2024 MLB Draft Day 3 Thread

[twinfan]

56 minutes ago, Hawkeye Bean Counter said:

Who says it is bad????   They did ok,  not great in the 2017-2019 drafts,  not great.  2020 draft is a throw away draft.  They traded away most of their pitchers from the 2021 draft.  The 2022 and the 2023 draft appears to be very successful at finding some quality pitchers.  Several already in AA,  most of the roster in high A and A ball are comprised from these 2 classes.   Most likely they have 2 quality long term pitchers out of these 2 classes.  In reality that is all you need.  We don't need major reinforcements until 2026.  

You have to realize that maybe 10% of all players drafted will spend any kind of significant time in the major leagues. I have no problems with who they draft in the later rounds. You never know who will develop into that major league contributor.

[DocBauer]

Not sure I get the Becerra pick from Cal. Not all that big, and except for about half of 2023, he's never hardly started a game. I'm guessing he's a reliver only? Unless they somehow think he's got the mix to transition to the rotation in pro ball? 

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

1 minute ago, DocBauer said:

Not sure I get the Becerra pick from Cal. Not all that big, and except for about half of 2023, he's never hardly started a game. I'm guessing he's a reliver only? Unless they somehow think he's got the mix to transition to the rotation in pro ball? 

Either they think can be an elite reliever or most likely a starter.  It does seem like at the lower levels, there is no true role.  Pitchers will pitch 2, 3 or 4 innings,  piggybacked with another potential starter prospect.  Then they begin to define more roles as they go up.  I don't see the quality of pitchers of prior years.  I see some size, but the k/9 pitching ratio they are usual big on,  is not showing up at all.  Most of these pitchers are in the 6 to 7 range.  

[Fatbat]

6 hours ago, TopGunn#22 said:

Typical Twins draft so far in that they went Hitter, Hitter, Hitter before selecting LHP Hill with their 4th pick.  Then a couple catchers and an OF (and one of the catchers can play OF).  Then 3 pitchers in a row (looking forward to calling Jason Doctorcyzk "Doc" when he finally makes it to the big leagues).

I like the picks so far, especially LHP Dasan Hill.  Hoping they can sign that kid. His video and his projectability are attention getting.  

He will get enough walkin around money to skip college and sign.  He could be something special!!

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

15 minutes ago, twinfan said:

You have to realize that maybe 10% of all players drafted will spend any kind of significant time in the major leagues. I have no problems with who they draft in the later rounds. You never know who will develop into that major league contributor.

In 2017,  they have had 4 players that have played in MLB

2018 -  5 players played in the MLB

2019 - they have had 7, let me repeat that 7 players that have played in MLB and that doesn't include Holland or Canterino who have a shot.  

Currently, the 2019,  2022 and 2023 classes appear to be the best drafts of this organization with quality and quantity.  I understand the 10% is a normal rule of thumb,  but it is not representative of what the Twins have done in the drafts recently.  

[FlyingFinn]

We signed Kendle already - slot money of $411K. Signed for $150K.

[Mike Sixel]

The one non-pitcher today should feel pretty good they liked him enough not to take another pitcher!

[Linus]

A 24 year old. Not sure I can recall a guy that age getting drafted. 

[Doctor Wu]

20 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

And it would be very un-Twin-like to target the top tough-to-sign prep players left out there.

Very true. I can't even imagine them doing that. 

[Doctor Wu]

13 hours ago, Linus said:

A 24 year old. Not sure I can recall a guy that age getting drafted. 

That is a bit long in the tooth for this draft!

[Trov]

Looks like typical draft for this FO.  Draft bats early and a ton of pitching late.  I was looking at the top prospects list for Twins and only 3 out of the 11 drafted pitchers in the MLB top 30 list for Twins, were drafted before 4th round.  3 of them were after the 10th round. 

This FO has found possible MLB arms later in draft for years now.  Ober was 12th round pick.  Varland, who may not be a starter in future, was 15th.  Festa was 13th round.  So there is possible top prospects that can be MLB starters later in draft.  

The fans who are upset we do not spend a ton of top draft picks on pitchers, I would suggest looking at how often top guys in 1st round turn out to be busts.  Sure, the percent of 1st round guys making MLB level is much higher than percent of each round after I would bet, but it really seems you can find diamonds in the rough in later rounds pitchers than you do with position players.  We only have like 2 hitters in top 30 MLB list that were outside top 2 rounds, and they are way down the list. 

[madtowntwin]

Of the pitchers picked in the 2024 Draft - A half dozen are 6'4" of above....Coincidence? Pattern?

[Dman]

23 minutes ago, madtowntwin said:

Of the pitchers picked in the 2024 Draft - A half dozen are 6'4" of above....Coincidence? Pattern?

It might be the Zebby affect?  It seems like some, not all of these bigger guys hold up a little better.  I also think the longer levers, arms and legs give them a better chance of upping velocity.  Just my opinion though.

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

2 hours ago, Dman said:

It might be the Zebby affect?  It seems like some, not all of these bigger guys hold up a little better.  I also think the longer levers, arms and legs give them a better chance of upping velocity.  Just my opinion though.

Its not just the ability to add the velocity,  but also the perceived velocity with a release point that is closer to home plate.  You also add in the pitching angle which allows for more downward movement and there are definite advantages that occur from increased height.  As much as mention the Zebby effect,  Ober is our best example of this strategy.  I think the Twins add it into their formula of success, but its not a necessity.  We have had pitchers like Varland who have been relatively successful even with a shorter stature.  

[DJL44]

Interesting UDFA signing - Zander Sechrist from Tennessee

Tennessee pitcher Zander Sechrist signs with Minnesota Twins | wbir.com

[DocBauer]

9 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Interesting UDFA signing - Zander Sechrist from Tennessee

Tennessee pitcher Zander Sechrist signs with Minnesota Twins | wbir.com

LH, 6' 2" and 192 lbs according to Baseball Reference. A career 2.52 ERA in college, fewer hits than IP, great WHIP, less than 2BB per 9, and a K per.

Something is missing here if this guy didn't get drafted. I'm going to assume he's a lower velocity "crafty" lefty? Still, an intriguing pick up. 

[DJL44]

9 hours ago, DocBauer said:

LH, 6' 2" and 192 lbs according to Baseball Reference. A career 2.52 ERA in college, fewer hits than IP, great WHIP, less than 2BB per 9, and a K per.

Something is missing here if this guy didn't get drafted. I'm going to assume he's a lower velocity "crafty" lefty? Still, an intriguing pick up. 

He was overmatched in the Cape Cod League before his final college season. Sounds like he stepped up his game and improved his location his senior year. He went from being a "mid-week" guy to a "weekend" starter against some tough SEC competition.

[nicksaviking]

On 7/17/2024 at 9:08 AM, Trov said:

Looks like typical draft for this FO.  Draft bats early and a ton of pitching late.  I was looking at the top prospects list for Twins and only 3 out of the 11 drafted pitchers in the MLB top 30 list for Twins, were drafted before 4th round.  3 of them were after the 10th round. 

This FO has found possible MLB arms later in draft for years now.  Ober was 12th round pick.  Varland, who may not be a starter in future, was 15th.  Festa was 13th round.  So there is possible top prospects that can be MLB starters later in draft.  

The fans who are upset we do not spend a ton of top draft picks on pitchers, I would suggest looking at how often top guys in 1st round turn out to be busts.  Sure, the percent of 1st round guys making MLB level is much higher than percent of each round after I would bet, but it really seems you can find diamonds in the rough in later rounds pitchers than you do with position players.  We only have like 2 hitters in top 30 MLB list that were outside top 2 rounds, and they are way down the list. 

It seems pretty clear the Twins don't target the top pitchers in the draft, they target guys with the best developable traits. In theory it's working great as they continue to have unknown draftees pop up all over top prospect lists. I'm a fan of the approach, but it's going to have to pay off in more than just theory pretty soon; Ober can't be the only success story.

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

On 7/18/2024 at 10:19 AM, nicksaviking said:

It seems pretty clear the Twins don't target the top pitchers in the draft, they target guys with the best developable traits. In theory it's working great as they continue to have unknown draftees pop up all over top prospect lists. I'm a fan of the approach, but it's going to have to pay off in more than just theory pretty soon; Ober can't be the only success story.

I just saw this,  I am not sure if you are serious or not.  

First you have to realize hitting on an Ober is incredibly slim.  What is happening is we are having all kinds of pitchers popping up every year from the drafts.   Varland, Funderburk, Winder, Sands, Festa, Matthews, Lewis, Culpepper and then of course Ober.   That is a ton of prospects in the 5th round or later and only from the 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022 drafts.   Of the prospects that make it to the league, several will flame out. For as good as Varland looked at times,  it appears his stuff just isn't quite good enough as a starter.  

You have to realize it takes time to develop these guys.  Ober is from 2017.  Festa and Matthews,  have the talent and flew through the system.  We will see how they continue to develop.  

[Jaka23212]

On 7/17/2024 at 3:45 AM, Fatbat said:

He will get enough https://eldfall-chronicles.com/en-si/pages/dungeoncrawl walkin around money to skip college and sign. https://kai-health.com/ He could be something special!!

He’s got real potential