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    Twins Daily Mock Draft

    Jeremy Nygaard

    By Jeremy Nygaard

    Everyone loves a good mock draft.

    Or even a poor one.

    This is my one and only projection of the first 37 picks of this year's draft.

    Twins Video

    1. Twins -

    I'd love to put Hunter Green here. I would absolutely love to. And I think there's still a slim chance. After all, why would they bring him to town and wine and dine him in the final days leading up to the draft? Maybe, all along, their perceived lack of interest was just a smokescreen... I mean, what if they just didn't want every other team to know they were locked in on making history by drafting a 17-year-old right-handed pitcher who only threw 28 innings as a senior in high school? But what would the point of that be? Who cares if teams know what the team is doing first? Could that prevent other teams from getting a better feel about where they could save money and manipulate their own draft pools? I don't know.

    As would probably be expected, no one with the Twins is real interested in divulging the biggest secret of the day... and that makes me question why this late turn back to McKay came to light?

    As of press time, word hasn't broke from the Draft Room about the direction the club is going. But they have made their decision about who they like the most. The next eight hours will be all about money... and that could change things. Drastically.

    You've probably noticed there is a blank next to the Twins name above. It's because I'm torn. I think there are still a few possibilities:

    Kyle Wright, Brendan McKay, Royce Lewis and Hunter Greene.

    I'll trust the new front office - one scout who has been involved in many drafts text me "these guys are f****** good, man" - and even if the selection wouldn't be my first choice, I'll give it the benefit of the doubt.

    And I think their choice is going to be Brendan McKay, LHP, Louisville.

    2. Cincinnati - Hunter Greene, RHP, California prep

    3. San Diego - MacKenzie Gore, LHP, North Carolina prep

    4. Tampa Bay - Bubba Thompson, OF, Alabama prep

    Last year, I knew the Braves were taking Ian Anderson. I just didn't see it happening at #3. It's the same for Thompson and the Rays... only this year, I'm going to pull the trigger. They will save up to load up on prep arms later.

    5. Atlanta - Royce Lewis, SS, California prep

    6. Oakland - Kyle Wright, RHP, Vanderbilt

    7. Arizona - Pavin Smith, 1B, Virginia

    8. Philadelphia - Keston Hiura, 2B, UC Irvine

    9. Milwaukee - Jo Adell, OF, Louisville prep

    10. LA Angels - J. B. Bukauskas, RHP, North Carolina

    11. Chicago White Sox - Adam Haseley, OF, Virginia

    12. Pittsburgh - Shane Baz, RHP, Texas prep

    13. Miami - DL Hall, LHP, Georgia prep

    14. Kansas City - Trevor Rogers, LHP, New Mexico prep

    15. Houston - Alex Faedo, RHP, Florida

    16. NY Yankees - Austin Beck, OF, North Carolina prep

    17. Seattle - Jake Burger, 3B, Missouri State

    18. Detroit - Nate Pearson, RHP, JC of Central Florida

    19. San Francisco - David Peterson, LHP, Oregon

    20. NY Mets - Jeren Kendall, OF, Vanderbilt

    21. Baltimore - Heliot Rams, OF, Puerto Rico prep

    22. Toronto - Logan Warmoth, SS, UNC

    23. LA Dodgers - Clarke Schmidt, RHP, South Carolina

    24. Boston - Evan White, 1B, Kentucky

    25. Washington - Seth Romero, LHP, Houston

    26. Texas - Tristen Lutz, OF, Texas prep

    27. Chicago Cubs - Tanner Houck, RHP, Missouri

    28. Toronto - Tristan Beck, RHP, Stanford

    29. Texas - Luis Campusano, C, Georgia prep

    30. Chicago Cubs - Nick Pratto, 1B, California prep

    31. Tampa Bay - Matt Sauer, RHP, California prep

    32. Cincinnati - Sam Carlson, RHP, Minnesota prep

    33. Oakland - Stuart Fairchild, OF, Wake Forest

    34. Milwaukee - Steven Jennings, RHP, Tennessee prep

    The Brewers have taken a lot of prospects I wish the Twins would get - so I'm assuming Jennings, who could be a steal, will go to the Brewers before the Twins get a chance.

    35. Minnesota - Brady McConnell, SS, Florida prep

    After playing it relatively safe at 1-1, McConnell is a high-ceiling shortstop who could burn into some of the money the club saves.

    36. Miami - Mark Vientos, SS, Florida prep

    37. Minnesota - Jacob Heatherly, LHP, Alabama prep

    Don't see how Falvey can make three picks and none of them be a prep pitcher.

    There you have it!

    Jeremy Nygaard has been a season ticket holder since the Metrodome days, loves the draft and lives on the other side of the river.
    Follow Jeremy Nygaard on Twitter: jeremynygaard

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    Featured Comments

    drjim

    drjim 7,100

  • Provisional Member

    • Posted

     

    Yeah, I agree that the problem hasn't been losing players. In the year or 2 before Target Field was built up to today, they've resigned Morneau, Mauer, Perkins, Dozier... As well as giving out unwarranted extensions to Suzuki and Hughes. 

    Since the ballpark opened, there hasn't been anyone else worthwhile to re-sign. 

     

    If anything, they've been too liberal with their money, spending it on bad extensions.

    Thrylos

    Thrylos 8,325

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted (edited)

    Re: breaking the current young core:

     

    If the current core (Sano, Berrios, Kepler, Polanco, Buxton) develop to be the players we want them to be, they will required contracts at the $20M/annual value a head.  Will the Twins spend $100M+ a season for 5 players only?  Highly unlikely.

     

    They will have to break that core.  Pure math.

    Edited by Thrylos
    dgwills

    dgwills 567

  • Provisional Member

    • Posted

    Welp. I guess it's time for me to make a call. There really doesn't seem to be a right or wrong answer this year. All these guys are pretty close. I would pick Hunter Greene.  He throws in the high nineties and can throw strikes. That's a rare combination. If he develops a plus secondary pitch and an average one he's an ace. If not he's a closer or a shortstop.

    I'm fine if they take Mckay or Wright as well. In that order.

    jrod23

    jrod23 536

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    I really like what Lavelle was saying today on the FAN.  If they pick McKay, his arm is probably going to get shut down anyway for the year.  Let him go down to E-Town and let us get a good gauge as to where he's at as a hitter and at first.  Maybe do a spot out of the bullpen here or there to keep him in tune from the rubber as well.  I'd love Hunter Greene, but he'd take what many people are out of right now, and that's PATIENCE.  We wouldn't see him in the pros for more than likely another 3 years minimum.  Where as if McKay is truly that no.1 overall caliber and out of college, we'd possibly get to see him around 2019. That's if he progresses enough in building up to 150+ innings.  When it's all said and done, it's not the NBA.  It's not the NFL.  The development of arm strength for pitchers is so beyond my realm of comprehension, I wouldn't know where to begin.  I just really really REALLY don't want a 1-1 bust.  That's where I'd love Greene.

    Mr. Brooks

    Mr. Brooks 7,174

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    I really like what Lavelle was saying today on the FAN. If they pick McKay, his arm is probably going to get shut down anyway for the year. Let him go down to E-Town and let us get a good gauge as to where he's at as a hitter and at first. Maybe do a spot out of the bullpen here or there to keep him in tune from the rubber as well. I'd love Hunter Greene, but he'd take what many people are out of right now, and that's PATIENCE. We wouldn't see him in the pros for more than likely another 3 years minimum. Where as if McKay is truly that no.1 overall caliber and out of college, we'd possibly get to see him around 2019. That's if he progresses enough in building up to 150+ innings. When it's all said and done, it's not the NBA. It's not the NFL. The development of arm strength for pitchers is so beyond my realm of comprehension, I wouldn't know where to begin. I just really really REALLY don't want a 1-1 bust. That's where I'd love Greene.

    It doesn't seem to me that sending an advanced college hitter to ETown is going to tell us ANYTHING about him as a hitter. We already know he can hit that level, he's probably facing significantly better pitching now than he'd see most days in ETown.

    Yeahright

    Yeahright 7

  • Provisional Member

    • Posted

    This theory of quickest to the Majors so they can help the corp group is short sighted to say the least. I remember people saying the same thing to justify picking Jay a couple of years ago. That didn't exactly work out. McKay reminds me of Jay. The fact he can play in the field and pitch suggests to some he is a safer pick. The safety picks often turn out to be unsafe. I have my fingers crossed for anyone but McKay. If he is the pick I hope I am wrong.

    GardyParty

    GardyParty 42

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    oh how we forget last time the twins drafted high they didn't take the Lebrun James of baseball they took the next Willie Mays, the next Barry Bonds. How is that playing out?

     

     

    http://www.crawfishboxes.com/2012/6/3/3060244/amateur-draft-profile-byron-buxton-of-appling-county-hs-georgia

     

    Baseball is trying its darndest to appeal to a certain demographic of people. MLB spends-multi millions every year promoting the sport and building state of the art stadiums free of charge in that demographics neighborhoods. How many articles have come out over the last 3 to 5 years about the "shockingly" low number of AA's playing the sport collegiantly and professionally.

     

    truth be told though the MLB draft is a crap shoot, unlike the NBA or NFL where the top 5 picks usually result in top tier talent.

     

    Maybe the twins should draft the safer pick without the "huge potential" seemed rightfully so when the Astros drafted Correa over Buston

    Mr. Brooks

    Mr. Brooks 7,174

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    oh how we forget last time the twins drafted high they didn't take the Lebrun James of baseball they took the next Willie Mays, the next Barry Bonds. How is that playing out?http://www.crawfishboxes.com/2012/6/3/3060244/amateur-draft-profile-byron-buxton-of-appling-county-hs-georgiaBaseball is trying its darndest to appeal to a certain demographic of people. MLB spends-multi millions every year promoting the sport and building state of the art stadiums free of charge in that demographics neighborhoods. How many articles have come out over the last 3 to 5 years about the "shockingly" low number of AA's playing the sport collegiantly and professionally. truth be told though the MLB draft is a crap shoot, unlike the NBA or NFL where the top 5 picks usually result in top tier talent. Maybe the twins should draft the safer pick without the "huge potential" seemed rightfully so when the Astros drafted Correa over Buston

    Correa wasn't considered the safe pick that year. Mark Appel was, and he's a bigger bust than Buxton could ever dream about.

    Also, the book has yet to be written on Buxton- he is only 23 years old, just 2 years (to the day, actually) older than this year's "safe pick", Brendan McKay is.



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