DocBauer

The past few drafts have provided some very nice surprises beyond the first 10 picks. Quite a few in fact, including Festa, who was picked, I think, in the 14th round, just last year. So this isn't over yet by any stretch of the imagination. But the obvious key to this draft is the 1st two picks and money to sign both. I kinda like Schobel the more I read about him. He's a well rounded "Neto-lite" who flew under the radar due to his more well known/recognized teammate Cross, and I don't think he was just an under slot selection in the Twins FO eyes. I do believe the rest of day 2 was spent on easy signs for under slot who still have potential. And I'm 100% OK with that considering the system and our 2 top picks. I think they drafted a couple of "cheap" arms that might be solid BP additions. Matthews and Lewis are EXACTLY the kind of college pitchers they always look for; tall and long and projectible once in the system. Ortega could be a powerful/hit preference but limited to 2B. The rest are easy and inexpensive signings who might surprise, and allow Prielipp to be brought on board with whatever contract $ they've probably already agreed on. I have zero issues with this draft. Just surprised, there wasn't a single OF that they felt good about selecting

FWIW in regard to Daulton Shuffield: 5' 9" and 170lbs. 23yo, so he's older than most to be sure. He was named a 2nd team All American by "Collegiate Baseball Newspaper" who I've never heard of, but assume it was, obviously, for Div II, which is where I believe Texas State plays at. He was also named the Sunbelt Player of the Year. He set a number of school records, FWIW, but this is his 2022 year: .378/ .444/ .668/ 1.113 He had 20 Dbls/ 5 tpls/ 13 HR/ 48 RBI And scored 78 R while being 16-19 in SB. Clearly an inexpensive signing with some athleticism and potential, but nothing to be excited for, especially considering age. But he's, at worst, a low level roster filler with some potential to help out somewhere.

A trend? We have drafted a lot of big power guys, bat first in some cases, the past few years. But there's also been a lot of the Steer and Julien and other types selected for better contact and hit tools. This year more of the same. So while the FO wants power and believes in it...and you should to based on trends and run scoring percentages...they also understand and appreciate the "hit" tool. It's why Arraez is so important. And it's why Kirilloff is so important. And why Larnach, though he can't match Kepler's defense, might just surpass Max by next season as an offensive presence because he just might be the better overall "hitter".

Didn't see anything posted on Zebby Matthews, unless I missed it. 6' 5" 210lbs and 22 yo. 3yr composite, with the abbreviated 4 games in 2020 included: 13-9/ 3.49 ERA/ 183.1 IP/ 211 SO/ 10.4 K per/ 181 hits/ 30 BB/ 1.151 WHIP. Walks are OK, hits acceptable but a little high. Got bit some in 2022 by the HR ball with 12 bombs in 95.2 IP. Sorry, all I could find at this point.

Seems to really fit the mold, right? Tall and long with some velocity and spin. Curve maybe gets tweaked and thrown harder for more of a slurve? May have to decide change or cutter but not both, or some variation. Please, please...and not for nostalgia sake...if the kid actually has a workable knuckleball, don't stop him from playing with/using it. How crazy good/effective to break it out a few tines a game to really put hitters on their heels? Is he the 2022 Festa pick?

Keep in mind that while the cupboard is thin at AAA, Hamilton appears to have made a decent conversion. Williams is finally healthy and hitting well at AA, though he's also playing a lot of 1B. Carmago has a chance, but appears to be defense and power without a great hit tool. And Isola at AA appears to have the bat. Picked in 2019, he's only in his 2nd full season and doing well. Keep in mind, while results vary in SSS, the Twins selected 3 catchers in 2021. A lot TBD at this point, but they don't appear to think catcher is a primary need at this point. Also possible, of course, they just don't like what's on the board now that we're past the first few rounds.

6' 190lbs and 21yo. Only 13 games and 36 PA in 2021. But as mentioned, he blew up in 2022 at Tennessee. .323/ .398/ .672/ 1.070 20 Dbls/ 4 Tpls/ 18 HR/ 61 RBI

Kyle Jones, RHP, 6'1" 200lbs All MAC baseball and academic. 7-3 with 4.24 ERA (5th in the MAC), and 2nd in K's and IP with 91.1 IP and 114 K's. All I could find.

Ben Ross, 6' 1" 180lbs. 21 years old. 3yr college quad slash: .405/ .471/ .758/ 1.229 43 dbls/ 5 tpls/ 25 HR/ 20-3 SB Small school kid with what appears to be a solid frame and some athleticism. Definite hit and eye ability at his level. A small school, under-slot flier it appears. His summer league numbers look good, FWIW.

Andrew Morris: 6' 195lbs, 20yrs old. Jumped from Div Ii to TX Tech for 1022. 4 pitch mix mix with low 80's slider as his best offering. Some unorthodox mechanics could lead to struggles throwing consistent strikes. No overpowering FB. (Pulled from CBS sports) Started out at Mesa State. 18-2 WL with a short 2020 season factored across the board. 175.2 IP and 160 H. Averaged 10.87 K per 9 in his career, and better each year. WHIP acceptable 1st and 3rd season but high in the short 2020 season. Agreed maybe a RP type, due to lack of length if nothing else. But mechanics the biggest issue it appears. Smooth that out, fastball probably plays up off the slider. Staying in the rotation would depend on additional offerings, it appears.

I don't have a problem with the pick by itself. He's still developing, and while it's possible his new found power can't be sustained to this level, he's clearly got some and the ability to keep at least a portion of it. (Been happening a lot in the system). And looks like a decent hit tool. Really can't have enough guys "up the middle" guys in your system. And a couple of the SS the Twins have drafted the past 3 years have over to different spots. Still, if the object was a flier to save money, I agree, why not just grab an arm you ar least kinda like in this spot? The answer appears, IMO, to be that the Twins like him to stick at SS and see a good developmental path for him. Therefore, he's worth more as a lower slot signing than any flier arm at the same spot. I hope they are right.

His HS and 2021 college numbers are just sick. He's got the frame and projection to sit 94-97 consistently working on his craft full time and in the Twins system. Maybe the top slider in the draft and already solid change with good control pre-surgery. He stays healthy...and he's going to need a little time to ramp up and get 100% "feel" back...could be a fast mover.

The draft coming late hurts the time to get kids signed and ready for any quality time. But IIRC, the milb season goes in to at least mid September now. So if they can agree on a deal quickly, he works out for a week or so, then gets 2-3 weeks at Ft Myers and a couple 2-3 weeks at Cedar Rapids to close things out. IF they can get him signed quickly. Otherwise, he gets only a couple weeks, probably at Ft Myers, and then it's wait and see for the start of 2023.

Did the Twins just nab the biggest pitching steal in the draft?

I like Lee a lot. I was resigned to a couple guys I thought had a chance to be very good choices but was really hoping for one of Parada or Collier to slide through. There's no guarantee Parada sticks at catcher, but I was more than willing to find out. Collier is perhaps the best player out of the entire 1st round, but super young and has a ways to go. NEVER thought Lee would be there. He might be the best pure college "hitter" in the draft. He's got power and will probably develop more. And he can dobit from both sides of the plate. He's got the hands, arm, and instincts to play SS. Do all of those things allow him to stay at SS? Or does a lack of pure speed and lateral quickness push him elsewhere? Depends on which scouting report you read. Just a thought, but with the latest injury to Lewis, I just wonder if it means the Twins like him at SS and like him as a college player as a possible option at SS vs taking the younger Collier?

Just a couple days ago, wouldn't have thought Lee was there. Couple months ago, no way he's there. Like I said, happy with any of the 3. Great player any way you went. Question: Second knee injury to Lewis, did that influence the pick of Lewis in any way???

I'm honestly happy with any of the 3 for different reasons

WOW! Who do you pick from now??!!

I'm going to say Collier if he makes it past the Cubs.

Rocker. WOW! First HUGE wild card!

When the Twins drafted Helman I thought they might have a steal on their hands. He's a really good athlete who played in a major program and offered some real upside. And then 2019 happened and I wasn't sure what to expect from him any longer, especially with no 2020. He was solid last year, with a power breakout, even though the BA was rather low. Really looks like he used his AFL time last year to really bloom. If it turns out he can play at least a serviceable SS that would be some "awesome sauce" to add to his resume and potential. He can 2B/3B and all 3 OF spots. Rumor has it he's pretty good in CF. He can hit, make some contact, get OB, and he's got decent power and can sure run. Is he "there" yet? Probably not. But it's Helman, Steer, and Julien that could make Gordon and Urshela expendable, and perhaps pretty soon. A trio of multi-position capable players who hit, have pop/power, speed in a couple cases, and create some tremendous depth and roster flexibility.

Let's face it, unless someone surprises in the 1st 7 picks, the Twins are likely to have to have their choice of ALL the available arms, save MAYBE one. The one kid I question is from Oklahoma, sorry, but I'm forgetting his name at the moment. I'm sure he's looking for big $, but I don't blame him for that, and do any of us even know what he's asking/thinking for? He's a born and raised Oklahoma kid playing for his hometown, favorite team. If he wants to keep being a Sooner and have a blast and bet on himself as a potential top 5 pick in 2023, I can understand his thinking. So maybe he's in, and maybe he's out. Despite talent and a tremendous close to his 2022 year, he's still a SSS. But so are half of the top pitching prospects! The Twins jumped on Petty last year as a HS arm, but he was picked in the 20's. Are the Twins just convinced Porter and Lesko are that much better, talent and projection, that they would pull the trigger at #8??? Maybe. Just not sure they would do that. But could they pass on Prielipp? He's college with a FB and slider with command and a potential change. He checks the boxes if healthy and if he's looked good in his workouts. The fact he's already had TJ isn't really a negative. He's the arm I'm watching for the Twins, and other teams ahead of them.

Not my preference, as stated, but a really nice play if the Twins pull it off! There ARE some good arms at both levels this year, but with tons of questions. Going to be interesting to see if teams roll with position players, in a sort of collective mindset, and let arms slide down.

Shoot, I just posted in the 1-26 list everything I would want to say here, LOL. Wish I had waited 5 minutes for a screen re-fresh, LOL. But without just doing a copy and paste, I think there's a good chance SOMEONE plays the under/over slot angle and one of the top 7 slides. EVERYONE is an unknown prospect, to be sure, but there's a couple, despite potential, that have enough questions about "hit" ability and lack of defensive ability that I'm not overly interested in, and not sure the Twins will be either. Have stated before, and again now, our FO is not adverse to taking chances on players, but are generally risk adverse. Still, with so many arms that are high potential but coming off injuries and/or have SSS, is this the year where they just roll the dice and take a shot on an arm that normally just wouldn't have been available at #8? I wouldn't be shocked at all. The risk/reward factor may be too great not to take that shot. I don't want Berry. We have enough young talent at the ML level and throught the system I just don't want to see a DH/1B only addition. Berry or risky arm with huge upside? I'm going with the arm all day long. If the right top 7 player falls to us, race the selection card up front. Otherwise, in regard to position players, I like Jett Williams, but favor Neto or Cross. Again, Neto seemingly checks all 5 boxes as good to very good. And he's a legit SS, from reports. He's both good and safe. Might even save a couple $. And I'd be super OK with Cross as a better hitting Kepler or faster Larnach. Kepler isn't going anywhere soon, barring trade, and might re-up. Larnach should be a staple when healthy again. AK can/will play some OF but become the primary 1B. Wallner just might be real, and can play some corner OF with a big arm. But stuff happens and trades happen. Plenty of room to add Cross. IF a position player is indeed #1, I'm crossing my fingers Dalton Rushing, the LH hitting catcher from Louisville will be snapped up by the Twins in round 2. Perfect compliment to Jeffers in a couple of years. After that, pitching and pitching and more pitching 3-10 unless a position player drops in your lap that you really like.

I won't be upset, or overly surprised, I the FO pulls an "upset" in regards to previous strategies and grabs an arm at 8. You've got 3 or 4 arms that would be in the top 10, if not top 5, were they healthy. Is this the year, college or HS, where they just decide to roll the dice on a risky move that could pay big dividends a few years from now? But I'm not betting they will do so. They are willing to take chances, but are opposed to risk, especially for their #1 pick. It's very possible one or two of the top 7 fall because someone else takes that shot at an arm, or is going to try and play the under/over slot game. But despite real bat potential, there are a couple of the top 7 I'm not too crazy about because it just feels like their "hit" ability remain too questionable or they are questionable as to defensive value. If the right guy doesn't drop in their laps...think Collier for example...I think I'm in on Neto or Cross. Neto just seems to check all the boxes as at least "good", should stick at SS, and is "safe" as well as talented. Cross becomes, potentially, a better hitting version of Kepler or a faster Larnach. There's room for him in a couple of years. Kepler isn't going anywhere for a couple years, to be sure. And we have Larnach and maybe Wallner, for years to come. But Max won't be here forever, and someone might get moved at some point. AK will still be able to play OF, but will probably settle in at 1B. Again, there's plenty of room for Cross. Second round, I'd just love to see Dalton Rushing, the catcher from Louisville, get snapped up. He's got a good and powerful LH bat, solid defense, and could be the perfect compliment for Jeffers. After that, I'd like to see a run on pitchers with maybe a HS arm or two mixed in that they feel good about signing. Not saying DON'T select another position player in the top 10 if you really like someone, but they've added a number of good looking position players the past few drafts and rounds 3-10 all pitchers would make me very happy. Neto or Cross at #1 barring a drop surprise, Rushing at #2, and then pitching, pitching, pitching.