Minnesota Twins 2025 MLB Draft Day 1 Recap: A Solid Shortstop & High Octane Arms

[chpettit19]

18 minutes ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

CH, I too was initially hoping the Twins would draft Ike Irish at 16, but I wonder why he didn't catch much, if any, this past season. I know he had a broken scapula, but I don't know how much that factored into the decision for him to play RF this season after the injury. He may have played RF because he is too good  a hitter to risk injuries at catcher. Or Auburn's second string catcher may have been better than Auburn's second string RF'er. Another considertion is that the Twins top two prospects (Jenkins and Rodriguez) are left-handed hitting outfielders and Irish bats lefty. In addition, Wallner and Larnach both bat lefty also and they are both  relatively young and still developing.  I just think the Twins have enough young lefty hitting outfielders and didn't want to take a chance on Irish's catching ability. 

I'd hate the "we have too many young, lefty outfielders" reasoning completely. Baltimore has a ton of lefty outfielders (Mullins, Cowser, Kjerstad, Bradfield Jr, Beavers) and a big-time, switch-hitting catcher plus a top 10-15 global prospect who's a lefty hitting catcher. Their 2nd pick was a switch-hitting catcher. So, they didn't seem to care about adding another lefty catcher/outfielder plus another catcher to their mix (oh, and they took another lefty outfielder at #37). I don't care about positional fit in a system at all. Get the best talent. You never know what your team is going to look like in the future. Should never be a consideration, in my opinion. Get the best talent you can and figure it out from there. But I understand some people prefer to try to chase better system fits. And I don't expect Larnach to be around much longer, honestly. I don't think they'll pay his arb increases.

I don't know why they didn't draft him, and we never will. There are a billion very good reasons for them to not draft him. They very simply could've thought Houston was the better overall player. That's a good enough reason. My understanding (and that could be totally wrong) was that he didn't catch anymore because he couldn't throw well enough after the broken scapula. Again, could be totally wrong, but that's what I thought it was. I don't think he'll be a good outfielder defensively so if there's no chance he catches it'd change my opinion on things, but my understanding was that he only stopped catching because of the injury and that him going back behind the plate was going to be mostly about a team's willingness to wait on him defensively even if the bat was ready.

[DocBauer]

I would have taken Irish over Houston due to the fact he was one of the best college bats in the draft. If he couldn't stick at  CATCHER for some reason, there's a pretty good OF in there I think. But I don't dislike Houston at all.

He and Culpepper give the Twins a pair of SS to follow Correa. Culpepper can also play 2B/3B depending on how things shake out. Keaschall can play 2B/1B/OF. Lee can play 3 spots, though I'm not expecting him to be the Correa heir. DeBarge may be the next Castro, but even better speed. Schobel is also being groomed as a SU player. And without even considering Lewis...and even Amick potentially...locking in at 3B or 1B, what they've done is create a potentially excellent and versatile INF with OF options. 

Quick is very exciting. He's got everything you'd want in a top pitching prospect. If he hadn't missed 2024 from TJ, I wonder if he'd even be available at 16 this year? 

Ellwanger is very similar in build, velocity, potential velocity, and an already good 2nd offering. But he's also only a sophomore...recently turned 21yo...and barely threw in 2024. So he's very raw. But there's a ton of talent to work with in both these arms. 

I agree it would have been nice to grab another good HS arm to develop in the lower minors. But it sure sounds like it was a down year for prep arms. And a good year to invest in college arms.

You've got to question a young bat that has contact issues. But when someone like Young is available, a good athlete with so much power and potential, you have to take the chance to see if that contact and recognition can develop. If it does, you've got someone really good and potentially dangerous. He's this year's version of a Winokur potential pick.

They leaned in to position players more in 2024, so I can see this draft being a little more pitching heavy. I think they're off to a really good start. And I really do like the variety of talent so far.

[Fatbat]

38 minutes ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

CH, I too was initially hoping the Twins would draft Ike Irish at 16, but I wonder why he didn't catch much, if any, this past season. I know he had a broken scapula, but I don't know how much that factored into the decision for him to play RF this season after the injury. He may have played RF because he is too good  a hitter to risk injuries at catcher. Or Auburn's second string catcher may have been better than Auburn's second string RF'er. Another considertion is that the Twins top two prospects (Jenkins and Rodriguez) are left-handed hitting outfielders and Irish bats lefty. In addition, Wallner and Larnach both bat lefty also and they are both  relatively young and still developing.  I just think the Twins have enough young lefty hitting outfielders and didn't want to take a chance on Irish's catching ability. 

Bodine and Stevenson (30,35) were picked right ahead of Quick at 36. I wonder if one were available, would we have taken either? Also, Baltimore took Irish and Bodine so they are doubling down….. and they have lots of early picks

[tarheeltwinsfan]

9 minutes ago, Fatbat said:

Bodine and Stevenson (30,35) were picked right ahead of Quick at 36. I wonder if one were available, would we have taken either? Also, Baltimore took Irish and Bodine so they are doubling down….. and they have lots of early picks

Very good points Fatbat.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

19 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

I'd hate the "we have too many young, lefty outfielders" reasoning completely. Baltimore has a ton of lefty outfielders (Mullins, Cowser, Kjerstad, Bradfield Jr, Beavers) and a big-time, switch-hitting catcher plus a top 10-15 global prospect who's a lefty hitting catcher. Their 2nd pick was a switch-hitting catcher. So, they didn't seem to care about adding another lefty catcher/outfielder plus another catcher to their mix (oh, and they took another lefty outfielder at #37). I don't care about positional fit in a system at all. Get the best talent. You never know what your team is going to look like in the future. Should never be a consideration, in my opinion. Get the best talent you can and figure it out from there. But I understand some people prefer to try to chase better system fits. And I don't expect Larnach to be around much longer, honestly. I don't think they'll pay his arb increases.

I don't know why they didn't draft him, and we never will. There are a billion very good reasons for them to not draft him. They very simply could've thought Houston was the better overall player. That's a good enough reason. My understanding (and that could be totally wrong) was that he didn't catch anymore because he couldn't throw well enough after the broken scapula. Again, could be totally wrong, but that's what I thought it was. I don't think he'll be a good outfielder defensively so if there's no chance he catches it'd change my opinion on things, but my understanding was that he only stopped catching because of the injury and that him going back behind the plate was going to be mostly about a team's willingness to wait on him defensively even if the bat was ready.

I understand your points, but I feel Baltimore needed to draft college pitching way more than Baltimore needed  to draft 2 more catchers and another lefty hitting OF'er.  In other words we disagree on the theory of drafting for need vs. drafting the best available player. I realize I have over simplified our differences by my statement above, so I'm going to take a nap. LOL.

[Fatbat]

@chpettit19 @tarheeltwinsfan Quick was available to Baltimore 3 times and they chose other guys. They obviously aren’t looking for college flame throwers early….

[Mike Sixel]

3 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

I don't love the Houston pick. Glove-first hitters don't tend to be more than utility players at the MLB level and the Twins desperately need offense. The guy is going to have to end up hitting, and not just singles.

I like the pitchers, but if it becomes clear that they both should be relievers, I don't want the Twins farting around for years trying to force the issue as starters.

Young's bat sounds like a huge boom or bust profile, but I'm all for rolling the dice. 

Agreed. The first pick is fine, but I prefer upside there. We'll see. 

[Mike Sixel]

39 minutes ago, Fatbat said:

Bodine and Stevenson (30,35) were picked right ahead of Quick at 36. I wonder if one were available, would we have taken either? Also, Baltimore took Irish and Bodine so they are doubling down….. and they have lots of early picks

They'll move Irish to the OF I'm guessing? Heck, if I'm them, I trade him for pitching in the off season. 

[BrokenCompass]

Quentin Young looks like a BALLPLAYER.

[LambchoP]

On 7/14/2025 at 7:53 AM, twinstalker said:

Are you suggesting we put Lee at catcher?

2nd base probably, depending on where Keaschal ends up. Maybe 3rd base if Lewis eventually moves to first...