2017 MLB draft thread

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

I heard something interesting today. On the MLB.com podcast today with Callis and Mayo, they stated that Greene was a near lock to the Reds at #2 if the Twins pass. It was stated early on that he did not want to go to the Reds (not sure if that was by him or just rumors). What if he is willing to cut a deal with the Twins so he doesn't have to go to the Reds? That would be a very interesting twist for sure!

Another note is they said Mackenzie Gore is in Minnesota today to meet with the Twins as well. Could mean nothing but they did say that we rarely do this and we brought in Correa in 2012 and invited Buxton who had a commitment. While it is true that we can't bring in the college guys as they are still playing, it does show that we have serious interest in these two which makes me excited

 

He can tell them he will not sign.  Then it's up to cincy to call his bluff or take someone else.

[joethastud]

If Hunter Green is as good as I've read, I'm going to be disappointed if they don't select him.

[InfraRen]

Post from Baseball America just now:

 

"Three days before the draft, Hunter Greene worked out for—and wowed—the #Twins."

 

 

The Twins’ front office brain trust was in attendance, including former big leaguers Torii Hunter and Michael Cuddyer, who are special assistants to the club. The ex-players were especially impressed with Greene’s power display and smooth, efficient infield actions.

 

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/twins-play-host-potential-no-1-pick-hunter-greene/#2am7Zkp1GXhLA6qj.97

[maxisagod]

I don't think McKay is smoke. Calllis has written on MLB.com and just did a interview with Fantasy Sports Radio (he reposted it in his twitter account)  That other teams have McKay at the top of their lists too. He names the Rays as one of those teams. The problem is there no clear #1, but that doesn't mean teams don't have them ranked 1-3.

 

If Greene's floor is now pick 2, Gore 3,  McKay is 4, and Wright/Lewis in the 5-7 range you might think the Twins would draft Wright or Lewis to save the most money. But what if they have Wright a tier bellow McKay and Greene? Why not Draft McKay, save some money and get the higher ranked guy? What if they do have a deal with mid round high school pitcher for pick 35. Would the Twins consider going back to back high school arms?  There are very strong odds McKay is the pick. 

[Huddy]

6 up 6 down so far for Kyle Wright on ESPN

[Hrbowski]

An interesting note: Jim Callis wrote that Jay Groome and Riley Pint were considered better than Greene at the same age.

[Minnesotatwins005]

Wright just gave up a 3 run HR and is now down 4-0 in the 3rd inning.

[jorgenswest]

Watching the game through 5...

 

Vanderbilt enters the game down 1-0 and needing a win. Wright had trouble second time through line up. This is not the performance he needed going into the draft. It isn't the performance his team needed.

 

Edit.

 

Good 6th inning. After 90+ pitches his velocity was 90s and 91s in the 6th.

 

Stressful 7th inning. Not throwing many fastballs but did get a 93 and a few 90s. Isn't hitting the target with most pitches. At 115 pitches and full bases the manager goes out to talk but keeps him in the game. Ended up needing 7 more pitches and walked in a run. There is no way any major league team would have him still pitching if he were in the minors. 122 pitches and the last 25 were stressful!

 

Any promising high school pitcher watching must be thinking twice about going to college.

[Bob Sacamento]

 

An interesting note: Jim Callis wrote that Jay Groome and Riley Pint were considered better than Greene at the same age.

Groome I see and understand, Pint not at all

[jimbo92107]

 

Is it weird that the player that makes me most nervous to pass on is Gore and not Greene? I see a lot of Kershaw in that kid, he's notably smaller than Kershaw was/is leading some scouts to compare him more to Hammels (which is not bad either) but his stuff is much better than Hammels was at his age and Hammels had an injury history whereas Gore does not

Gore's delivery reminds me more of Hammels than of Kershaw, but either one would do, eh? He gets really good pump action from that high leg kick, which allows him to deliver power to his pitches without torquing too hard on his elbow or shoulder. This also means that he will probably be able to control his power in and around the strike zone, the way Kershaw and Hammels do. 

 

At the same time, I still prefer Wright as a quick add to the Twins roster. Wright's delivery is NOT an inverted W as some have said. It's a clean and powerful motion with a classic, smooth chain and a long stride. Wright will be a power pitcher with good control. Gore will be a control pitcher whose power may develop. That's the quick impression I've gotten from limited video. 

 

Frankly, I'm okay at this point with any of the top four guys. Any or all of them have All Star potential. Beyond that, it's pure speculation. The one that looks quickest to the majors is Wright.

[twinsbaby]

 

Gore's delivery reminds me more of Hammels than of Kershaw, but either one would do, eh? He gets really good pump action from that high leg kick, which allows him to deliver power to his pitches without torquing too hard on his elbow or shoulder. This also means that he will probably be able to control his power in and around the strike zone, the way Kershaw and Hammels do. 

 

At the same time, I still prefer Wright as a quick add to the Twins roster. Wright's delivery is NOT an inverted W as some have said. It's a clean and powerful motion with a classic, smooth chain and a long stride. Wright will be a power pitcher with good control. Gore will be a control pitcher whose power may develop. That's the quick impression I've gotten from limited video. 

 

Frankly, I'm okay at this point with any of the top four guys. Any or all of them have All Star potential. Beyond that, it's pure speculation. The one that looks quickest to the majors is Wright.

Clean? Smooth? Not Inverted W? Ok, I think you need to be any major league team Scouting director right now beacuse you will be the first scout to tell everyone Wright's arm action is very beautiful.

[magiklair]

If they don't pick Greene or McKay. I will consider this draft a failure..

Wright has the pitch to contact down..

[twinsfanstreif]

If they don't pick Greene or McKay. I will consider this draft a failure..

Wright has the pitch to contact down..

In all fairness McKay gave up 8 hits in 6 innings in his last start

[magiklair]

 

In all fairness McKay gave up 8 hits in 6 innings in his last start

McKay (10-3) limited UK to two runs on eight hits through 6 2/3 innings en route to a 6-2 victory in a super regional sweep of the Wildcats.. But only two runs

[InfraRen]

Keith Law new mock this AM now with McKay to Twins as well. Believes it will be McKay or Wright, or an under slot deal with Gore/Lewis.

 

I don't think the No. 1 pick is locked in yet, and it might not be until Monday. One general manager told me that he figured the Twins wouldn't decide for sure until around 5 p.m. Monday because there's no reason for them to make the call sooner than that.

 

 

http://www.espn.com/blog/keith-law/insider/post?id=7178

[jorgenswest]

I can't support a selection of Wright after watching yesterday's performance. He needed to step up and was at best ordinary. He looks a long way from being ready for the majors.

 

On top of that, his manager did not respect the health of his arm. He threw 122 pitches with every one of those pitches beyond 100 highly stressful. He left having walked in a bases loaded run with two outs in the seventh. No way he should have pitched the seventh. Even if you put him out there, he has to come out with the first base runner of the inning. No major league or minor league manager would have threatened the health of their pitcher's arm and kept him out there.

[MangLitch]

I can't support a selection of Wright after watching yesterday's performance. He needed to step up and was at best ordinary. He looks a long way from being ready for the majors.

On top of that, his manager did not respect the health of his arm. He threw 122 pitches with every one of those pitches beyond 100 highly stressful. He left having walked in a bases loaded run with two outs in the seventh. No way he should have pitched the seventh. Even if you put him out there, he has to come out with the first base runner of the inning. No major league or minor league manager would have threatened the health of their pitcher's arm and kept him out there.

I'm in your camp. Watched a few innings and he got hit hard and really wasn't fooling OSU's better hitters. Saw 92 consistently and 89-94 range... I just don't really see what people are calling a #1 potential. He has #3 written all over him. I lean towards a risky shot at Greene and a kid that has a golden arm and loads of athleticism.

[Minnesotatwins005]

I think after watching both McKay and Wright yesterday, I'd personally would go with Gore. Already sitting in the mid 90's late into games with good control and a chance to pick up a few ticks as he matures. I know Greene has the triple digit fastball but from everything I've read Gore's secondary offerings are more advanced at the moment. May not have as high as a ceiling as Greene, but I don't think it's to far behind him.

[twinsfanstreif]

I think after watching both McKay and Wright yesterday, I'd personally would go with Gore. Already sitting in the mid 90's late into games with good control and a chance to pick up a few ticks as he matures. I know Greene has the triple digit fastball but from everything I've read Gore's secondary offerings are more advanced at the moment. May not have as high as a ceiling as Greene, but I don't think it's to far behind him.

I'm with you, neither were dominant and I think we will regret passing on Gore and Greene. McKay and Wright have average MLBer written all over them

[twinsfanstreif]

McKay (10-3) limited UK to two runs on eight hits through 6 2/3 innings en route to a 6-2 victory in a super regional sweep of the Wildcats.. But only two runs

And that is worthy of being drafted 1-1?

[nicksaviking]

I was 50/50 on Greene or Wright. I want Greene now. All reports are indicating that if the Twins don't pick him, the Reds and the Padres absolutely want him. Why are those teams, and surely others, so hung-ho for Greene and the Twins not?

 

I'll take the majority opinion of the known front offices. Regardless who they pick, the decision shouldn't be based on fear/stymga associated with having the #1 pick. If they are making a decision based even in part on not wanting to be judged wrong in the history books, then they're going about the draft process wrong.

[Mike Sixel]

I didn't see any of the games. But I doubt I could make up my mind based one one game anyway. I do hate that his coach abused his arm, hate it a lot.

[Ncgo4]

I'm hoping they go with Royce Lewis. The hit & miss nature of pitchers makes me crazy.

[Einstein1]

 

I'm hoping they go with Royce Lewis. The hit & miss nature of pitchers makes me crazy.

Theo Epstein would approve. 

[AZTwin]

I'm going full circle and going back to Greene. If we get a high school kid underslot I would approve as well.

[twins_89]

I really hope the Twins pass on McKay. As a pitcher he looks like a guy with #3 upside which to me isn't what I want out of the 1st overall pick. At the top of the draft I'd go for the guy with the highest ceiling which is pretty clearly Greene.

[Roaddog]

I disagree on Greene having the highest ceiling. Sure he can hit 102, which is great. But he has only pitched 28 innings and doesn't really have a great feel for off speed yet. Gore has a mid 90s fastball and off speed that shows signs of being plus.

[mikecgrimes]

 

If they don't pick Greene or McKay. I will consider this draft a failure..

Wright has the pitch to contact down..

 

I don't know enough about the draft class as a whole but it seems to me unless you see one of those two as a can't miss you might be better off drafting out of slot and then having enough money to draft a 2nd top 10-15 prospect at 35.  Plus I love the idea of going with a position player with any early first round pick.  I know either has the potential to be 10 time All-Stars but when pitchers don't live up to it they're #3 starters at best when position players bust you can usually still get some meaningful contribution out of them.

[notoriousgod71]

I do not want McKay or Wright, which is why I am fully expecting one of them. Makes too much sense to go with the guy with the best upside.

[mikecgrimes]

I think I might try to start an out of slot chant at the ball park tomorrow night.