Twins Sign Undrafted Brandon Poulson

[Monkeypaws]

The 100 MPH and being completely unknown left me highly skeptical. Throwing in the supposed 40" vertical from a guy who weighs 240#s and 6.6 60 made me check the calendar and see if it was the first of April.

 

As Jeremy said, this will be one crazy story that will draw all of us moths repeatedly back to the flame.

 

 

Certainly a cool story and a good get for the Twins. I'm just curious how this guy went undrafted. I read the stories earlier so maybe I'm not remembering them correctly, but in my recollection he blew scouts away with his size and athleticism, but they were turned off by bad mechanics and poor results in his college season. It just seems like at least one team would take a chance on trying to fix his mechanics to see if they could tap into the potential of this "physical specimen." Seems like it would be abetter use of a pick then a guy who you can pretty clearly see has reached the limits of their physical ability and doesn't project as anything more than organizational filler.

 

Did you guys read the articles? 8+ ERA in college and a lower 90s upper 80s fastball doesn't get you drafted, plus late entry into the sport.

[Pitz]

Did you guys read the articles? 8+ ERA in college and a lower 90s upper 80s fastball doesn't get you drafted, plus late entry into the sport.

 

Did you read my post?

[jokin]

Did you read my post?

Yep. A guy with this physical pedigree should have had his pick of D-1 schools. Football coaches kill to get those type of athletic numbers onto their tight end depth chart. I doubt there are many NFL tight ends that are this athletic.

[Pitz]

I continually read from the various media prospect guys that people have to be leary of scouting stat lines. It just seems like one of the scouts seeing his build and athleticism would have pondered what he might be capable of with the help of some professional pitching coaches rather than the coaches at an art school.

[Thrylos]

Sidd Finch?

 

Deadspin had the exact story line...

[Thrylos]

I continually read from the various media prospect guys that people have to be leary of scouting stat lines. It just seems like one of the scouts seeing his build and athleticism would have pondered what he might be capable of with the help of some professional pitching coaches rather than the coaches at an art school.

 

His pitching coach was not wielding horse hair paint brushes, believe me

It was a former pro pitcher and of about the same size.  When I read that was wondering whether the Twins can get the pitching coach in a package from the Prune Pickers as well...

[DocBauer]

I am also dating myself. The moment I started reading the article I had to check the calendar to make sure it wasn't April 1st. I was also immediately reminded of the Finch article and was waiting for a punch line that never came.

 

Count me amongst those not upset the Twins saved some money from their draft pool. Not only did they sign most all of their top picks, but all they missed on, really, was a few HS kids in the late 20's and 30's. And unless signed well over slot, those kids are going to college just about every time. And whether there is a question about future potential, or sign ability, they are picked that late for a reason. The only kid I was rooting for...sorry but I forget his name at the moment...was the 3B heading to Fresno State as they seem to recruit pretty well. NOBODY could have predicted an out of the blue signing like this one, but it shows what being prudent can bring you at times.

 

This might not just be a fun story. And not just because he can hit a 100. But the fact he seemed to come to the sport late, and missed time, helps mark him as a late bloomer. I think what gives me hope and impresses me is his athleticism and a seemingly strong work ethic. Both of those things could bode well.

 

Perhaps I missed something and need to read more, but does he have the makings of another pitch or two? Or is he just a FB thrower at this point? No question at 24 that the best and fastest route is as a RP. One more solid pitch, or a pitch and a half to just tease, is plenty to be an effective reliever. If he doesn't make it until 27 or even 28, not only would his arm have fewer innings that a lot of pitchers, but it's really not that old for a RP. A lot of quality relievers seem to arrive a bit later in age, whether they be college players initially, or failed starters who find their role finally. A neat story, and a neat find.

[Pitz]

Perhaps, I took a cheap shot at the Academy of Art's coaching staff, but Balbuena (the coach credited with helping Poulson) was not his pitching coach at the university.

 

Anyway, I was just wondering why teams wouldn't at least take a chance with a late round pick on a guy with 'wow factor' athleticism and clearly raw mechanics rather than a clear organizational filler. Likely his age was a deterrent.

 

In any event, I'm glad that the Twins were able to find and sign Poulson and it will be interesting (and hopefully very exciting) to see his story unfold. A great signing for sure, hopefully with more coaching he can continue to refine his arsenal.

[Heistyman]

The first thing I thought of was Toe Nash.

[JB_Iowa]

 

In any event, I'm glad that the Twins were able to find and sign Poulson and it will be interesting (and hopefully very exciting) to see his story unfold. A great signing for sure, hopefully with more coaching he can continue to refine his arsenal.

 

Sounds like he blossomed from May to July.

 

But interestingly I think the $250,000 is about the equivalent of 6th round money so it worked out well for him.

[kab21]

He wasn't throwing 100mph during the college season from the sounds of it.  If the draft were next week it's likely that he would be drafted but this is exactly the kind of guy that can slip through the cracks of all of the scouting teams.  There was absolutely no reason to draft/sign any D2 baseball player just because he's a physical freak.

[Steven Buhr]

As a Twins fan, I hope this works out and he's an All-Star bullpen arm in a couple years.

 

But I gotta say, if I were a mid-to-low minor leaguer in the Twins organization who worked my butt off for 3-4 years in college, signed for a fraction of what Poulson got and is trying to pay my bills on $1200 a month while putting in 9-10 hour days at the ballpark, I'd be less than pleased to see my organization hand over a quarter mil to a guy based on seeing him throw 18 pitches.

 

Maybe that's just me.

[zchrz]

His name is Robert Paulson!

 

His name is Robert Paulson!

 

I mean Brandon Poulson!

[oldguy10]

Twins also signed another free agent pitcher that I believe was in the low minors or even independent ball.  However I now cannot locate the signing or his name, please help me out here.  I believe it happened one day last week.

[jorgenswest]

As a Twins fan, I hope this works out and he's an All-Star bullpen arm in a couple years.

 

But I gotta say, if I were a mid-to-low minor leaguer in the Twins organization who worked my butt off for 3-4 years in college, signed for a fraction of what Poulson got and is trying to pay my bills on $1200 a month while putting in 9-10 hour days at the ballpark, I'd be less than pleased to see my organization hand over a quarter mil to a guy based on seeing him throw 18 pitches.

 

Maybe that's just me.

I hadn't really thought about it from that perspective. I wonder what A.J. Pederson would think. Would the same apply to international free agents? Many are signed for at 16 and never reach full season ball.

[Brandon]

Here's the story of Sidd Finch for those who don't know it

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidd_Finch

[bird]

A 40" vertical leap, right? 38" better than Willingham's, right? Maybe they can stand him out at the LF fence when Correia and Burton pitch.

[Seth Stohs]

Poulson was featured tonight on NBC's Nightly News. A nice story. http://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/twins-sign-former-art-school-student-100-mph-fastball-n174366

[Paul Pleiss]

You can't coach speed, and you can't teach a guy to throw 100. I'm glad the Twins went out and made a splash to sign this Poulson guy. Great story. Even if he never goes anywhere, he's already the most exciting pitcher in Elizabethon this season.

[Seth Stohs]

...besides Nick Gordon...

[twinsfan34]

Poulson pitched 1 inning tonight for Elizabethton. 1 IP 0 H 0 R 0 ER 1 BB 0 K

 

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2014_08_08_dnvrok_elirok_1&t=g_box&sid=milb