Twins Mock Draft Update: Minnesota Raids Defending National Champions for Day 1 Talent

[Jamie Cameron]

Image courtesy of © Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

This draft cycle, we’re going to try something new. Every few weeks, I’ll be posting an article here listing out who the Twins would select based on their position on the consensus draft board. As the consensus board is updated, the players in those spots will be adjusted and I’ll post another update.

This is not a mock draft. Rather, I’m hoping it’ll give readers an idea of the caliber of talent in each of the team’s first few picks. Additionally, it should help readers who want to dig into draft coverage a bit more get familiar with the class.

Here would be the Twins first three picks by consensus draft ranking as of 05.16.25

1st Round (16th Overall): Brendan Summerhill, OF, Arizona
In a draft class that lacks high impact college bats, Brendan Summerhill might be a sweet spot where, skill, track record, and draft spot meet. Summerhill is a left-handed hitting outfielder who was productive in 2024. He posted a .950 OPS to go with 8 home runs (32 extra base hits) in addition to 31 walks and 36 strikeouts in 58 games. He backed this up with a strong summer on the Cape (.798 OPS).

Summerhill has a well-rounded offensive skillset. His EV90 (104 mph) and Max EV (110 mph) were both around 75th percentile in D1 baseball, and he's already maximizing pulled batted ball events. Summerhill backs up solid impact with strong bat-to-ball skills. A 86% contact rate and 83rd percentile in zone whiff percentage are further buoyed by excellent out of zone contact, and the fact that Summerhill doesn't chase too much (64th percentile).

The remaining questions ahead of 2025 were the efficacy of Summerhill as a defensive center fielder as a pro and how much power he can get to, as there seems to be more in the tank than he produced in 2024. Injury has prevented him from answering those questions definitively. Importantly, he’s back playing down the stretch for the Wildcats. He's one of only a few college bats where hit and power might be above average in tandem. If a team can layer a little extra power onto his profile, he’ll be a complete hitter.

Comp A (36th Overall): Andrew Fischer, CI, Tennessee
Andrew Fischer is one of the more complete college hitting profiles in this class, having established a track record of performance and consistent improvement in both the ACC and SEC. A transfer from Ole' Miss to Tennessee, Fischer has a physical frame at 6'1, 200 and an approach that's consistently improved throughout his time in college ball. He takes his walks, and strikes out an acceptable amount. There's a ton of bat speed and juice in the profile, Fisher had a 113 mph Max EV and a EV90 north of 106 mph in 2024.

Fischer has answered some questions about his hit tool so far in 2025. He's become more selective at the plate and cut into his strikeout rate significantly (14% versus 21% in 2024). He has an above average arm, but the speed and defense are lacking. Being able to show he has a chance to stick at third base in 2025 would aid his draft stock, but the emerging hit power combo should have him in the top 40 range regardless.

2nd Round (54th Overall): Marcus Phillips, RHP, Tennessee
Marcus Phillips worked primarily as a reliever in his first two seasons at Tennessee before transitioning into a starting role in 2025.

The fastball is tough. He can get a run and ride heater up to 100 mph, sitting at 97 mph with good extension from a lower release height. His breaking pitch is a power slider, with good horizontal break, that he throws in the 88-92 mph range, something that pro teams will covet. There's also the makings of a good changeup, with a ton of horizontal break, but he throws it incredibly hard (92 mph) and there might not be enough velo separation from the fastball there yet.

Through his first 13 starts he's impressed. He's striking out more hitters (28.5%) and walking less (8.5%). The strike throwing had been a little spotty entering 2025. If he continues to shove through the rest of the SEC slate, he has an argument for some of the best pure stuff of any college arm.

 

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[LambchoP]

Would be nice if we could find a good fast rising catcher.

[DocBauer]

Very interesting and makes some sense as to how the draft could actually unfold.

However, 3 college guys to start off just feels wrong to me. Two and 1 HS kid would make more sense in the real world.

[Jamie Cameron]

1 hour ago, DocBauer said:

Very interesting and makes some sense as to how the draft could actually unfold.

However, 3 college guys to start off just feels wrong to me. Two and 1 HS kid would make more sense in the real world.

I definitely think the Twins will dip into the prep side, there's lots of interesting guys. This is ONLY based on where prospect are ranked at this time. I'd expect a prep as one of their first 4 picks, similar to last year. Almost NEED to given their bonus pool situation. Thanks for reading.

[terrydactyls]

No mention of defense for pick #16.  The comp pick has crappy defensive skills.  But they can hit.  This sounds like so many drafts in recent memory.

[terrydactyls]

9 hours ago, LambchoP said:

Would be nice if we could find a good fast rising catcher.

There are catchers at 18 and 21 in the first round and 40 in the comp picks.

[TopGunn#22]

Thanks Jamie !  I too would like to see a high upside catcher in the the first 3-4 picks.  I also wouldn't mind a top notch high school SS with clear defensive skills to stick at the position.  Assuming a high school SS (with Bobby Witt Jr. skills) would take 3 years to make his Twins debut at 21 years old (2028?) Correa may be just about ready to move to 3B.  Maybe more like 2029 if the HS SS played a season of utility IF to get his feet wet.

 

[madtowntwin]

Nice article and intriguing perspective on the upcoming draft...Looking around at some of the websites here are some other thoughts on the Twins #16 pick .

Pipeline has the Twins choosing Luke Stevenson C North Carolina

Flobaseball predicts MN will choose Steele Hall HS SS Alabama. 

Just Baseball forecasts MN taking Xavier Stevens HS 3B/OF Washington 

[saviking]

Do we need another left handed outfielder? 

[Dman]

I would love it if Summerhill fell to the Twins.  It's a very balanced profile with a high chance of success IMO.  I think he ends up going higher than the Twins first pick though unless there are more high schooler's taken than expected ahead of him.  I think he squeezes into the top 10 when it is all said and done but we'll how he does the rest of the way.

Fischer wouldn't be a bad get either.  The Twins need power hitters to balance out the lineup and I think he could be a solid power bat.  Wouldn't mind going high school with this pick but with the results from last year in Culpepper and DeBarge I could see them double dipping college bats again.

Not sure if love Phillips as he seems to have reliever risk, but a high octane arm certainly wouldn't hurt even if he ended up in the pen.

I think this might be the year they take a flyer on one of the catchers that might be there around their spot.  It seems like the system has been pretty rough for legit catchers. Stevenson has his warts as does Irish, but Irish's bat and position flexibility should make him a more Twinsy pick.  I think this could be the year they go catcher early.

[Jamie Cameron]

On 5/16/2025 at 10:51 PM, terrydactyls said:

No mention of defense for pick #16.  The comp pick has crappy defensive skills.  But they can hit.  This sounds like so many drafts in recent memory.

Summerhill would fit in the 50-55 range for defense. Average to above average (at a premium defensive position.

[Jamie Cameron]

23 hours ago, madtowntwin said:

Nice article and intriguing perspective on the upcoming draft...Looking around at some of the websites here are some other thoughts on the Twins #16 pick .

Pipeline has the Twins choosing Luke Stevenson C North Carolina

Flobaseball predicts MN will choose Steele Hall HS SS Alabama. 

Just Baseball forecasts MN taking Xavier Stevens HS 3B/OF Washington 

I like Hall a ton. He's one of the biggest risers on the prep side this season. Neyens I don't love.

[Jamie Cameron]

23 hours ago, TopGunn#22 said:

Thanks Jamie !  I too would like to see a high upside catcher in the the first 3-4 picks.  I also wouldn't mind a top notch high school SS with clear defensive skills to stick at the position.  Assuming a high school SS (with Bobby Witt Jr. skills) would take 3 years to make his Twins debut at 21 years old (2028?) Correa may be just about ready to move to 3B.  Maybe more like 2029 if the HS SS played a season of utility IF to get his feet wet.

 

I do think a prep player is a possibility. Someone like Kayson Cunningham, JoJo Parker, or Gavin Fien are all around the Twins range.

[Jamie Cameron]

20 hours ago, Dman said:

I would love it if Summerhill fell to the Twins.  It's a very balanced profile with a high chance of success IMO.  I think he ends up going higher than the Twins first pick though unless there are more high schooler's taken than expected ahead of him.  I think he squeezes into the top 10 when it is all said and done but we'll how he does the rest of the way.

Fischer wouldn't be a bad get either.  The Twins need power hitters to balance out the lineup and I think he could be a solid power bat.  Wouldn't mind going high school with this pick but with the results from last year in Culpepper and DeBarge I could see them double dipping college bats again.

Not sure if love Phillips as he seems to have reliever risk, but a high octane arm certainly wouldn't hurt even if he ended up in the pen.

I think this might be the year they take a flyer on one of the catchers that might be there around their spot.  It seems like the system has been pretty rough for legit catchers. Stevenson has his warts as does Irish, but Irish's bat and position flexibility should make him a more Twinsy pick.  I think this could be the year they go catcher early.

Irish's profile has grown on me a ton bc of the athleticism, consistently improving performance in the SEC etc. I think I might go with him over Stevenson at this point. Stevenson has quite a few bat-to-ball questions. All things being equal, Twins usually like prospects to check that box.

[tony&rodney]

The Twins should nab Tate Southisene with their #54 pick if he is still available. The physical tools and competitive mind is present from my view when I watched him play. He is more likely to be gone by the Twins 2nd Round pick though.

For the first three picks I would hope that athleticism and bat to ball skills are paramount. Please no more Aaron Sabato types.

[Cory Engelhardt]

20 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

The Twins should nab Tate Southisene with their #54 pick if he is still available. The physical tools and competitive mind is present from my view when I watched him play. He is more likely to be gone by the Twins 2nd Round pick though.

For the first three picks I would hope that athleticism and bat to ball skills are paramount. Please no more Aaron Sabato types.

I can't at all say I know much about him as a player. But the Twins picking 16th but having the 12th most money means they COULD float someone down like him. 

[Jaka23212]

On 5/17/2025 at 11:51 AM, terrydactyls said:

No mention of defense for pick #16.  https://sharpedgeshop.com/collections/bunka-knives-multi-purpose The comp pick has crappy defensive skills.  But they can hit.  This sounds like so many drafts in recent memory.

Twins do seem to lean hit-first