Article: Official Twins Daily Day Two Draft Thread

[Jeremy Nygaard]

UPDATING LIVE WITH EACH PICK!

 

Last night, the Twins added two high-ceiling college pitchers to the organization in LHP Tyler Jay, Illinois, and RHP Kyle Cody, Kentucky. You can even go more in-depth on Tyler Jay if you'd like to read his TwinsDaily pre-draft profile.

 

You can also listen to me, John Bonnes, Seth Stohs talk about the selection of Tyler Jay. We were joined in the last segment by Twins West Coast Scouting Supervisor Sean Johnson, who told us what the Twins saw in Tyler Jay.

 

On Tuesday, the Twins will add eight more players to the organization.This is the place to be for Tuesday's selections. I will be updating the picks as we progress through the day. So comment frequently and refresh often!

 

Until the draft starts at noon, you can read up on my Top 10 Twins mock. I missed on Dillon Tate with the 6th pick, but correctly projected Kyle Cody to go 73rd overall.

 

Round 3 (80th overall): Travis Blankenhorn, 3B, Pottsville (Pa) High School. Committed to Kentucky.

 

Blankenhorn is an exceptional three-sport athlete (including being a 3rd team All-State basketball player) who has an advanced ability to square up the ball from the left side of the plate. Blankenhorn draws comparisons to Alex Gordon for his tools, looks and athletic background. His high school coach calls him "the total package". Blankenhorn played SS in high school, but seems destined to move to a corner.

 

Round 4 (110th overall): Trey Cabbage, 3B, Grainger (Tenn.) High School. Committed to Tennessee.

 

Cabbage, who just recently turned 18, is another multi-sport athlete, and has a very similar profile to Blankenhorn. Cabbage also did this. (You're welcome.) Still raw, Cabbage is very projectable, with the future that including hitting the ball well and hitting for power.

 

Round 5 (140th overall): Alex Robinson, LHP, Maryland

 

College closer! Robinson is a fastball-slider pitcher. His fastball is mid-90s, but his slider is still a work-in-progress. Robinson profiles best as a lefty-specialist, doesn't appear that he'll get the opportunity to start as a professional.

 

Round 6 (170th overall): Chris Paul, RF, California

 

Paul is a senior and will come in under budget. Paul had a very good senior season and checked in at #403 in Baseball America's Top 500.

 

Despite being a senior, Paul has significant upside as a hitter.

 

Round 7 (200th overall): Jovani Moran, LHP, Carlos Beltran Academy (Puerto Rico)

 

Another hard-throwing projectable lefty. Interesting head dip during his delivery.

 

Round 8 (230th overall): Kolton Kendrick, 1B, Oak Forest Academy (Louisiana)

 

Kendrick might wind up a huge steal. Baseball American had him ranked 62nd out of the Top 500 draft prospects heading into the draft. Mega-power potential from the left-hand side.

 

Kendrick is committed to Southeastern Louisiana and has been asked about being drafted in the 2nd to 4th rounds where his rankings projected him to be. He said it would be difficult to pass up the opportunity to play pro ball.

 

Round 9 (260th overall): LaMonte Wade, CF, Maryland

 

Wade is a raw as a center fielder, but has an advanced approach from the left side of the plate. Wade missed time with a hamate injury and really struggled in the Cape Cod League last year. He bounced back this year to bat .335 and have a 2:1 BB:K rate (30 walks, 20 strikeouts).

 

Round 10 (290th overall): Sean Miller, SS, South Carolina-Aiken

 

Glove-first defender who profiles best as a utility player. Likely one of a few high-character selections that are made with some money-savings in mind.

 

And that's it for today! Twenty-five percent complete. Won't you come back tomorrow?!

 

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[nytwinsfan]

This is a great article at Baseball America, about ten great players in the draft still around for Round 3. Most of these would be tough to sign, and some (Hooper) very tough, but I'd love to see the Twins pick one of them in the fifth pick of the 3rd round:

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/2015-draft-best-remaining-prospects-day-two/

 

I think I read somewhere that the Twins consider their minor league system relatively "full" and that they didn't plan to take a player in quite a few rounds. Hopefully that will free up a bit of extra cash to sign one or two higher-upside players.

 

[Jeremy Nygaard]

They'll take players in every round. They just won't sign as many between rounds 20 and 40. It won't have any impact on the money, because they'll still sign their first 10 picks. You just might see them taking organizational need-type players earlier. 

[Carneal&Gordon]

Hoping Twins take a chance on arguably the best closer in NCAA history, UCLA relief pitcher David Berg, at some point in the draft.

 

He is a senior who was drafted last year in the 17th round and simply dominated the competition after walking on at UCLA his freshmen year.

 

Great article on him below

 

http://www.d1baseball.com/features/golden-spikes-spotlight-david-berg/

[ashbury]

Getting #73 correct requires good insight and sources. Kudos.

[ShouldaCouldaWoulda]

Hope the Twins focus on high upside guys that have either fallen due to injury, size, performance, or signing concerns. I only feel this way because we actually have a decent system at the moment, so swinging and missing isn't as detrimental than otherwise would be, and the upside is pretty self explanatory.

 

I guess you could say they have gone that route with their fist two picks already, so I hope it continues. I do think Jay brings a lot of questions and concerns, but I still like the pick, even if he flames out as a starter while sitting in the low 90's. If he does translate as a starter and is able to only lose a tick of velocity, it will have been worth the risk.

[blairpaul715]

Prediction:

Round 3 (80) Austin Rei, C , Washington

[RaymondLuxuryYacht]

Prediction:

Round 3 (80) Michael Matuella, RHP, Duke

[Hrbowski]

I would go with Matuella if he is available, but he might be a tough sign. I would also consider Donny Everett or Alonzo Jones, but they are committed to Vanderbilt. Blake Trahan would probably be the most likely to sign, and he is a good shortstop, plus I know the Twins like him.

[DaveW]

I would go with Mark Derosa Jr for the 5th round pick

[James]

 

Prediction:

Round 3 (80) Austin Rei, C , Washington

 

Prediction:

Round 3 (80) Michael Matuella, RHP, Duke

I would be happy with either of those picks

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'm kind of hoping for a lot of prep guys today. 

[Mike Sixel]

I'm kind of hoping for a lot of prep guys today.

My thought also.

[Captain Hindsight]

 

I would go with Matuella if he is available, but he might be a tough sign. I would also consider Donny Everett or Alonzo Jones, but they are committed to Vanderbilt. Blake Trahan would probably be the most likely to sign, and he is a good shortstop, plus I know the Twins like him.

 

I'd be happy with Trahan and Matuella, though I think I would pass on the others due to signability. I am hoping for Nix, but think the Twins might target more position players with Jay and Cody already brought in the fold.

[Hrbowski]

Taylor Clarke and Javier Medina are gone.

[Hrbowski]

Rangers pick Matuella.

[James]

All pitchers so far.

[Hrbowski]

Astros pick Riley Ferrell.

[Hrbowski]

Travis Blakenhorn.

[gunnarthor]

Blankenhorn write up on mlb.com - A left-handed-hitting infielder from eastern Pennsylvania, Blankenhorn had a very good summer on the showcase circuit, playing well at both the East Coast Pro Showcase in Syracuse and the Metropolitan Baseball Classic held at Citi Field in New York. That performance didn't carry over at first to this spring, but he started coming on strong as the spring wore on.

Strong and athletic, Blankenhorn has a solid left-handed swing and a good approach at the plate. There is some raw power to tap into from his frame, though he'll have to make sure he doesn't get too stiff and muscle-bound. A shortstop in high school, he'll likely move to an infield corner, where his above-average arm and solid hands should play well.

Whether Blankenhorn can profile as an everyday corner infielder remains to be seen, but those who see his plus makeup and work ethic won't want to count him out.

[d-mac]

Anybody know anything about Blankenhorn? I've never heard of him before.

[DaveW]

Tools

Running Speed: 55/60
Arm Strength: 55/65
Hitting for Average: 40/55
Hitting for Power: 40/60
Fielding: 45/65

 

Seems like he can have some pop.

[DaveW]

Also he is committed to Kentucky, but I imagine he won't be a super tough sign.

[nytwinsfan]

Why does he draw Alex Gordon comps?

 

[blairpaul715]

Well.......my 4th and 5th Rd picks have already been chosen, I had Hudson in the 4th , and Eshelman in the 5th, and he went really early pick 46. my next pick Rd 6: I had Ryan Karstetter 3B, well they just basically chose one in Blankenhorn, so i am sure i will get that one wrong, not that I expected to get any correct LOL

[nytwinsfan]

Those numbers seem a bit high. Where did you get them from?

 

Tools

Running Speed: 55/60
Arm Strength: 55/65
Hitting for Average: 40/55
Hitting for Power: 40/60
Fielding: 45/65

 

Seems like he can have some pop.

 

[gunnarthor]

My guess is that the Twins will take a lot of position players today.  We have some good pitchers at most levels but, outside of Gordon, not a lot of exciting bats below AA. 

[Jeremy Nygaard]

 

Why does he draw Alex Gordon comps?

 

 

According to Perfect Game: It's his "tool package, physical appearance and overall sports background."

[Jeremy Nygaard]

His high school baseball coach calls him "the total package".

[Jeremy Nygaard]

Just a heads up: I probably won't be posting much in the comments, instead I'll be adding information up top as it comes in.