Sickels' Twins mock draft

[gunnarthor]

This is just for fun, obviously.  Every year Sickels and readers at minorleagueball to a long mock draft for the first four rounds. Sickels always does the Twins. He drafted:

 

1-1) Kyle Wright, RHP, Vanderbilt
1C-35) Jeter Downs, SS, Florida HS
2-37) M.J. Melendez, C, Florida HS
3-76) Morgan Cooper, RHP, University of Texas
4-106) Austin Wade, OF, Texas Christian

 

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2017/6/3/15735390/2017-minor-league-ball-community-mock-draft-after-action-discussion
 

I don't really know any of those names other than Wright because they aren't pitchers.

[nicksaviking]

Things didn't appear to break the Twins way in that one. Most of the guys we've talked about with picks 35 and 37 are gone.

[Bob Sacamento]

If that was the Twins' draft I'd be okay with it but after Wright you're playing a higher risk game.  No problem with Wright at 1, but definitely gambling on the athletic Jeter Downs and MJ Melandez who are both in my neck of the woods.  Jeter has a good contact bat and good chance to stick at SS or worse 3B with a plus arm but he's one of the older HS players in the draft so pulls a little from his projection.  This draft is a little light on offensive middle infield talents and Downs is one of the few, his future power is questionable.  I'm a bigger MJ fan, the kid has great potential as a defensive backstop, a born leader, very cerebral, bilingual, extremely athletic.  His dad was recently named the head coach at the scoul His hit tool isn't as advanced as Jeter's but he's one of the few real catchers in the draft.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Hmm.... a SS named Jeter.  For some odd reason, I want them to draft him for that reason alone.

 

Bob, what does MJ's hitting tool look like?  First time I've seen that name.  Personally, I'd probably go with at least one more pitcher at 35/37, but if that catcher has decent hitting projections too, that would be nice.

[Bob Sacamento]

 

Hmm.... a SS named Jeter.  For some odd reason, I want them to draft him for that reason alone.

 

Bob, what does MJ's hitting tool look like?  First time I've seen that name.  Personally, I'd probably go with at leasthe one more pitcher at 35/37, but if that catcher has decent hitting projections too, that would be nice.

MJ is a left handed hitting catcher with good power and loft to his swing, his contact tool has the ability to be average.  Right now scouts say his power is ahead of his contact, I concur but see it catching up in the next few years.  The value of him is that he's a catcher, that's not debatable.  He has a plus plus arm behind the plate, plus receiving skills, quick feet, a born leader, bilingual, and very intelligent.

 

 At the WWBA this past October, the first game I watched was an Evoshield Canes game featuring  Jordan Adell and Hagan Danner.  Next to me in a golf cart was a father and son, and the dad obviously knew baseball was quizzing his kid on in-game actions on what would you do and what you should have done.  It was quiet the sight as the kid was quick to whip back what was seemingly the right answer time and time again.  Having just eavesdropped on their conversation, I told the dad how impressed I was with how smart his son was about the game and we exchanged pleasantries.  The father told me his name was Mervyl and he was the head coach of Florida International and this is my son MJ.  We're the Melandez.

[gunnarthor]

Great story, Bob.