Lewis/Greene

[Lartwinfan]

Too bad we couldn’t have gotten them both

[Riverbrian]

We were close... Just needed the other teams to pass on Hunter Greene 34 times so he fell to us at pick 35.  

[nicksaviking]

1 minute ago, Riverbrian said:

We were close... Just needed the other teams to pass on Hunter Greene 34 times so he fell to us at pick 35.  

But before we point fingers at the Twins, the Astros too tried that trick with Correa and Buxton and also fell short.

[Riverbrian]

Just now, nicksaviking said:

But before we point fingers at the Twins, the Astros too tried that trick with Correa and Buxton and also fell short.

You can never predict which teams will take flyers like the Twins and Reds did in those years.  

[2wins87]

I think Greene has a bright future but he hasn't yet been as good overall as he was against the Twins lineup yesterday.

The track record for HS pitchers in the first few picks of the draft is pretty spotty.  Not going for Greene 1-1 made a lot of sense at the time, and Lewis is now finally proving to be the right choice among the others that were in the mix that year.  I'll take Lewis over Greene going forward, and as injury prone as Lewis has been, it's hard to say Greene doesn't have at least as much injury risk with one TJ already in the books.

[Brandon]

Enlow was essentially our 1rst round Starting Pitcher draft pick that draft.  He seems stalled in AAA.  I hope he makes it up at some point and does well.  I was trying to think of the other players we were considering at #1 in the draft to see how they did.  Does anyone here remember?

[2wins87]

1 hour ago, Brandon said:

Enlow was essentially our 1rst round Starting Pitcher draft pick that draft.  He seems stalled in AAA.  I hope he makes it up at some point and does well.  I was trying to think of the other players we were considering at #1 in the draft to see how they did.  Does anyone here remember?

Brendan McKay was a potential two-way player.  Ended up with the Rays, looked like a good pitcher until he had Tommy John and the bat was never good enough to make it as a hitter.

Kyle Wright was the top college pitching prospect who was pushed quickly to the majors by the Braves.  Has been mostly mediocre in the majors.

McKenzie Gore was the top lefty HS pitcher.  Probably not really in the conversation above Greene. He's in the majors now and has been ok so far, so could still be good.

Lewis was ranked behind those 4 in most lists.  I don't think there was really a college bat in the conversation. 

2017 ended up being a very weak draft in retrospect.  The best player so far is probably Dalton Varsho out of the second round.  Lewis should probably still end up being the best player from the draft if he stays healthy enough.

[Oldgoat_MN]

I was all in for MacKenzie Gore. 

Can't think of a player from that draft I'd rather be going into the playoffs with than a healthy Royce Lewis.

[Road trip]

30 minutes ago, 2wins87 said:

Brendan McKay was a potential two-way player.  Ended up with the Rays, looked like a good pitcher until he had Tommy John and the bat was never good enough to make it as a hitter.

Kyle Wright was the top college pitching prospect who was pushed quickly to the majors by the Braves.  Has been mostly mediocre in the majors.

McKenzie Gore was the top lefty HS pitcher.  Probably not really in the conversation above Greene. He's in the majors now and has been ok so far, so could still be good.

Lewis was ranked behind those 4 in most lists.  I don't think there was really a college bat in the conversation. 

2017 ended up being a very weak draft in retrospect.  The best player so far is probably Dalton Varsho out of the second round.  Lewis should probably still end up being the best player from the draft if he stays healthy enough.

Yes, good list.  I remember many wishing for McKay (perhaps I did too...not sure).  He looked like a Ohtani type of player, but it appears he may neither hit nor pitch much in the majors.

I think I'd take Lewis over Greene again... but as good as Lewis has been this year it isn't an no-brainer call.  Greene has the stuff to be great if he can improve his control.  

I suppose Varsho is the best so far in terms of accumulated WAR, but he's already 27 and probably won't get much better anymore.  A career OPS+ of 95 for a guy that is mostly a corner outfielder is... uninspiring.  Pretty confident both Lewis and Greene will surpass him easily unless their health fails completely.

[nicksaviking]

I'll take the injured hitter over the injured pitcher just about every time.

[Trov]

Greene was a potential 2 way player as well coming out.  Some talked about giving him that chance, but Reds never did.  I am good with Lewis over everyone so far.  Greene has the velo, but walks way too many be a top pitcher in the league.  He averages 5 innings a start, because he throws a lot of pitches.  If he ever learns to pitch he could be great, but he is league average pitcher right now.  Yeah, he got a ton of strike outs against a team that strikes out a ton.  He averages about 12 per nine.  but he also walks 4 per 9. 

[KirbyHawk75]

I just want Lewis to have a positive MRI today.  Keep checking phone at work for updates.  This team is just not the same without Royce.  

[Linus]

I’m definitely happy with Royce as he has the skills and charisma to be a generational player. There is a lot to like about Hunter Greene. He is way more than velo. Nice breaking ball and ok change with pretty solid mechanics. Plus he’s a big strong dude. Both teams will be happy to have each player for a long time. 

[Doctor Wu]

There were a bunch of good looking pitchers in that draft: Greene, of course, and Gore, and the 2-way player McKay (who keeps getting injured, but may yet be a factor with the Rays, and Kyle Wright (he won 20 games last year, but was injured and not pitching well this year),  In retrospect, we may have done the right thing by choosing Royce Lewis, even with his injury history.  If he stays health, he is going to be an All-Star type player, as could Greene and some of the others, but I no longer regret that pick. 

[DocBauer]

No disrespect to Greene, who is a wonderful talent and will hopefully have a healthy and good career ahead of him.

But I'd still take Lewis. His knee appears fine. His oblique injury and now hamstring aren't chronic, surgery type of injuries. They appear to be just "one of those things" that happens.

It does make me wonder, as a strong, muscular athlete, does he need to concentrate a little more this next offseason on just flexibility???

When you consider just how good both might turn out to be, and as much as it would ALWAYS be nice to draft and develop a top of the rotation arm, I would take the 5 day a week potential stud position player.

I think the Twins made the right choice.