2014 MLB Draft Thread

gunnarthor · March 22, 2014

That's a good point, twinssin. Philip Humber had the same problems after he was abused in college.

Ozziedavisfan · March 22, 2014

I sort of hope Rodon could drop, Anthony Ranando (I'm spelling his name wrong I think) Had a awful Junior Season at LSU, and dropped to the Red soxs at 37 but I think he's one of their top prospects. But you never know.

Jeremy Nygaard · March 22, 2014

If I remember correctly, Renaudo had an arm injury late in the season.

cmb0252 · March 24, 2014

Christopher Crawford released his second big board and things have definitely been shaken up. Like Law he now has Aiken #1. Here is his full board:

http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2014/03/the-board-2014-volume-ii/

nicksaviking · March 24, 2014

Lots of arms, and Crawford's right, the bats aren't really distinguishing themsevles this year. It would be strange, but not unexpected if the top 5 are all pitchers.

cmb0252 · March 24, 2014

Lots of arms, and Crawford's right, the bats aren't really distinguishing themsevles this year. It would be strange, but not unexpected if the top 5 are all pitchers.

I could easily see the top 5 being all pitchers unless someone steps up. Jackson needs to show his elite hit tool he showed last year. I have been a Zimmer fanboy since last year and if a team thinks he will stay in center he could sneak into the top 5.

TRex · March 24, 2014

I could easily see the top 5 being all pitchers unless someone steps up. Jackson needs to show his elite hit tool he showed last year. I have been a Zimmer fanboy since last year and if a team thinks he will stay in center he could sneak into the top 5.

But could you really see 3 of the top 4 being HS arms? The history of HS arms drafted 1-1 (David Clyde and Brien Taylor) looks even worse than for HS catchers (Mauer and ... um... nobody worth mentioning) !

InfraRen · March 24, 2014

I see Rodon this yeat becoming the Mark Appel of two years ago.

I really hope the Twins get a shot at him.

Drools. Rodon/Meyer/Stewart oh joy!

righty8383 · March 24, 2014

I hope we do get another pitcher. You can never have too much pitching. We've come a long ways since the days that Adrian Salcedo and Liam Hendriks were our best pitching prospects.

gunnarthor · March 24, 2014

This draft is really looking good for us, with the caveat that a lot can still change. But right now, it looks like one of Aiken, Rodon, Hoffman, Beede or Kolek (or others) will be available for us at 5. I was really worried this would become a 4 player draft but this draft is really showing some depth. I have no idea how the Twins would rate these players but, right now, I'd be happy with any of them at #5. Heck, if things fall weird, we could get a nice grab in the second round, too.

Mike Sixel · March 24, 2014

Who would have thought it was possible they'd have a shot at Rodon? Unreal. Just like no one thought the Vikes would have a shot at Bridgewater, and now he might not even go in the top 10.......

twinsin17 · March 24, 2014

I am sure we'll start hearing more about Grant Holmes once his HS season begins March 26. He has an upper 90s FB (reports say it topped out at 98 in a spring scrimmage) and his curveball may be the best out-pitch in the draft.

nicksaviking · March 24, 2014

This draft is really looking good for us, with the caveat that a lot can still change. But right now, it looks like one of Aiken, Rodon, Hoffman, Beede or Kolek (or others) will be available for us at 5. I was really worried this would become a 4 player draft but this draft is really showing some depth. I have no idea how the Twins would rate these players but, right now, I'd be happy with any of them at #5. Heck, if things fall weird, we could get a nice grab in the second round, too.

I certainly hope all five of those guys aren't gone when the Twins pick at #5! Though I guess wouldn't put it past the Cubs to somehow find a loophole for them to grab two of them at pick #4.

ashbury · March 24, 2014

I kind of hate to focus too greatly on exactly N players if we're drafting at N. If someone like Rodon falls to us, then it's likely for a reason, and that same reason may cause the Twins to pass as well. It's possible that the reasoning by the other teams doesn't apply to the Twins situation, but chances are we'd just be setting ourselves up for disappointment.

Willihammer · March 25, 2014

With the 5th selection the Minnesota Twins select... Touki Toussaint.

ashbury · March 25, 2014

With the 5th selection the Minnesota Twins select... Touki Toussaint.

Approves:

[video=youtube;UGUgtebFVQE]

AlwaysinModeration · March 25, 2014

But right now, it looks like one of Aiken, Rodon, Hoffman, Beede or Kolek (or others) will be available for us at 5.

In fact, I am going to go out on a limb and guarantee you one of those five will be available at #5!

Lonestar · March 25, 2014

I am sure we'll start hearing more about Grant Holmes once his HS season begins March 26. He has an upper 90s FB (reports say it topped out at 98 in a spring scrimmage) and his curveball may be the best out-pitch in the draft.

Unless it's his Bugs Bunny change up. The combination of those three pitches could be lethal.

maxisagod · March 25, 2014

I kind of hate to focus too greatly on exactly N players if we're drafting at N. If someone like Rodon falls to us, then it's likely for a reason, and that same reason may cause the Twins to pass as well. It's possible that the reasoning by the other teams doesn't apply to the Twins situation, but chances are we'd just be setting ourselves up for disappointment.

If the field is as wide open in June as it is now, then I think this will be the most debated draft in memory. The buxton pick stirred up some controversy for a year before hitting number one prospect status. Stewart was being hyped by the Twins for a while, so when the big 3 were taken off the board, no one had a big problem with selecting Stewart. This pick at 5, some people are going away pissed on Draft day. I think the uncertainty makes this fun, we all will pull for our favorites!

diehardtwinsfan · March 25, 2014

If the field is as wide open in June as it is now, then I think this will be the most debated draft in memory. The buxton pick stirred up some controversy for a year before hitting number one prospect status. Stewart was being hyped by the Twins for a while, so when the big 3 were taken off the board, no one had a big problem with selecting Stewart. This pick at 5, some people are going away pissed on Draft day. I think the uncertainty makes this fun, we all will pull for our favorites!

I would have to think (the way it's shaping up) that a pitcher is who we take at 5 (and I want that personally unless there's a Tulo like SS available). This might be a situation where if there's no sizable gap between say 5 and 10 or if the Twin's BPA isn't likely to go top 5, the Twins can leverage that to get an easier sign and then grab a tough sign later in the draft.

cmb0252 · March 25, 2014

Last year about this time I had a list of about 8 prospects I figured the Twins would choose from. This year? Maybe 12. It definitely seems like we will end up with a pitcher unless Zimmer, Gordon, or Jackson step up.

Fatt Crapps · March 25, 2014

In fact, I am going to go out on a limb and guarantee you one of those five will be available at #5!

Especially in regards to the "others".

markos · March 25, 2014

I kind of hate to focus too greatly on exactly N players if we're drafting at N. If someone like Rodon falls to us, then it's likely for a reason, and that same reason may cause the Twins to pass as well. It's possible that the reasoning by the other teams doesn't apply to the Twins situation, but chances are we'd just be setting ourselves up for disappointment.

I definitely relate to this. I often catch myself over-thinking things with these top players in the sense that I want them to play really well, but not be too dominate, because if they are too good then they won't be available at #5. And if they are dominating too much, then I want them to scuffle a little bit, just so that they aren't too good to be available at #5. For example, I was almost happy to see Tyler Beede get hit around last weekend, just because he was potentially looking too good. Anyway, I'm trying to simplify things by just hoping that everyone plays great all spring, ensuring that there will be a great player available at #5.

Willihammer · March 27, 2014

Evidently Toussaint's changeup looked better yesterday, command was better too.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/2014-nhsi-prospect-notebook-day-1/

His changeup was a much improved offering compared to the showcase circuit. Over the summer, Toussiant would often get on the side of his changeup, causing the pitch to cut. The action caused the evaluators to think the offering was a cutter or slider at times because of its glove-side movement. But Toussiant’s 83-85 mph changeup that he throws with a split grip had considerable tumble and fade on Wednesday.

“It is light years ahead of where it was last summer and it was really good earlier this spring,” a National League scout said. “This spring he started to throw it more and his timing has been better, so he hasn’t been cutting through it anymore. Now he is working through it and finishing it. It has really taken off and shows the makings of a plus pitch.”

cmb0252 · March 27, 2014

Evidently Toussaint's changeup looked better yesterday, command was better too.
http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/2014-nhsi-prospect-notebook-day-1/

Reports had his fastball sitting between 92-94 with a few 95s. Definitely an interesting arm.

cmb0252 · March 27, 2014

Some other updates from the Invitational opener:

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140326&content_id=70188200&notebook_id=70188432&vkey=notebook_mlb&c_id=mlb

http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/mlb-draft/post?id=1414

Willihammer · March 28, 2014

Chavis is still red hot. As of Mar 24 he was batting .700 (21 for 30) with 5 HR. He hit his 6th HR Wednesday.

http://mdjonline.com/bookmark/24798701-Sprayberry-s-Chavis-becoming-nightmare-for-pitchers

http://mdjonline.com/view/full_story/24828027/article-Yellow-Jackets-get-most-out-of-three-hits?instance=special%20_coverage_right_column

Winston Smith · March 28, 2014

Anyone have an idea who the Twins might take with the first pick in 2015?

ashbury · March 28, 2014

Anyone have an idea who the Twins might take with the first pick in 2015?

Moderator's note: funny enough, but it's way too easy to take any given thread and turn it into one of the standard foodfights, in this case "say, has anyone here happened to notice the Twins have lost 290+ games the past three years and don't look that hot this Spring?" Please, folks, don't go out of your way to give the moderation team more gray areas to have to sift through - enough of them come up organically.

Willihammer · March 29, 2014

An unspectacular outing for Beede last night. 5 IP, 5H, 3R, 3BB, 4K against Kentucky.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/friday-roundup-reed-kentucky-add-another-marquee-win/

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