Twins Select Kyle DeBarge at No. 33 in the 2024 MLB Draft

[Jeremy Nygaard]

The Minnesota Twins selected Kyle DeBarge at number 33 overall in the 2024 MLB Draft. DeBarge is a shortstop from Louisiana-Lafayette.

Image courtesy of © Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports

DeBarge is a shortstop prospect who, despite being undersized, does a little bit of every well.

After an unbelievable sophomore season for Louisiana-Lafeyette in which he hit .371/.448/.576 with 7 home runs, 15 doubles, and 18 stolen bases. In 2024, DeBarge hit .355/.418/.699. He tripled his home run output to 21, hit 19 doubles and stole 10 bases.

DeBarge is one of the better contact hitters in the entire draft class. In the box, it's a quiet operation with a short, compact swing aided by lightning-fast hands. DeBarge has elite bat-to-ball skills and rarely chases. He doesn't strike out much but doesn't walk much either (30 strikeouts and 24 walks in 2024). 

There's some sneaky power to the pull side. It's still likely to be below-average power at the professional level. Maybe it develops ala Brian Dozier.

DeBarge can impact the game with his speed and his arm. He has plus-speed with good instincts on the bases and a plus arm (he used to play catcher). While he might not be the smoothest operator at shortstop, his arm and lateral quickness aid his range, and he has a decent shot of sticking there as a professional.

This is a sparkplug-type profile that can accrue more value than you might think when you first watch him play.

What do you think of the Twins selecting Kyle DeBarge at #33 overall? Which of the Twins picks from day one of the draft are you most excited for? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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[Mike Sixel]

Brecht would have been pick. If you never take pitcher early....

I do like SS that have good contact skills. Good luck to him!

[Brandon]

Will he wind up at 2B like so many prospects we already have?  Is he the son of El?  

[Old Twins Hat]

Can never have enough Shortstops.

Er, infielders.

Or sparkplugs.

Go Twins!

[Twinkies are for eating]

Give us all the short stops!!! Eventually one has to turn into a HOF. Right?

[terrydactyls]

Your write up reminds me of Paul Molitor.  Short, compact swing with good bat to ball skills.  That Molitor kid worked out pretty well.

[MMMordabito]

Sounds like a guy who really gets after it. 

[Dman]

He was one of the few guys with a plus hit tool and plus plate discipline left in a draft short on good hitters.  He also has plus speed and can likely play anywhere on the team.  His weakness is not much power, but hopefully the Twins can help him tap into that more over time.  It was a good pick and he could be a fast mover given the profile. 

Arms always sound great early, but the Twins can get arms later in the draft but not much for bats after the first two to three rounds.  Best to get bats early and take lot's of arms later where they have been able to develop guys in the past.

[DocBauer]

Do I like this pick better than Culpepper? Mmmm...maybe. Seems he may be the better overall SS with as much or more speed. The OB might not be tremendous, but not a lot of K's and good hit and contact ability. If he can hit 30 doubles and 14-15 HR with his speed he could be really good.

Are 2 SS just because they are best players available? Is there a bit of an insurance factor her for Correa? I guess I thought a HS kid made more sense, but one of Debarge or Culpepper might be the replacement in 2-3 years, so it's making more sense as I think about it. 

Brecht would have been really tempting to me. And with Culpepper already in the fold, the potential in that arm might have been my choice. But there's some real risk with his control. And the Twins believe there are arms to develop later, but the really good bats disappear quickly.

I do like Debarge as a player for sure.

 

[Fatbat]

All the speedy hit tool infielders become Twins on draft day.  Even slower 3b man.  We certainly are loaded with farm kids.

[madtowntwin]

Sounds athletic....Does anyone know his vertical??

[Bodie]

So, we can look forward to someone with "below average" power who could develop into a Brian Dozier...

Quite an open-ended forecast!!!

[Doctor Wu]

I like what I've read about DeBarge so far. Seems like a solid pick with lots of potential. Obviously, we will find out more about him and Culpepper in the coming years, but for some reason I like this pick a lot more than the Culpepper one. 

[Rigby]

8 hours ago, MMMordabito said:

Sounds like a guy who really gets after it. 

Yeah, appears to battle his tail off.....

[TwinsDr2021]

I love that he just turned 21 today (Happy Birthday), my inlaws are from Lake Charles area and hopefully he will be another in a long line of MLB players from that area.

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

I am firmly of the belief they believe players are currency.  They think these 2 players are the safest bets to succeed given their hit tools,  and can either become trade chips or help the big league team.  Based on their previous history I cannot disagree,  my guess is they will both do very well.  

As to Brecht I was a huge proponent. Even still I was expecting him to drop.  But not to 38.  Tells me more issues with either ability to pitch with more control or drive to be great.  That is the one thing I was curious about,  and had gotten some tea leaves.  That would have been insight Langenberg could have given.  

Someone said this draft feels like we got 4 2nd rounders.  I would say Culpepper is firmly a 1st rounder based on almost draft rankings,  but yes we ended up with 3 other players who were likely top 50 type players.  In a draft where there is minimal difference between the top 20 and top 60 players, I am more than fine allocating the money to get the best 4 players you can get.  

[Trov]

Read up on him that he did terrible with wood bats last summer, lets hope is new found power will translate to the wood bats.  At least with good contact and low walks even if he is a gap to gap mainly double type guy with solid defense that has value. 

[Dman]

12 minutes ago, Trov said:

Read up on him that he did terrible with wood bats last summer, lets hope is new found power will translate to the wood bats.  At least with good contact and low walks even if he is a gap to gap mainly double type guy with solid defense that has value. 

Yeah his profile doesn't look good for power IMO.  That is why someone with his bat to ball skills was ranked into the second round. Power is important.  He likely is on an Austin Martin track, but the Twins have found ways to get smaller guys to more power usually by selling out pull side early in counts.  We'll see how well he does there.  

His hit tool should be rock solid though so I expect a good batting average and onbase skills.

[Dman]

30 minutes ago, Hawkeye Bean Counter said:

I am firmly of the belief they believe players are currency.  They think these 2 players are the safest bets to succeed given their hit tools,  and can either become trade chips or help the big league team.  Based on their previous history I cannot disagree,  my guess is they will both do very well.  

As to Brecht I was a huge proponent. Even still I was expecting him to drop.  But not to 38.  Tells me more issues with either ability to pitch with more control or drive to be great.  That is the one thing I was curious about,  and had gotten some tea leaves.  That would have been insight Langenberg could have given.  

Someone said this draft feels like we got 4 1st rounders.  I would say Culpepper is firmly a 1st rounder based on almost draft rankings,  but yes we ended up with 3 other players who were likely top 50 type players.  In a draft where there is minimal difference between the top 20 and top 60 players, I am more than fine allocating the money to get the best 4 players you can get.  

Totally agree on Brecht.  When the Dodgers and Atlanta passed and then others it showed teams felt the risk was just too high even for the immense reward that might be had.  I will be following him to see how he does.  He hasn't pitched that long or had good instruction which makes me wonder if he can find more control.

You could almost argue the Twins got no first rounders if not including the comp round..  Culpepper and Amick were at their highest on MLB.com in the 31 range which is just outside the top 30 although I do feel like Culpepper might be a bit underrated as his skills match up pretty well with Seaver King who was taken #10. King has a bit more power and better speed to play center which Culpepper cannot do other than that they both have a lot of versatility and can hit with some chase to work on.

DeBarge was never in a top 30 that I could see always second round or even lower.  Amick was ranked around Culpepper on MLB.com but several other boards had him as a 2nd round pick or lower as well. Hill was more in the Comp A to 2nd round area as well.

Don't get me wrong I think the Twins got some really good players in this draft and rankings are subjective as no one knows who will make it or who won't, but I think 4 first rounders would be stretching it pretty far. I think you are right top 50 type players with the first two being safer type picks and the next two more risky betting on upside.

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

43 minutes ago, Dman said:

 

Don't get me wrong I think the Twins got some really good players in this draft and rankings are subjective as no one knows who will make it or who won't, but I think 4 first rounders would be stretching it pretty far. I think you are right top 50 type players with the first two being safer type picks and the next two more risky betting on upside.

LOL  the statement should have been 4 2nd rounders.   As to today,  the real question is what is the money situation.  Did they underslot the first 2 picks.  Have they used up extra money on the last 2 picks.  Do they have more money to try to get 1-2 more overslot players today,  or do they have to go cheap?   Lot of questions.  Solid draft so far but not an obvious win per say in the draft so far.  

[Doctor Gast]

1 hour ago, Hawkeye Bean Counter said:

I am firmly of the belief they believe players are currency.  They think these 2 players are the safest bets to succeed given their hit tools,  and can either become trade chips or help the big league team.  Based on their previous history I cannot disagree,  my guess is they will both do very well.  

As to Brecht I was a huge proponent. Even still I was expecting him to drop.  But not to 38.  Tells me more issues with either ability to pitch with more control or drive to be great.  That is the one thing I was curious about,  and had gotten some tea leaves.  That would have been insight Langenberg could have given.  

Someone said this draft feels like we got 4 1st rounders.  I would say Culpepper is firmly a 1st rounder based on almost draft rankings,  but yes we ended up with 3 other players who were likely top 50 type players.  In a draft where there is minimal difference between the top 20 and top 60 players, I am more than fine allocating the money to get the best 4 players you can get.  

I was wondering if they underslotted Culpepper to maybe picking up more opportunities down the line.

[jmlease1]

Maybe this will calm people who think the Twins only take big slow strikeout prone sluggers? (Probably not)

See how he lands once he gets in the pros. I kind of like using comp picks to take fliers on high school pitchers, high-risk, high reward guys, but continuing to add players who are likely to have positional flexibility and at least one known high-level skill works too.

So much of the draft is an unknown and depends on development and luck.

[Doctor Gast]

I actually like Debarge better too. I also think he can stick at SS. What caliber? only time will tell

[bean5302]

I'm with @Mike Sixel in regard to taking more pitchers early on. Brecht was pretty enticing, and while there is a sentiment the Twins can just take a round 20 unknown and make him throw 98 to turn him into a rotation weapon, that really hasn't happened yet.

The only prospect the Twins have successfully drafted, developed and added to the rotation with an unexpected velocity increase has been Bailey Ober who added 3-4mph on his still below average heater, along with exceptional control which has allowed him to stick towards the end of the rotation.

Varland, now with a substantial track record, and Festa, who has clear limitations, are long shots as viable starters despite making the big show. Making MLB is a major success for late rounders, but 80% of first round picks make it.

Tampa Bay drafts pitching, pitching, pitching. There's a reason they churn out so many arms, and it's not just because they're good at development. They have a surplus of early round selections which go into the rotation, and that surplus has led to profit. Since starting pitching commands such a huge premium, hitting on a single starter can net Tampa Bay 2-3 very good position player prospects.

Falvey's approach of "I can just create starting pitchers" has yet to bear significant fruit, and he's overseen the least successful front office since the early 2000s when it comes to developing pitching, though there's always tantalizing promise in guys coming through the low/mid minors. There may be some change in the wind with Matthews and Morris, and with Simeon Woods Richardson finally starting to pan out, it seems like Falvey's hot seat might be cooled slightly.

[madtowntwin]

My comment in regard to Kyle's vertical is only partially tongue in cheek...Could he profile to center field with his skill set? His height would be very similar to that of another "Undersized" player who roamed the  outfield at the Metrodome who's leaping ability probably wasn't given much consideration. I know it's a pretty big projection, but just wondering - Can the guy jump? 

[twinstalker]

Didn't hit well vs higher competition is what they said.  That doesn't bode well.