Twins Select James Ellwanger at #88 in the 2025 MLB Draft

Pretty fair evaluation, though I have to disagree that he has a “lean frame.” I live in Dallas, go regularly to DBU games, and saw Ellwanger start two games this year. I have a personal connection (his brother just graduated from the university where I teach), and so I talked with James quite a bit in person. He is very well built, strong, and has a thick lower half. I’m not a small man and he made me look tiny. I would guess that he already weighs much more than the listed 205.

He is also one of the nicest young men you will ever meet and comes from a great family. IIRC he was the no. 2 rated pitcher in Texas coming out of high school. Fastball is electric. His struggles were (1) locating it at times, and (2) finishing hitters with his curveball. The last time I saw him start the off-speed got hit hard at least three times.

All in all I think it’s a solid 3rd round pick. Will have to develop his other pitches to start but maybe best profiles as a high-octane reliever.

Pretty fair evaluation, though I have to disagree that he has a “lean frame.” I live in Dallas, go regularly to DBU games, and saw Ellwanger start two games this year. I have a personal connection (his brother just graduated from the university where I teach), and so I talked with James quite a bit in person. He is very well built, strong, and has a thick lower half. I’m not a small man and he made me look tiny. I would guess that he already weighs much more than the listed 205.

He is also one of the nicest young men you will ever meet and comes from a great family. IIRC he was the no. 2 rated pitcher in Texas coming out of high school. Fastball is electric. His struggles were (1) locating it at times, and (2) finishing hitters with his curveball. The last time I saw him start the off-speed got hit hard at least three times.

All in all I think it’s a solid 3rd round pick. Will have to develop his other pitches to start but maybe best profiles as a high-octane reliever.

I like this pick.  Good Size and the ability to fill out and add strength.  The key with any pitcher is confidence, command and control.  He's got the arm.  Can the Twins develop the 3 "C's."  

You can always tell when the project pitcher phase of the draft kicks in for the Twins, though Ellwanger was ranked (by Law) right around where the Twins took him, so maybe  it's after the requisite catchers get taken.

Twins love taking the power arms that have injury history with these picks.  Normally, if they did not have the injury history they would be higher.  Hopefully this one works outs. 

Gonna be a fun watch when he is shoving thru AA and AAA.  Development of an out pitch and he has SP 1/2 written all over him. I believe the lean frame reference was back when he was 17 and scouted heavily.  He is no longer lean when you watch his youtube vids. The kid can pitch!

Glad the Twins are finally with the times and looking for power arms that can get strikeouts rather than the pitch to contact soft throwers of the Terry Ryan era. Of course with power arms they have the injury potential to deal with, and all but the best won't throw too many innings. But strikeouts, velocity and movement rule in today's game. Hopefully some of these kids work out. The team will always need home grown pitching.

I'm down with this pick just for the Lew Ford connection. :P