1st observations of 2024 draft

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

This was never going to be a draft as exciting as the 2023 draft,  the high end quality of players just wasn't there and the Twins didn't have a high end pick for a potential generational talent like Jenkins.  What this draft did have his 4 picks in the first 69 selections,  and what the Twins have excelled at in past drafts,  finding good players they can work with at pretty much any selection was still evident in this draft.  

Culpepper and DeBarge are not sexy picks.   What they are is excellent hitters, 2 of the best hit tools in the entire draft.  The Twins went with the odds that these will be 2 of the most likely hitters to make it to the big leagues.  When you look at it in those terms yes its likely the right decision.  Whether as trade capital or players that have a relatively good probability of making the big leagues I am very happy with that.  Would have I preferred Brecht over DeBarge,  yes.  I still feel his potential is likely there to be a #1 pitcher.  But his probabilities of success are all over the board, with a much higher probability of failure,  due to injury risk, lack of command, ect. 

Ultimately the Twins still took a chance on a high end pitcher in lefty pitcher Dasan Hill.  Like Brecht,  has a nasty slider.  He doesn't currently have the velocity of Brecht but is close, and with his lengthy frame, will likely have minimal difference in perceived velocity due to his extension.  He is still a work in progress, but command is likely viewed better than Brechts.  Ultimately if it is a pick between those 2 players I am fine with the who the Twins picked.  He has about as much upside as Brecht.  

Billy Amick is interesting.  Basically a mix of Steer and CES.  There is some questions with hit tool,  but it looks good enough,  power looks very very good.  Honestly I think the Twins feel pretty comfortable with this pick.  The most interesting thing is he has been viewed as poor speed, poor defense,  what has happened this year is the metrics have effectively gone neutral to begin to flash plus for both defense and speed.  So if you can have potentially a CES/Steer with above average speed and defense,  that becomes a very valuable player.  

The rest of the hitters,  look solid.  High OPS, decent hit tools,  most with big years this last year,  and at varying levels of competitive ball.  The pitchers,  again look solid.  The peripherals maybe not quite as good as say 2022 years picks, but at this point I fully expect to hit on several of those pitchers.  Will just be curious to see which one flashes.  

1st Blush I am not as impressed as say 2019, 2022, 2023.  Do I still think it is still a solid draft and will give us some viable pieces or trade bait, yes.  Hill likely has the highest ceiling of any of the players. The next is probably Amick.  Culpepper and Debarge have the highest probabilities of making the big leagues, but will they be starters or utility players or even make it to their full potential, that is the question.  The rest is flyers.  They have a long enough track record to trust the picks they have made.  I will continue to watch as I have in prior years.