Twins Select Luke Keaschall at #49 in the 2023 MLB Draft

4 minutes ago, DocBauer said:

I'm a little confused on this one. Thought for sure they'd grab LHP Whitman from Kent State or HS LHP Cam Johnson or OF Hack Hurley from VA Tech who they've been tied to previously.

Nothing against Keaschall at all. But it's my understanding he's already moved to 2B and supposedly doesn't have the power for 3B. So not sure I'm seeing a 2B in the 2nd round at this point. Is he an over slot to save some money??

This reminds me a lot of last year's pick of Schobel. 

Yep. Overshot for savings.  Boras client and the two high schoolers may have necessitated it. I think Johnson was clearly an option forestalled by co$t to keep him from LSU - but I REALLY wanted him too. 

Its a nice pick, speed and hit tools. I was thinking more about Carrigg or a college pitcher. 

His average pre-draft ranking from The Athletic, ESPN, and Baseball America was 49. It may help to think of him as a CF.

 Loved the first two picks but not this one. No upside here with a pick that high that probably ends up being a utility infielder. Take a shot at a high school pitcher. They are both likely to never see the bigs but get a guy that has a chance at some upside. 

4 hours ago, Dman said:

It’s a solid pick just not something the system needs IMO. good approach, good speed, is figuring out how to go for power.  Just not the pick I was hoping for. Would have rather seen them go pitcher. Depth in the minors there is not good. It looks like another balanced draft but they need more arms.

Don't worry in the rest of the draft I think they'll be grabbing many sleeper college arms they can develope. 

The 1st 2 pick were OK worthy of their order picked, but no steals. But our # 49 pick they blew it. Keaschall, is a good hitter, has above avg. speed but not great and at 2B , he doesn't man a premium position or fill a need. IMO Cole Carrigg is a better hitter, faster runner, has a great arm, a very athletic catcher (IMO the 2nd best college catcher) a premium position, where he was drafted by CO and is a position of great need for the Twins.

The Twins could have stole Carrigg because the evaluators put him as a INF/OF where he was above average instead of catcher where he could excel plus he switch hits, So I'm very disappointed with the Twins #49th pick. If they felt the need to under slot, this was not the place to do it.

The more I read the more I like the pick. The Schobel comp seems pretty apt, but it seems like Keaschall has shown a bit more of a knack for contact and might be a bit more physical overall so hopefully the upside is higher.

It's easy to see how a model could rate him highly. While the knock is a lack of power, he got to plenty of power last year. I think I saw strong hands mentioned in more than one scouting report. And even if he stays as more of a pull power rather than all fields power that could play at target field.

I like a pick who has been on the rise over the last year.

It felt like almost a given that it would be a college bat after their first two picks. There were a couple guys left that I was a bit more familiar with, but it doesn't necessarily seem like Keaschall is obviously a lesser bat or lesser prospect.

If what happens with our 3rd pick happens and I have a sneaky suspicion we get Hurley,  and this was just a swapping of picks because they really liked Keaschall, I think everyone will be very happy with this draft.  We will have 4 very high rated prospects.  Even if it is not Hurley the draft will be a success, it will just be filling in with prospects the Twins hope they can develop a few diamonds in the rough.   

2 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

The 1st 2 pick were OK worthy of their order picked, but no steals. But our # 49 pick they blew it. Keaschall, is a good hitter, has above avg. speed but not great and at 2B , he doesn't man a premium position or fill a need. IMO Cole Carrigg is a better hitter, faster runner, has a great arm, a very athletic catcher (IMO the 2nd best college catcher) a premium position, where he was drafted by CO and is a position of great need for the Twins.

The Twins could have stole Carrigg because the evaluators put him as a INF/OF where he was above average instead of catcher where he could excel plus he switch hits, So I'm very disappointed with the Twins #49th pick. If they felt the need to under slot, this was not the place to do it.

Blew it? Feels a little harsh. And if Carrigg doesn't stick at catcher (and notably, his primary position this spring was CF) then what is he? KLaw had him all the way down at 70 on his big board because he doesn't make hard contact and expands the zone too much (and as a result doesn't get on base enough). If he's the 2nd best college catcher, why didn't he play there for SDSU this spring?

Keaschall has the speed for CF, so if he doesn't stick on the dirt he's got another position when he can add value on defense. I just don't think you can try and draft for need and be successful in the MLB draft, unless the players are pretty close in terms of overall evaluation; then it makes sense as a tie-breaker, but right now it doesn't look like Carrigg is seen by many evaluators as a serious catching prospect and there's some real questions about his hit tool in comparison to other guys who were drafted ahead of him.

2 hours ago, jmlease1 said:

Blew it? Feels a little harsh. And if Carrigg doesn't stick at catcher (and notably, his primary position this spring was CF) then what is he? KLaw had him all the way down at 70 on his big board because he doesn't make hard contact and expands the zone too much (and as a result doesn't get on base enough). If he's the 2nd best college catcher, why didn't he play there for SDSU this spring?

Keaschall has the speed for CF, so if he doesn't stick on the dirt he's got another position when he can add value on defense. I just don't think you can try and draft for need and be successful in the MLB draft, unless the players are pretty close in terms of overall evaluation; then it makes sense as a tie-breaker, but right now it doesn't look like Carrigg is seen by many evaluators as a serious catching prospect and there's some real questions about his hit tool in comparison to other guys who were drafted ahead of him.

I imagine Carrigg fit in the same category as Wyatt Langsford (was drafted by Florida as a top catcher prospect) where he was more needed in the OF because of his speed. Evaluators don't evaluate Carrigg as a catcher because he's listed as a CF. Pre season evaluation gave him high notes on his athleticism & his flexibility on defense where he could play anywhere including pitcher but noted his best position as catcher. 

He has all the tools (athleticism, quickness, leadership, strong arm & quick to learn) to not only stick at catcher but excel there. Because many evaluators only looked at him as a new OFer and not as a top notch catcher that decreased greatly Carrigg's stock, which made him a steal. That the Twins missed on. CO drafted him not as an OF/INF/utility but as a catcher. They got it right.

Thought I throw in a clip 

At the end he was asked where his arm played out the best he replied catcher