thought he would. My next prediction is Justus Sheffield

[cmb0252]

Ok now that he was off the board, and I was thought that either St Louis or Atlanta would take him, but he went earlier than I thought he would. My next prediction is Justus Sheffield

 

There goes Sheffield to the Indians.

[70charger]

2nd pick: Sean Reid-Foley? Spencer Adams? Nick Burdi?

[blairpaul715]

There goes Sheffield to the Indians.

 

I will wait on my next prediction till we are around 43, 44 LOL

[70charger]

I'm watching this on mlb.com, and they keep repeating the same commercials. I would pay somebody good money to slap Jason Aldean across the face right now.

[Trevor0333]

I LOLed.

 

It's a lil funny with him struggling so but pre knee complete destruction, Kubel was absolutely raking at levels he was much younger than.

[cmb0252]

2nd pick: Sean Reid-Foley? Spencer Adams? Nick Burdi?

 

I'm a HUGE Adams fan but I have a hard time seeing him fall that far. I'm guessing Mac Marshall.

[twinsfan34]

Don't look now, but Vielma has hit .340 over his last ~90PA. While 90 PA doesn't guarantee anything, perhaps it can knock the 'unequivocal' can't hit down a notch or two. Maybe the Twins knew something when they convinced KLaw that he was a real prospect.

 

That being said, I also think his hit tool (if it continues to develop) will be more like Ben Revere than Stephen Drew.

 

He's hitting .272 now overall as a 19 year old in Class A (almost 2 years younger than the competition). Only 500 minor league plate appearances. He's got a great glove and he's very fast. More like Cristian Guzman at this point in that he has great speed, but not 'stolen base' speed (yet).

 

I think the thinking may be for the Twins, if we have solid SS prospects, can always trade them for a high return value.

 

I hope Gordon turns out well. He' is in the same 'mold' as what we have in our system now in the likes of Vielma, Polanco, Goodrum, etc.

 

He's not likely to hit like Buxton, Sano, or Rosario.

 

I think I would have still liked Jackson a bit more, but the Twins saw him 10+ times in person - so they had to have been in consensus on him.

 

Buxton was a can't miss. Kohl is looking good. Our late first and early 2nd rd picks haven't turned out that well of late (Travis Harrison, Hudson Boyd, Madison Boer, Luke Bard, JT Chargois, Mason Melotakis, Ryan Eades), with the exception of Berrios, so let's hope they can get a good one this year.

[cmb0252]

There was a rumor earlier in the year that the Twins might try and sign Harrison under slot....doubt he falls all the way to 46 but its food for thought.

[70charger]

I'm a HUGE Adams fan but I have a hard time seeing him fall that far. I'm guessing Mac Marshall.

 

I'm surprised he got THIS far. Same with Reid-Foley. A guy can dream right?

[2wins87]

I'm a HUGE Adams fan but I have a hard time seeing him fall that far. I'm guessing Mac Marshall.

 

I'm going to go with Joey Gatto.

 

I'd like Jacob Bukauskas, but I don't think he'll fall.

[cmb0252]

I'm surprised he got THIS far. Same with Reid-Foley. A guy can dream right?

 

I hope your dream comes true! Also interesting that Gatewood is still around.

[blairpaul715]

I'm going to go with Joey Gatto.

 

I'd like Jacob Bukauskas, but I don't think he'll fall.

 

I don't think he will sign.

[Trevor0333]

I think that the Twins have a comparable player already in their system: Engelb Vielma. I'd probably argue that Vielma's 3 good tools (the same with Gordon's) Defense, Arm, Speed are ahead of Gordon's, but he is 2 years older or so. Nobody had Vielma in the top 10 Twins' prospect lists this off-season, but I suspect that many will have Gordon, sight unseen.

 

Hope that he is the next Cal Ripken Jr, but totally disappointed by the pick...

 

I really respect many of your takes but you may be reaching just a bit on this one. Gordon was easily a consensus top 10 pick in any teams eyes. If you could put Vielma in the draft right now with his current minor league track record & scouting. I have a hard time believing he even goes in the first two rounds.

 

He could be a hidden diamond in the rough but I don't see how he already eschews those comparisons with what he has shown.

[Larsbars08]

I really don't want a college reliever as a their 2nd round pick. I'm hoping they pick a prep pitcher.

[cmb0252]

So much talent left! This is seriously a deep draft. Hopefully some of it falls to us!

[laloesch]

Derek Hill does not look excited to be drafted by Detroit. Though I can't say I blame him. "Congrats, kid! You were just picked in the first round of the draft, and your reward is ....a one way ticket to a postapocalyptic hellhole!"

 

$2 million will help, I suppose.

 

 

Ain't that the truth. There's a reason Ohioan's call it De-toilet.

[twinsfan34]

Monte Harrison

Michael Gettys

??

[markos]

Monte Harrison

Michael Gettys

??

Jacob Gatewood

Spencer Adams

[2wins87]

Yeah it's getting pretty surprising that some of these high school guys are falling this far

[blairpaul715]

Id love Gatewood, if he gets to us, but would be take another SS??? I think he prolly projects better as a 3rd basemen, or maybe OF???

[Mike Sixel]

Gate wood has no chance to be a SS....and he just went.

[twinsfan34]

Yeah, I would have been happy with Gatewood too. He's a Brewer now. 4 more picks...then the Twins.

[rickyhawaii]

would be thrilled if they get Monte Harrison

[Tibs]

I asked Mr. Nygaard about Monte Harrison a while ago, and he said he was a first day talent that he could see dropping out of the first round. Good job on that one, Jeremy.

[blairpaul715]

next 4, Foley, Adams, Harrison, Burdi

[gunnarthor]

I'd like Reid-Foley to drop to us.