2018 MLB Draft Day 2 Thread

 

It's hard, imo, to argue with a couple of those picks.....I am not sure about the college issue, frankly, lots of good college pitchers. 

Their BP or Fangraphs writers had hopes of Gorman and Hankins. The Singer pick was praised for the value (except by the BP guy) but many of the more in-the-know writers preferred boom-or-bust prep kids. Their system has literally no pitching talent, so it makes sense. But, on the flip side, they've also lost faith in the organization's ability to develop any pitchers. So, they wanted higher ceiling guys if they went the pitching route (outside of Singer).

 

It's after round 10 because teams don't lose their slot bonus should those players not sign.

 

And it seems like guys who are in the top 100 or so never sign. Not that I don't hope they don't take other HS kids.

 

I guess I could rephrase my prior post, we can probably wish that the Twins draft some of those high ranked HS kids, but probably shouldn't expect them to sign at this point.

 

thanks, and agree!

I'm a little disappointed the draft was so college heavy but I guess I should have seen that coming with the lost draft picks.  Also surprised they went bat heavy.  I can see Larnach was likely a decent pick where they took him and this team could use more power bats.  The catcher was an odd pick to me but I guess the guys they were hoping for were gone already.  Even though a bit risky I liked the center fielder pick. 

 

I really wanted some young gun pitchers to develop from this draft but I guess we have Enlow, Leach, and Graterol who are all pretty young right now.  There is Balazovich and Benninghoff from the 2016 draft and hopefully some GCL guys to fill things out.  It still feels like the weakest part of our system is pitching so I hope they figure something out to strengthen us in that area.  Doesn't look like this draft will help us in that area.  

 

Hope the guys they got turn out.

Edited June 5, 2018 by Dman

Chris Williams C Clemson

 

Another power hitting catcher

 

Dig it.

 

Chris Williams C Clemson

 

Another power hitting catcher

 

Dig it.

 

I like the HS shortstop, after that, the guys taken after round 1 don't really excite me. However, at this point, no one specific player drafted should be expected to ever make the big leagues, so I guess doubling down on specific skill sets probably doesn't hurt.

Last ranked C for FG.....

With Las Vegas’ recent track record on producing stars players like Kris Bryant and Bryce Harper, I’m suprised C Austin Wells hasn’t been taken yet, especially by the Twins at this point.

Willie Joe Garry Jr.,Pascagoula HS CF L/L HS SR

 

Seems a bit young to me...must have great advance metrics.  I'm sure he'll fill out a bit.

 

Nice video of him hitting a dinger:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSB1Ci-Ajc0

Edited June 5, 2018 by Obsvr

It's hard to put into words how much I like having a guy named Willie Joe in our system.

 

Already one of my favorite prospects!

My favorite pick by the Twins the second day has to be Cole Sands, I saw him pitch in HS and liked his stuff but college was the right choice for him.  Here is what BA has to say about him:

 

 

 

Sands has spent his college career in Florida State's rotation and this season moved to the front of the rotation after ace Tyler Holton was injured on Opening Day. Sands has compiled a solid college track record, including a strong performance in the Cape Cod League. Sands throws his fastball in the low 90s, reaching 95 mph with sinking action. He throws his sharp slider for strikes and he has improved his changeup into a viable third offering. Sands comes right after hitters and locates his fastball well. Listed at 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, Sands has good size and has been a reliable starter throughout his career. He missed two starts in April due to bicep tendonitis but returned to the mound in the season's final month.

DaShawn Keirsey is a perfect buy low candidate and someone to keep an eye on, here is what BA had to say about him:

 

 

 

Keirsey's career-best campaign this spring is impressive enough in its own right, as the junior center fielder hit .392/.440/.636 through his first 36 games--a slugging percentage nearly .200 points better than his previous high. His performance looks even more impressive when remembering the gruesome injury he suffered last May, when Keirsey dislocated and fractured his left hip after colliding into the center field wall while tracking a deep home run. While the injury prevented Keirsey from playing in the Cape Cod League last summer, it's seemingly done nothing to slow him down this spring. Scouts have been impressed with his athleticism, plus raw power, a strong throwing arm and running ability. The power is the obvious improvement in Keirsey's game, although most of that is driven by all of the doubles he's collected (18) rather than the home runs (3) he has hit through May 10. While scouts grade Keirsey as an above-average or plus runner, teams will worry that his hip injury will cause that grade to depreciate quicker than usual, and a related, recurring injury is also a concern. Outside of durability questions, Keirsey has a solid package of tools and a bat that can project as average--both of which could override worries about the medical.

 

It's hard to put into words how much I like having a guy named Willie Joe in our system.

Already one of my favorite prospects!

He's apparently a 70 grade runner with an athletic build, his arm is fringe but his speed plays well up in the outfield.  His swing is more contact than power but does have the body to add more as he grows.

 

 

 

Josh Winder is not in fangraphs' list, as far as I can tell... So I am no help

 

In 2017, Winder set the Virginia Military Institute single-season record for both strikeouts (112) and innings pitched (107.2) while posting a 3.59 ERA. He excited scouts with a plus fastball in the mid-90s that he located well to both sides of the plate. In 2018, the stuff hasn't been quite as good, as the 6-foot-5 righthander has been more in the 91-92 mph range and fallen into the upper 80s as he's gotten into the third or fourth inning and beyond. His slider has backed up as well and it's more of a fringe-average pitch after being a solid out-pitch last year. While he still managed a respectable walk rate with 19 free passes in 85 innings (2.01 BB/9), his strike-throwing has backed up this spring. He's fanned 91 batters through 85 innings and posted a 5.40 ERA in 14 starts. Winder could still get taken in the fifth or sixth round by a team that's confident he'll get back to his 2017 version, but his stock has slipped a bit this spring.

 

Chris Williams C Clemson

 

Another power hitting catcher

 

Dig it.

Williams is interesting (he's a college senior for one) especially if the Twins think he can stay behind the plate as a catcher but it's not for lack of skill, it's due to a prior shoulder injury.  Last year he was likely a 3rd-5th round pick before tearing the joint capsule ligaments in his right shoulder, not the labrum or the rotator muscles.  It's not a very common injury but it scared teams away last year (he went in the 31st round) and looks like again this year too.  His power game is huge but as is his swing and miss.

 

Here's what BA had to say about him:

 

 

 

Williams opened this season still less than 100 percent, and for precautionary reasons, Clemson has had him playing primarily first base. When healthy, Williams showed solid-average arm strength behind the plate, throwing out 50 percent of basestealers; his defensive game needs polish, but he profiles as an offensively geared catcher. His draft stock this year will depend on how teams view the medical reports on his right shoulder and whether they believe he'll be able to stick at catcher long-term. At the plate, Williams has been one of the best power hitters in the Atlantic Coast Conference since transferring from Golden West (Calif.) JC prior to his sophomore year. The righthanded hitter possesses plus pull power and has hit 14 home runs in back-to-back seasons, but his pull-heavy approach leads to swing-and-miss issues and makes him a below-average hitter. Williams' power will get him drafted, but he'll be a much more attractive option if teams believe he can catch.

anyone know anything about the two HS players they took in rounds 9 and 10?

 

Joe Garry Jr. OF

 

 

Regi grace RHP

Now comes the interesting part: can they all be signed?

Now comes the interesting part: can they all be signed?

Certainly the early picks will, easy.

anyone know anything about the two HS players they took in rounds 9 and 10?Joe Garry Jr. OFRegi grace RHP

Ugh, already dropping the Willie? It's Willie Joe and it better stay that way.

Found this article on 10th rounder Regi Grace

 

 

One of the metro's top arms was drafted during Tuesday's MLB Draft.

Madison Central's Regi Grace was picked in the 10th round by the Minnesota Twins, with the 304th overall pick.

A Mississippi State signee, Grace was 7-2 with a 1.31 ERA this season for the Jaguars. In 64 innings across 13 appearances, he struck out 98 and only gave up 31 hits and 10 walks. He also threw a no-hitter, against North Pike, and hit .367 with 11 doubles, four triples and three home runs.

Grace was named to the Clarion Ledger all-state baseball team after the season, after missing almost all of his junior season with an injury.

MLB.com noted that Grace, a righthander, saw his velocity tick up 4-5 miles per hour late in the season, into the mid-90s, and his breaking ball can also be a plus-pitch for him.

Grace will have until July to sign with the Twins or decide he'll stick with his commitment to Mississippi State. The bonus slot for his pick is $138,400, though the Twins could go over that in order to get his signature. If he does not sign, they would lose that money from their bonus pool.

https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/high-school/2018/06/05/madison-centrals-regi-grace-picked-minnesota-twins-mlb-draft/675320002/

 

 

Found this article on 10th rounder Regi Grace

https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/high-school/2018/06/05/madison-centrals-regi-grace-picked-minnesota-twins-mlb-draft/675320002/

Huh, that sounds good for a 10th rounder, hopefully they can sign him. For what little I know about the process, it seems to me that the Twins have been able to sign most of the guys they draft (that matter, of course).

The 10th rounder is one of my favorite picks the whole draft

Here are some articles about 8th rounder Chris Williams from the Clemson Insider:

 

https://theclemsoninsider.com/tag/chris-williams/

Going by name only,  Willie Joe Gary, Jr is the best pick the Twins have made so far. 

 

We'll have to wait and see what the best pick they've made on talent. I'll also be disappointed if I don't get to use the letters WJGJ or the the name WiJoGaJu for a while.

Interesting strategy.  Three high school players in the last half of the Top 10.  Normally, these type of picks are difficult to sign unless going over slot, some require way over. 

 

Don't know what their discussions have been, but it doesn't seem like the Twins have the dollars to get all three.  But I also don't see them drafting anyone in the Top 10 they don't anticipate signing.  So maybe they can get these guys for $200,000-$300,000 over slot, each.

 

Interesting strategy.  Three high school players in the last half of the Top 10.  Normally, these type of picks are difficult to sign unless going over slot, some require way over. 

 

Don't know what their discussions have been, but it doesn't seem like the Twins have the dollars to get all three.  But I also don't see them drafting anyone in the Top 10 they don't anticipate signing.  So maybe they can get these guys for $200,000-$300,000 over slot, each.

Of the 3, Charles Mack is going to cost the most with his talent and commit to Clemson, but not bank breaking.  Mack is one of those guys who has above average hit and power skills but questions about his defense at SS.  Yet he's athletic enough that some scouts think he'd be an above average catcher (as he catches part time for his HS team).

 

Willie Joe Gary Jr was committed to Pearl River (Miss.) JC so I'm guessing that won't be a hard sign. 

 

While Regi Grace (BA rank: 482 overal and 14th in state of Miss) is committed to Mississippi State and his stock climbed towards the end as he gained 5 mph by season's end; he had been 88-90 but got it up to 92-93.  Mechanically he has questions as he does medically with a bilaterally fracture of L4 and L5 that cost him junior year (from weightlifting) and had to wear a back brace for 5 months.  He did have offers from LSU, Ole Miss, and Auburn so the talent is definitely thought to be there.

 

Certainly the early picks will, easy.

My only concerns are Grace and that earlier round SS.