Twins Ask Wolves for Draft Lottery Advice, Regret It Immediately

[Cody Christie]

Image courtesy of © Brett Davis-Imagn Images

The MLB Draft Lottery arrives on Tuesday at 4:30 PM Central, and the Minnesota Twins enter with the second-best odds to land the first overall selection. It should be a moment of optimism. It should be the kind of scenario where a franchise dreams of future superstars. But this is Minnesota, and hope is more of a seasonal rental than a long-term investment.

In a search for any possible edge, the Twins reportedly reached out to the Minnesota Timberwolves to learn how they once navigated NBA Draft Lottery night. The goal was simple. The Twins wanted the MLB version of Anthony Edwards or Karl Anthony Towns. Unfortunately, the Wolves sent advice from a different era—one that Twins leadership quickly realized should have been left in the vault.

Derek Falvey admitted the team was simply looking for any insight that might help them avoid the standard Minnesota drop on lottery night.

“We thought they would walk us through the Anthony Edwards process,” Falvey said. “Next thing we know, they're showing us grainy footage of the David Kahn years. I called the room to an immediate halt when someone said the phrase 'dual point guard theory'.”

Initially, the Twins were hoping to build off their own success, since they vaulted from the projected 13th overall pick to the 5th overall pick in MLB’s inaugural lottery, conducted in 2022 ahead of the 2023 Draft. That jump allowed Minnesota to land Walker Jenkins, who has been the organization’s top prospect ever since. But instead of championing good fortune, the Wolves insisted on teaching the principles of accidental chaos.

Tim Connelly was reportedly confused by the request, but still tried to offer what he called “institutional wisdom.”

“The old files are what they are. If your scouts believe in the baseball equivalent of Jonny Flynn, you cannot let public pressure stop you," Connelly said. "You have to ignore everything and take the shortstop who won the dunk contest at his high school pep rally.”

At one point, a Wolves staffer offered a laminated sheet titled: “Approaches That Definitely Do Not Work Anymore.” The Twins say it included handwritten notes on drafting players who share agents, searching for prospects with the best smile, and selecting multiple identical skill sets because it looks cool on paper. A Twins analytics employee reportedly fainted after reading the final line, which read simply, “Trust your gut, even if the numbers beg you not to.”

Falvey tried to remain polite as the meeting spiraled.

“We kept waiting for the moment when they explained how they got Edwards,” Falvey said. “Instead, they kept telling us that if two prospects look the same, the correct answer is drafting both. I am not sure that translates to baseball. Also, someone tried to argue that swing decisions are overrated. I am pretty confident that is not true.”

The Twins attempted to redirect the meeting by asking how the Wolves avoided lottery heartbreak in recent years.

“We traded all our picks for Rudy Gobert," Connelly said. "It really simplifies lottery night.”

Falvey reportedly wrote the phrase down and circled it 17 times.

Still, the Twins are hoping luck will remain on their side. The organization knows how dramatically fortunes can shift, just as they did the year Minnesota jumped to fifth with no expectations and landed Jenkins. Falvey remained hopeful, despite the questionable guidance.

“We still love our odds and our process,” he said. “We are just choosing to forget everything we heard today.”

By the end of the consultation, the Twins promised to send the Wolves a fruit basket. The Wolves suggested including two identical baskets because “sometimes you just take both and let the future sort it out.” The Twins left Target Center immediately.

Now, Minnesota waits to see if the lottery gods reward their bold curiosity or punish them for taking advice from the one franchise that accidentally taught an entire city what could go wrong on draft night.

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[bloomwcjkl]

Luc Longley's son plays baseball. 7-2 pitcher that throws 125 mph. Maybe there is a chance?

[Heiny]

whatever they do, they must pass on any talent that looks like Steph Curry.

[terrydactyls]

I understand that the draft will be revealed this afternoon.  But wasn't it already held on Sunday and everyone was sworn to secrecy until the league could make a big show out of it?  If true, then they didn't keep it much of a secret.  I read (and watched a video) of the Cleveland Guardians winning the first pick (2% chance) and dancing around their headquarters.  I won't guarantee it's veracity, but if it is, what does it do to the Twins?

[The Great Hambino]

55 minutes ago, terrydactyls said:

I understand that the draft will be revealed this afternoon.  But wasn't it already held on Sunday and everyone was sworn to secrecy until the league could make a big show out of it?  If true, then they didn't keep it much of a secret.  I read (and watched a video) of the Cleveland Guardians winning the first pick (2% chance) and dancing around their headquarters.  I won't guarantee it's veracity, but if it is, what does it do to the Twins?

Probably takes them out of the running for the #1 pick.  But I'm a pessimist

[Cody Christie]

2 hours ago, terrydactyls said:

I understand that the draft will be revealed this afternoon.  But wasn't it already held on Sunday and everyone was sworn to secrecy until the league could make a big show out of it?  If true, then they didn't keep it much of a secret.  I read (and watched a video) of the Cleveland Guardians winning the first pick (2% chance) and dancing around their headquarters.  I won't guarantee it's veracity, but if it is, what does it do to the Twins?

Cleveland won the lottery in 2023. Are you sure it wasn't a video from that night?

[ziggy]

3 hours ago, Heiny said:

whatever they do, they must pass on any talent that looks like Steph Curry.

twice

[ziggy]

I would avoid the bad luck that follows the Timberwolves at all costs.

Wanting their help is like runing over a black cat on Friday the 13th after breaking a mirror.

[bunsen82]

3 hours ago, terrydactyls said:

I understand that the draft will be revealed this afternoon.  But wasn't it already held on Sunday and everyone was sworn to secrecy until the league could make a big show out of it?  If true, then they didn't keep it much of a secret.  I read (and watched a video) of the Cleveland Guardians winning the first pick (2% chance) and dancing around their headquarters.  I won't guarantee it's veracity, but if it is, what does it do to the Twins?

It hasn't occurred yet.  Drawing occurs at 5:30 eastern.   Just for clarification - Cleveland isn't even eligible this year for a lottery pick.  

[terrydactyls]

1 hour ago, Cody Christie said:

Cleveland won the lottery in 2023. Are you sure it wasn't a video from that night?

The 2023 draft was mentioned as a prior draft.

[terrydactyls]

42 minutes ago, bunsen82 said:

It hasn't occurred yet.  Drawing occurs at 5:30 eastern.   Just for clarification - Cleveland isn't even eligible this year for a lottery pick.  

Good catch.  Thanks.