InfraRen

The most selfless job at Target Field isn't masquerading around in the TC the Bear costume or washing jocks. It has to be sorting through all the Twins scouts' expense reports. From high school and college coaches to advisors and major league colleagues, the word this week from numerous individuals is that the Twins, led by vice president of player personnel Mike Radcliff and scouting director Deron Johnson, prep harder for the draft than anyone. That tireless travel and work, at least involving this year's draft-eligible prospects, comes to a close next week. The draft runs June 6-8. In a lengthy chat on Wednesday afternoon, Radcliff reiterated that the Twins' draft board for the No. 4 overall pick is down to four players. "We have enough guys we have no problem taking," Radcliff said. "Dollars, risk, creativity, we can go many ways." What he means by that is this: when draft meetings commence at Target Field Friday with the entire staff -- all area scouts, general manager Terry Ryan, assistant general manager Rob Antony, etc. -- one discussion will be to take a player who they can sign for below the recommended slot. In this case, the No. 4 pick is worthy of a signing bonus of approximately $4.5 million. Doing so would allow them more financial flexibility with later picks -- mostly their second and third rounders. According to sources, the player who would take less is Washington high school catcher Reese McGuire. His advisors, Matt Sosnick and Adam Karon, have a great relationship with the Twins. They represent Josh Willingham and Ryan Doumitand had no problem negotiating a deal for 2011 second round pick Madison Boer, who had the option to go back to Oregon for his senior year. For what it's worth, the duo also has pending free agent pitcher Josh Johnson as a client -- a name to remember next winter when the Twins inevitably will be searching for starters. Radcliff was noncommittal on that McGuire scenario, but did acknowledge that he's looking for a catcher. "Well, we want a catcher every draft," he said. "Looking for a star catcher is the hardest thing to find." Radcliff said they separate the catchers on their draft board from the rest of the positions. If the Twins don't go the under-slot route at No. 4, the industry buzz from multiple angles is that Texas high school right-handed pitcher Kohl Stewart will be the pick. Radcliff and Johnson have seen Stewart in-person many times, and the Twins have had a scout watch his every pitch over the last couple years. "Well-scouted player," Radcliff said. "We value seeing each player throughout his timeline. The more looks you get, the better decision you'll make." As for the elephant in the room -- Stewart is a Type 1 diabetic -- Radcliff dismissed it. "It's manageable, controllable," he said. "It has been discussed. It's not nearly as big a deal as it used to be." Darek Braunecker is advising Stewart. He's also the advisor for Indiana high school pitcher Trey Ball, a likely top-15 pick. Other draft notes • Sosnick and Karon are also advising Nevada junior right-handed pitcher Braden Shipley. The buzz seems to be that the Twins are focusing more on McGuire with the duo. But once everyone's voice is heard in the forthcoming draft gatherings, it's possible the stance could be swayed. • The Twins held a workout for Atlanta area prospects two Saturdays ago. Consensus top-10 player, outfielder Austin Meadows (Grayson, Georgia), didn't attend. • Jason Wood is advising Arkansas junior right-handed pitcher Ryne Stanek, another consensus top-10 pick. Word is Wood is open to a pre-draft deal, but is not nearly on-board as Sosnick/Karon. In fact, many in the game say nobody touches Sosnick/Karon when it comes to pre-draft negotiating. Johnson has seen Stanek numerous times, and the Twins have done the most work on him of any top-10 team. That includes seeing every medical record necessary. • The Twins are bringing a few guys in for workouts/visits on Monday. The list includes Kentucky high school left-handed pitcher Hunter Green. • Radcliff said the Twins would have a top-50 board. "We have to take the best players at four and 43. We really need everything." While telling the truth, it'll be shocking if the Twins don't take at least one pitcher who those picks. • Red Wing high school outfielder Ryan Boldt, who underwent knee surgery in early May, will be off crutches in a week. He said he expects to be able to play again in mid-August. As for whether he's thought about going in the second-round to the Twins, "I've definitely thought about getting drafted by the Twins," Boldt said Thursday afternoon. "It'd be a dream come true." The indication, according to sources, is that the Twins will likely go in a different direction at No. 43. That's if Boldt is still available. He very easily could go higher. • SFX's John Courtright is advising gophers' left-handed pitcher Tom Windle, a possibility at No. 43. Ryan saw Windle in the Big Ten Tournament at Target Field last week. • A possibility at No. 1 with the Astros, there's no buzz linking the Twins to North Carolina third baseman Colin Moran. However, a few advisors stated this week that the Twins keep their intentions quieter than most teams. • Nobody believes that Stanford right-handed pitcher Mark Appel will fall to No. 4. But some are starting to hypothesize that Houston will take Moran No. 1. In that scenario, San Diego junior power hitter Kris Bryant or Oklahoma right-handed pitcher Jonathan Gray would fall to No. 4. Radcliff and the Twins love Bryant's bat and are convinced he can play a position, but it might not be third base, which he currently occupies. The other problem is that Bryant is using Scott Boras as his advisor. Gray, like every pitcher, is someone the Twins have a book on. BBI Sports Group's Jay Franklin is his advisor. Scoop Central • Radcliff on the international free agent market, which opens July 2: "It has depth. There a lot of position players we like. There's enough pitching. We have the fourth-most money to spend. We are a major player." One player the Twins like is Dominican outfielder Lewin Diaz. • The Twins did not have a scout in Japan earlier this week to watch starting pitchers Shohei Otani, 18, and Masahiro Tanaka, 24. Tanaka will be made available to major league teams first. • When contacted by phone earlier in the week, Twins owner Jim Pohlad declined comment about the team's recent 10-game losing streak/the quarter point of the season. • The Twins scouted St. Paul Saints pitcher Mark Hamburger for a second time earlier this week.

TONS of draft bits here from Doogie (more with Radcliff.) You can weed through some Timberwolves notes: The Scoops: Twins scouting crew finalizing plans for upcoming draft | 1500 ESPN Twin Cities ? Minnesota Sports News & Opinion (Twins, Vikings, Wolves, Wild, Gophers) | Sportswire: Minnesota Twins Also posted out below. (Didn't know if it'd fit or not.)

Darren Wolfson:

AND if May can get his act together?! 3 starters spittin fire up on the mound? Unheard of! Round it off with Gibby and (insert name here) - cool!

Darren Wolfson ‏@DarrenWolfson3h We (@KSTP) caught up w/ OF Ryan Boldt. Off crutches in a week. Has thought about going #43 to the #MNTwins. Leans on Mitch Brown for advice.

When you're picking this high - or anywhere for that matter, people have been talking about, this type of player has bigger bust potential (HS pitcher/hitter vs College pitcher/hitter.) Seems like the HS pitcher scares people away, but in reality, it's really a crapshoot from all types of players. That said, if this scenario plays out - drafting this high, you HAVE to take best available, and the one with the highest potential. Especially with a team like the Twins who made major moves in rebuilding this off season. Keep building that farm. You will be rewarded. With all that - my pick is Kohl Stewart. He has a frame that is more muscular than most HS pitchers (which is favorable w/ injury risk moving through the minors), has a solid mix of 3 (some dominant) pitches now, with room for more and is (based on Callis, McDaniel, Law, etc.) the BPA there Based on raw stuff it's up there with Gray/Appel's. In my mind he's the perfect combo of need AND BPA. Make the pick, Twins. (Plus, he'll utilize the 10,000 lakes.)

Wow - this surprised me: [TABLE=width: 431] [TD=class: chatmsgtext viewer_text, bgcolor: #F2F7F7][TABLE=width: 363] [/TD] Comment From Jeffrey Loria Rodon 1-1 next year? [/TABLE] [/TABLE] [TABLE=width: 431] [TD=class: chatmsgtime]2:21[/TD] [TD=class: chatmsgtext altcaster_text]Kiley McDaniel: Possible, but definitely backed up there year. I think he's next year's Austin Meadows as people had it bashed into their skulls that he's David Price by Baseball America and Rodon was really bad at times this year and has some arm stiffness. He's a fringe top 10 guy for me. Trea Turner is clearly superior and Tyler Beede is a little better for me too. Watch out for Sean Newcomb.[/TD] [/TABLE] So you're tellin me there's a chance.....

Me likey! If we came away with either Reed or Boldt at 43, that'd be a win.

You're on fire! Boldt at 43 would be siiiiiick. Think of him as a Buxton with a little less power/speed potential, but still solid with both.

[TABLE=width: 431] [TD=class: chatmsgtime, bgcolor: #F2F7F7]3 [/TD] [TD=class: chatmsgtext viewer_text, bgcolor: #F2F7F7][TABLE=width: 363] [/TD] Comment From casey Have the Twins been linked to anyone at 43 or later? [/TABLE] [/TABLE] [TABLE=width: 431] [TD=class: chatmsgtime]1:53 [/TD] [TD=class: chatmsgtext altcaster_text]Kiley McDaniel: Cody Reed is a hot name for the Twins.[/TD] [/TABLE]

Better chance with Kiley I believe.

[h=6]Steve (California)[/h] Is Clint Frazier "falling" because of his height, or are there just other players tam preferred. I think if I had bet you a month ago he makes it out of the Top 10, I could have won a free dinner from you. [h=6]Klaw (1:35 PM) [/h] I think the online hype on Frazier exceeded his actual industry support - not that people in the industry dislike him, but that he somehow became the darling of hardcore draft fans (for good reason, since the bat speed is absurd) even when scouts didn't feel quite the same way. He could still go in the top 10, maybe as high as 7, although I understand Meadows outshone him in Boston's workout this weekend.

Haha! Kiley McDaniel in response to me: [TABLE=width: 431] [TD=class: chatmsgtext viewer_text, bgcolor: #F2F7F7][TABLE=width: 363] Comment From Andrew I'm trying not to get "all in" on Kohl Stewart to the Twins, but it seems like such a perfect combo of need AND best available to not be the pick, right? [/TABLE] [/TD] [/TABLE] [TABLE=width: 431] [TD=class: chatmsgtime]1:27 [/TD] [TD=class: chatmsgtext altcaster_text]Kiley McDaniel: Allow your heart to love, Andrew. Go all in with your feelings. It's the best bet you'll ever make.[/TD] [/TABLE]

[h=6]Geordy (NJ)[/h] Love the Mock today, what are the chances that Gray really does end up in Cleveland's lap? [h=6]Klaw (1:10 PM) [/h] Cleveland gets one of the top five guys, if they want one; if the Twins are as locked in on Kohl Stewart as the industry believes, and they pass on whichever of the four college guys gets to them, then Cleveland gets someone they'd be very excited to land. I think their nightmare scenario is that Gray, Appel, Bryant, and Moran go 1-4, which can happen if Moran does go 1-1.

The one thing I would take from this - the Twins must REALLY like Stewart if Law projects him over Gray. Law is pretty plugged in. Makes me feel even better about our chances of taking him if Big 3 DO go as previously expected.

Chat: Chat with Keith Law - SportsNation - ESPN ^You're right - let's get some Twins talkers goin doods!

Ditto.

Was unaware of the pay-article posting policies, sorry!

Keith Law's mock draft 2.0 We're just one week away from the Rule 4 draft, and draft boards are starting to take shape. There will still be some adjustments before Thursday night, and I'll have two more mock drafts between now and then. For now, here is my best projection for the top 33 picks in the draft -- the formal first round, plus the six compensatory picks teams received for losing free agents who received qualifying offers this offseason. You'll notice the absence of Indiana State lefty Sean Manaea, who was considered a top-five talent coming into the season. His performance all spring was uneven and he walked off the mound with a hip injury while warming up for his final start a week ago, and no one has a great feel for his status right now. Indiana State's season is over, so scouts won't get another chance to see him before the draft. (To see my the first mock draft from two weeks ago, click here. For a complete look at my ranking of the top 100 draft prospects, click here.) 1 Colin Moran POS: 3B B/T: R/R HT: 6-3 WT: 215 School: North Carolina Analysis: I don't think the Astros will make a formal decision on this pick until Thursday, but the buzz within the industry has Houston leaning toward this scenario: Houston takes Moran, knowing his next-best alternative is to go No. 5 to Cleveland, whose slot value is $3,787,000. By doing this, the Astros could offer him $4 million or so and know he'd accept it. The value of the No. 1 pick is $7.2 million, which means the Astros would then have sufficient savings to take first-round talents who fell at picks 40 and 74, something they've already shopped around to some prep players who aren't going in the top 33. They could take Jonathan Gray but won't get as much of a discount if they do. They're not on Kris Bryant or Clint Frazier, and Mark Appel doesn't seem to be one of their top two options. SCOUTING REPORT | VIDEO Video 2 Mark Appel POS: RHP HT: 6-5 WT: 215 School: Stanford Analysis: Appel or Gray. I've heard Theo Epstein loves Gray, but overall the Cubs have a real internal debate between the two options. Without a clear inclination toward either guy, I've assigned them the player I think is better. SCOUTING REPORT | VIDEO Video 3 Kris Bryant POS: 3B/OF B/T: R/R HT: 6-5 WT: 215 School: San Diego Analysis: They've been linked to Bryant all spring, and the industry discussion has had them on hitters. But would they take Gray if he were here? I can't see Gray falling far, with a floor at No. 6. (No way does Miami scouting director Stan Meek, an Oklahoma native who played at OU, pass on a Sooner as good as Gray.) SCOUTING REPORT | VIDEO Video 4 Kohl Stewart POS: RHP HT: 6-3 WT: 190 School: St. Pius X (Houston) Analysis: This will be Stewart, Gray or Washington prep catcher Reese McGuire on a well below-slot deal. SCOUTING REPORT | VIDEO Video 5 Jonathan Gray POS: RHP HT: 6-4 WT: 239 School: Oklahoma Analysis: I've heard them on Bryant and Moran all spring, and Chris Antonetti flew to Georgia to meet with Clint Frazier earlier this week, but I think they'll take Gray if he falls to them. SCOUTING REPORT | VIDEO Video

On Ryan Boldt - the (him) is Radcliff I believe: Darren Wolfson ‏@DarrenWolfson37s @InfraRen @PBbboese Might be able to glean more after talking w/ him today. Best guess: Twins don't take him at No. 43 (if he's even there).

Kiley McDaniel ‏@kileymcd9s Free Draft chat coming in a few hours, get those questions in early here: http://sbb.scout.com/2/1295349.html

Perfect Game just posted their top 50 Draft Prospect Scouting Report, first 5 are free. Stewart: 5. KOHL STEWART, rhp, St. Pius X HS, Tomball (Texas) Stewart came into the spring with as many questions dogging him as any top prospect in the country but has stepped up and answered all of them emphatically. The first and most important question was the health of his right shoulder, which was injured in a football game in November. Not only did Stewart come back healthy, he came back better, with his fastball velocity consistently in the mid-90s, complemented by a newly developed curveball that immediately rivaled his already potential plus slider for quality. With his name now being mentioned frequently and almost exclusively among the top 10 picks, the questions about Stewart taking advantage of his football opportunities at Texas A&M have also become less frequent, although they are sure to play a leverage role in his draft negotiations. For more on the hard throwing Texas right hander, read his Perfect Game Draft Focus Profile here.

His response to me about Stewart:

THIS. When you're drafting this high, the bust rate is always going to be high, HS pitcher/hitter, college pitcher/hitter. You NEVER know. So you pick the guy with the highest potential and hope for the best. That's Kohl Stewart.