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    MLB Draft Day 3 Thread


    Andrew Thares

    After taking a high upside high school third baseman in Keoni Cavaco with their first round pick, the Twins stuck to a strategy of picking only college players with their remaining 10 picks in the first two days of the draft. As a result, it is expected that the Twins might have some left over bonus pool money to try and make another splash or two in the early rounds of day three.

    Image courtesy of © Marilyn Indahl-USA TODAY Sports

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    Some notable recent Twins picks from these later rounds include Jason Kubel (12th round, 2000), Zack Granite (14th round, 2013), Danny Valencia (19th round, 2006) and Trevor Hildenberger (22nd round, 2014). Going back a little further you can find one of the greatest players in Twins history, as Kent Hrbek was drafted in the 17th round of the 1978 draft. Also, Eddie Guardado was a 21st rounder in 1990 and Corey Koskie was a 26th-round pick in 1994. The draft was scaled back to “only” 40 rounds in 2012.

    Get caught up on all the action from the first two days here

    MLB Draft Day 1 Thread

    MLB Draft Day 2 Thread

    Twins Picks From Day 1

    Round 1: Keoni Cavaco

    Comp Balance Round A: Matt Wallner

    Round 2: Matt Canterino

    Twins Picks From Day 2

    3rd Round: Spencer Steer

    4th Round: Seth Gray

    5th Round: Will Holland

    6th Round: Sawyer Gipson

    7th Round: Anthony Prato

    8th Round: Casey Legumina

    9th Round: Brent Headrick

    10th Round: Ben Gross

    As we wait for Day 3 of the draft to start, here is a 3 1/2 minute press conference with Twins top pick Keoni Cavaco. In it, he said "I'm going pro, for sure" and that "my goal is to get there in three years or less."

    Day 3 Selections

    11th Round: RHP Tanner Brubaker - UC-Irvine

    Tanner Brubaker bounce around quite a bit in his college career. He started at California Baptist, where he had a 12.00 ERA in six relief appearances. He then transferred to Saddleback College, where he transitioned well to a starting role. Brubaker then transferred again, this time to California-Irvine. In 12 starts this year for the Anteaters, Brubaker had a 2.99 ERA, with 50 strikeouts and 17 walks in 72 and 1/3 innings pitched.

    12th Round: RHP Sean Mooney - St. Johns (NY)

    Sean Mooney was quite the accomplished pitcher in his career at St. Johns. In his freshman season he was named both Freshman of the Year and Big East Pitcher of the year. In his sophomore season Mooney was named a Second Team All-American by the American Baseball Coaches Association. This year Mooney made just nine starts before his season ended after having Tommy John surgery. In his career at St. Johns, Mooney pitch 244 and 2/3 innings with a 2.13 ERA and a 249 to 72 strikeout to walk ratio.

    13th Round: RHP Dylan Thomas - U of Hawaii

    With their 13th round pick, the Twins took Dylan Thomas, who has been a dominate closer for the University of Hawaii over the past three seasons. Thomas was the 2017 Big West Conference Freshman Pitcher of the Year, and was named to an All-Big West team in each of his three year’s at Hawaii. In his career, Thomas has pitched 115 innings across 60 relief appearances and 3 starts, to the tune of a 1.96 ERA, with a 27.1% strikeout rate and just a 4.9% walk rate.

    14th Round: RHP Cody Laweryson - U of Maine-Orono

    After working as a reliever in his first two seasons at Maine, Cody Lawyerson became a regular in the weekend starting rotation this spring. Lawyerson was very effective in this role as he had a 2.85 ERA across 14 starts, with 79 strikeouts and 23 walks.

    15th Round: RHP Louie Varland - Concordia University St. Paul

    The Twins stayed home for their 15th round pick by taking Maplewood, MN native Louie Varland. Varland has pitched the last three years at Concordia St. Paul, and was quite the effective starter over the last two years for the Golden Bears. Overall, Varland had a 2.73 ERA with 131 strikeouts and 45 walks over 115 and 1/3 career innings.

    16th Round: RHP Ryan Shreve - U of Pacific

    Ryan Shreve struggled as a starter to begin his college career at Pacific. He then transition to the bullpen where he found more success in his sophomore season. As a junior this spring, Shreve moved back into the rotation and had a great season, mostly because he found control of his pitches as he walked just 3.8% of the batters he faced.

    17th Round: LHP Antoine Jean - Edouard Montpetit HS

    While still a pitcher, the Twins finally broke their trend of picking college pitchers, which had been the case for each of their previous nine selections, as they took a Canadian high school pitcher Antoine Jean in the 17th round. Jean is a commit to the University of Alabama, and it is a possibility that he will choose to go the college route to continue developing with an SEC school before he becomes draft eligible again in 2022.

    18th Round: 2B Edouard Julien - Auburn

    The Twins first position player taken on Day 3 is the other half of Auburn’s double play duo Edouard Julien. Much like Will Holland, Julien has big tools that flash potentially great upside. Julien also saw his performance drop off a bit this spring after a great 2018 season. Last year, Julien had a .275/.398/.556 slash line with 17 home runs and seven stolen bases. This year, those numbers dropped to a .239/.371/.422 with eight home runs and three stolen bases.

    19th Round: LHP Niall Windeler - U of British Columbia

    Niall Windeler is the third straight Canadian player that the Twins have taken. Windeler has been a very good starting pitcher over the last three years at UBC. For his career Windeler has a 3.37 ERA with 247 strikeouts and 86 walks across 251 innings pitched.

    20th Round: RHP Owen Griffith - Clemson

    After a break for a few picks, the Twins are back on their train of picking college right handed pitchers by taking Clemson righty Owen Griffith. Griffith is strictly a reliever with some potential high upside as a strikeout pitcher. However, Griffith will need to gain better control of the strike zone if he is going to have success at the next level.

    21st Round: RHP Bradley Hanner - Patrick Henry CC

    Bradley Hanner was one of the top recruits coming out of the state of Virginia in the 2017 high school class. Hanner choose to bypass the four-year college route and went to Patrick Henry Community College, making him eligible in this year’s draft. This spring for Patrick Henry, Hanner made 12 starts with a 4.04 ERA while striking out 69 batters in 69 innings.

    22nd Round: RHP Rogelio Reyes - U of California

    After struggling in his freshman and sophomore years working as both a starter and a reliever for the Cal Bears, Rogelio Reyes found much more success in his junior year as a long relief option. I got the chance to watch Reyes pitch this spring, but it wasn’t the best of outings for him as he gave up two home runs in three plus innings of work in that outing against LSU.

    23rd Round: RHP Matthew Swain - Georgia Gwinnett College

    Matthew Swain is a tall and projectable reliever who has the potential to strike a lot of hitters out, but struggles with his control at times. In two seasons pitching at Georgia Gwinnett, Swain has an ERA of 3.32 across 33 relief appearances.

    24th Round: 1B Trevor Jensen - Tulane

    Trevor Jensen began his collegiate career playing at St. Petersburg College for two years before transferring to Tulane before the 2018 season. In his two years at Tulane, Jensen showed that he could hit for both average and power as he hit .317 with 16 home runs in 108 games.

    25th Round: RHP Nate Hadley - UCLA

    Former Duluth Huskie Nathan Hadley has been a great asset out of the bullpen this season for the #1 ranked UCLA Bruins. Like many college relievers taken at this point in the draft, Hadley has high strikeout upside, but needs to refine his mechanics if we to gain the control necessary to play at the professional level.

    26th Round: 3B Blake Robertson - Edmond Santa Fe HS

    At 6’5”, Blake Robertson is a tall third baseman with a big power bat and a strong arm. The Oklahoma native is committed to Oklahoma State, and it is likely that he with forgo signing with the Twins and be on campus in Stillwater this fall to pitch for the Cowboys.

    27th Round: 1B Parker Phillips - Austin Peay

    Parker Phillips has absolutely raked in his three years at Austin Peay. Phillips was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American in 2017 after hitting .328 with 12 home runs. He followed that up in his sophomore year by hitting .313 and increasing his home run total to 19. This spring Phillips increased his power numbers even more has he hit .316 with 25 home runs, which was the second most in Division 1 baseball this year.

    28th Round: RHP Travis Phelps - Alvin HS (TX)

    Travis Phelps has a tall and projectable 6’4” and 195-pound frame that profiles very well to develop as he ages over the next couple of years. It is likely that Phelps won’t sign, but if he does he is just the kind of pitcher that the Twins minor league coaching staff could work with and potentially turn into a solid pitcher.

    29th Round: C Alex Isola - TCU

    TCU Alex Isola began his college career as a Utah Ute. After getting very little playing time as a freshman Isola transferred to Yavapai College where he thrived hitting .367 with eight home runs. This earned him a scholarship offer to be the starting catcher for TCU this spring. In 54 games Isola was able to hit .267 with five home runs.

    30th Round: RHP Tyler Beck - U of Tampa

    As a freshman Tyler Beck attended Pasco-Hernando State College, where he was effective as a starting pitcher. He then transfer to Tampa where he pitched as reliever the last two seasons. Beck struggled to a 6.35 ERA last year, but was much improved with a 2.17 ERA with 71 strikeouts and 19 walks in 54 innings of work out of the pen.

    31st Round: OF Max Smith - UNLV

    Max Smith is a four-year senior right-fielder for the UNLV Rebels. Smith was primarly used as a bench player during his first two years in a Rebel uniform, but saw a lot of actions as the starting right-fielder for the last two years. During those two seasons Smith hit .302 with 19 home runs in 117 games.

    32nd Round: OF Bryson Gandy - Lurleen B Wallace St JC

    In the 32nd round the Twins took a speedy outfielder from Lurleen B. Wallace Community College by the name of Bryson Gandy. This year Gandy has hit .364 with nine home runs and 18 stolen bases in 53 games. Gandy is also strikeout prone, having struck out 54 times this year.

    33rd Round: C Kyle Schmidt - U of Richmond

    Kyle Schmidt split catching duties in his freshman season at the University of Richmond. However, since then Schmidt has been the primary starting catcher for the Spiders the last three years. As a hitter Schmidt has a high average and low power approach as he has hit .304 with just six home runs in his four collegiate seasons combined.

    34th Round: RHP Antoine Harris - Chalmette HS (LA)

    Antoine Harris is yet another tall and projectable high school pitcher taken by the Twins in the later rounds of the draft. Harris is committed to play college ball at the University of New Orleans and it is likely that he will not end up signing with the Twins.

    35th Round: LHP Drew Gilbert - Stillwater Area HS (MN)

    The first of two Stillwater Area High School pitchers taken in back-to-back rounds by the Twins this afternoon, Drew Gilbert is committed to pitch at Oregon State next year. Gilbert has a fastball that will sit in the low to mid 90’s. It will be fun to see how he develops over the next few years at Oregon State.

    36th Round: RHP Will Frisch - Stillwater Area HS (MN)

    Will Frisch was the second of the two Stillwater Area High School pitchers the Twins took this afternoon. Like Gilbert, Frisch will also be heading to Oregon State to pitch this fall. While its extremely likely neither will end up signing with the Twins this summer it was a (in the words of Joe Mauer) pretty neat gesture by the Twins to recognize two local area players.

    37th Round: OF Adrian Colon - Dr. Juan J. Osuna (PR)

    Adrian Colon is a high school outfielder that hails from the Puerto Rico ranks. Colon is a very toolsey player with big potential with both the bat and in the field defensively with his speed. If the Twins were able to get Colon into their system, he has the kind of raw tools that coaches dream about being able to mold into the kind of player they want him to be.

    38th Round: C Zack Mathis - San Joaquin Delta College

    At San Joaquin Delta College Zack Mathis primarily played shortstop this past year. Additionally, Mathis played in the outfield for the Northwoods League Willmar Stingers last summer. However, the Twins see Mathis’ future at catcher. This season Mathis hit .351 with 10 home runs and 12 stolen bases over 48 games.

    39th Round: 3B Jake Hirabayashi - UCLA

    Jake Hirabayashi has had a very up and down career at UCLA. After struggling for two seasons, Hirabayashi broke onto the scene in 2018 with a .280/.430/.410 slash line in 43 games for the Bruins. However, 2019 was a step back for Hirabayashi as he had just a .190/.296/.310 slash line in 37 games.

    40th Round: SS Logan Steenstra - Cowley County CC

    Logan Steenstra is the son of former major league pitcher Kennie Steenstra. As a freashman this season Steenstra hit .306 with two home runs, 28 RBIs and three stolen bases. Steenstra also gave up a couple runs over two innings as a pitcher.


    Interested in learning more about the Minnesota Twins' top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!

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    Featured Comments

    I love that the Twins took both Stillwater High School stars, LHP Drew Gilbert and RHP Will Frisch (Rounds 35 and 36). Both have very strong commitments to Oregon State, which is why they were still there in those rounds.

     

    Maybe the Twins can save enough in those top 10 rounds and have enough to offer both $400-500K. That may not be enough, but that discussion can now happen until mid-July.

     

    I love that the Twins took both Stillwater High School stars, LHP Drew Gilbert and RHP Will Frisch (Rounds 35 and 36). Both have very strong commitments to Oregon State, which is why they were still there in those rounds.

     

    Maybe the Twins can save enough in those top 10 rounds and have enough to offer both $400-500K. That may not be enough, but that discussion can now happen until mid-July.

     

    If they have to give them a 500K each, are those two the best HS/JC kids to try to temp? I wouldn't want them just because they're local.

    I think it has to do with teams never sign all 40 rounds, I think it's actually too many players for them to sign. That is why they will take a HS kid as a "maybe we can sign him but probably not" type of guy

    Which begs the age-old questions about the necessity of 10,000 rounds, the meaning of life, etc.

    I love that the Twins took both Stillwater High School stars, LHP Drew Gilbert and RHP Will Frisch (Rounds 35 and 36). Both have very strong commitments to Oregon State, which is why they were still there in those rounds.

     

    Maybe the Twins can save enough in those top 10 rounds and have enough to offer both $400-500K. That may not be enough, but that discussion can now happen until mid-July.

    As a financial professional (CPA, not a licensed financial advisor/manager, to be clear), it doesn’t make a lot of sense why someone wouldn’t take a contract of that amount.

     

    Unless you think you’re surely going in the first round in subsequent years, you’re getting more than any signing bonus after college in total signing bonus/salary (and then, factor time value of money with getting the cash sooner). You work with a professional team’s development staff, getting a head start on what they want to see to crack the big-leagues. You dont spend half the year hurt f with a metal bat. You potentially accelerate your path the majors (at least your first cup of coffee - which is more $$$).

     

    I think people get a little desensitized to these dollar amounts, and think, “only a million over the next 3-4 years, why not get your education.” (Just saw this excessively with the Amir Coffey situation). In reality, that’s likely what that person will make in total over the next 30 years....or entire career in other words (median personal income is roughly $31k).

     

    Going to college right away is overrated.

    Man alive, what a weird draft! I have nothing in the way of conclusions as to the strategy of this thing.

     

    Only six out of 40 picks are HS prospects, and two of those at least are by all appearances kind of salutatory selections, the Stillwater pitchers headed to Oregon State. But hey, they may have a price in mind, who knows.

     

    So that leave four prospects who may or may not be worthy of an overslot offer, three of them pitchers. I sure hope they represent this year's Balazovic.

     

    It somehow feels like this 4YR JR designation is some sort of flaw with a drop-down box in the database and not some sort of incredibly intense tactical decision. My Lord!

     

    Weird draft. Weird. But hey Mr. Sixel, even though they're not early selections, they sure as heck got you your pitchers via Rule 4.  ;)

    Edited by birdwatcher

     

    Man alive, what a weird draft! I have nothing in the way of conclusions as to the strategy of this thing.

     

    Only six out of 40 picks are HS prospects, and two of those at least are by all appearances kind of salutatory selections, the Stillwater pitchers headed to Oregon State. But hey, they may have a price in mind, who knows.

     

    So that leave four prospects who may or may not be worthy of an overslot offer, three of them pitchers. I sure hope they represent this year's Balazovic.

     

    It somehow feels like this 4YR JR designation is some sort of flaw with a drop-down box in the database and not some sort of incredibly intense tactical decision. My Lord!

     

    Weird draft. Weird. But hey Mr. Sixel, even though they're not early selections, they sure as heck got you your pitchers via Rule 4.  ;)

     

    Welcome to the modern MLB draft.

     

    If they have to give them a 500K each, are those two the best HS/JC kids to try to temp? I wouldn't want them just because they're local.

     

    They wouldln't draft them just because they are local.

     

    Also, they're committed to Oregon State, one of the best college baseball programs in the country... they're clearly legit. 

     

    But because of that, my guess is $500K wouldn't be enough.

     

    As a financial professional (CPA, not a licensed financial advisor/manager, to be clear), it doesn’t make a lot of sense why someone wouldn’t take a contract of that amount.

    Unless you think you’re surely going in the first round in subsequent years, you’re getting more than any signing bonus after college in total signing bonus/salary (and then, factor time value of money with getting the cash sooner). You work with a professional team’s development staff, getting a head start on what they want to see to crack the big-leagues. You dont spend half the year hurt f with a metal bat. You potentially accelerate your path the majors (at least your first cup of coffee - which is more $$$).

    I think people get a little desensitized to these dollar amounts, and think, “only a million over the next 3-4 years, why not get your education.” (Just saw this excessively with the Amir Coffey situation). In reality, that’s likely what that person will make in total over the next 30 years....or entire career in other words (median personal income is roughly $31k).

    Going to college right away is overrated.

     

     

    I guarantee the Twins would take care of their arms much more than Oregon State will too.

     

    And yes, a few guys that have the big commands and wind up at college get drafted three years later at a better or equivalent spot... most don't. 

    I have stayed out of commenting until now for a couple of reasons. Chief reason being the ML draft is fun but the ultimate crapshoot where you barely know anything initially, know only a tiny bit more a few weeks/months from now, and sorta have a decent/real perspective 2-3yrs from now.

     

    That being said, I agree with the general sentiment this year just felt WEIRD! It sort of felt like nobody was great, except maybe for a few top picks, and nobody really knew who or what was great but everyone was following their own theory.

     

    Everything I read was a draft of hitters and nothing even close to a sure thing in regard to college arms. But possible depth in college arms. So that leaves HS talent, which can be the hardest to project.

     

    So the twins concentrated on BPA available, which was college bats. And a lot of them. Who am I to disagree? Other than ONE early arm, they followed their board and scouting reports, and then went all in for a collection of arms, mostly college, to see what they can find.

     

    And it makes sense in a pitching poor draft. You can, to some degree, teach "pitching" and breaking balls and changes, etc. If you feel a college guy doesnt have room to grow, then you grab a collection of guys who have something to build on and develop.

     

    Surprised and disappointed there wasnt a single HS pitcher with legitimate upside somewhere early like Enlow. But maybe that is the way this draft fell. I just have a hunch this FO picked a bunch of college arms who have something they like and can work with. Guys who might have had big senior years who they are hoping to bring on board now.

     

    Hoping so.

    Sigh. Another draft has come and gone. I keep waiting by the phone in hopes that the Twins will eventually draft me.  I am now in my 40s and was a mediocre left-handed pitcher in high school, but perhaps I could be a soft-tossing LOOGY at this point.  Oh well. They clearly had their sights set on college pitchers in this draft, so i clearly wasn't a draft priority.  I can always hope for next year.  Until then, I'll have to keep cheering for the team, and occasionally bring my glove to a game.  Go Twins!

    The Braves were able to draft Langeliers because they did not sign Carter Stewart last year. Had they signed Stewart last year, the Braves would not have had the #9 selection this year. The Twins would have had the 12th pick rather than the 13th pick and still may have selected Cavaco had Langeliers still been available. But, they might have taken Langeliers. Who do you all like as a better pick? Cavaco or Langaliers? I was hoping Langaliers would be available, but I am not displeased by the pick of the Twins.

    Sigh. Another draft has come and gone. I keep waiting by the phone in hopes that the Twins will eventually draft me. I am now in my 40s and was a mediocre left-handed pitcher in high school, but perhaps I could be a soft-tossing LOOGY at this point. Oh well. They clearly had their sights set on college pitchers in this draft, so i clearly wasn't a draft priority. I can always hope for next year. Until then, I'll have to keep cheering for the team, and occasionally bring my glove to a game. Go Twins!

    Don't give up, son.

     

    Uhhh ... we drafted a college 3B from UCLA who batted .190?!?! “Over-analytics”??

     

     

    Of course they drafted him, silly!

     

    The portable air foil machine the Area Assistant Director of Amateur Talent Evaluation carries around detected an under-drag coefficient anomaly just above the grip on his bat. They'll simply outfit him with the correct bat and adjust the position of his left thumb by a quarter inch. Presto.

    Edited by birdwatcher

    It looks like they drafted a lot of guys who may have had down years that they have high hopes. Along with a long line of pitchers that have some building blocks to work with. In every draft, if you can get a couple of pieces from lower in the draft, it's a success. So if just a couple of these college pitcher turn out, that would be normal.

    I was disappointed, too, that there were not many high upside high school kids. But it takes 2 to get a deal done. If they could not find kids that were willing to sign for what they could pay, then why draft them. If the college pitcher is willing to sign, take a shot on him. Just thinking.




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