Twins Daily's 2025 MLB Draft Day 2 Thread -- updated with each pick

[Chris Hove]

12 minutes ago, DocBauer said:

And 2 things the Twins do well is add velocity and tweak sliders. The fact that he's got a good frame and already a solid change gives him a leg up. Wondering if they'll keep him with his current mix and just work on refining it? Or do they add another pitch immediately?

Not sure what to think here. He's got pretty average numbers across the board, no big K numbers, and no summer success that I can find. Guessing they see a delivery they can smooth out and tweak the mix.

Project pick with huge upside. He was clocked with a 93 MPH fastball in high school. I think he needs to keep developing his third and fourth pitches, and once he does that, he can lean more on the fastball-changeup mix.

[Chris Hove]

3 minutes ago, Dman said:

I don't normally post the full writeups from pay sites, but on this one I am a little confused because the evals seem so different.  One has him as plus hitter the other does not.  One has him staying at short theother does not.

BA

Robinson is a smooth and athletic shortstop with a lean, 6-foot-1, 195-pound frame. He’s a glove-first prospect who moves around the infield with fluidity and can make highlight reel, acrobatic diving plays. He’s got enough arm strength for shortstop and knows when to let fly on his throws, with a quick exchange when necessary as well. Offensively, Robinson is a patient and selective hitter, but one who also has a pull-heavy approach and can be exposed by soft stuff on the outer third. Teams’ conviction levels in Robinson’s hit tool could vary considering he never hit above .269 in the Missouri Valley Conference. He’s not a huge power threat or standout runner, but he does have solid on-base ability and is an efficient base stealer. He’s plenty quick enough to stick at shortstop in the long run—provided he can hit enough to climb the ladder in pro ball.

 

FSS

CARRYING TOOL: Hit: 55 Arm: 55

Robinson has had a rollercoaster career at Illinois State, but he's finally seemed to turn a corner. His freshman campaign in 2023 was limited after he broke both hamate bones in his hands. He then played just half of the program's games as a sophomore, again missing half the season due to injury. The metrics point to a player who should continue to blossom and come into his own as July approaches.

Robinson has always been a gifted player in the box. He's always shown a knack for putting bat on ball and laying off pitchers' pitches. He's a passive hitter who lets the game come to him, pulling the trigger only when he gets his pitch. That selective approach has pushed him into pitchers' counts too often, however. He was a slap-happy hitter his first two seasons in college. But Robinson got in the weight room this past spring/summer and now is a far more physical player. He played summer ball in the Northwoods League and was one of the more impactful sticks in the wood bat league. His eight homers in 52 games were three more than he'd posted his entire collegiate career. He showed improved peak exit velocities and scouts now believe he has a chance to tap into 15-20 homers as a pro; solid-average raw power. He's got a noisy swing with moving parts and triggers that vary from at-bat to at-bat. To this point, those parts of his swing have not gotten him in trouble, but they have resulted in high ground ball rates. He's an instinctual player who reacts in the box and uses his twitch to impact the baseball. He'll need to continue to show that blend of hit tool and punch if he's to capitalize on what some believe to be top-three round upside this July.

As noted, Robinson is twitchy, but he's not necessarily a fast player. He's a fringe-average runner but can clock into another gear on balls in the gap. He's unlikely to ever be a base-stealing threat. Defensively, he's a reliable glove who can play all three infield positions. It's a plus throwing arm, so handling the left side of the infield in that regard is no issue. Robinson struggles with range to his right, so he'll likely be moved off shortstop in a full-time capacity at the next level, but it's a profile that plays nicely at third base and he's plenty comfortable at second base as well.

Robinson doesn't have the size or speed of Kristian Campbell, but he ticks some of the same boxes the former Georgia Tech standout did in 2023. He may be a swing adjustment away from unlocking a new gear.

To me, Robinson looks like a raw talent. He improved his BA, Hr, and BB/KK ratio from year one to year three. He showed decent power in his last year. I think his numbers look a little odd because of his injuries in both his Freshman and Sophomore years. The tools are there; the Twins system has to get it out of him.

[Dman]

Round 11 is always interesting as teams often times take a chance on guy who might not sign and will go above slot.  Wondering what the Twins do in that spot this year.

[Chris Hove]

4 minutes ago, Dman said:

Round 11 is always interesting as teams often times take a chance on guy who might not sign and will go above slot.  Wondering what the Twins do in that spot this year.

Maybe a Taylor Rogers-esque pitcher????

[Chris Hove]

Round 12 has been pretty good for us in recent years. Ober, Baez, Fedko.

[MMMordabito]

Huhh, my son played BAA baseball and 9th grade basketball against the Brewers 8th rounder.  I did hear he hit 97 with his fastball this year.  He's supposed to go to the U of M.

[DocBauer]

24 minutes ago, Chris Hove said:

To me, Robinson looks like a raw talent. He improved his BA, Hr, and BB/KK ratio from year one to year three. He showed decent power in his last year. I think his numbers look a little odd because of his injuries in both his Freshman and Sophomore years. The tools are there; the Twins system has to get it out of him.

Late bloomer? Barely played his first 2 seasons and started to bloom in a summer league in 2024 that carried over in to his 2025 season. But the AVG still seems really low for a college prospect. Can he become.more aggressive and lower that OB% for more actual hitting prowess?

[Chris Hove]

7 minutes ago, MMMordabito said:

Huhh, my son played BAA baseball and 9th grade basketball against the Brewers 8th rounder.  I did hear he hit 97 with his fastball this year.  He's supposed to go to the U of M.

That's pretty cool. He looks convincing to me, also a typical Brewers pick in these later rounds.

 

https://x.com/Jaku_Throws/status/1887318081975775603?ref_src=twsrc^tfw|twcamp^tweetembed|twterm^1887318081975775603|twgr^aa739c6b40a2b1fe55973a7515dd833ddc06ded8|twcon^s1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jsonline.com%2Flive-story%2Fsports%2Fmlb%2Fbrewers%2F2025%2F07%2F14%2Flive-updates-milwaukee-brewers-mlb-draft-picks%2F85192422007%2F

[nicksaviking]

34 minutes ago, Dman said:

Round 11 is always interesting as teams often times take a chance on guy who might not sign and will go above slot.  Wondering what the Twins do in that spot this year.

HS kids in rounds 2 and 6 for the Twins which is unusual. I'd guess that would hinder their ambition and ability to go for over slot tomorrow.

[Dman]

Daniels is another interesting pick and as I thought they took him at 11 in case they can't get him to sign.  I would say he couldn't end up in a much better organization than Minnesota but that will be up to him.

https://www.ctpost.com/sports/uconn/article/ryan-daniels-mlb-draft-2025-uconn-baseball-20764893.php

Stats from last year are very good.

 

• Glossary

Year	Age	AgeDif	Tm	Lg	Lev	Aff	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB
College (3 seasons)					College		116	465	373	105	115	25	6	22	108	31	5	72	83	.308	.430	.584	1.014	218	2	11	4	5	1
Other (2 seasons)					Other		23	79	64	10	19	5	0	2	17	9	1	13	13	.297	.418	.469	.886	30		1	0	1	1
All Levels (4 Seasons)							139	544	437	115	134	30	6	24	125	40	6	85	96	.307	.428	.568	.995	248		12	4	6	2
2022	18	-1.8	New Britain	FCBL	Smr		8	32	27	5	9	2	0	1	9	7	0	4	6	.333	.406	.519	.925	14		0	0	1	0
2023	19	-2.7	Connecticut	BigE	NCAA		42	138	110	26	30	8	2	1	20	16	1	21	28	.273	.401	.409	.811	45	1	4	1	2	0
2023	19	-1.6	Bristol	NECL	Smr		15	47	37	5	10	3	0	1	8	2	1	9	7	.270	.426	.432	.858	16		1	0	0	1
2024	20	-1.7	Connecticut	BigE	NCAA		20	75	60	10	11	2	0	3	13	5	1	11	14	.183	.319	.367	.686	22	0	1	3	0	0
2025	21	-0.3	Connecticut	BigE	NCAA		54	252	203	69	74	15	4	18	75	10	3	40	41	.365	.476	.744	1.220	151	1	6	0	3	1

[DocBauer]

Basically doubled his career AB and had a great junior season. Again with a possible late bloomer. Seems interesting. 

An over slot signing?

[Chris Hove]

8 minutes ago, Dman said:

Daniels is another interesting pick and as I thought they took him at 11 in case they can't get him to sign.  I would say he couldn't end up in a much better organization than Minnesota but that will be up to him.

https://www.ctpost.com/sports/uconn/article/ryan-daniels-mlb-draft-2025-uconn-baseball-20764893.php

Stats from last year are very good.

 

• Glossary

Year	Age	AgeDif	Tm	Lg	Lev	Aff	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB
College (3 seasons)					College		116	465	373	105	115	25	6	22	108	31	5	72	83	.308	.430	.584	1.014	218	2	11	4	5	1
Other (2 seasons)					Other		23	79	64	10	19	5	0	2	17	9	1	13	13	.297	.418	.469	.886	30		1	0	1	1
All Levels (4 Seasons)							139	544	437	115	134	30	6	24	125	40	6	85	96	.307	.428	.568	.995	248		12	4	6	2
2022	18	-1.8	New Britain	FCBL	Smr		8	32	27	5	9	2	0	1	9	7	0	4	6	.333	.406	.519	.925	14		0	0	1	0
2023	19	-2.7	Connecticut	BigE	NCAA		42	138	110	26	30	8	2	1	20	16	1	21	28	.273	.401	.409	.811	45	1	4	1	2	0
2023	19	-1.6	Bristol	NECL	Smr		15	47	37	5	10	3	0	1	8	2	1	9	7	.270	.426	.432	.858	16		1	0	0	1
2024	20	-1.7	Connecticut	BigE	NCAA		20	75	60	10	11	2	0	3	13	5	1	11	14	.183	.319	.367	.686	22	0	1	3	0	0
2025	21	-0.3	Connecticut	BigE	NCAA		54	252	203	69	74	15	4	18	75	10	3	40	41	.365	.476	.744	1.220	151	1	6	0	3	1

Wow, what a year. He has all the weight on this decision. He has one year left of eligibility if he wasn't going to sign, and he's more than happy to go back to school if it isn't the right fit for him. He's a 2B but could move over to SS  with some work. He explained that his SB numbers were down because one of the best hitters in the Country bats behind him, so he wasn't as aggressive about stealing. He also said he was more aggressive at taking extra bases and going from first to third on singles.

[DocBauer]

Kolten Smith from Georgia next. The RH junior has a good 6' 3" 210 lb frame and comes from a good school/conference. He's spent time in the rotation as well as the pen. Basically he's allowed a hit per IP and 3.8 BB per 9. But he also K'd 12.2 per 9.

So there's definitely something to work with there. But there's also control issues. He might just be a true reliever, though I'm sure he will get an opportunity to start initially.

Interestingly, he announced in June he was leaving Georgia via the transfer portal, but I didn't see any destination announced.

[Dman]

Last two picks look like they need fastball help.  Hopefully the Twins can fix that and get those K rates up.

[Chris Hove]

Just now, Dman said:

Last two picks look like they need fastball help.  Hopefully the Twins can fix that and get those K rates up.

Callan Fang from Harvard seems to rely on his secondary pitches. He has a plus curveball and changeup, as you mentioned, maybe they can add some velocity and/or movement to the fastball?

[DocBauer]

In what has to end being the best NAME the Twins select this draft, comes Callen Fang, RHP from Harvard.

6' 3" and 215 lbs, continuing a trend of arms 6' 2" or taller. While SSS, he put up some really excellent numbers playing in the Futures Collegiate League, but pretty pedestrian numbers for Harvard. 

Career 4.54 ERA, hit per 9, 1.375 WHIP, and 10.4 K per 9. Nothing bad, but nothing great either. Who knows about potential and what they see in him, just pedestrian numbers to this point.

[Dman]

1 minute ago, DocBauer said:

In what has to end being the best NAME the Twins select this draft, comes Callen Fang, RHP from Harvard.

6' 3" and 215 lbs, continuing a trend of arms 6' 2" or taller. While SSS, he put up some really excellent numbers playing in the Futures Collegiate League, but pretty pedestrian numbers for Harvard. 

Career 4.54 ERA, hit per 9, 1.375 WHIP, and 10.4 K per 9. Nothing bad, but nothing great either. Who knows about potential and what they see in him, just pedestrian numbers to this point.

Yeah FSS says the following "Fang is the rare Ivy Leaguer making a push to get drafted awfully high in 2025. He a physically matured 6-foot-3-inch righty with a quick arm. He's a pitcher, not a thrower. The stuff might not overwhelm, but the execution can."

This is the Twins typical arm that can throw strikes and work on upping the fastball to make the secondaries better.  Doesn't always work, but when it does good things happen. I agree probably a pen arm.  Fastball can likely play in shorter stints and he has quality secondaries to work with. Risky profile but we are in the 13th round now.

[nicksaviking]

14 minutes ago, Dman said:

Last two picks look like they need fastball help.  Hopefully the Twins can fix that and get those K rates up.

For as much as I'm burned out with the current leaders of this team, I can't deny that increasing Ks and velocity is absolutely in their wheelhouse.

[Dman]

I assume this is the same Merit Jones they tried to to sign in 2024 and should sign in 2025? Not sure what the attraction is here as the WHiP has always been way too high and his K rate was worse this year than last.  Must see something they can fix?

[Blyleven2011]

Let's hope Merit Jones signs this time around  ...

[Dman]

Alright then let the signing's begin and let's see who we really got.

[DocBauer]

1 hour ago, Dman said:

I assume this is the same Merit Jones they tried to to sign in 2024 and should sign in 2025? Not sure what the attraction is here as the WHiP has always been way too high and his K rate was worse this year than last.  Must see something they can fix?

Has to be the same guy. (I mean, same school even). I love 6' 4" 200lb pitchers with some upside, especially late, but his numbers certainly don't scream "draft me again after a worse season the next". BUT, his numbers, even SSS, in his summer league appearances were really good. I wonder if that's why they selected him again? Still, I don't see the attraction. Obviously the scouts see something way beyond the numbers, because the numbers say undraftable.

[Dman]

1 minute ago, DocBauer said:

Has to be the same guy. (I mean, same school even). I love 6' 4" 200lb pitchers with some upside, especially late, but his numbers certainly don't scream "draft me again after a worse season the next". BUT, his numbers, even SSS, in his summer league appearances were really good. I wonder if that's why they selected him again? Still, I don't see the attraction. Obviously the scouts see something way beyond the numbers, because the numbers say undraftable.

Yeah has to be the frame and something they feel they can fix in the delivery.  The numbers just aren't there.

[Fatbat]

13 pitchers, 6 IF, 1 OF (LHB) perfect mix except no Cal Bodine. They will regret not drafting him. You heard it here first.  The 2025 Draft was a huge success!

[Fatbat]

19 minutes ago, Dman said:

Alright then let the signing's begin and let's see who we really got.

I bet we sign all 20. Most of the late picks are college guys with little or no eligibility left. 

[DocBauer]

I know this wasn't the deepest draft, and I expected the Twins to take a lot of arms after focusing so hard on position players in 2024, and spending their $ on early picks, but from Fang in the 13th or maybe Jones in the 14th on, I'm really not sure what they were doing. 

I mean, Boring looks maxed out physically and has poor numbers, including BB and K.  Stevens from Alabama never played for Alabama. Looks like a small school or JC kid who was going to transfer in. Only 33 IP in summer ball. I'm guessing a number of injuries? Dalquist is maxed out at 5' 10" 195lbs and no great numbers either.

I'm more interested in 19th rounder Becker, LHRP who BB WAY too many at 4.7, but also K'd 12.2. At least he's a LH pen option with K ability. And 20th rounder Hiker had a good 2023 in the pen for lower level Wisconsin-Whitewater, a really good 2024 as a starter there, and then a poor 2025 after transferring to Arizona, though his WHIP and K numbers were solid. I'm betting he goes back to AZ for 2026.

FWIW, 17th rounder JP Smith II has had a really nice career at Sacramento State for 3yrs. .297/ .372/ .581/ .953 quad slash line with solid power numbers. But while listed as a 3B on the Draft Tracker, he's really only played 1B. So I don't know what to think about him.

For the most part, I feel good about 1-12/13. After that it feels like a handful of fliers that I just generally don't see the attraction to.

[DocBauer]

12 minutes ago, Fatbat said:

I bet we sign all 20. Most of the late picks are college guys with little or no eligibility left. 

You might be right, but Hiker in the 20th round should probably go back to Arizona for his senior year. Not sure if smaller school 1B Smith II is looking for a senior season at a D1 school. 16th rounder has never thrown for a school, only summer leagues. Might he try to actually throw for a school for 1yr and see if he can improve his status?

[DocBauer]

21 minutes ago, Fatbat said:

13 pitchers, 6 IF, 1 OF (LHB) perfect mix except no Cal Bodine. They will regret not drafting him. You heard it here first.  The 2025 Draft was a huge success!

You might be right. Drafting catchers early is always a crapshoot unless you have access to someone special. So many just never hit their way out of a paper bag, never learn to be quality backstops even if they have a good bat and move elsewhere, or their bat is too good to leave behind the plate so they again move elsewhere. 

Still, I'm surprised the Twins didn't draft a single backstop for depth at least. But they did draft 2 pretty interesting ones last year. I'm still surprised for depth reasons though.

[IndianaTwin]

Benny Agbayani. 

In 2000, the Mets played the Cubs in one of those early season Japan games. Agbayani hit an 11th-inning pinch hit grand slam to win the game.

We had our fantasy draft on the night before the “regular” season started and had decided that the Japan games would count for stats. Late in the draft, I picked him up for the grand slam. After the first week I waived him, since he wasn’t expected to play. 

He ended up playing quite a bit and finished with 15 homers and 60 RBIs, which in our pretty deep league is a solid showing for a fourth or fifth outfielder. 

May Bruin similarly exceed expectations. May the Twins not give up on him too quickly. 

[Fatbat]

42 minutes ago, DocBauer said:

You might be right. Drafting catchers early is always a crapshoot unless you have access to someone special. So many just never hit their way out of a paper bag, never learn to be quality backstops even if they have a good bat and move elsewhere, or their bat is too good to leave behind the plate so they again move elsewhere. 

Still, I'm surprised the Twins didn't draft a single backstop for depth at least. But they did draft 2 pretty interesting ones last year. I'm still surprised for depth reasons though.

My guess is the Olivar gets on the 40 man and is the backup C out of spring training next year. 
Im still GEEKED about our first 4 picks. All could be special!! They drafted some absolute studs!