DocBauer

Keep in mind DeBarge is still a professional rookie. There are going to be highs and lows, but he's got a lot of athletic talent. But I do believe he's going to be a SU player similar to Castro. And there's great value in that. I had given up on Schobel, a similar player with maybe a little less talent, despite him only playing 3 seasons and a solid 2023. Then he bottomed out in 2024 and I dismissed him. Unfortunately, he's hurt right now, but he's rebounded with a very good 2025 up until his injury.

I'm a little late to this conversation and I'm probably going to repeat a lot of what I said in the live OP, but here goes: I know this wasn't a great draft, but I liked most of the picks through probably 12 or 13, but not really sure about the last 7 or 8. And I know that's nit picking for late round selections. Still, I'm just not sure how much upside I see there. HOUSTON isn't exciting. But he was considered the 1 or 1A best SS in the draft. He can hit, take some BB, can run a little, has developed some late pop/power that we hope is legitimate. If the defense is for real...and everyone seems to agree it is...the Twins now have 2 SS of the future. This gives greater flexibility with Culpepper to set up the INF the way you want/need in the near future. Add in Lewis...hopefully...Lee and Keaschall...possibly some depth/help from Schobel and DeBarge and there's a lot of talent to work with. I LOVE the QUICK selection. If he didn't have TJ a year ago, does he make it to the comp pick? There's sooo much to work with here! And I really like embracing the strength of the draft and going with some talented college arms early. And there's a lot of projectability in both REITZ and BARR. We'll done! I'm not as excited as some about prep SS AGBAYANI, despite the bloodlines and being the Gatorade player of the year. As of NOW, he's solid in all scouting metrics but doesn't seem to have any area where he stands out. So I'm a little tepid on my excitement. But that could easily change in a year or two as he develops. YOUNG is this year's version of Winokur, a toolsy prep who is an excellent athlete with a great arm and BIG power potential. You just have to take shots on kids Iike this once a draft because the payoff could be tremendous. I really like McCOMBS and DANIELS, who MIGHT end up in the OF at some point from what I've read. Both seem to have solid bats, good control of the zone, and some power and speed. I think DANIELS might be a tough sign. SPROCK is really interesting in that he got better each year, was good in summer league action, and has a great quad slash line. He did it all for Elon. No intended insult to him or Elon, but he didn't play in a power conference so there is some question how he translates to pro ball. MITROVICH, SMITH, and FANG are all a little different but offer potential for sure. SMITH has velocity and great K numbers, but also BB a ton. Can he find control/command? I see a potentially really strong pen arm down the road. It seems the other 2 have good secondaries and control but need added velocity. The Twins know how to do that. From there it's cloudy to me. 17th Rounder JP SMITH is listed as a 3B, but from what I can see he's been almost exclusively a 1B in college. So is he converting to the hot corner? Really good numbers and bat/power potential, but Sacramento State is a step down level. LHP BECKER is a pen arm with high BB and K numbers. I love late fliers on power LH arms with K ability as possible pen contributors down the road. 20th rounder HIKER was really good at low level Wisconsin-Whitewater, but had a rough year at Arizona after his transfer there. I'm betting he goes back to AZ for 2026 to attempt to improve his draft stock. What didn't I like? I don't like the ROBINSON pick at 10. He might be a good athlete and have a good glove, but for college, he just didn't hit. He hasn't shown SB speed or much power. This feels like a cost saving move. And arms JONES, MORING, and STEVENS just haven't shown anything close to good numbers, or have barely pitched due to injuries. The JONES pick is interesting as he's the tall, long kind of arm the Twins love to grab and work with, but they drafted him in 2024 and he didn't sign. But he had an even worse 2025. His recent numbers in the Collegiate Summer League have shown promise though. And there must be SOMETHING the Twins scouts see in him they really like despite poor college numbers. After reflection and review, I've warmed up a little more to those last 7-8 picks. Again, not an especially good draft, and we're talking late round selections. It just feels like we had better late round drafts a couple years ago. I would have swapped out Robinson in the 10th spot for a college catcher. I don't believe drafting catchers, in general, means you've added a catcher of the future, unless you get a great one early. But there's so few of those EVER. You develop them. But to not take a single one bothers me. To me, a catcher is a lot like a QB in the NFL draft; whenever possible, you draft one almost every year to see if you get lucky, or find a really good backup, or someone who might develop in to a trade chip. IMO, solid catchers are SO HARD to find, you should take 1, if not 2, every draft to see if you get "lucky". A good draft overall. Strong at the top, with some real potential in the middle rounds both in regard to arms and position players. I'm just a little unsure about anyone emerging from the later picks, and don't like a single catcher not drafted.

DeBarge looks like a really good prospect who can play almost anywhere and get OB and provide speed and some pop. He might be a better version of Castro at some point. But he's a professional rookie, not quite 22, and already excelling at AA ball. But there's room to still grow as a HITTER despite a good OB%. There's no need to rush him. He's doing just fine in his rookie pro season. Ferrer is just fine where hes at, ALSO in his rookie season. He was a TOP prep catcher prospect who FL State moved around because of depth and his talent. The Twins are converting him back to catcher. His bio is exactly the same for fellow 2024 draft pick and teammate Diaw. TWO very talented athletes who have the ability and at least some previous experience as catchers. The bad news is Diaw is out for the season. The silver lining is Ferrer gets even more time behind the plate. But he doesn't need to be promoted. He's doing well after after a slow start and just needs to stay where he's at right now for development sake. As far as Raya is concerned, I will state yet again he was added to the 40 man because he needed to be. But he began the season behind Matthews, and Festa, and Morris and Lewis even though the latter 2 weren't even on the 40 man. Unfortunately, there has been discussions about him making an appearance due to injuries galore in the rotation, including Morris, and a poor season from Lewis. The plan all along, IMO, was for Raya to just SIT at AAA all season and just develop. And so far, to this point, isn't that EXACTLY what we're starting to see? SWR is doing well and continuing to grow and develop, as is Festa. Matthews might be back in days to help. But Raya is right where he should be, developing and getting ready for 2026.

Interesting how you see Agbayani. It's really tough for me, right now, to see who I comp him to. TODAY I see him as a Jay Bell, Leuis, or Mears type. Good enough to play SS, enough pop and AVG and glove work to play across the INF. I know my comps go WAY BACK, but I don't see speed enough for CF or enough power to play the corners. And I NEVER believe in giving up on a kid playing SS until it's obvious he can't. I think he's a dirt player. But who knows what his bat looks like in 2yrs as his body and bat develop? Sprock reminds me of last year's choices of Peyton Carr and Jay Thomason. Decent, lower level prospects with some upside. PROVE your bat plays at a higher level. If so, the defense probably plays and you can move around if/when necessary. I TOTALLY agree on the McCombs to Summerhill comp. McCombs played at a lower level, but produced better numbers, more power, and is still on the rise, IMO. Though his debut might put him a level behind just because of where they went to college, potentially. But I like the pick as an under the radar riser. I think the Mitrovich vs Hall comp is interesting and fair. I've been so disappointed in Hall. Last I saw, he was still sitting about 91 consistently. I really thought he'd be a fast riser. A really good change is the hardest thing to develop. So when you have a good one, and a solid breaking ball, you have to look hard at a kid with those and good control. But CAN they find the extra velocity needed to take him to another level? He has good length, if that matters enough. And the Twins love length. But yeah, right now, his comp is Hall. I still don't understand the Robinson pick. I see a good glove and good athlete who just isn't a ML ballplayer. Was he an underslot pick just to save $ elsewhere? MAYBE he's an athlete just ready to turn it up a notch. But I'm just not seeing a pick that makes sense here. Even at 10, wasn't there another OF, or arm or catcher option that made more sense? I have to believe some scout was banging the table saying this kid is just touching his ability or I think it's a wasted depth pick at this point.

Not a good draft for prep arms, not a great draft for catchers, not a deep draft for college bats, but a deep draft for college arms. A mediocre draft overall. So I hear, LOL. Glad the Twins leaned in to what was strong. Especially since they went position player rather heavy last year. The more I reflect on Agbayani, the more I like him as a projectible kid a couple years from now. But if he doesn't stick at SS, do the other tools advance enough to contribute offense elsewhere? I know he's young, but I'm just looking down the road. I don't hate the pick. I'm probably being unfair to the later round arms, and Fang might work out. So might Jones. Every draft is different. I just liked what they did in 2022 and 2023 more than what I've seen this year for the late arms. It was a fairly decent and well rounded draft overall. As far as catchers go, I thought they did great with Diaw and Ferrer last year. I didn't expect a top catcher for this year. Im just surprised that for depth purposes alone they didn't snag 1 or 2 late for depth and hope potential. I'm not down on the draft at all. I just don't know how much I see potential in most of the late picks. Again, probably unfair since every draft is different.

Yes, Derek Bender. He was drafted as Bat first option who was probably destined for 1B. There was at least some hope he could learn to be a full time catcher, but 1B was really in the cards for his future. It was really the athletic duo of Diaw and Ferrer that were drafted to be catchers of the future. Diaw was off to a great start at CR before he was injured. Ferrer was a top HS catcher prospect who the Seminoles made an OF, and who the Twins are attempting to turn back in to a backstop. Both are way better athletes than you normally see there, with potentially really solid bats. Both are at CR this season. The HOPE was, IMO, that while working on defense, each might be ready for AA in 2026. Ferrer has been good after a slow start. But AA for both or either might be in question now. Bender is probably out of baseball for good. Last I heard, he's been trying to clear his name. Hard to do when umpires and the other team have reported the same information.

Cardenas and Winkel are above Olivar at catcher right now, which isn't saying a lot. Someone else will have to be brought in barring Vazquez back on a 1yr $3M deal. (Don't kid yourself, it might happen). Olivar is a bat 1st, contact hittibg LF with SOME power and solid bat zone control. And he can be a 3rd catcher. He's not to be dismissed as a solid prospect. But Gonzalez, Rosario, and Fedko could surpass him over the next season or so. Unfortunately, the 2 best catcher prospects in the system are Diaw...out now with a broken thumb I believe...and Ferrer, going good after a slow start.

Watkins has a career as a "good soldier" utility player in the Twins system. He finally got a cup of coffee in 2007 at the ML level. IIRC, he may have gotten hurt shortly after hus debut, but memory fades sometimes. He worked his way through the system, and has the respect of the players, and always has. I just think it's crazy how awful a 3B coach he is when a player gets thrown out, and yet he's never complimented when he makes a good call and sends the runner for a score. In baseball, the manager is always the biggest villain when things don't go right. #2 on the list is whoever the 3rd base coach is. Watkins is a good guy and a respected coach. I hope he lobs the balls in perfectly for Buck to make a show of things. But I'm actually more excited for Byron's son to bring his dad a towel, drink, or bat, whatever he needs. This is a special moment for Buxton, his family, and for Twins fans.

I'm intrigued by AGBAYANI. His scouting scores have him basically 50 across the board, meaning currently he doesn't really grade above average anywhere, or if you like, he's basically average across the board. But from what I've read, he stood out some in various camps and is a smooth athlete. I think he's a long term developmental player, but you're trusting your scouts to see a feel for the game and what he might be athletically in a couple of years. I'm not excited, but I am intrigued to see what he might be in a couple of years. McCOMBS is very interesting. Barely played at SD State and then transfered to UC Irvine and had a really good year with power and all the hitting marks you'd like to see. Still only a 21yo sophomore, I like his projection. I certainly don't want to insult Elon University, but it's not a power conference school. And I have to wonder some if Sprock and Mitrovich were selected partially to save a bit of $ in their selections as a result. SPROCK certainly has shown the ability to HIT the ball and maintain a solid OB% while showing developing power. That's important as he isn't very big and may be maxed out physically, or close to it. But being able to actually HIT and get OB is important. Love that MITROVICH has good control, a quality change, and a solid slider. The Twins love projects, but they love to start with control...when they can...and at least a good offerings. I'd bet Mitrovich throws 2-3 mph faster in 2026 with a tweaked slider. Is that enough to get him on the prospect map? To be honest, I'm just not crazy about the selection of SHAI ROBINSON. He reminds me of Jay Harry from 2023, a glove 1st SS with a limited bat and no other special tools, drafted too early. To be fair, Robinson had his best season this last one. But there is little power or speed production and a limited hit tool. Maybe he's an athletic late bloomer? But I think this was an under slot flier to save $ for other picks later.

You might be right. Drafting catchers early is always a crapshoot unless you have access to someone special. So many just never hit their way out of a paper bag, never learn to be quality backstops even if they have a good bat and move elsewhere, or their bat is too good to leave behind the plate so they again move elsewhere. Still, I'm surprised the Twins didn't draft a single backstop for depth at least. But they did draft 2 pretty interesting ones last year. I'm still surprised for depth reasons though.

You might be right, but Hiker in the 20th round should probably go back to Arizona for his senior year. Not sure if smaller school 1B Smith II is looking for a senior season at a D1 school. 16th rounder has never thrown for a school, only summer leagues. Might he try to actually throw for a school for 1yr and see if he can improve his status?

I know this wasn't the deepest draft, and I expected the Twins to take a lot of arms after focusing so hard on position players in 2024, and spending their $ on early picks, but from Fang in the 13th or maybe Jones in the 14th on, I'm really not sure what they were doing. I mean, Boring looks maxed out physically and has poor numbers, including BB and K. Stevens from Alabama never played for Alabama. Looks like a small school or JC kid who was going to transfer in. Only 33 IP in summer ball. I'm guessing a number of injuries? Dalquist is maxed out at 5' 10" 195lbs and no great numbers either. I'm more interested in 19th rounder Becker, LHRP who BB WAY too many at 4.7, but also K'd 12.2. At least he's a LH pen option with K ability. And 20th rounder Hiker had a good 2023 in the pen for lower level Wisconsin-Whitewater, a really good 2024 as a starter there, and then a poor 2025 after transferring to Arizona, though his WHIP and K numbers were solid. I'm betting he goes back to AZ for 2026. FWIW, 17th rounder JP Smith II has had a really nice career at Sacramento State for 3yrs. .297/ .372/ .581/ .953 quad slash line with solid power numbers. But while listed as a 3B on the Draft Tracker, he's really only played 1B. So I don't know what to think about him. For the most part, I feel good about 1-12/13. After that it feels like a handful of fliers that I just generally don't see the attraction to.

Has to be the same guy. (I mean, same school even). I love 6' 4" 200lb pitchers with some upside, especially late, but his numbers certainly don't scream "draft me again after a worse season the next". BUT, his numbers, even SSS, in his summer league appearances were really good. I wonder if that's why they selected him again? Still, I don't see the attraction. Obviously the scouts see something way beyond the numbers, because the numbers say undraftable.

In what has to end being the best NAME the Twins select this draft, comes Callen Fang, RHP from Harvard. 6' 3" and 215 lbs, continuing a trend of arms 6' 2" or taller. While SSS, he put up some really excellent numbers playing in the Futures Collegiate League, but pretty pedestrian numbers for Harvard. Career 4.54 ERA, hit per 9, 1.375 WHIP, and 10.4 K per 9. Nothing bad, but nothing great either. Who knows about potential and what they see in him, just pedestrian numbers to this point.

Kolten Smith from Georgia next. The RH junior has a good 6' 3" 210 lb frame and comes from a good school/conference. He's spent time in the rotation as well as the pen. Basically he's allowed a hit per IP and 3.8 BB per 9. But he also K'd 12.2 per 9. So there's definitely something to work with there. But there's also control issues. He might just be a true reliever, though I'm sure he will get an opportunity to start initially. Interestingly, he announced in June he was leaving Georgia via the transfer portal, but I didn't see any destination announced.

Basically doubled his career AB and had a great junior season. Again with a possible late bloomer. Seems interesting. An over slot signing?

Late bloomer? Barely played his first 2 seasons and started to bloom in a summer league in 2024 that carried over in to his 2025 season. But the AVG still seems really low for a college prospect. Can he become.more aggressive and lower that OB% for more actual hitting prowess?

And 2 things the Twins do well is add velocity and tweak sliders. The fact that he's got a good frame and already a solid change gives him a leg up. Wondering if they'll keep him with his current mix and just work on refining it? Or do they add another pitch immediately? Not sure what to think here. He's got pretty average numbers across the board, no big K numbers, and no summer success that I can find. Guessing they see a delivery they can smooth out and tweak the mix.

Ryan Sprock, 3B, Elon University. He's 5' 10" and 205lbs. A .300 AVG and .400 OBP% in college with and OPS above .900. Had his best year this season with 31 total XBH and 50 RBI and a 1.000 OPS.

Interesting, he only turned 21 a couple days ago. And he was a transfer from San Diego State who oy had 81 AB as a freshman there. I'd say he's an under the radar pick who's on the upswing. With pretty much 50 grades across the board, he's intriguing for sure. But I'm not so sure he shouldn't have gone back to school for his junior year.

From all I read and hear, the combine allowed a lot of guys to impress and greatly improve the perception of them, and thus their draft stock.

Agree about being over slot. Don't usually see a lot of 6th round prep selections any longer. He doesn't seem to have any single tool that stands out, but a good frame and pretty even scores across the board. I think they're intrigued by what they believe he'll be in a couple of years.

Reminds me very much of LH Carpenter from last year. Almost like drafting a prep pitcher when you consider 19yo and so little experience. A Tennessee recruit with good velocity and a lot of spin on his breaking stuff already? Yes please. Make sure you sign him now.

I would have taken Irish over Houston due to the fact he was one of the best college bats in the draft. If he couldn't stick at CATCHER for some reason, there's a pretty good OF in there I think. But I don't dislike Houston at all. He and Culpepper give the Twins a pair of SS to follow Correa. Culpepper can also play 2B/3B depending on how things shake out. Keaschall can play 2B/1B/OF. Lee can play 3 spots, though I'm not expecting him to be the Correa heir. DeBarge may be the next Castro, but even better speed. Schobel is also being groomed as a SU player. And without even considering Lewis...and even Amick potentially...locking in at 3B or 1B, what they've done is create a potentially excellent and versatile INF with OF options. Quick is very exciting. He's got everything you'd want in a top pitching prospect. If he hadn't missed 2024 from TJ, I wonder if he'd even be available at 16 this year? Ellwanger is very similar in build, velocity, potential velocity, and an already good 2nd offering. But he's also only a sophomore...recently turned 21yo...and barely threw in 2024. So he's very raw. But there's a ton of talent to work with in both these arms. I agree it would have been nice to grab another good HS arm to develop in the lower minors. But it sure sounds like it was a down year for prep arms. And a good year to invest in college arms. You've got to question a young bat that has contact issues. But when someone like Young is available, a good athlete with so much power and potential, you have to take the chance to see if that contact and recognition can develop. If it does, you've got someone really good and potentially dangerous. He's this year's version of a Winokur potential pick. They leaned in to position players more in 2024, so I can see this draft being a little more pitching heavy. I think they're off to a really good start. And I really do like the variety of talent so far.

Jason Reitz, only 20yo, 6' 11" and and 215. Sits around 93mph but has hit 97. Doesn't have full extension so there's room for his velocity to uptick a good couple of MPH. Solid cutter and slider, a change that rates a 45. Started the year in the Duck's pen and then became the Sunday starter and had a .250 ERA and a WHIP under 1. As might be expected of such pitcher, he's struggled with control at times. So young and that long frame, he could be a steal in the 4th round with more consistent mechanics and a FB that sits 95-97.