Matthew Taylor

Update from Rocco Baldelli:

You did a really nice job with this Nick. I found myself getting way more invested in these updates and "decisions" than I should have. Which speaks to your writing and effort you put in!

Love the discussion! And agreed on Dobnak!

Rankings are supposed to be controversial so I appreciate everyone who is commenting with their thoughts and disagreements. That's what makes these so much fun. ^ I definitely agree with you that #37-42 have a much better chance of helping the team this year by being on the active roster, but I'm not sure they are better than Lewis. I do think Dobnak probably could have been ranked higher, but Smeltzer's peripherals don't paint a pretty picture and Thorpe struggled last year. I agree that Bailey may have more opportunity in 2020, but don't think he's a better player when ranking the players on the 2020 roster. He has never been an above-average pitcher for a prolonged period of time and don't think he deserves to be higher than he is. I definitely respect where you're coming from, Seth. I agree that Dobnak could probably be ranked higher, and potentially Thorpe (though he struggled in MLB and should still be considered a 'top prospect type' along with the others). I don't particularly think that Bailey or Smeltzer are all that good and warrant being ranked any higher than they are. I could see having Thielbar higher, but couldn't justify ranking higher a 33 year old who hasn't pitched in the Majors since 2015. Just not sure the ceiling is there for him. Maybe the disconnect is that I wasn't ranking the players based on who will contribute in 2020, but based on who I believe is a better player in 2020. Sure, Telis will probably get the call up in 2020 before Jeffers, but I believe Jeffers is a better player than Telis in 2020. I wrestled with ranking Hill higher, but coming off of elbow surgery I'm not positive he'll be better than Maeda or Odo. My idea of "fringe" is that they don't have a guaranteed spot on the roster. If any of Dobnak, Thorpe or Smeltzer struggle, they could easily be sent down to the "taxi squad" or the non-roster squad. Dobnak may have performed well enought in 2019 to avoid the "fringe" label but still don't think he has a guaranteed spot with the team. I didn't mention anything about Kirilloff's defensive limitations in this article. I said Rooker has limited defensive upside? I agree that Kirilloff is fine in the field at a non-premium position.

As the calendar shifts closer to July 24 there are a multitude of angles to explore regarding the 2020 season for the Minnesota Twins. One of the most interesting of these is looking at the players on the 60-man roster and how they stack up against each other for this upcoming season.In ranking the players on the 60-man roster for the Minnesota Twins, we will only be looking at their value to the Twins for the 2020 season. This is different from the Twins asset rankings that Nick Nelson did this winter where he ranked the Twins players in terms of the long-term value they bring to the club. In these rankings top, young prospects might be ranked lower than aging veterans and past production will typically trump future projection. In the simplest of terms, these rankings will answer the question, “Who would you rather have for the 2020 season?” Tier 8: AAAA Guys The lowest tier of players for the 2020 Minnesota Twins are the players that I’m referring to as the AAAA guys. AAAA guys are players who are mostly in their 30s and have made their careers bouncing between AAA and spot stints in the Majors. These guys are on the roster for their experience, but most won’t sniff the majors in 2020. 59. Juan Graterol 58. Jack Reinheimer 57. Tomas Telis Telis is a part of the 60-man roster because of his ability to play the catcher position. In his 12-year career, Telis has played nearly 1,000 games in the minor leagues, posting a career .744 OPS across all minor league levels. 56. Wilfredo Tovar 55. Ryan Garton 54. Danny Coulombe 53. Drew Maggi 52. Lane Adams 51. Dakota Chalmers Chalmers sticks out from the rest of the group as he is not a minor league journeyman like the rest of his tier-mates. Chalmers is just 23-years-old and while he pitched well in high-A in 2020, his lack of experience will keep him from playing for the big league club in 2020. 50. Caleb Thielbar Tier 7: Fringe Pitchers The next 14 players in our rankings are grouped together in a tier designated as “fringe pitchers”. These are pitchers who all have the ability to make appearances for the Twins big league club in 2020, but none of whom are slam dunks to be consistent contributors. Seeing any of these pitchers move up or down a tier by the end of the season wouldn’t be a surprise. 49. Jorge Alcalá 48. Sam Clay 47. Cory Gearring 46. Jhoulys Chacín 45. Sean Poppen 44. Homer Bailey While Homer Bailey very well may be in the starting rotation to open the season, he will have to perform to stay there. An early DFA for Bailey wouldn’t be a shocker if he doesn’t start the season well. 43. Matt Wisler 42. Fernando Romero 41. Edwar Colina 40. Jhoan Duran 39. Devin Smeltzer 38. Lewis Thorpe Lewis Thorpe has some of the best pure stuff in the Minnesota Twins organization. In 2019, he had the highest K/9 and swinging strike rate among all AAA pitchers. Can he finally put it together in 2020? Or will Randy Dobnak pull away from the Smeltzer/Thorpe/Dobnak pack? 37. Randy Dobnak Tier 6: Fringe Batters Similar to the tier above, the next 10 players on our rankings are “Fringe batters”. Some of these players will be on the opening day 30-man roster, some will appear mid-season, and some might not appear at all. They all have the ability to perform, but have yet to show they can be legitimate threats at the plate at the Major League level. 36. Gilberto Celestino 35. Royce Lewis Lewis remains the Minnesota Twins’ top prospect, but at the age of 21, Lewis still has yet to show that he can hit consistently against top talent. In 127 games of High-A and AA last season, Lewis only posted a .661 OPS. 34. Zander Wiel 33. Willians Astudillo 32. Travis Blankenhorn 31. Ryan Jeffers In looking at who could potentially be “The Next Luis Arraez”, Ryan Jeffers looks to be a prime candidate. In his second year with the Twins, Jeffers moved up to AA where he posted a .856 OPS. Should anything happen to Garver or Avila, Jeffers could definitely get a look and make a major impact in 2020. 30. Nick Gordon 29. Lamonte Wade Jr. 28. Ehire Adrianza 27. Alex Avila Tier 4: Corner/Power Guys The next four players are in a tier called “Corner Power Guys”. These four players are all in their 20s, have power upside, with limited defensive ability at the infield or outfield corners. Jake Cave is a sure thing to make the Twins’ opening day roster while the other three have a great shot to get called up during the season. Which of these four will make the greatest impact to the 2020 club? 26. Brent Rooker After being drafted by the Twins in 2016, Rooker has shown a power stroke at each stop through the Minnesota Twins farm system. He now looks ready to make an appearance with the Twins in 2020. In 65 games with AAA Rochester last season, Rooker posted an impressive .933 OPS. His upside in the field is limited, but his bat should earn him playing time in 2020. 25. Jake Cave 24. Alex Kirilloff 23. Trevor Larnach Although not initially thought of as a prospect on the same level of Alex Kirilloff, Trevor Larnach has changed that narrative after being named the Twins’ “Minor League Player of the Year” in 2019. Larnach quickly moved through high-A up to AA last season where he posted a .842 OPS. Alex Kirilloff didn’t adjust to AA pitching quite as well in 2019, which is what gave Larnach the slight edge over him in these rankings. Tier 3: Best Bullpen in Baseball? Famously this offseason, Rocco Baldelli was quoted as saying that he believes the Minnesota Twins have, “the best bullpen in baseball”. While that may have been hyperbole, the Minnesota Twins certainly proved last season they have assembled a really good bullpen with excellent depth. 22. Cody Stashak 21. Zack Littell After finally getting moved to a full time bullpen role in 2019, Littell proved what he is able to do in limited innings for the Minnesota Twins. In 37 innings of work, Littell posted a 2.68 ERA, highlighted by a stretch of 22 appearances where he allowed just two earned runs. 20. Sergio Romo 19. Tyler Clippard 18. Tyler Duffey Duffey was one of the best stories from the Minnesota Twins in 2019. The Doof began the season in AAA and was not in the Twins’ plans at all after posting a horrendous 7.20 ERA in 2018. Duffey made the most of his chance last season, though, as he quickly became one of the Twins’ most important arms. In 57 2/3 innings of work in 2019, Duffey posted a WHIP just over one with a strikeout rate of 34.4%. Though his 2019 numbers merit being higher in the rankings, he will need to show year-to-year consistency before he can get moved up higher. 17. Trevor May Tier 2: Pretty Darn Good The second-to-last tier of players in our 2020 Minnesota Twins rankings are what you would guess, pretty darn good. Each of these guys will play a key role for the Minnesota Twins in 2020 and will have a large impact on how far the club can go. Whether its because of limited upside or lack of track record, they don’t quite have what it takes to make it into the top tier of players, but each of these guys will be vital to the 2020 Twins season. 16. Michael Pineda 15. Rich Hill Ranking a 40-year-old pitcher coming off of elbow surgery this high might not seem like the wisest thing to do on the surface, but in a shortened 60-game season, Rich Hill could be the Twins’ best pitcher in 2020. Hill’s ability has never been what has hampered him, it has always been his health. In such a short season, Hill has a much better chance to stay healthy, and when he’s healthy he is dominant. Per Twins Daily’s Nash Walker, only Clayton Kershaw, Max Sherzer, Justin Verlander and Corey Kluber have a lower ERA than Rich Hill (3.00) since 2016 (min. 400 IP). 14. Marwin González 13. Eddie Rosario 12. Byron Buxton Similar to Hill, a 60-game season really benefits Byron Buxton, who can never seem to stay healthy throughout a 162-game season. Through 60 games in 2019, Buxton had a .837 OPS, led the team in doubles, and was playing the best defensive center field in baseball. 11. Jake Odorizzi 10. Kenta Maeda 9. Luis Arráez With such a small sample size of 60 games in 2020, we could see some crazy statlines posted by season's end. One of those could be a .400 BA posted by the Minnesota Twins’ second baseman. In his 92 games with the Twins in 2019, Arráez showed the patience and intelligence of a dominant hitter and could move his way up to the top tier by season’s end. 8. Taylor Rogers Tier 1: 2020 Team MVP Candidates 7. Mitch Garver 6. Miguel Sanó First in Hard Hit %, first in Barrels/BBE %, second in average exit velocity. The numbers that Miguel Sanó posted at the plate in 2019 were absurd. With a healthy body and a healthy wallet (Hello, $30M extension!), Sanó could absolutely build off of those numbers in 2020 and be the Twins’ best hitter this season. How he adjusts to playing a new defensive position will be something to watch, but with those bat skills Sanó will bring immense value to the 2020 Minnesota Twins. 5. José Berríos 4. Jorge Polanco 3. Nelson Cruz Nelson Cruz is coming off of one of the best hitting seasons ever from a 39-year-old, will he be able to follow it up in his age-40 season? Cruz led all of baseball in 2019 in Barrels/PA with 12.5%. He led the Minnesota Twins with 41 home runs and a ridiculous 1.031 OPS. Nelson is not only the team leader, but arguably their best hitter. His upside will always be limited due to him being a designated hitter, but the Bomba Squad wouldn’t be the Bomba Squad without Nellie. 2. Max Kepler In his first season following his five-year extension with the Twins, Kepler proved himself to be a great investment as he put together an extraordinary 2019 campaign. Kepler led the 2019 Minnesota Twins with 4.4 fWAR thanks to his outstanding bat and glove. Heading into his prime years as a 27-year-old, there is reason to think that Kepler will improve in 2020 and could easily be the Twins’ best player this season. 1. Josh Donaldson The number one player on our Twins rankings for the 2020 season is no other than the Twins' newest addition to the club, Josh Donaldson. His accolades are off the charts, and though he is 34-years old, he has shown no signs of slowing down. In 2019, Donaldson finished 11th in MVP voting, thanks to his .900 OPS at the plate as well as his elite play at the hot corner where his 8 Outs Above Average was 3rd in baseball. If you think those numbers are impressive, in 2020 Donaldson will be playing at Target Field where he owns a career 1.283 OPS. Buckle up, Twins fans! What qualms do you have with the rankings above? Who was ranked too low? Too high? Who would earn your #1 spot in your ranking of the 2020 Minnesota Twins? Leave a comment below and start the conversation! MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

This was an awesome series, Nick. Thanks for organizing it. Looking forward to the PDF!

I’m really jealous that you wrote 2 paragraphs about Dawel Lugo!

Alas, baseball is here. Finally, we can talk about real rosters, real games, and real schedules. In the midst of all of the announcements regarding the upcoming 60-game season, we have learned how the MLB schedule will look and who the Twins will be facing in 2020.While we still don’t know the exact dates of the games or the order in which the series will be played, Jayson Stark of The Athletic provided fans with the nuts and bolts of what the baseball schedule will look like in 2020. Here’s how the schedule will break down: All teams will play 10 games against each of their divisional foes, making up 40 of the 60 total games.The remaining 20 games will be played against the corresponding interleague division. In the case of the American League Central, this will mean playing 20 games versus the National League Central.Six of the interleague divisional games will be played against a team’s closest natural “rival”. In the case of the Minnesota Twins, this will be the Milwaukee Brewers.The remaining 14 interleague divisional games will be split between the four remaining teams in series of three or four games.The way that the schedules shook out for the 2020 season is about the best scenario that the Minnesota Twins could have asked for. The American League Central was the worst division in baseball in terms of winning percentage in 2019. While the White Sox should be improved with the offseason additions they made, the Cleveland Indians have potential to go the other way as they parted with their ace pitcher, Corey Kluber and have been rumblings of them potentially looking to deal Francisco Lindor. Additionally, the American League Central is home to two of the worst teams in baseball in the Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals. All in all the Minnesota Twins were 50-26 against the American League Central in 2019. Being able to play 60% of their games against a division that they had so much success against last season spell success for the Twins heading into the 60-game super-season. Another advantage that the Minnesota Twins have with the way the 2020 schedule shook out is that they avoid playing the American League East and American League West altogether. It’s no secret that the Twins have struggled against the New York Yankees, but additionally the Twins avoid having to face the Houston Astros, Oakland Athletics, and Tampa Bay Rays. All four of those teams are arguably better than the second best team in the American League Central. Switching to their interleague divisional foes, the Minnesota Twins once again came up fortunate by getting to face the National League Central, the weakest division in the National League in 2019 according to 2019 winning percentage. While the Cincinnati Reds made some strong offseason additions, the Pirates figure to be one of the worst teams in baseball, and none of the Cardinals, Cubs and Brewers were projected to have more than 87 wins according to PECOTA’s March projections. Further, by facing the National League Central the Twins avoid having to face the juggernauts in the National League of the Braves, Mets, Nationals and Dodgers. In addition to avoiding the best teams in baseball on the American League and National League sides, the Twins will also avoid having to face the best pitchers in baseball. With the way the schedule shook out, the Minnesota Twins will not have to face any of the top-seven pitchers in the MLB according to fWAR, evading the likes of Gerrit Cole, Justin Verlander and Charlie Morton in the American League, and Jacob DeGrom, Max Scherzer, and Stephen Strasburg in the National League. While all of this sounds great in theory for the Minnesota Twins’ outlook in 2020, an easier schedule doesn’t promise a divisional title. The Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox will have the same schedule as the Minnesota Twins, and the amount of parity that will exist in a 60-game season has been well documented. The games still need to be played, and the Twins still need to perform, but with the schedule they’ve been given, they’re starting off on the right foot. How do you feel about the way the 2020 schedule shook out for the Minnesota Twins? Who do you think will be their toughest opponent? Leave a comment below and start the conversation! MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

Congrats to Nelly!

Sports have given us some of the greatest father-son duos imaginable over the years. From the Mannings in football, to the Griffeys in baseball and even the Earnhardts in NASCAR, we have been treated to the best of the best. In light of Father’s Day, what are some of the best father-son duos in Minnesota Twins history?Andy MacPhail - Former Minnesota Twins GM Father - Lee MacPhail - Former MLB Executive Grandfather - Larry MacPhail - Former MLB Executive Although his last name would have you think otherwise, Andy MacPhail was quite a baseball genius in his time with the Minnesota Twins. MacPhail joined the Minnesota Twins in 1985, in the midst of a 15 year playoff drought. Upon joining the Twins, MacPhail hired Tom Kelly and traded for the likes of Jeff Reardon, Dan Gladden and Joe Niekro — helping lead the Twins to their first World Series championship in 1987. Following a last place finish in 1990, MacPhail signed Jack Morris en route to another World Series championship in 1991. The MacPhail family is the first family to have four generations affiliated with Major League Baseball, with Andy’s father, grandfather and nephew all in executive roles. Andy’s grandfather, Larry, served as the GM for the Cincinnati Reds, Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Yankees. Andy’s father, Lee, was also an MLB executive, working as the GM for the Yankees and Orioles. Both Larry and Lee have been inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame. Mike Bell - Minnesota Twins Bench Coach Father - Buddy Bell - Former MLB Third Baseman and Manager Grandfather - Gus Bell - Former MLB Outfielder Although it feels like it happened a lifetime ago, Mike Bell was just hired on with the Minnesota Twins earlier this offseason to replace bench coach Derek Shelton. Bell joined the Twins after a stint with the Arizona Diamondbacks as their Director of Player Development. Bell previously played in the Majors for one season as the 3rd Baseman for the Cincinnati Reds. Bell also comes from a multiple-generation baseball lineage as his father and grandfather were both former baseball players. Bell’s father, Buddy, had an 18-year career as an outfielder, highlighted by his time with the Texas Rangers. Buddy was a 6-time Gold Glover and 5-time all-star. Bell’s grandfather, Gus, played for 15 years in the Majors, making 4 all-star appearances. Roy Smalley III - Former Minnesota Twins Shortstop Father - Roy Smalley Jr. - Former MLB Shortstop Roy Smalley III ranks 15th all time in with 20.8 career bWAR in Minnesota and is arguably the best shortstop in Twins history. Smalley played 10 seasons with the Twins, collecting over 1,000 hits. Smalley III is now making his mark as a Minnesota Twins broadcaster, working alongside Dick Bremer to call Minnesota Twins games. Shortstop runs in the blood of the Smalley family as Smalley’s father, Roy Smalley Jr., was also a Major League shortstop. Smalley Jr. had an 11-year MLB career with the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies. In his career, Smalley Jr. recorded 601 hits and 61 home runs. Pat Mahomes - Former Minnesota Twins Pitcher Son - Patrick Mahomes - NFL Quarterback The final notable father/son connection from Minnesota Twins history isn’t an all-baseball connection but rather a baseball/football connection with former Minnesota Twins pitcher, Pat Mahomes, and his son, Patrick Mahomes. Pat Mahomes was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 6th round of the 1988 Minnesota Twins. Mahomes didn’t exactly light Twins Nation on fire during his time with Minnesota, tossing a 5.82 ERA in 5 seasons. While Pat Mahomes didn’t have much of a decorated career in the Twin Cities, his name has been brought up much more in Twins’ circles of late because of the success of his son, Patrick, on the football field. Patrick Mahomes has become the best player in football and is coming off of a Super Bowl Championship. At only 24 years old, Patrick Mahomes figures to collect much more hardware in the NFL and bring more accolades to the Mahomes name. What names come to mind for you when you think of father-son connections with the Minnesota Twins? Happy fathers day to all the writers and readers of Twins Daily! MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

Haha I appreciate the feedback. Meant it in the informal way, "particularly impressive or remarkable"

All indications are that MLB will not prorate suspensions, so Pineda will serve the same suspension in a 65 game season that he would serve in a 162 game season. Definitely not a great situation for Pineda or the Twins.

Rob Manfred and Tony Clark met face-to-face earlier this week and appear to have made major progress on getting a season rolling in the ballpark of 60 games. A season so short will hardly resemble a real baseball season, but it might just be the most exciting season we’ve ever seen.One of the beautiful things about the game of baseball is the length of the season. Any team can get hot for 40 or 50 games, but over 162 games? You can’t fake that. It’s for that reason that teams don’t “sneak” into the postseason in baseball, and for that reason that the best teams almost always make it. The 162-game season separates the contenders from the pretenders and rewards a process-oriented mindset over anything. By reducing the number of games it plays in 2020 to a meager 60-70 games, the very essence of how a baseball season looks and feels will be drastically altered. What was a marathon will become a sprint, and what was process-oriented thinking will turn into results-oriented thinking. It’s not going to be real baseball. It’s not going to be pure baseball. But it’s going to be epic. Remember the final 60 game stretch of the 2019 Minnesota Twins season? When the Twins were even with the Indians after surrendering an 11 game lead and every game was must watch television? Remember how you couldn’t miss a game, let alone a pitch? Now imagine that feeling for an entire season. That’s what the 2020 season is going to be like. A 60-game season will mean that each game is worth roughly 3 games from a regular season. In a normal season, a win or loss on a given day would have a very minimal impact on your overall outlook as a club. In a 60-game season, though? Each and every game will carry enormous weight. Every pitching change, pinch hit appearance and walk-off will hold huge implications. Love a good underdog? A shorter season will mean that every team will have a realistic shot at making the playoffs. As mentioned earlier, any team can get hot for 40 or 50 games, and any team can make the playoffs in a 60-game season. Combine that with an expanded playoff field, and expect there to be a 30-way mad dash for the postseason. For die-hard baseball fans, a 162-game season is something pure and something that we have all grown accustomed to loving. For the casual fan, though, the season is too long. Because of the lack of importance on a game-to-game basis, too many people tune out of baseball during the regular season and hop in during the postseason where games hold more weight. A 60-game season where each game holds the utmost of importance, though, figures to draw more viewers, bring in more casual fans, and attract a new audience to the game we love most. No, a 60-game season is not ideal and no, it shouldn’t be adapted as the new norm. For the 2020 season, though, when we’re all starving for baseball after 8 long months without it, a shortened season will bring the fireworks. Get your popcorn ready! Are you excited about the prospect of a 60(ish) game season? Will you be inclined to watch more games in a 60-game season than you would in a 162-game season? Leave a comment below and start the conversation! MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

On Sunday evening, ESPN aired its latest 30 for 30 documentary, ‘Long Gone Summer’, recapping the Summer of 1998 when Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire captured the nation with their home run race. What were the Twins up to during the “Long Gone Summer”?The 1998 season was another season filled with disappointment as the Minnesota Twins completed their 6th straight losing season, finishing 70-92, 4th in the American League Central. The season began with the Minnesota Twins trading away their disgruntled superstar, Chuck Knoblauch, and ended with the retirement of hall of famer and future manager, Paul Molitor. The 1998 season provided few moments to remember but let’s walk through them. The Knoblauch Trade After growing disgruntled with the Minnesota Twins and demanding a trade, his request was finally granted on February 6 when Chuck Knoblauch was dealt to the New York Yankees in exchange for Christian Guzmán and Eric Milton. The trade ended up being a great one for the Twins, as Knoblauch struggled in pinstripes while Guzmán and Milton went on to become all-stars. Matt Lawton’s Breakout While 1998 was not kind to many Twins hitters, Matt Lawton was able to use the season as his breakout. In his second full season with the Twins, Lawton posted a .864 OPS while slugging 21 home runs. Lawton went on to make his first all-star appearances just two years later, but 1998 might serve as the best season of the outfielder’s career. The David Wells Perfect Game Arguably the most memorable moment of the 1998 season that involved the Minnesota Twins was one that they were on the losing end of, the David Wells perfect game. On May 17, 1998, David Wells pitched 9 perfect innings with 11 strikeouts in a 4-0 win over the Twins. This was just the 13th perfect game in MLB history and the second one against the Twins. How the Minnesota Twins Contributed to the ‘Long Gone Summer’ The Minnesota Twins faced the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs each three times. Both Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa hit one of their record-breaking home runs against the Twins in 1998. Sosa’s home run represented his 20th of the ‘98 season and was hit off LaTroy Hawkins on June 8th at the Metrodome. McGwire’s home run represented his 36th and was hit off of Mike Trombley on June 27th at the Metrodome. Combined, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa hit 136 home runs in the 1998 season. In the same season, the entire Minnesota Twins team hit 115 home runs. It’s a good thing the Bomba Squad would be coming 20 years later.. What memories do you have from the 1998 season? What did you think of ‘Long Gone Summer’? Leave a comment below and start the conversation! MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

Really nice write up, Tom. I really want to get into the KBO, but I just can't do it.

I really like the pick. As others have mentioned, with the shortened draft I'd like to take as safe of a pick as possible. While no pick in the MLB Draft is safe, I feel like this dude has such a dangerous bat that he's making the big leagues no matter what. Buy your season tickets in the bleachers now, because the bombas won't stop any time soon.

A Cy Young Award winner, a 583 career home run hitter, the 2018 NL MVP and the future GOAT. What do these four players have in common? The Twins passed on each of them in the first round of the draft. In honor of the MLB Draft tonight, let’s look back at four players the Twins could have had in the draft but passed on.In this exercise of “What could have been”, we’ll be looking back at drafts from the past to see which players the Minnesota Twins reasonably could have drafted. To define ‘reasonably’, we’ll be looking at players who were taken within three picks following the Minnesota Twins first round selection. Using these parameters will give a realistic look at who the Twins were probably considering and could have had at the time. 1982 Draft Minnesota Twins selected: Bryan Oelkers (4th Overall) Could have selected: Dwight Gooden (Selected 5th Overall) Coming out of Pattonville High School in Missouri, the Minnesota Twins selected left-handed pitcher Bryan Oelkers with the fourth overall pick in 1982. Pretty much immediately, the draft pick looked like a flop as Oelkers struggled from the get go in a Twins uniform. Oelkers only pitched one season for the Twins, throwing a total of 34.1 innings with a 8.65 ERA. What makes the Oelker pick sting even more is that with the pick directly following the left-hander, the New York Mets drafted Dr. K himself, Dwight “Doc” Gooden. Gooden won the Rookie of the Year award in 1984 before winning the Cy Young in 1985 with one of the greatest single season pitching performances in baseball history. In 1985, Gooden won the pitching triple crown, highlighted by his 1.53 ERA. The second-lowest ERA for a starting pitcher in the expansion era. Substance abuse and addiction ultimately derailed his career and kept him out of the Hall, but at his peak, he was one of the greatest pitchers of all time. 1984 Draft Minnesota Twins selected: Jay Bell (8th Overall) Could have selected: Mark McGwire (Selected 10th Overall) Even though he never played a game for the Minnesota Twins, Jay Bell still played a big role in the history of the Minnesota Twins franchise. Bell was the center-piece of the trade that brought Bert Blyleven back to the Minnesota Twins in 1985. While that deal in and of itself validated the Twins taking Bell with the eighth overall pick, one can’t help but look just two spots down the draft order to see who they could have taken, Big Mac himself. While steroid use will forever put Mark McGwire’s legacy into question, it’s impossible to ignore the impact that McGwire had in his time with Oakland and St. Louis. McGwire was awarded Rookie of the Year in 1987, was a 12-time all-star and a World Series Champion. McGwire’s 583 career home runs stands as the 11th most of all time. 2009 Draft Minnesota Twins selected: Kyle Gibson (22nd Overall) Could have selected: Mike Trout (Selected 25th Overall) Mike Trout could have been a Minnesota Twin. Yes, you read that right. When the Minnesota Twins were selecting 22nd in the 2009 MLB draft Mike Trout was on the board and available to be drafted. Obviously, the Twins went in a different direction and took Mizzou baseball standout, Kyle Gibson. What should be made clear with the Twins selection of Gibson was that it was not a poor pick at the time. Prior to Gibson’s forearm stress fracture, Gibson was ranked fourth on Baseball America’s draft list. Additionally, Keith Law had Gibson slotted as the 10th overall pick in his final 2009 mock draft. Gibson was highly thought of as a potential top of the rotation arm. Trout, on the other hand, wasn’t quite the top draft prospect that you would imagine. Trout was thought to be lacking in power and seen as more of a contact-type hitter with limited upside. Obviously, the pick didn’t work out for the Twins. Gibson had an OK but disappointing tenure with the Twins in his seven seasons, tossing a 4.52 ERA over 1,000 innings. Trout on the other hand, is well on his way to becoming the greatest baseball player of all time. Although he is only 28-years-old, Mike Trout already ranks 56th in career WAR. 2010 Draft Minnesota Twins selected: Alex Wimmers (21st Overall) Could have selected: Christian Yelich (Selected 23rd Overall) Arguably the most glaring miss on an abysmal draft resume for Bill Smith, Alex Wimmers was a complete zero for the Minnesota Twins after being selected 21st overall in the 2010 MLB Draft. Wimmers pitched a total of 24.2 innings with the Minnesota Twins before being waived and out of the Majors in 2017. Just two selections following Wimmers, the Miami (then Florida) Marlins selected outfielder Christian Yelich. Yelich had a slow start to his MLB career prompting a trade to the Milwaukee Brewers in 2018. Since being sent to Milwaukee, though, Yelich has turned into one of the best players in baseball. Yelich has earned top-two MVP finishes in each of his seasons in Milwaukee, winning the award in 2018. Yelich is still only 28-years-old, with prime years still ahead of him. That the Twins drafted Wimmers over Yelich will bite the Twins for years to come. Which MLB draft miss stings the most to you as a Twins fan? How differently could history have played out if the Twins would have nabbed any of the players listed above? Leave a comment below and start the conversation! MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

A Cy Young Award winner, a 583 career home run hitter, the 2018 NL MVP and the future GOAT. What do these four players have in common? The Twins passed on each of them in the first round of the draft. In honor of the MLB Draft tonight, let’s look back at four players the Twins could have had in the draft but passed on.In this exercise of “What could have been”, we’ll be looking back at drafts from the past to see which players the Minnesota Twins reasonably could have drafted. To define ‘reasonably’, we’ll be looking at players who were taken within three picks following the Minnesota Twins first round selection. Using these parameters will give a realistic look at who the Twins were probably considering and could have had at the time. 1982 Draft Minnesota Twins selected: Bryan Oelkers (4th Overall) Could have selected: Dwight Gooden (Selected 5th Overall) Coming out of Pattonville High School in Missouri, the Minnesota Twins selected left-handed pitcher Bryan Oelkers with the fourth overall pick in 1982. Pretty much immediately, the draft pick looked like a flop as Oelkers struggled from the get go in a Twins uniform. Oelkers only pitched one season for the Twins, throwing a total of 34.1 innings with a 8.65 ERA. What makes the Oelker pick sting even more is that with the pick directly following the left-hander, the New York Mets drafted Dr. K himself, Dwight “Doc” Gooden. Gooden won the Rookie of the Year award in 1984 before winning the Cy Young in 1985 with one of the greatest single season pitching performances in baseball history. In 1985, Gooden won the pitching triple crown, highlighted by his 1.53 ERA. The second-lowest ERA for a starting pitcher in the expansion era. Substance abuse and addiction ultimately derailed his career and kept him out of the Hall, but at his peak, he was one of the greatest pitchers of all time. 1984 Draft Minnesota Twins selected: Jay Bell (8th Overall) Could have selected: Mark McGwire (Selected 10th Overall) Even though he never played a game for the Minnesota Twins, Jay Bell still played a big role in the history of the Minnesota Twins franchise. Bell was the center-piece of the trade that brought Bert Blyleven back to the Minnesota Twins in 1985. While that deal in and of itself validated the Twins taking Bell with the eighth overall pick, one can’t help but look just two spots down the draft order to see who they could have taken, Big Mac himself. While steroid use will forever put Mark McGwire’s legacy into question, it’s impossible to ignore the impact that McGwire had in his time with Oakland and St. Louis. McGwire was awarded Rookie of the Year in 1987, was a 12-time all-star and a World Series Champion. McGwire’s 583 career home runs stands as the 11th most of all time. 2009 Draft Minnesota Twins selected: Kyle Gibson (22nd Overall) Could have selected: Mike Trout (Selected 25th Overall) Mike Trout could have been a Minnesota Twin. Yes, you read that right. When the Minnesota Twins were selecting 22nd in the 2009 MLB draft Mike Trout was on the board and available to be drafted. Obviously, the Twins went in a different direction and took Mizzou baseball standout, Kyle Gibson. What should be made clear with the Twins selection of Gibson was that it was not a poor pick at the time. Prior to Gibson’s forearm stress fracture, Gibson was ranked fourth on Baseball America’s draft list. Additionally, Keith Law had Gibson slotted as the 10th overall pick in his final 2009 mock draft. Gibson was highly thought of as a potential top of the rotation arm. Trout, on the other hand, wasn’t quite the top draft prospect that you would imagine. Trout was thought to be lacking in power and seen as more of a contact-type hitter with limited upside. Obviously, the pick didn’t work out for the Twins. Gibson had an OK but disappointing tenure with the Twins in his seven seasons, tossing a 4.52 ERA over 1,000 innings. Trout on the other hand, is well on his way to becoming the greatest baseball player of all time. Although he is only 28-years-old, Mike Trout already ranks 56th in career WAR. 2010 Draft Minnesota Twins selected: Alex Wimmers (21st Overall) Could have selected: Christian Yelich (Selected 23rd Overall) Arguably the most glaring miss on an abysmal draft resume for Bill Smith, Alex Wimmers was a complete zero for the Minnesota Twins after being selected 21st overall in the 2010 MLB Draft. Wimmers pitched a total of 24.2 innings with the Minnesota Twins before being waived and out of the Majors in 2017. Just two selections following Wimmers, the Miami (then Florida) Marlins selected outfielder Christian Yelich. Yelich had a slow start to his MLB career prompting a trade to the Milwaukee Brewers in 2018. Since being sent to Milwaukee, though, Yelich has turned into one of the best players in baseball. Yelich has earned top-two MVP finishes in each of his seasons in Milwaukee, winning the award in 2018. Yelich is still only 28-years-old, with prime years still ahead of him. That the Twins drafted Wimmers over Yelich will bite the Twins for years to come. Which MLB draft miss stings the most to you as a Twins fan? How differently could history have played out if the Twins would have nabbed any of the players listed above? Leave a comment below and start the conversation! MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article