Article: Minnesota Twins 2018 MLB Draft Signing Tracker

[Andrew Thares]

Now that all 40 rounds of the 2018 MLB Draft are in the books, it’s time for us to sit back and see which of the Twins 39 picks end up signing with the team and which decide to pursue other aspirations. We will be updating this post as each of the Twins picks sign along with the amount money that they sign for.For this year’s draft the Twins had a total bonus pool of $5.93 million, which can be divvied up among each of their picks in the first ten rounds. Additionally, if any pick after round ten signs for more than $125K the amount of money they exceed it by comes out of the Twins total bonus pool.

 

Below is a list of each of the Twins draft picks, along with that picks slot value and the bonus amount they signed for if the player has already signed. A few of the player, like first round pick Trevor Larnach, are still playing in the NCAA Baseball Playoffs, so they will not be eligible to officially sign a deal until after their season has ended.

 

Round 1: Trevor Larnach | OF | Slot Value: $3,120,000 | Signed For: $2,550,000

 

Round 2: Ryan Jeffers | C | Slot Value: $1,140,600 | Signed For: $800,000

 

Round 4: DaShawn Keirsey | OF | Slot Value: $442,600 | Signed For: $600,000

 

Round 5: Cole Sands | RHP | Slot Value: $330,400 | Signed For: $600,000

 

Round 6: Charles Mack | 3B | Slot Value: $253,700 | Signed For: $500,000

 

Round 7: Josh Winder | RHP | Slot Value: $198,700 | Signed For: $198,700

 

Round 8: Chris Williams | C | Slot Value: $162,100 | Signed For: $10,000

 

Round 9: Willie Joe Garry Jr. | OF | Slot Value: $146,500 | Signed For $225,000

 

Round 10: Regi Grace | RHP | Slot Value: $138,400 | Signed For $350,000

 

Round 11: Michael Helman | 2B | Signed For: $220,000

 

Round 12: Jon Olsen | RHP | Signed For: $125,000

 

Round 13: Trevor Casanova | C | Signed For: $100,000

 

Round 14: Erick Rivera | OF | Signed For: $125,000

 

Round 15: Kody Funderburk | LHP | Signed For: $100,000

 

Round 16: Anthony Tuionetoa | RHP | Signed For: $100,000

 

Round 17: Erik Cha | LHP | Signed For: $75,000

 

Round 18: Andrew Cabezas | RHP | Signed For: $90,000

 

Round 19: Austin Schulfer | RHP | Signed For: $1,000

 

Round 20: Seth Pinkerton | RHP | Signed For: $50,000

 

Round 21: Gabe Snyder | 1B | Signed For: $1,000

 

Round 22: Jacob Blank | RHP | Signed For: $1,000

 

Round 23: Albee Weiss | C | Signed For: $1,000

 

Round 24: Michael Davis | 3B | Signed For: $1,000

 

Round 25: Laron Smith | C | Signed For: $125,000

 

Round 26: Brian Rapp | RHP | Signed For: $1,000

 

Round 27: Hunter Lee | 2B | Signed For: $1,000

 

Round 28: Austin Hale | C | Signed For: $1,000

 

Round 29: J.T. Perez | LHP | Signed For: $1,000

 

Round 30: Seth Halverson | RHP | Unsigned

 

Round 31: Zach Neff | LHP | Signed For: $1,000

 

Round 32: Ryan Holgate | OF | Unsigned

 

Round 33: Denny Bentley | LHP | Signed For: $20,000

 

Round 34: Dylan Stowell | RHP | Signed For: $1,000

 

Round 35: Tanner Howell | RHP | Signed For: $1,000

 

Round 36: Zac Taylor | OF | Unsigned

 

Round 37: Luke Ritter | OF | Unsigned

 

Round 38: Dylan Thomas | RHP | Unsigned

 

Round 39: Bryce Collins | RHP | Unsigned

 

Round 40: Tyler Webb | SS | Signed For: $1,000

 

You can read my scouting reports on all 39 Twins draft picks here:

Twins Select Trevor Larnach in the First Round of the 2018 Draft

Twins Select Ryan Jeffers in the Second Round of the 2018 Draft

2018 MLB Draft Day 2 Thread

2018 MLB Draft Day 3 Thread

 

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[Dman]

A little surprised Keirsay went that far over slot.  I guess he was willing to bet on himself next year.  

[h2oface]

Nothing to see here. Looks like I didn't miss anything.

[Andrew Thares]

 

Nothing to see here. Looks like I didn't miss anything.

The players are just starting to sign now. The post will be updated quite a bit over the next few days are more of the signings are announced.

[h2oface]

 

The players are just starting to sign now. The post will be updated quite a bit over the next few days are more of the signings are announced.

 

I'm sorry. I didn't mean the updates. Just being snarky in regards to the draft. I truly appreciate the tracking, and your work. 

[Seth Stohs]

Per Doogie on Friday, Ryan Jeffers has already signed.

 

 

[Seth Stohs]

Here is the photo of Ryan Jeffers signing:

 

https://twitter.com/Twins/status/1005249736893517825 

[mikelink45]

Baseball draft will never match basketball and Football where we see the players on big stages and know that their talent will immediately transfer to the team.  I know nothing about any of these players except what TD writes.  Never saw them and will not see them in a Twins uniform for 4 years or more - if ever.  The only thing the draft means to me is to satisfy my curiosity about what positions were drafted in the first 10 rounds. 3 RHP, 2 C, 3 OF, and 1 3B.   Tells me nothing, but it is interesting after our last few SS drafts. 

[RaymondLuxuryYacht]

Bollinger reported that Williams (Round 8) also signed.  No $.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Bollinger reported that Williams (Round 8) also signed.  No $.

 

He signed for no money?? Wow! What a good kid. Makes me want to cheer for him... 

 

And yes, I am a jerk... Ha!

[ashbury]

He signed for no money?? Wow! What a good kid. Makes me want to cheer for him... 

 

And yes, I am a jerk... Ha!

If you're a jerk then so am I for thinking it.

[Squirrel]

Is it unusual to have so few signed at this point? Or has this list just not been updated?

[old nurse]

 

Is it unusual to have so few signed at this point? Or has this list just not been updated?

If the players are lucky their season was still going on in high school and college playoffs.  The money at the top has an effect on what they can do with the rest of the money.

[Seth Stohs]

Jim Callis says that Jeffers got $800K. Well under slot!

 

 

[Dman]

 

Jim Callis says that Jeffers got $800K. Well under slot!

 

300K is not bad but I was hoping for more saving there.  If he does remain a catcher and hits with power then this is an amazing deal.  However, He seemed destined to be a 3rd or 4th round pick to me.  I don't believe he was even in MLB's top 200 not that that means anything.  I just think they could have grabbed him later but I guess they really love his bat and approach.  I hope they are right and other evaluators are wrong.

[AZTwin]

 

300K is not bad but I was hoping for more saving there.  If he does remain a catcher and hits with power then this is an amazing deal.  However, He seemed destined to be a 3rd or 4th round pick to me.  I don't believe he was even in MLB's top 200 not that that means anything.  I just think they could have grabbed him later but I guess they really love his bat and approach.  I hope they are right and other evaluators are wrong.

yep.  we needed to save $500k with him for it to be a good pick.   They must really like him

[Dman]

 

yep.  we needed to save $500k with him for it to be a good pick.   They must really like him

Yeah that was the amount I was looking for as well.  I figured he was worth about 600k.  Granted I don't know how hard it is to get there but that is what I was thinking when they made that pick.  I guess Fangraphs had him rated fairly high so maybe they split the difference who knows.  I was just hoping for a little more to spread around for a HS talent down the line.

[Dman]

MLB has Williams as signed for $10,000.

[Mike Sixel]

300K is not bad but I was hoping for more saving there.  If he does remain a catcher and hits with power then this is an amazing deal.  However, He seemed destined to be a 3rd or 4th round pick to me.  I don't believe he was even in MLB's top 200 not that that means anything.  I just think they could have grabbed him later but I guess they really love his bat and approach.  I hope they are right and other evaluators are wrong.

He was much higher rated by fangraphs. Much.

[Dman]

 

He was much higher rated by fangraphs. Much.

I wonder why FanGraphs had him rated so high?  His bat was clearly superior to others in the class?  His defense seems to be universally touted as below average coming into the draft and he is a slow runner so he gives you virtually no upside defensively unless of course he does develop into an average catcher.  So I guess I don't understand how Fangraphs can rate half a player that high.  He really only seems to have high offensive potential and scouts were mixed on if his current power will really carry over to wood bats and MLB.

 

I know I heard the FO mention last year that they look for hitters with certain characteristics like plate discipline and swing plane etc. So this guy must have a lot of things that they like in a hitter and I guess Fangraphs agree's but there are a lot of warts on this guy as well from a defensive standpoint so I hope they can develop this guy. Otherwise it was wasted pick in an already thin high end talent draft for them.

[Mr. Brooks]

I wonder why FanGraphs had him rated so high? His bat was clearly superior to others in the class? His defense seems to be universally touted as below average coming into the draft and he is a slow runner so he gives you virtually no upside defensively unless of course he does develop into an average catcher. So I guess I don't understand how Fangraphs can rate half a player that high. He really only seems to have high offensive potential and scouts were mixed on if his current power will really carry over to wood bats and MLB.

 

I know I heard the FO mention last year that they look for hitters with certain characteristics like plate discipline and swing plane etc. So this guy must have a lot of things that they like in a hitter and I guess Fangraphs agree's but there are a lot of warts on this guy as well from a defensive standpoint so I hope they can develop this guy. Otherwise it was wasted pick in an already thin high end talent draft for them.

Fangraphs probably likes his chances of sticking at catcher much better than mlb.com. That would explain the delta, IMO.

[Seth Stohs]

The Twins signed a few more today:

 

 

 

 

[Dman]

 

Fangraphs probably likes his chances of sticking at catcher much better than mlb.com. That would explain the delta, IMO.

 

That must be it.  I read somewhere he has a plus arm so if they help him frame pitches, increase his pop time etc. then he can be average defensively with offensive upside.  I hope he can do it.

[Seth Stohs]

 

He was much higher rated by fangraphs. Much.

 

Yeah... we need to be careful with going by any of the draft rankings... Teams see these guys so much more than those sites (as good as they are)... and all teams will see things differently... I know I'm not smart enough to say a guy "should have signed for" whatever the amount. 

[terrydactyls]

Yeah... we need to be careful with going by any of the draft rankings... Teams see these guys so much more than those sites (as good as they are)... and all teams will see things differently... I know I'm not smart enough to say a guy "should have signed for" whatever the amount.

 

Your last comment clearly puts you in a class of one on this site. Everyone else seems to be pretty definitive on what the Twins should have spent on every draft pick.

[nicksaviking]

 

Fangraphs probably likes his chances of sticking at catcher much better than mlb.com. That would explain the delta, IMO.

 

Yeah, too much group think in rankings. Each independent evaluator that makes a public list can say they made a list based strictly on their own opinion, but I wouldn't believe them. If one of them says a guy can't stick at SS or hit an inside fastball or has an arm too weak for RF, it spreads like wildfire.

 

Not that these guys are totally at fault, there's no way everyone can see enough of each and every one of these guys to make an informed opinion. They have to rely on others. Each MLB team has dozens of scouts each watching a small region of players, the publications don't have nearly those resources.

[Dman]

 

Yeah... we need to be careful with going by any of the draft rankings... Teams see these guys so much more than those sites (as good as they are)... and all teams will see things differently... I know I'm not smart enough to say a guy "should have signed for" whatever the amount. 

 

To be honest it is hard to know what amount guys should be signed for but we do get clues.  One way to determine worth is based on where analysts see players likely to be ranked.  Not every player will have 1st round worth and through 40 rounds lots of players sign so they seem to understand where they rank and thus what they are worth to get a chance at their dream.

 

We know college seniors have little leverage in this process unless they have had an outstanding year\college career.  We know highly touted high school seniors will require a lot of money to sign away from colleges where some have potential to turn into first round picks and make a lot of money.  We know juniors have some leverage to get a little more money based on their talent and where they were picked. 

 

We know the basic idea is to use your pool to sign as many of the picks as possible and if you save enough take a shot at a high schooler who fell and gamble on their potential. 

 

So knowing a players approximate ranking, leverage, and potential ceiling I would argue we have a decent idea of what players might be signed for.  Granted we don't know a lot of information that scouts\organizations do so the value us box score watchers apply can be skewed. But it is fun to form an opinion and put it out there and see if holds up or matches up to what really happens and typically it is pretty close but there are always surprises as well.

[ashbury]

Your last comment clearly puts you in a class of one on this site. Everyone else seems to be pretty definitive on what the Twins should have spent on every draft pick.

Fair enough, but putting my moderator's hat on for a moment, let's go easy on this angle. Everyone here is entitled to a view - if posting were limited to baseball insiders it would be a quiet forum. Discuss topics, but not other posters.

[Seth Stohs]

Garry and Grace signed today:

 

 

[AZTwin]

Nice. Was hoping they’d land the 9th and 10th rounders. The high school kids are probably my favorite in the draft after Larnach