Article: Twins Select Keoni Cavaco with 13th Overall Pick

[Cody Christie]

In Monday night’s first round, the Minnesota Twins had the 13th overall pick and used it to select Keoni Cavaco, a high school third baseman. Minnesota drafted him as a shortstop. He has big power, a great throwing arm, and the ability to stick on the left side of the infield.Minnesota was picking near the middle of the first round so there were plenty of options available. Cavaco turned 18 on Sunday and comes in at 6-feet-0 and 185 pounds. He bats and throws right-handed. He comes from East Lake High School in Chula Vista, California. It's the same high school as former number one overall pick Adrian Gonzalez. He is currently committed to San Diego State but the 13th pick is slotted to receive a $4.2 million bonus.

 

 

Cavaco wasn’t well known entering this past spring season. He wasn’t invited to many of the summer showcase events. These events allow scouting departments and front office personnel to see top-tier players face some of the best young pitchers. MLB.com ranked him as the 28th best prospect in the draft.

In the fall, he was invited to a showcase. At the Angel Elite showcase, he was able to really exhibit some of his power potential. He has the potential to be a five-tool player as he has a very strong arm so this should help him to stick at third or short. He’s athletic, has great hands with a good set-up at the plate. Also, he has shown some speed as he can get home to first out of the box in less than four seconds.

Being the 2019 draft season’s biggest riser, means there are some things still to work on. There are some questions surrounding his hit tool, especially since he wasn’t part of the summer showcases. It’s tough to know what he would do against that level of talent, but the Twins believe his power tool will continue to grow. Minnesota drafted him as a shortstop, but many think he might have to end up back at third base.

 

Minnesota could save money on signing Cavaco because of where he was projected to be drafted. This could be used to offer over-slot deals to other picks. Besides the 13th pick, the Twins have a pick in the competitive balance round (39th overall), which is sandwiched between the first and second round. The club’s second round pick is 54th overall.

Feel free to discuss and check back as there is more to come…

 

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[Post-Concussive Blues]

Save a little money now and grab some better guys later

[Tom Froemming]

Went BNA, best name available. Always a wise strategy

[mlhouse]

Philly didn't waste much time getting Bryson Stott's name up there.

[Loops]

Trying to save money to sign Kimbrel?  Keuchel?

[wyowib]

Interesting, the "helium" prospect is the choice...

 

 

[operation mindcrime]

Congrats to Keoni!!!!!!! Go Twins!!!!!!!!!

[dgwills]

Reports said the Twin's scouts loved this guy. Have to go with what your scouts say. Hope this works out.

[Andrew Thares]

I like the high upside that Cavaco has! You can never have too many high upside players in your system.

[Tibs]

Big fan

[Thegrin]

We'll have to wait and see. 

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Wonder where former Twin, Mark Davidson's son, Logan, will go?

[jkcarew]

I get the upside. But he turned 18 yesterday. Given where the Twins are, it seems to me that the only way you can make a pick like this...is if you REALLY hated the college arms. Toolsy, might hit. Did we need another one of those?

[108Stitches]

I bet Royce is pleased.

[luckylager]

 

I get the upside. But he turned 18 yesterday. Given where the Twins are, it seems to me that the only way you can make a pick like this...is if you REALLY hated the college arms. Toolsy, might hit. Did we need another one of those?

Doesn't appear to be much love for college arms from any team so far in the 1st round. 

[operation mindcrime]

Doesn't appear to be much love for college arms from any team so far in the 1st round.

Earlier today Jim Callis reported that scouts told him this was the worst draft for college pitchers in the first round in the last 30 years!!!

[Tom Froemming]

 

Trying to save money to sign Kimbrel?  Keuchel?

The Twins will spend all of their bonus pool I'm sure, so that's unrelated to anything they do in the draft.

 

 

I bet Royce is pleased.

It sounds like Cavaco is more of a third basemen, but it's not really going to matter anyway. This kid will be in the GCL this year and won't get to even Cedar Rapids before Royce gets to Double A, I'd bet.

[Danchat]

 

Trying to save money to sign Kimbrel?  Keuchel?

They lose any draft pool money they don't spend, so it can't be funnelled to sign free agents. They will be able to draft and sign better players in later rounds with more money to give, as Tom has already stated.

[Monkeypaws]

Youngest guy in his draft class so far. 

 

Royce was also quite young for his draft year as I recall.

[mikelink45]

I never know the players in the mlb draft. I don't know how so many of you can know who thev are.

Lol

[Mr. Brooks]

They lose any draft pool money they don't spend, so it can't be funnelled to sign free agents. They will be able to draft and sign better players in later rounds with more money to give, as Tom has already stated.

I don't understand. The league fines them the difference if they don't spend their entire pool? I've never heard that before.

[Thrylos]

 

Trying to save money to sign Kimbrel?  Keuchel?

 

Irrelevant...

[AceWrigley]

Is there an echo in here?

[Roaddog]

I don't understand. The league fines them the difference if they don't spend their entire pool? I've never heard that before.

I don't think fined. They just aren't able to keep pool money for other uses. Like Free agency ,etc

[TheLeviathan]

 

I get the upside. But he turned 18 yesterday. Given where the Twins are, it seems to me that the only way you can make a pick like this...is if you REALLY hated the college arms. Toolsy, might hit. Did we need another one of those?

 

I don't know why anyone would want college arms.  Take the 18 year olds later that you can work with to refine.

 

I'm a huge advocate of taking bats early and then loading up on arms in the rest of the draft that you can put your gurus to work on.

[Mr. Brooks]

I don't think fined. They just aren't able to keep pool money for other uses. Like Free agency ,etc

Draft pool money is not given to them by the league. It just designates how much each team is allowed to spend on draft pick bonuses.

 

There is literally no possible way for the league to know what is done with the money that wasn't spent on draft picks.

 

I'm not suggesting the Twins will do that, they'll spend their allotted pool. But there is nothing that would (or could) prevent them from doing it if they decided they wanted to.

[Winston Smith]

 

I don't think fined. They just aren't able to keep pool money for other uses. Like Free agency ,etc

The pool money is the limit they can spend on draft picks, they can't spend more. If they don't spend to the limit, it is still money they have to spend however they want. 

[Roaddog]

Draft pool money is not given to them by the league. It just designates how much each team is allowed to spend on draft pick bonuses.

 

There is literally no possible way for the league to know what is done with the money that wasn't spent on draft picks.

 

I'm not suggesting the Twins will do that, they'll spend their allotted pool. But there is nothing that would (or could) prevent them from doing it if they decided they wanted to.

I didn't word that right. But there is no fine

[Mr. Brooks]

I didn't word that right. But there is no fine

If there is no fine, then how are they prevented from using any money not spent?

[Roaddog]

I don't know. Call Falvey