Nygaard Mock Draft v. 2.0

Rumors have it that Crews has no interest in going to Pittsburgh. I just don't see the Twins useing a number 1 pick to draft a catcher.

If it is true that Boras and Crews want nothing to do with Pittsburg that is exactly what the Twins need to happen in this draft.  In stead of Clark falling to 10,  a very real possibility Clark goes 1 at a discounted price.   That drops the big 3 down to picks 2-4 and the Twins money can then come into play,  along with the Texans being high on the high school players as well.  That would allow either Skenes or Langford to fall to 5.  That is the best case outcome for the Twins or something funky that would allow Crews to get to 5 which would be crazy town.  

Clark is one of the 5 generational talents in this draft.  They had better not settle for less.  This team needs hitters.  Teel is just an afterthought.  Nothing more.

If the top 4 taken in whatever order are:  Crews, Skenes, Langford and Jenkins, my rankings for the 5 pick would be:

Clark

[medium gap]

Lowdon

[significant gap]

Teel

Clark could be very, very special.  We need a no-doubt CF prospect in the pipeline with Buxton seemingly never to play there again (so sad).

Lowdon could be a stud, and he was a stud at the highest level of college BB this year.

Teel would not even be on the radar is not playing C, and I am not convinced on his D at that position at the MLB level.

20 minutes ago, SGL said:

Clark is one of the 5 generational talents in this draft.  They had better not settle for less.  This team needs hitters.  Teel is just an afterthought.  Nothing more.

I think it is quite strong to call Clark or Jenkins a generational talent.  The only generational talents are Skenes and Crews.  Both would have been the number 1 picks in the last 5-6 drafts.  As to Langford,  he is right up there just a tad behind.  Likely a 1st round pick in many of the previous 6 years.   Clark and Jenkins both don't seem like can't miss prospects.  Clark, not enough power, Jenkins still has some holes in his swing.  Give me a more polished hitter that shows can hit elite pitching or an elite pitcher.  To me there are 3 elite prospects and likely only 2 that the Twins would consider at 5 which is disappointing.  I do think Teel could be the Twins pick.  Will just have to wait and see.  

If the Twins are truly taking a non-top 5 at 5, it better be to save money to convince someone else to keep falling.  In this case, the player I would want to fall is Bradfield.  I would absolutely love to have a speedy, contact-oriented plus defender in Center.

No way Clark drops that far. I don’t think we should take a pitcher that high put we really need to if there’s any chance of ace material there which dollander might be with some professional coaching. My thoughts are if Max Clark is there at 5 you take him. Historically catchers taken that high don’t seem to become the studs they’re made out to be once they reach the majors. If he was a Joe Mauer type then sure but Teel isn’t even in the same universe. Especially when you literally win the lottery and nab the 5th pick.

Every time the Twins go against the rankings it blows up in thier face. Sabato, Cavaco and so on. Take whichever one of the top 5 that is left. This front office is not that smart. They shocked me last year when they actually took Lee.

Just take BPA.

The take a lower ranked player to save some money for later strategy isn’t something we need to do every year, and I’m not convinced it’s actually a viable strategy.  What have we gotten out of that strategy to date?  Enlow?

If Teel is actually BPA, so be it.  I’m not a huge fan of taking a catcher that early unless they’re a fairly clear cut star (Mauer, Rutschman, etc.).  I don’t know enough to say he is or isn’t, but I’d rather go with one of the big 5.

We seem to hear every year that teams cool on the top guys right before the draft, and actually like player X who is ranked lower.  Its a negotiating tactic.

2 hours ago, Beast said:

Just take BPA.

The take a lower ranked player to save some money for later strategy isn’t something we need to do every year, and I’m not convinced it’s actually a viable strategy.  What have we gotten out of that strategy to date?  Enlow?

If Teel is actually BPA, so be it.  I’m not a huge fan of taking a catcher that early unless they’re a fairly clear cut star (Mauer, Rutschman, etc.).  I don’t know enough to say he is or isn’t, but I’d rather go with one of the big 5.

We seem to hear every year that teams cool on the top guys right before the draft, and actually like player X who is ranked lower.  Its a negotiating tactic.

13 hours ago, Chris Spencer said:

Every time the Twins go against the rankings it blows up in thier face. Sabato, Cavaco and so on. Take whichever one of the top 5 that is left. This front office is not that smart. They shocked me last year when they actually took Lee.

 

Jeffers? Granted he’s not a superstar but a 2nd round pick I believe that’s a reach at the time is up and contributing in 2 years is a win. But to your point that’s one of many reaches they’ve made that we’re still waiting on.

14 hours ago, DocBauer said:

I wouldn't be upset if they grabbed Teel. It's a huge upside pick. A quality catcher who can hit, with a LH bat, seemingly good contact skills, a plus arm, and power. And a much better athlete than normal for the position. He might end up working with Jeffers in 2yrs and form a hell of a combo, right as Vazquez's deal expires. It's hard to find 2 way catchers like him.

So why do I give pause? Am I just feeling paranoid? I 100% understand that the front of this draft is LOADED. But even then, why isn't Teel in more discussion as a top 5 or 6 pick? I mean, again, offensive, athletic, strong armed catchers with a lefty bat don't grow on trees! Is it simply the depth at the top of the 1st round? Is it a question that his offensive explosion this year is questioned by some, even though he was still very good the year before? Is there some concern he might not stick at catcher despite his arm and athleticism and might end up an average 1B or OF?

He excites me but makes me nervous.

Everything I hear and read seems to indicate Langford and Clark are about as "can't miss" as you can get, while also filling an organizational/team need. I just hope the FO drafts one of those 2 and doesn't try to overthink this one.

I would have to agree on Teel. Maybe he becomes a solid backstop or even an all star backstop. His pedigree is good and I like that in a player almost more than the analytics sometimes. But when there is star power available at the 5th pick in a 5 tool player you’ve gotta go that route. If Clark is as good as advertised then we have a CFer in 3 years who’s got the ability to take over games. If the Twins are gonna draft out of the 2nd tier of players we should take Lowder and plug him into the rotation by the middle to end of next year. A solid 3 maybe even a 2 for the next 6 years. Idk, my opinion but if one of Langford, Jenkins or Clark is available we just need to not overthink this pick and just go with the star power that’s available. Lol

I still think Clarke is gone by pick 5 and Teel is borderline top 10-20. I doubt the FO will pick out of the top 5 plus throw in Lowder/Dollander for conversation since they are both top of the rotation guys.