Who do you want the Twins to draft?

[Hrbowski]

So, who do you want? (Brendan Rodgers won't be an option because if he does fall you should want him.) 

[Mike Sixel]

Last year I was all over Gordon as my preference. This year? No idea. I chose Tate.

[gunnarthor]

Obviously, I'd love Rogers or Swanson but nobody thinks they'll fall, so ignoring those two, I'd go with Tate who has fallen in a few mocks.  I think he'd be a real steal at #6, sort of like Rodon at #3 last year.  

[kab21]

I went Bregman but I haven't been following the draft as much this year.  I think Tate/Bregman with Tucker as a backup if the others are taken would make for a good draft and hopefully the last time the Twins pick this high for awhile.  Cameron still intrigues also.

 

Last year I preferred Alex Jackson but Gordon was a 1b pick.  This might be the first year in awhile where there is siginificant uncertainty with the Twins pick.  Once the Astros passed on Buxton it was a no brainer.  Stewart was a near consensus choice.  Gordon was widely considered along with Jackson as the correct choices for the Twins although he had detractors.

[nytwinsfan]

My board would go:

 

1. D. Swanson

2. T. Jay

3. B. Rodgers

4. D. Tate

5. A. Bregman

6. K. Tucker

 

I voted for Tate though, because he is the first on my board likely to be available.

[diehardtwinsfan]

This is tough.  If Tate falls, I'd go with him.  Otherwise, probably Allard.

[Mike Sixel]

 

This is tough.  If Tate falls, I'd go with him.  Otherwise, probably Allard.

 

That was my order also, given who I think will be there......

[Hrbowski]

So far Bregman is winning...

[Captain Nifty]

Where's the Garrett Whitley option?!? I'm guessing he's not on the Twins radar but he seems to have huge upside which I prefer at pick #6. Obviously prospect comps are swimming in hyperbole but the Mike Trout comp as a big, physical, fast athlete from the Northeast excite the hell out of me. 

[nytwinsfan]

WANT: http://m.mlb.com/news/article/127980594/dillon-tate-finds-path-to-draft-in-urban-youth-aca

[celery]

I will be the contrarian and go for Carson Fulmer.

 

I think he is the high upside pick. The gamble is can he stick as a Starting pitcher. I take him over Tate because he has been starting longer, doing so against better competition and has better results. I have heard it mention that as the season has progressed Tate's stuff has tailed off while Fulmer's has not. 

 

 

[Bob Sacamento]

Not a Twins fan, but I've been watching this draft for a year and a half and have seen many of these kids in person at showcases and college/HS games throughout South Florida.  My personal top 10 list:

 

1. Swanson

2. Rodgers

3. Jay

4. Cameron

5. Tate

6. Fulmer

7. Bregman

8. Buehler

9. Tucker

10. Benintendi

11. Allard

12. Whitley

13. Funkhouser

14. Stephenson

15. Plummer

 

 

I'm very bullish on Vandy RHP Walker Buehler, who I think would fit the Twins system and past draft patterns.  He's a very polished college pitcher and unlike his teammate Fulmer will stick in the rotation the further he climbs the ladder.  What many forget is he was one of the top pitcher going into the 2015 draft before he sat the beginning of this season for elbow soreness.

 

Personally, I love Allard and if there wasn't the question mark of his health (lumbar stress indicators) then he'd be the top pitcher for me.  For those who don't know, the issue he's having now does give major yellow flags because it's usually not a one time occurance and if proper rest and treatment isn't given/heeded then it leads to even more issues.

 

[blairpaul715]

Well, i have been hoping for Bregman, and that is who i voted for, but I am getting to like Tucker more and more, and if Tate falls, I would be happy with any of these 3.

[cmb0252]

Bregman or Tucker for me. I really like both bats.

[Willihammer]

I will be the contrarian and go for Carson Fulmer.

 

I think he is the high upside pick. The gamble is can he stick as a Starting pitcher. I take him over Tate because he has been starting longer, doing so against better competition and has better results. I have heard it mention that as the season has progressed Tate's stuff has tailed off while Fulmer's has not.

FWIW, Whitley's final 2015 line was a bit underwhelming for high school.

 

.356/.487, 3 HRs 15/15 SB

[jimmer]

 

Not a Twins fan, but I've been watching this draft for a year and a half and have seen many of these kids in person at showcases and college/HS games throughout South Florida.  My personal top 10 list:

 

1. Swanson

2. Rodgers

3. Jay

4. Cameron

5. Tate

6. Fulmer

7. Bregman

8. Buehler

9. Tucker

10. Benintendi

11. Allard

12. Whitley

13. Funkhouser

14. Stephenson

15. Plummer

 

 

 

That's a pretty long TOP 10 list you got there.

 

There are three types of people in the world, those who can count, and those that can't

 

Just funnin' with ya, Nice post. And nice to see it come from someone who has see quite a few of these guys live.

[ashbury]

 

before he sat the beginning of this season for elbow soreness.

So draft him, then schedule him for the TJS the next day, just to get it out of the way?

[Lonestar]

My board looks like this:

 

1. Jay -- highest ceiling, highest floor
2. Swanson
3. Bregman
4. Fullmer -- talked into it by John Sickels
5. Tate
6. Rodgers -- old for a HS senior and a less than anticipated season.

Hopefully 2 of my 6 are available.  At least I don't think I have to worry about Rodgers being there.

 

I don't like Cameron -- too much emphasis on polish, and I don't like his demands and prefer not to deal with his advisor.  I have Benitendi, Tucker, and Buehler in front of him.

[cmb0252]

I just don't get the love for buehler. I would be pretty disappointed if we drafted him. Give me ceiling or give me death!

[Bob Sacamento]

 

That's a pretty long TOP 10 list you got there.

 

There are three types of people in the world, those who can count, and those that can't

 

Just funnin' with ya, Nice post. And nice to see it come from someone who has see quite a few of these guys live.

 

LOL, I was going to stop at 10 but I just had to get Nick Plummer on there so I went 15.  Kid is very cerebral and has a very advanced plate approach along with some power.

 

So draft him, then schedule him for the TJS the next day, just to get it out of the way?

Nah, overpitched... pitched Vandy to the championship in 2014, then pitched for Team USA, then pitched his team to the championship in the Cape Code League before the 2015 college season.  His delivery is very clean and repeatable and isn't a "flamethrower" so he has all those going for him in avoiding TJS scares but you never know. 

[Bob Sacamento]

 

I just don't get the love for buehler. I would be pretty disappointed if we drafted him. Give me ceiling or give me death!

I get the love for the high ceiling guy but that's how you get the Donavon Tates and Chris Grulers of the world, early high ceiling talent who had low floors.You have to weigh the likelihood of the player reaching his ceiling. and where he is with his floor especially early in the draft.

 

The love for Buehler is the same love as Aaron Nola was last year.Yes, he does not have a high ceiling of a superstar ace but he projects as a safe reliable quick riser through the system and a force in the rotation for years to come.Young cost controlled starting pitching can never do you wrong.For those who don't know, Buehler has four above average pitches in a 91-94 mph fastball, curve, slider, and change; has a clean repeatable delivery; plus command and poise.It's just alot easier to do worse.

[Bob Sacamento]

 

Well, i have been hoping for Bregman, and that is who i voted for, but I am getting to like Tucker more and more, and if Tate falls, I would be happy with any of these 3.

I just want to make sure everyone knows what they are getting in Bregman.  Offensively, there is pretty much nothing wrong with his game.  plus contact, good eye, good pop.  It's the defensive end of his game that has questions, yes he's a SS now but there is enough dissention in the scouting world to cause concern of him sticking at SS instead becoming an above average 2B.  At short, he has average range, average/accurate arm, and good hands; best comp I can think defensively at SS is Eckstein - make the basis routine plays but not much going in the hole or wide range behind the bag.  And his most often comp overall is Dustin Pedroia. 

[blairpaul715]

Id take a Dustin Pedroia , if that is what he became

[ALessKosherScott]

I tend to like the three shortstops and Cameron the best, and given I suspect the three shortstops will be off the board I lean Cameron. The pitchers at the front of this draft scare the living crap out of me from a mechanical standpoint, and give me bad nightmares of Shooter Hunt and Adam Johnson. Tate, in particular, is the type of pitching prospect the Twins have screwed up too many times. I guess I'd lean Allard if I had to grab a pitcher.

 

It would be a much better draft to be drafting 24 with a first-round comp pick than six with no second rounder. There's not a lot of safe at the top of this draft, and it's better to play a numbers game.

[laloesch]

 

I get the love for the high ceiling guy but that's how you get the Donavon Tates and Chris Grulers of the world, early high ceiling talent who had low floors.You have to weigh the likelihood of the player reaching his ceiling. and where he is with his floor especially early in the draft.

 

The love for Buehler is the same love as Aaron Nola was last year.Yes, he does not have a high ceiling of a superstar ace but he projects as a safe reliable quick riser through the system and a force in the rotation for years to come.Young cost controlled starting pitching can never do you wrong.For those who don't know, Buehler has four above average pitches in a 91-94 mph fastball, curve, slider, and change; has a clean repeatable delivery; plus command and poise.It's just alot easier to do worse.

 

 

Personally i think Buehler is a solid pick.  Sometimes you HAVE to go for solid guys. Guys with a variety of pitches and a clean delivery AND a 91-94 mph fastball are nothing to scoff at. 

[jimmer]

Cue George Clinton and the Parliament Funkadelic....

[cmb0252]

I get the love for the high ceiling guy but that's how you get the Donavon Tates and Chris Grulers of the world, early high ceiling talent who had low floors.You have to weigh the likelihood of the player reaching his ceiling. and where he is with his floor especially early in the draft.

 

The love for Buehler is the same love as Aaron Nola was last year.Yes, he does not have a high ceiling of a superstar ace but he projects as a safe reliable quick riser through the system and a force in the rotation for years to come.Young cost controlled starting pitching can never do you wrong.For those who don't know, Buehler has four above average pitches in a 91-94 mph fastball, curve, slider, and change; has a clean repeatable delivery; plus command and poise.It's just alot easier to do worse.

Burdi was supposed to be big league ready according to draft gurus and he is struggling. Wimmers was the most polish college pitcher in his draft and he hasn't even made it to the show. When the braves drafted gilmartin he was another quick riser control pitcher and he got DFA a few years later. If you want to draft a quick to the bugs player with a low ceiling you do it at the end of the first round, not top 10.

[Willihammer]

Fulmer baby

[Bob Sacamento]

 

Burdi was supposed to be big league ready according to draft gurus and he is struggling. Wimmers was the most polish college pitcher in his draft and he hasn't even made it to the show. When the braves drafted gilmartin he was another quick riser control pitcher and he got DFA a few years later. If you want to draft a quick to the bugs player with a low ceiling you do it at the end of the first round, not top 10.

Burdi was just drafted a year ago and is already in AA, can't really have too many complaints about that and will be conversation for a bullpen spot next season.  He had a bad April but has rebounded nicely since then.  That's still a pretty quick return on investment.  It's not a Mike Leake or Kyle Finnigan quick return but good nonetheless.

 

  Wimmers had a Steve Blass attack followed by TJS that was put off.  By the way, he was taken in the backend of the first round 21st overall.  Gilmartin was also taken in the backend of the first round, 28th overall.

 

Buehler has a longer track record than either as well as a deeper arsenal.  Pitchers in recent past with highest ceiling that have been taken include: Aaron Nola, Michael Wacha, Mike Minor

[cmb0252]

Burdi was just drafted a year ago and is already in AA, can't really have too many complaints about that and will be conversation for a bullpen spot next season.  He had a bad April but has rebounded nicely since then.  That's still a pretty quick return on investment.  It's not a Mike Leake or Kyle Finnigan quick return but good nonetheless.

 

  Wimmers had a Steve Blass attack followed by TJS that was put off.  By the way, he was taken in the backend of the first round 21st overall.  Gilmartin was also taken in the backend of the first round, 28th overall.

 

Buehler has a longer track record than either as well as a deeper arsenal.  Pitchers in recent past with highest ceiling that have been taken include: Aaron Nola, Michael Wacha, Mike Minor

How about Hultzen? He was a "safe" and "quick to the bigs" arm who has failed to live up to either of those. Point is if you draft a guy, no matter where in the first round, because he is safe\quick riser and he fails to do so you lost value. I rather put stock in ceiling over how fast they can help a club. We have the deepest farm in baseball so why do we need a mid rotation arm up in 2 years?

 

If you want safe and quick to the bigs why not bregman? College bats are statistically the safest picks. At least he has a ceiling worthy as a high pick.

 

On a side note Wacha fell because of injury like Gibson. He also only had two big league pitches, some evaluators still think he only does, so I don't see him as a comparison to the rest of the names you and I have named.