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Haven't seen any but Ryan did say he would like to see the Twins draft more LHPing and there should be several there at 46. Jeremy mocked Cody Reed there in his last mock. If Kolek drops to 5 and the Twins draft Cody Reed at 46 they could play offensive line for the Vikes in the off season. Both big kids.

Crap, I mixed where him/Rosario were drafted up. Good call. Will change.

Don't know if this got posted yesterday : http://sbb.scout.com/story/1408495-the-draft-board?s=381

I couldn't get in either. Heck, I still can't get in!

My final thoughts on Gordon. He is universally thought of as a top 5 talent with BA being the only credible site I have seen him ranked out of the top 5 (6th). He is also universally thought to be a true SS. We are talking about ZERO experts have suggested he will move off the position. ZERO! Do readers know how rare it is? Recent top SS prospects Machado, Baez, Correa, Seager, Crawford, and Russell all had (some still do) questions about their chances to stick at SS to some degree. The only recent top SS prospect I can remember with zero concerns about sticking at the position is Lindor. As for Gordon's defensive tools let's look at those. First, what are important tools for a SS defensively? - Arm strength - Quick feet - Range - Hands - Instincts Gordon has the best infield arm in the draft grading out from plus to plus-plus. He has plus speed with quick feet that leads to plus range. Hands and instincts are hard to measure but all accounts have them at plus to plus-plus. When we add all these together with his reported premium work ethic/character I don't see anything but a plus defender. What about early reports that had him as "only" an above average defender? First thing you have to do when looking up scouting reports is check the date vs updated information. A lot of things can change in a week in the draft much less several months. Several months ago Rodon was the next David Price and undisputed #1 pick, Aiken was only the best HS lefty while most now have him as the #1 draft prospect, Nola was seen as a guy who had a 50/50 chance to end up in the pen because of size/delivery, and the best college bat was Turner. A lot can change! What about the several Twins players who have moved off SS? Two were 16 year old international signings (don't believe either were top 20 international prospects their years), 1 was a 1st rounder (30th overall), one a 2nd rounder, one an 8th rounder, and none a top 5 pick. While they all have their strengths none have the complete package or pedigree that Gordon brings. Especially on the defensive side. Not all SS prospects are created equal. I find it funny that I have become a Gordon apologists when I actually have 4 players ranked ahead of him on my personal board. There are plenty of players with higher ceilings than Gordon but he is far from the weak hitting/average defensive SS people around here make him out to be.

New "final" draft boards from Crawford and Law. Law: 1. Aiken 2. Rodon 3. Kolek4. Gordon 5. Jackson http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/draft/mock/?season=2014&version=3&source=Keith-Law-Big-Board Crawford: 1. Aiken 2. Rodon 3. Gordon 4. Kolek 5. Jackson http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2014/06/the-really-final-board/

I was lucky enough to catch one of Stewart's starts last year before he got drafted and was very impressed. I just don't understand putting so much value in under fifty minor league innings. Heck, I don't understand putting value in any minor league stats. The point of the minor leagues is to develop. As long as Stewart's stuff is still there and he is progressing as a pitcher I'm happy.

Haven't we moved plenty of SPers to RPers so shouldn't that be mentioned? Also, Polanco has played SS all year.

Cf? I don't understand the point of this exercise. Couldn't we say the same thing about every player? Starting pitcher moving to relief pitcher? 3B moving to first? Outfielder to Dh? Is every player to risky? Also, what have you read that suggests that he won't be an SS going forward?

Sorry, I didn't word that very well. Unlike speed/velocity where there is a set # for each grade there is not for hands/instincts. They are unmeasurable. You can only grade them by the eye test. Here is a good break down of not only fielding but the rest of the scouted tools: http://www.hsbaseballweb.com/pro-scouting/rating_system.htm (Some of these may differ depending on the source)

While you and I might disagree on who we like at #5 I couldn't agree more. Twins will take BPA so we will know on Thursday who they think has the highest upside.

Double check with the scouting reports you looked at. If you just googled him, which I just did, a lot of them are out of date. Not just Gordon but a ton of prospects have progressed, degressed, since the first round of scouting reports went out.

Mlb.com has his fielding at 60, arm at 60 (lowest I have seen), and speed at 60. Also, KLaw and Crawford has Gordon's speed/range at 60 with his arm being a 70. Add in the reports of having great hands/instincts (things you can't grade) and that is a 60-65 defensive player I believe. One thing to take note of when looking at scouting reports are the dates. Several of the ones I saw after googling Gordon were from January. A lot of players grades/ranks have changed since then. Heck, even the grades I used up above haven't been changed since they were first released months ago!

That is definitely impossible. The Astros can save money no matter whom they pick. IMO best case would be Astros taking Rodon, Marlins taking Jackson, White Sox taking Aiken, Cubs taking a college player, and the Twins end up with Kolek. This has at least been mocked before.

BA's final top 500 board: http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft-preview/

Crawford wrote an article (not ESPN insider) about what to look for in the upcoming draft: http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/77857084/major-league-baseball-draft-2014-carlos-rodon-trea-turner-brady-aiken-houston-astros#!T7TTg

New KLaw draft up. Has the Twins taking Gordon. Here is what he had to say: Analysis: They have been on Gordon all spring. Assuming the big three arms are gone, as I project here, I think they go with Gordon over their second choice, Aaron Nola. | Link here:, http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/draft/mock/?season=2014&version=3&source=Keith-Law-Mock-Draft

Honestly, I don't think there is a right or wrong answer this year. Last year it was a definite tier of Appel/Gray/Bryant but this year it seems no experts agree. I have seen people suggest there is a top 2 with Aiken/Rodon. Some suggest a top three with Kolek added into that group. A Top 5 with Jackson/Gordon or a top 6 with Nola added to the top group. Heck, Chris Crawford's last board had Gordon at #3.....very interesting draft this year.

I think this is 100% correct. A lot of us have favorite players for the Twins at #5 because these guys up top are so close. We have had alot of great debates on players. This years draft thread has been a lot more active and I think this is why. Just like last year, in the end the Twins will end up with a stud prospect.

Good eye. Kiley McDaniel actually mentioned during the cape cod league multiple scouts compared Newcomb to Lester.

Crawford's new mock is up: http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2014/06/the-penultimate-mock-2/

Mlbtraderumors Q&A with Gordon: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/06/draft-prospect-qa-nick-gordon.html

Mlbtraderumors Q&A with Gordon: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/06/draft-prospect-qa-nick-gordon.html

In the draft thread several people brought up the poor draft history of drafting HS SS and them actually sticking at the position. Looking at the last 4 drafts here are the HS SS drafted: 2010 Manny Machado (3rd) Cito Culver (33nd) 2011 Fransico Lindor (8th) Javier Baez (9th) Jake Hager (32nd) 2012 Carlos Correa (1st) Addison Russell (11th) Gavin Cecchini (12th) Corey Seager (18th) 2013 J.P. Crawford (16th) Christian Arroyo (25th) Machado has been playing 3B but that is because of Hardy not the lack of ability to play the position. Culver/Hager/Arroyo were all selected outside of the top 20 with Arroyo being considered the biggest reach in the draft last year. Law just released his updated top 25 and here are how the others did. Correa #2, Russell #5, Lindor #6, Baez #9, Seager # 11, and Crawford # 19. Seager was pegged when drafted to move off the position with Correa/Baez being players who might out grow the position in the future. Pretty solid group.

Jim Callis' new draft board: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mock-draft-brady-aiken-remains-no-1-choice-for-astros?ymd=20140602&content_id=77857076