DocBauer

Just a small side note that doesn't really mean anything in the long run, but there was a potential out at 1B in the late innings where Lewis stretched out as far as he could to snag the ball and still keep his foot on the bag. The runner was ruled safe. But the glove snag, and the stretch, shows me Lewis is really settling in at 1B. Sometimes you look at the little things.

Ober had a couple poor starts before he went on the IL. I'm still wondering if he was trying to "gut it out" for the team. The truth is his lost velocity might be permanent, unfortunately. But except for those couple of games pre IL stint, he has actually been very solid as a throwback SP confounding batters with breaking stuff, changes of speed, and location. He's so damn smart, and has so much control and confidence, that he has re-invented himself as an old school starter. He's no longer a #3 who throws like a #2 once in a while, but he looks like a really good #4-5 SP. And there's still tremendous value in that. I remember when Keaschall was drafted and all the great accolades placed on him as a "hitter" and being a "gamer". The FO and scouting department just loved his talent and attitude as a "ballplayer". But I clearly remember scouting reports that said he might be a future CF. I thought that was interesting, but put it on the backburer in my head. I still saw him as an athletic 2B with a great bat, who might sit at 2B for many years. I'm still hopeful that he can play an acceptable 2B once in a while, with experience, but there is a "block" where I belive he "thinks" too much at 2B instead of reacting. In time, that might change. I hope it does because it only increases his value as a utility player who can play 2B and some 1B as necessary, here and there. And he has experience at 1B. But DAMN has he looked good in the OF so far! He's only had a couple misplays in RF so far, which he seemed to adapt to almost immediately. And his CF instincts seem intact as well. He's done well there in limited playing time so far. But the catch he made in deep left center field tonight was something that only Buxton might have made. His arm may or may not be a problem going forward. And I'd still like him to work at 2B and 1B to increase his versatility for roster/lineup sake, but DAMN if he doesn't look like a tremendous OF. **Bonus points after a great game offensively and defensively with a dirty uniform.

We always talk about IP in regard to SP. But when it comes to pen pitchers we talk about ups and downs an pitches thrown. So there is a weird dyconomy in regard to young pitchers. And Shelton has stated the obvious, there is no script to follow. So far, they've done a good job to mitigate Prielipp's innings overall. Based on NORMAL projections, 120 IP would be normal for him. But he's also not a "normal" pitcher in regard to his past. But what's more important, IP, or pitches thrown? As a MILB pitcher, he was held to around 75-80 pitches max. As a Twin, he's been trusted for 85-90 pitches. But they've also done a great job to give him delayed days and days off to protect his arm. That gives him extra rest. So are 120 IP really a bad goal if they can continue to find opportunities to rest him? Assuming they can find enough days to push him back and rest him when they can, I see no reason why he can't hit 120 IP this season. But again, it's not just the IP, it's how many pitches thrown each game. So extra rest here and there allows him to stretch out a bit. I think they are using him very well. But IF there is a question about pitches and IP at some point, he could be added to the bullpen on a stretch run, and any potential playoffs opportunity as pen depth piece. For NOW, I think he's been handled perfectly. And as a rookie who was probably promoted earlier than expected, I think he's looked damn good.

Yes to Kreidlee at SS. Nothing personal toward Gray, but he hasn't hit for a while and as a SS he's only an occasional fill in. Period. K-Pepper healthy and a couple weeks at St Paul to get back in a groove, he's up and Gray is down. No way you turn Lewis into a part time player when he looks like a much improved hitter who is adapting well to 1B. You want to play Caratini as a LH bat once in a while against a really tough RHP to get a day off, OK. But you don't mess with the psychology/emotions/confidence of Lewis. You're only asking to mess him up again. And it's ridiculous to think Go on some wasted opportunity after only a couple appearances. True his career in Korea hasn't translated to MLB yet. But he's changed his repertoire a bit and has been very good at AAA so far. Maybe he's finally turned a corner? You have to give him an honest chance. Paredes just isn't special. But he's also pitched his a*s of with the Twins. I haven't totally given up on Adams yet as I've seen enough to tease me to believe he might have another level to reach yet as a middle pen man. But maybe they're better with Paredes in that role for now? But Go deserves an opportunity. But another move they could make without a trade? For NOW, just make Rojas a 1 inning power LH arm who can throw 100 with a nasty breaking ball. Re-evaluate him after this season if you will. He has control issues that need to be corrected. But it's also easier to have control for 1 inning than multiple innings. The bubble has been popped. MAXIMIZE the talent you have on hand! Hell, he might gain MORE confidence in his stuff and control in that 1 IP role going forward.

It's very simple but yet complicated at the same time. If the Twins come out of the break playing the same way they have been playing, you're hoping for a 10-6 record that not only puts them above .500, not only has them grabbing a hold on the 6th WC playoff spot, but has them in contention to win the ALC. This is absolutely true unless a couple of teams suddenly go on a hot streak and mess everything up. If the Twins suddenly fall asleep after all the good work they have done the past couple of months and suddenly go 6-10, they have pretty much lost their chances for playoff competition and things change. So ALL of the various articles about sell, or buy, or both, are kind of frivolous until we see how the next 2 or 2 1/2 weeks ACTUALLY turn out. A team in contention seldom deals quality ML players. IF they do, they are trading for prospects. COULD the Twins trade Jeffers for prospects, but ALSO trade prospects for bullpen help and still "survive" without him? Based on the last month plus, the answer is probably yes. It would be sort of a conviluted 3 team deal where we move prospects for bullpen help, but gain some prospects back. IF we're in contention, do we trade Larnach, during his best season, and have someone ready to replace him? Is Roden ready? Maybe. Is Keaschall ready? Maybe. But that's a lot of maybe for a team in contention. But it's really nonsense to discuss until we see how the next couple of weeks play out. IF we keep playing good ball and winning, it's possible Jeffers is resigned or given the QO offer for one year. It's possible we trade for a couple solid BP pieces. We need something to talk about during the break. And I get that. But I think there are more interesting topics to discuss than ANOTHER potential trade OP. How about we just see how the next couple of weeks go?

Yep! He spends 2027 at AA as a 22yo. Hopefully he does well enough to spend the last few weeks at AAA. And then he's at AAA as a 23yo in 2028. He's now a hot start or injury away from a taste of MLB. But even if he's a late season call up, he's still on track. And even if he's not ready for a full time Twins roster spot until he's 24yo in 2029, he's still a young prospect. He might surprise and "figure stuff out" before that and make a major leap. Or he could just be a super athletic ballplayer who just never figures it out. It happens all the time. But I have some belief in the "kid" to struggle a bit, but flash his potential, and look OK for his entry to AA. And I expect he goes back again to start 2027 at AA again. His future is in his own hands. But his talent is so tremendous that I'm still banking on him putting it all together and being ready for 2029 at the latest. Sometimes the "lightbulb" turns on all of a sudden. Sometimes the "lightbulb" never comes on beyond dim. I'm still betting on Winoker making it.

Jamie, absolutely love the show and the hard work you and Jeremy put in to it! And while it's a grind for you I'm certain, the live draft show was once again tremendous! Absolutely love the first 6 picks. Hard to argue about getting Lackey, Tinney, Wachsman, Renfrow, LaPour and Murdock. A tremendous talent at catcher, and 4 high velocity arms with some nice projection. I'm certain the Twins had a plan in place to be able to sign Wachsman. I hope LaPour's injury isn't a precursor to a larger issue. IDK, but something about Renfrow reminds me of Matthews but with a little more initial velocity. Like others, my initial reaction to Tinney wasn't very good. But then I calmed down, realized he was the best player on the Twins board after a couple of priority targets were taken just before his selection, and then felt pretty good after you read off the BB%, K's that seem to happen in the zone vs being a "chase monster" as well as the pure power and arm strength. I'm thinking a more powerful bat and arm but lesser "hit" tool than fellow big man Jeffers? IMO, for unknown and bizarre reasons, it feels like catchers are always undervalued, even though they play a very important role. I see them the same way I see QB in the NFL draft, you try to draft or sign one every year...or every other year in the NFL comparison...to make sure you always have a good backup, and maybe end up with a high in demand trade commodity. Nothing says Tinney couldn't be a fine backup to Lackey, a future 1B, or a great trade piece in a couple of years. On the position player side, I kinda like Teel but I'm wondering about power potential. He sort of reminds me of a Kepler-lite. Solid approach, some good all around skills, but is he anything more than a 4th OF option in the future? I absolutely love the Turner pick! He just seems to be a GAMER. And Big 10 baseball has been on a rise the past few seasons. If he can play a decent 2B and reign in his chase %, he might be someone to pay attention to. The various SS selections all seem to offer slightly different but also similar talents. Lane was a huge surprise to me. I'm hoping there is a Super Utility player option in the future for one of them. And I like a 3rd catcher in Prather. The lower levels need catching too. He reminds me of another Cossetti, decent bat, power potential, but very raw defensively. Probably just an organizational depth piece? But why not take a shot? As to the other pitchers... How can you not be excited by Burns? A big, strong kid with a 100mph FB with break, and a potentially good cutter, IIRC, and a HUGE K %. In addition to SOME SEMBLANCE of better control before he BB everyone or kills someone...OBVIOUS movie reference intended...I keep thinking adding a splitter as a 3rd offering could make him NASTY. It seems an obvious add to me, but could also be a dangerous add if he doesn't find better command/control. I'm kinda intrigued by Bouchard. I see him as a shorter version of Festa. Velocity camp, adding another 10-15lbs to his frame, might he be a surprise when he debuts in 2027? Again, the clay seems to be there to work with. OVERALL, I think it was a solid draft. I think there's a lot of talent in those first 6 picks. And there's some potential beyond that for sure. Burns could be in the bullpen late 2027 or sometime in 2028. Or he could wash out after a couple of seasons. But I don't believe drafting a RP with potential is ever a mistake if they have real arm talent. And the way bullpens are used and valued in today's game, I actually expect more true relievers to be drafted in the future. But if we ignore Lackey for a moment, I think the position players in 2025 were better selections overall. And the Twins "curse" really ran rampant in regards to injuries for the 2025 arms drafted. But I think the 2025 draft had better depth of pitching talent than this one. Some of that was just obvious depth, and some was the Twins looking at cheap signings in order to sign Wachsman. STILL, a very good first 6 picks, a few interesting arms from 6th round on, and an interesting mix of position players who we hope we find a couple of solid prospects 2yrs from now.

I am amazed at obtuse thinking. Ryan has never said he wanted to be traded. He only stated last season that it was "interesting" to hear his name in a BS report about being traded. He's throwing as well as he ever has. The trade BS should just go away. He's a Twin for 2027 PERIOD. The FO is going to have to make a decision between extending Lopez or Ryan. But that's a few months away.

100% agree. It's funny how often there are debates about acquiring and developing catchers with potential, but so many are up in anger they didn't select a pitcher at that point. Actually, it's very similar to when Jeffers was drafted and so many were questioning his selection because they didn't know who he was. Well, that turned out pretty good. I also hear that he really wants to remain a catcher and be the best he can be. And IMO, that's important. It takes a different mindset to WANT to be a catcher. I'd bet you dollars to Navy beans that had Lackey been selected by the Sox or Rays, we'd be hearing praises about grabbing Tinney in the second round. Funny how things turn out.

I actually like the early addition of Nance. He's a decent, solid middle arm. And for this bullpen, that's saying a lot. But he helps. I can see the Twins going a couple directions here. I can see trading a couple lower level prospects for a veteran arm like Jansen, maybe with the trading team eating a small portion of his contract. Based on how Falvey used to trade, and Zoll is his incumbent, I can easily see a slightly higher prospect payment for a younger arm that has control remaining. I keep thinking Varland version 2023-24 before he broke out. That would be an awesome get if the cost isn't too high. But I think what we should expect is trades similar to 2019, I believe I have the year right, where the Twins added Romo and Dyson for a couple marginal prospects. Romo was so solid, he was resigned. And just for a moment, let's forget Dyson was hiding an injury and turned out to be a poor human being. On paper, it was a great trade of rentals for next to nothing. Could Jansen be the next Romo who doesn't cost much as a rental? Yes, he might be. But I expect, IF the Twins remain in contention a couple weeks from now, ONE veteran arm on an expiring contract to help stabilize the pen. And one additional arm from some team that hurts a little, but has 2yrs of control that will make it worthwhile.

Whether the Twins buy, sell, or do both, there's room for K-Pepper to debut as soon as he's healthy. With all due respect to Kreidler and Gray, the only thing preventing K-Pepper being up is his hip/glute injury that will hopefully be resolved soon. I'd guess his target date is now about August 1st. His promotion does nothing to disrupt the current Twins winning cycle. Gray goes back down for depth, and possible depth for 2027. (A big TBD there). And Kreidler goes back to being a pretty damn good Super Utility player for the roster. CJ Culpepper reminds me of a better version of Jax, remembering who Jax WAS before his bullpen conversion. Similarly, they have/had multiple pitches to throw at the oposition. But I believe CJ, when healthy, showed more potential in MILB. CJ has had some injury problems that have held him back, despite good production. Rumor has it he's had a hard time maintaining velocity past a couple of IP. So his transition is understandable. And so far it's gone really well. I honestly believe he can debut as a 2 IP middle man who has the potential to be a late inning arm. But he's still fighting control a bit currently. I'd LOVE to see him in August to get his feet wet and get ready for 2027. And it might happen. But it also depends if the Twins make some BP trade moves. If that happens, his target is sometime in 2027. Ross was a fairly early 5th round pick from a small school who was a great athlete. Simply put, his BAT just hasn't translated to pro ball until this year. But what he HAS seemingly done is finally figuring stuff out after 4 1/2 seasons as a 25yo. He destroyed AA this season with a 1.324 OPS! Currently with St Paul, he has a really solid .846 OPS. While solid, it's not what you'd want from a top prospect. Except, he's not a TOP prospect. He's a very good, athletic, Super Utility player who can provide solid defense wherever he plays, with a potentially decent bat with speed and some power. Remind you of anyone? Willi Castro debuted before age 25. But he didn't do much. It wasn't until he came to the Twins on a MILB deal as a 27yo before he took off. So is Ross another Fedko as a late development player? Or is he a younger player who started to figure it out similar to Castro? I just think there's a really interesting parallel here. Fedko was a late round pick who the Twins stuck with, blossomed late in his career, got a cup of coffee, but the jury is still mixed if he has a ML future with the Twins or a different organization. Castro was promoted aggressively, maybe too early, and the Tigers bailed on him. The Twins got the benefit of their decision. Ross is between these two examples. He's a higher draft choice than Fedko, a little younger, and plays INF as well as OF. So he's more similar to Castro in regard to talent and utility. But Castro debuted with mediocre results before breaking through with the Twins. I don't believe Ross will play for the Twins this season. Kreidler is blocking him, and deservedly so. But if Ross keeps playing good defense all over the place, and keeps hitting and producing the way he is, I think a 2027 debut is in his cards. I think he has a chance to be a Super Utility player with well rounded offensive contributions. But not this season.

IMO, this debate is settled on the field. The Twins are playing good ball and have won something like 8 of 9 series of late. The only "lost" series was against the Dodgers, though they were "in" 2 of those games. Mo embarrassment in losing against the best team in baseball. I have always seen this as a transition season where we start to work in the prospects, pitchers and hitters, for 2027 and beyond. But if a couple things went the Twins way, I thought .500, or just above, was possible. But I also never saw the AL being this DOWN across the league. EVERY SINGLE SEASON there is ONLY ONE true winner. BUT...and disagree with me as you will...if your team has a chance to make the playoffs, you just DON'T do anything to change that. Making the playoffs under any context is just FUN for the fans, and for the players, as well as a positive for the organization as a whole. If the Twins start the 2nd half 6-10, they are probably out of it and you look to move Jeffers, Larnach, and Bell. BUT, if they go 10-6, they are above .500, probably a projectable WC team, and probably right in the thick of the ALC race. That's a POSITIVE, and a hell of a lot more fun. You're right though, Nick, the positives of contention "rob" the Twins somewhat of looking toward the future. While I think the Twins are better WITH Jeffers than without him, we've seen we can win without him between Caratini and Jackson. So we COULD be buyers and sellers at the same time regarding Jeffers. More than likely though, he brings back prospects, not someone who helps this season. But said prospect return would mitigate other prospects traded for bullpen help. Is it POSSIBLE that Larnach could be traded and Roden just steps in to LF and replaces him with a solid bat, solid OB%, and even better defense and more speed? Sure! But injuries and poor roster construction...he should have been kept over Outman...makes that a rather big MAYBE. And how could you replace Bell at this point? You just promote Jenkins...who is close but not quite ready...shuffle the lineup, and just say whoever is the DH that day we'll be just fine? I guess, MAYBE, if Buxton suddenly plays half his games at DH, and you think Roden and Jenkins will perform really well immediately in full time duty but that's a hell of a stretch! So again, we can speculate and spitball all we want. But if the Twins go 10-6, they are IN the mix for the playoffs. And the Twins aren't going to mess with that excitement. Nor should they. Sometimes you play for TODAY. If they go 6-10 and just have too much of a mountain to climb, you trade away Jeffers, Larnach, and Bell, and you play the prospects for the excitement of NEXT YEAR. Speculation really doesn't matter until we see how the next few weeks are played.

I know this OP is about steals, and while we can't call any success of a 2nd rounder a steal, Tinney has been brought up. So I'm going to hijack the thread for a moment. I've already stated elsewhere he was not only a surprise, but my knee-jerk reaction was "WTH"?! But I'm actually starting to like his selection now. I have no doubt the Twins were "hijacked" by other teams just before the pick. But I believe Johnson when he says he was the top player on their board at the time. And I'm big on catchers and catcher development within the system. Unfortunately, other than Jeffers, previous selections simply haven't turned out. But speaking of Jeffers, I see a close resemblance to him in Tinney. Probably more power, a stronger arm, but not as good of a hitter as Jeffers. But a lot of his K's...from what I've heard...weren't do to chasing, but rather maybe being a but to passive at times and then missing a pitch in the zone as he worked the count too much. But in a fantasy world where Lacky is the future STUD #1, let's say Tinney, Tait, and Jimenez all progress and become ML caliber players. (This is a fantasy, they probably aren't all going to make it). Lackey is a special #1. SOMEONE has to be the #2. For giggles, let's say Tinney is that guy with a big arm, big power, and can hit a little. Tait maybe becomes the next big bat at 1B? Jiminez turns out to be a valuable trade chip to someone needing a good, young catcher with a decent bat. Or maybe Jimenez becomes the #2, one of Tait or Tinney becomes the future, power bat at 1B, and the other is trade bait. I guess my whole point is I don't see Tinney as a superfluous selection when Tait and Jimenez...despite talent...are 19 and 20 years old in high A ball.

Absolutely agree on LaPour as a high velocity, quality arm that could be really good. This draft's version of Ellwanger last year? I also like Steele Murdock in the 5th round. I think there's some good clay to work with there. I can't call Renfrow a steal as he was a high pick, but I see another Matthews, solid repetoire, solid results, add a couple MPH and tunnel his stuff a little better and we might have something. But again, I can't call him a steal. I'm going to echo 2B Turner as a possible steal. Guy seems like a "gamer" who has a really good bat with power. Can he be an average glove man? If so, we might have something there. Also agree on Burns. I don't know if he can race all the way to MLB in 2027 or not. More than likely, he works out in Ft Myers with the other pitchers and we don't see him throw until 2027. Need to work on SOME kind of better control overall and get his cutter more consistent. Being such a large kid, would he be a good candidate for a splitter? It's my understanding that you need fairly large hands to throw a splitter. It's a dangerous pitch for someone who has control issues, but it also seems to be the perfect 3rd offering playing off a 100mph FB and a cutter. 14th rounder Bouchard reminds me a lot of 13th rounder David Festa, just a little shorter. Tall and lanky and needs to pack on some pounds. But how much harder might he be throwing a year from now after velocity camp and adding a good 10-15lbs?

I've been frustrated with this entire 13th man issue for a few years now. I don't want to play the "back in my day" card, but I recall the roster constructions of decades past, the 70's all the way until the early '00's. A lot of AL teams, not all, had a primary DH as part of a 14, or even 15 man player roster "back in the day". NL teams sometimes had a "professional" PH. And sometimes, a team had an extra spot for a platoon player. For rough examples, the Mets employed Rusty Staub as their primary PH, and Earl Weaver was one of the first managers I can recall who liked to platoon where he could. NOTE: I'm ignoring the couple of seasons where owners mandated a 24 man roster. Perhaps I simply can't recall properly, but during the TK and Gardy years, I just can't recall a 13th or 14th player that didn't provide a PURPOSE for being on the roster. (3rd catcher-Ugh)! And if I'm wrong, someone please correct my memory. The last man on the bench might not have always played a ton, but he served a purpose, and was still fit in to the lineup here and there. As Kelly once stated, and I'm only paraphrasing slightly: "How can I ask a player to perform when he's been rotting on the bench"? The Twins lineup has been doing well. Even the defense has improved with the shuffling Shelton has done. And I understand that right now, we have a 3 catcher conundrum for obvious reasons. I'm NOT asking for some major change. But just like the 8th man in the bullpen might occasionally be used in a crunch time moment...and you hope for the best...shouldn't the 13th position player offer up SOMETHING for the team? How about a veteran RH bat who crushes LHP but doesn't suck against RHP? Maybe the same for a veteran utility type player who can give days off to starters once in a while? I can even get behind a super fast PR who can play great OF defense who isn't completely inept with a bat in his hand. But someone who sits on the bench, who seldom plays, who only PR once in a while and is a late inning defensive replacement just doesn't sound like a viable use of the 13th spot. Is it a lack of talent for that spot? Or a lack of the manager's imagination to actually PLAY said player? Both? Just for a moment, let's forget the current state of a 3rd catcher. K-Pepper is ready in a couple of weeks and takes over SS. Gray goes down, Kreidler is the Super Utility guy. Buxton is back and you send Roden down? Why did you trade for him in the first place then? Or do you keep him for the same role that Keirsey and Outman and Fedko filled? What's the point in that? Again, why did you trade for him in the first place then? How about platooning, giving guys days off, and using your ENTIRE roster so that everyone can contribute? Imagine sitting on the bench for 10 days with 1 game started and 3 PA and then being asked to PH in a game? Your bench is 4 players, and 1 of them is a backup catcher, normally. You only want to play 2 of the remaining 3? That's either a lack of talent, or poor imagination of your manager. Every spot on your roster should have SOME importance.

Winokur is one of my favorite prospects in the system due to his tantalizing athleticism and potential. Frankly, I'm a little surprised that anyone is "down" on him as a prospect at this stage in his career. (Yes, I know some of the contact concerns). I'm not the biggest fan of "what if" because it's hard to predict and can lead down a rabbit hole. But I'm going to play that game regardless as I think it's appropriate. He was a top recruit and took extra $ to sign instead of going to Texas Tech, which is a decent school in a top baseball conference. While we DON'T have a crystal ball to see how he would have actually produced in college, with his overall athleticism and tools, it's not hard to predict he would have been a very good college player, displaying all the tools we know he possesses. Even if we assume there were some contact issues, those tools and extrapolated college production would have, more than likely, made him a 1st round pick for someone in the recently completed draft. I'd say a 2nd round pick at worst. So there would be an excited FO, and fan base, SOMEWHERE, really excited about such a toolsy top draft pick ready to enter their system at 21yo. Considering how many/most teams handle recent draftees, he probably goes to A- for a couple of weeks and then finishes the season at A+. He PROBABLY begins 2027 at A+ with the idea of moving up to AA before the season is done. As recent Twins examples, this would pretty much follow the likes of Keaschall, KC, and Houston. Winokur didn't have an awful 2025, just a mediocre one as a 20yo at A+. That's still pretty young for any prospect. He went back, started painfully slow, and then got on a heater and really showed improvement. So the Twins feel he's ready to be challenged with, roughly, half season at AA as a 21yo. Any way you want to paint it, there aren't that many prospects who debut at AA as a 21yo. Are there more than there used to be with all the various changes that have taken place in MILB over the past few seasons with greater "pushes" of young talent? Absolutely. But most of those are TOP IL signings and TOP draft choices who's talent seemingly transcends normal development, even for great athletes like Winokur. Jenkins would be a recent Twins example. So being "ready" for the AA challenge, in the Twins mind, for a 21yo that would have been drafted just last weekend if he went to college is pretty impressive if you ask me. NOW, does any of this mean Winokur is going to reach MLB, much less be a STAR player? Absolutely not! He's still got to HIT at least decently. And he still hasn't unlocked his full power potential yet either. And I fully expect that he will spend most, perhaps all, of 2027 at AA as a 22yo. In what world is a powerful, speedy, strong armed athlete any kind of lost or poor prospect if he spends a season at AA as a 22yo? I'm a fan. I'm a hopeful believer. I actually think he might be the best CF in the system. But I'm not naive enough to believe he's anything close to a finished product. But with his POTENTIAL, I have ZERO problem with him spending 2027 at AA to just work more on contact and recognition, while honing his power stroke. 2028 he's at AAA as a 23yo still gaining experience and honing his abilities. That MIGHT even be ahead of schedule were he an actual draftee last weekend, but certainly not BEHIND. He's one injury or half a season from reaching the ML level. Winokur K-ing 130-140 times and BB 75 times while being a 20-20 player, or better, and hitting .235 with an OB around .300-.315 with quality defense is a very good ballplayer, whether he's at 3B or CF. If he can hit in the .250-.260 range with a slightly higher OB%, he's probably an All Star. But I admit he's got a long way to go. FIRST, he has to conquer AA over the next year and a half. Then he has to prove himself at AAA. Development is never linear. Hell, I'd be happy if he debuted and took a spot as a 24yo! In what world is that an "old" prospect with tons of talent and team control? Defensively, I've seen him play a tiny bit of SS. I've been amazed that a guy that big can reach the balls he can. And his arm is wicked strong. But he's just NOT going to be anything other than a mediocre ML SS. He's playing it less these days, but the Twins have a belief that playing some SS will only make a 3B or 2B that much better in the dirt. I get that in theory, but push back when someone like Winokur is CLEARLY a 3B or CF. Other than as a fill-in on some days, he should be concentrating on 3B and CF daily. Again, I'm not putting the cart before the horse. He's got a lot to develop and prove yet. But I am so much more focused on what he CAN do, and MIGHT do, rather than what he hasn't yet polished. That's why he's a tantalizing 21yo getting his first taste of AA.

Is Mattison a late round steal? While a smaller school, Grand Canyon has a pretty good reputation as a baseball program and he did well there. He did NOT find the SEC very inviting, however. Not a big surprise there. I wonder if he will be a tough sign? A return to Kentucky for his senior year might show significant improvement. But as a senior, just how much better might be his draft stock? Enough to move in to the top 10 rounds and enter the bonus pool category? What if he gets hurt? Or being a senior, maybe he's pitched underslot $? So maybe he signs anyway. I don't dislike a 3rd catcher in Prather. It sounds like he's pretty raw defensively, but California isn't a bad program and his bat looks pretty good. But he provides a low A prospect, and they certainly need catchers there as well. He sounds like the next version of Cossetti, drafted for his bat with the hope the defense will come around. Cossetti's bat hit a wall at AA until this season when it started to find life again. His future remains in doubt. And I don't like comparing a recent draftee directly, he just reminds me of him. If he ever reaches MLB, it's going to be a long road. But the MILB system needs catchers at the lower levels as well. He's a long term project, but his bat might carry him forward initially. It will be his development as a backstop that determines his future. Everything about McAnelly says solid career, record setting for a lower level Big 12 program, solid results, and apparently the ability to "pitch". So command and control appear to be there. But is there any velocity? Does he have any sort of OUT pitch in his repertoire? Currently, I'm seeing a guy who might do well initially and then hit a wall at AA if they can't add MPH and retool his secondaries. But control/command is something to work with. When a college SS can't hit above .300 I really wonder about his potential. Moutzouridis sounds like a glove first SS with good zone recognition, and the ability to get OB. Sounds like he has at least a little pop potential in his bat. He'd better or all the good contact, zone control, OBP, and solid defense still will have him eaten alive after a couple of seasons. The Twins always seem to draft a glove 1st SS who is athletic with a questionable bat every year. At least this time, they waited until late. I read/heard somewhere that the Twins wouldn't end the draft without picking at least 1 player from UCLA. Well, they got it in Barnett. And the truth is he had a great career for a TOP program in the country. IMO, he and Mattison, and McAnelly are all the same basic pitcher. Great college careers, and some very good career numbers for their colleges. But other than command/control, where is the ONE PITCH that entices future development? That's really the key isn't it? Command and control are awesome! But there's usually SOMETHING a pitcher has that the Twins sort of hang their hat on in regard to the "clay" they think they can mold. I have ZERO problem with a bat first development catcher in the lower rounds. I have doubts SS Moutzouridis has a future unless he uncorks more pop/power. But if ONE of Mattison, McAnelly, or Barnett is suddenly throwing 95 a year from now with a quality slider/sweeper/cutter as a solid secondary, they might stumble on a potential late round steal. And isn't that we always hope for at this point in the draft?

I'm late to this OP, but wanted to comment a bit anyway. I don't mind pausing the run on arms to grab some position players to round out the system. Teel seems to be a good athlete who should provide solid defense. Obviously there are some good baseball genes in the family. He seems to have a good approach. The question is power. He might be a 20HR bat, but does he have to be in order to be a useful OF? I see sort of a "Roden" type who can a bit of everything. I absolutely LOVE the 2B Lane pick from Michigan! While Big 10 baseball doesn't usually match up to the Big 3 conferences, the level of play and prospects has really improved the past few years. If he's even average defensively, he seems to have a really nice HIT tool and some quality power. The SS Lane from an NAIA school is an odd selection. Considering where he was drafted, he doesn't save $. And I doubt he was drafted as a "favor" for someone. This is clearly a kid that has been followed by a Twins scout since he was at San Diego State. So there must be something there they like. I find Bouchard really interesting from a smaller school in Wofford. He's definitely on an upswing coming off his junior season, his first as a full time starter. He reminds me of a slightly shorter version of Festa. Wasn't he also a 14th round pick? He packs on another 10-15lbs over the next year or so, he might be throwing mid 90's before we know it. They've done well with smaller school arms begging for development in the later rounds. SS Scholvin sounds like a "gamer". 1st team MAC doesn't sound like much on the surface, but he certainly excelled at his level. Forgetting the crazy HBP numbers, more BB than K's show a guy with knowledge of the zone. How do you argue against a .360 AVG and .480 OBP for any hitter? Does he have some pop in his bat? Can he actually play a solid SS? Perhaps he's a potential Super Utility player down the road? Not sure what we'd expect from a 15th rounder, but you never know. One very interesting arm, a VERY interesting 2B, a decent looking OF, and a pair of SS to flesh out the lower levels of the system. I like the mix, but Turner and Bouchard would appear to be the unpolished gems of this group.

Just to add, I felt better about his bat when I heard that his swing and miss was more "in the zone" than chasing. And he did take some BB as well. So I'm seeing a bit of a Sano type profile? A guy that will work the count a bit, but will also K a fair amount because he's looking for a pitch to do damage with. He'll BB, get a hit, smash a rocket, or K fairly often. I don't know that that is necessarily a bad profile. I mean, if he's not prone to chasing, imagine Sano as a power arm catcher? Or Jeffers with even more power and a better arm but not as good of a "hitter"? As a #2 catcher he could be very valuable. I agree he was probably a contingency on their board if Lackey wasn't there for some reason. But his draft position wasn't that far removed from the various draft lists. And Johnson was pretty clear they really liked him. Totally agree if breaking stuff fools him too much he could be a slow developing player. And catchers always develop differently and are always a bit of a crap shoot. But I kinda like the pick as I think the position is often ignored to a degree, and catchers who can provide offense are hard to find. My knee jerk reaction was very much "WTH"?! But I'm kinda liking it now.

I like this group overall. It's an interesting mix. Lay has shown some real flashes of quality production, shown continued improvement, and seems to have a feel for throwing different pitches. I think greater velocity and finding a true "out pitch" are probably his top priorities. Bayles being labeled "one of the most underrated draft prospects" is a nice label. A wipeout that tunnels off his FB well is a great place to start. With a little more velocity, which the Twins are good at developing, he just might be a steal. Burns is a wild card and I don't mind that. You seldom draft a pitcher that appears to be a reliever only, but I don't have a problem when it's a high K arm that already touches 100mph coming out of college, with a quality secondary offering already available. If they can find a usable 3rd offering and teach him any sort of control, he could fly through the system as a powerful pen arm. Nothing wrong with a shot like that. Raab has the size and velocity to grab your attention. I like the fact that he stood out in the Cape Cod League, though that isn't always a precursor of future success. But big frames and good initial velocity give you some good tools to work with. Klecker, like most young arms, has battled some control issues. But he's stood out since his freshman season and sort of saved his best for last season, which means he's on an upswing developmental wise. It's an interesting mix. A couple guys with control who need to add velocity, and a couple guys with velocity who need better control. And 1 kid with scary good stuff that may wash out quickly, but who could be DANGEROUS with any sort of control at all. It's a good mix. I don't know that the current trend of 2025 and this year of drafting so many arms so early will continue...you still need to balance your system overall...but I thought it was a good move to have more arms early these past 2 drafts. It's more bullets in the chamber, so to speak, to hit the target.

It's a tough call for sure. Based on age, already at AAA at 20yo, 21 this season, and performing quite well...though not yet where he needs to be...and almost ready for MLB, I'm keeping Jenkins #1 for now. IMO, the battle is for #2. But it also depends how you like to rank prospects doesn't it? Some look at talent and potential almost exclusively. Others factor in level of proven advancement in their rankings as well. I try to find a balance of both. K-Pepper appears to be at least an average ML SS in defensive ability. That is nothing to sneeze at or lightly dismiss, even if Houston projects as being the #1 SS in the near future. And KC is no slouch with the bat or on the bases either. But Lackey appears to be a special talent. And I have zero doubt he passes the initial "lemon" test when he begins playing. So a AAA SS with really good offense and a brand new rookie with special talent on both sides of the ball. I'm keeping K-Pepper #2, barely, just for now. I'd probably have Lackey surpass him by mid season next year, and possibly even Jenkins, except both are probably with the Twins by that time almost assuredly so it really won't matter. (Rodriguez for sure as he's already out of options). So Lacky narrowly behind KC for now, and the #1 prospect by mid season 2027.

Sands was very good in 2024. He was inconsistent in 2025, but at times looked like his 2024 version. If he can come back and even be that 2025 version, he helps this bullpen. He's a major step up over some of the audition candidates 5he team has tried out this season.

They do draft lefties, but not as many as I'd prefer. Funderburk 2ad one of the earliest. Jaylin Nowlin in Wichita's bullpen was a late rounder with some electric stuff who may or may not have a career in the pen. They picked a pair fairly high in 2021 in Steve Hajjar and Cade Povich, though they were later traded. Of course, Prielipp and Hill are a couple of recent, highly drafted arms. Michael Carpenter is a young arm with promise drafted in 2024, debuted last year, but has only recently started pitching this season due to injury. Last year they drafted Matthew Becker in the 19th round. I know there have been others, but that's just a few I can recall. I really wish they'd take a few more shots. Even if they don't end up with a Prielipp very often, you still need to find some LH arms for your bullpen. So they take shots, just ad not many as they should, IMO. Not a single one this year is surprising and disappointing.

Good size and frame. Mid 90's velocity and has cranked it higher on occasion. Gets squared up hard at times. Maybe they need to work on it's shape? A grade 60 slider is his out pitch. Below average CHANGE that he doesn't use a lot. Has problems with BB at times. Apparently had a really good Cape Cod offseason as a RP. Certainly has some potential.

Sorry @Dmanbut I think he's actually a RH arm. But besides that, he's got a big frame, which is something the Twins are always looking for. And he's got potential as a high velocity arm with potential as a SP, but a floor as a RP. He's a mystery pick based on arm talent and potential. He barely threw this past season. So you are only guessing as to his potential. Apparently the Twins believe in his frame, and some adjustments to make his FB work better. IDK that I like this pick based on so much loose projection. But I guess the potential says quality BP arm? But who knows what professional coaching can do. I see the potential when healthy. But he might be the current draftee that I have the biggest question mark on.