Jeremy Nygaard

Zebby Matthew's first three starts for the Saints haven't bode well for him, but he still hasn't given up a walk in Triple-A. Should the number of hits he's allowed be a concern, or are these just growing pains that come with such a quick rise through the Minors? View full video

Payton Eeles wasn't even in professional baseball when the 2024 season began. Now he's zoomed through the Twins system going from Ft. Myers to Cedar Rapids to Triple-A. How did this short king play to his strengths and already become a great help to the Saints' infield? View full video

Draft tandem Jeremy Nygaard and JD Cameron team up for a podcast to discuss prospects on their way to the big leagues and the MLB draft, produced by Theo Tollefson. The most recent episode focuses on a handful of Twins prospects. 0:00 Intro 4:00 Big Show News! 6:00 A deep dive into the Twins system... 9:20 Some quick draft items 18:00 Twins Farm Update Notes, starting with Walker Jenkins 30:20 David Festa 39:15 Zebby Matthews 48:00 Luke Keaschall 51:55 Listener Questions You can support the show by downloading it from wherever you get your podcasts, including iTunes and Spotify. If you enjoy the content, consider leaving us a five-star rating and review in addition to sharing or retweeting DTS-related content. You can follow us on Twitter @DTS_POD1, @Jeremynygaard, @J_D_Cameron, and @TheodoreTollef1. You can also find full episodes and clips of our shows on our YouTube page @DestinationTheShow. View full article

Spending their third straight pick on a college bat, the Twins add powerful Billy Amick View full video

The Twins add college shortstop Kaelen Culpepper with first-round pick. View full video

Ten rounds down, ten rounds to go for the 2024 MLB Draft. It's been a life-changing event for 315 young men so far; there will be 300 more lives changed on Tuesday afternoon. Keep it tuned to Twins Daily for live updates throughout the remainder of the draft. Today's portion of the draft, which will conclude with rounds 11 through 20, will begin at 1 p.m. CT. Keep up to date with the Twins Draft Tracker. One reminder: players selected on Day 3 can sign for up to $150,000 without it impacting the team's bonus pool. Any dollars above that threshold will count toward the cap. For example, if a player today signs for $200k, it will count $50k toward the team's bonus pool. What do you think after the first two days? Leave your thoughts below. 11 (338) - Michael Carpenter, LHP, Madison College 19 years old. 6-1, 195. The NJCAA Division II pitcher of the year, Carpenter led that level with a 1.03 ERA, 10.1 K/BB ratio and 0.80 WHIP while authoring a 45-inning scoreless streak and setting a Madison Tech record with 111 strikeouts in 78 2/3 innings. His best attribute is his command of a deceptive 89-93 mph fastball that he relies on heavily. He also has a 78-81 mph curveball with depth and a fading changeup with similar velocity. If he doesn't turn pro, he'll pitch at East Carolina next season. - MLB.com 12 (368) - Christian Becerra, RHP, California 21 years old. 6-1, 170. 13 (398) - Xavier Kolhosser, RHP, St. John's 21 years old. 6-5, 194. 14 (428) - Jacob Kisting, RHP, Bradley 21 years old. 6-5, 220. 15 (458) - Cole Peschl, RHP, Campbell 21 years old. 6-1, 215. 16 (488) - Aidan Haugh, RHP, North Carolina 21 years old. 6-6, 210. 17 (518) - Jay Thomason, 3B, Air Force 22 years old. 6-1, 200. (Senior) 18 (548) - Michael Ross, RHP, Samford 22 years old. 6-2. 205. (Senior) 19 (578) - Logan Whitaker, RHP, NC State 24 years old. 6-6, 221. (Graduate Senior) 20 (608) - Merit Jones, RHP, Utah 21 years old. 6-4, 200. If you've missed anything from the previous two days, you can find it below. 1 (21) - Kaelen Culpepper, SS, Kansas State 21 years old. 6-0, 195. #35 on the Consensus Big Board Draft Article / Draft Tracker 1C (33) - Kyle DeBarge, SS, Louisiana-Lafayette 21 years old. 5-9, 175. #50 on the Consensus Big Board Draft Article / Draft Tracker 2 (60) - Billy Amick, 3B, Tennessee 21 years old. 6-1, 220. #40 on the Consensus Big Board Draft Article / Draft Tracker 2C (69) - Dasan Hill, LHP, Grapevine (TX) HS 18 years old. 6-5, 165. #58 on the Consensus Big Board Draft Article / Draft Tracker 3 (96) - Khadim Diaw, C, Loyola Marymount 20 years old. 6-1, 215. 4 (126) - Jaime Ferrer, OF, Florida State 21 years old. 6-1, 218. #321 on the Consensus Big Board 5 (159) - Caden Kendle, OF, UC-Irvine 22 years old. 5-11, 200. (Senior) 6 (188) - Derek Bender, C, Coastal Carolina 21 years old. 6-1, 185. #172 on the Consensus Big Board 7 (218) - Eli Jones, RHP, South Carolina 21 years old. 6-1, 200. 8 (248) - Jakob Hall, RHP, Oral Roberts 21 years old. 6-2, 195. 9 (278) - Jason Doktorczyk, RHP, Nevada 21 years old. 6-6, 230. 10 (308) - Peyton Carr, 1B, High Point 22 years old. 6-3, 195. (Senior) Bonus Pool Situation View full article

The Twins added four players on Sunday night and will add eight more on Monday. This article will be updated with each Twins pick, so check back often. Today's portion of the draft, which will include rounds 3 through 10, will begin at 1 p.m. CT. Keep up to date with the Twins Draft Tracker. A quick recap from yesterday: 1 (21) - Kaelen Culpepper, SS, Kansas State 21 years old. 6-0, 195. #35 on the Consensus Big Board Draft Article / Draft Tracker 1C (33) - Kyle DeBarge, SS, Louisiana-Lafayette 21 years old. 5-9, 175. #50 on the Consensus Big Board Draft Article / Draft Tracker 2 (60) - Billy Amick, 3B, Tennessee 21 years old. 6-1, 220. #40 on the Consensus Big Board Draft Article / Draft Tracker 2C (69) - Dasan Hill, LHP, Grapevine (TX) HS 18 years old. 6-5, 165. #58 on the Consensus Big Board Draft Article / Draft Tracker 3 (96) - Khadim Diaw, C, Loyola Marymount 20 years old. 6-1, 215. Diaw played his high school ball at Notre Dame High School in Southern California, the same program that produced Giancarlo Stanton and Hunter Greene. He stayed close to home to go to Loyola Marymount for college but had all but eight games of his freshman year wiped out because of a back fracture. After redshirting, he had a solid first full year in 2023 for the Lions, finishing with an OPS of .896. He missed time this year with a broken left thumb from a foul tip but returned in mid-April swinging a hot bat, then suffered a sprained wrist at the end of the year, though that wasn't expected to keep him from being seen my more scouts in the Cape Cod League this summer ahead of the Draft. A right-handed hitter, Diaw has the chance to be a solid offensive performer. He rarely swings and misses with an aggressive, early-count approach. His swing can be a little slow to start with a lengthy path, but he's pretty efficient through the zone once he gets his bat going. It's more of a hit-over-power approach, but he has the chance to hit a lot of doubles with a swing geared to drive the ball to right-center field in the future. He can run into some home runs, especially to his pull side, and some scouts think there's more raw pop to tap into. Diaw is athletic and runs well, showing some defensive versatility that intrigues evaluators. He hasn't been behind the dish a ton, but he is agile and has plus arm strength that could play there. He's seen time in all three outfield positions, and while he's best suited for a corner, he's capable in center. With the injuries behind him, Diaw could draw a lot of Day 2 interest thanks to his positional flexibility and potential with the bat. - MLB.com 4 (126) - Jaime Ferrer, OF, Florida State 21 years old. 6-1, 218. #321 on the Consensus Big Board 5 (159) - Caden Kendle, OF, UC-Irvine 22 years old. 5-11, 200. (Senior) 6 (188) - Derek Bender, C, Coastal Carolina 21 years old. 6-1, 185. #172 on the Consensus Big Board Bender is a tweener catcher profile who probably doesn't project to stay there defensively but has enough bat to play first base or even an corner outfield position. Bender had a loud 2023 season for Coastal Carolina and has wood bat performance on the Cape to back it up. In 2023, he hit .341/.399/.635 with 19 home runs, although the offensive profile isn't without its warts. Bender chased frequently, didn't walk out much, and struck out plenty, leaving some evaluators wondering how the bat would play against better pitching. In 2024 he's refined his approach, walking more and striking out less, but it's come at the expense of some of his pull side power. Bender is an average athlete with fringy foot speed but an average arm. It's the bat you're buying here, and Bender has shown enough adjustments to his previously aggressive approach that he could have a 5 hit/5 power combo when it's all said and done. - Consensus Big Board 7 (218) - Eli Jones, RHP, South Carolina 21 years old. 6-1, 200. 8 (248) - Jakob Hall, RHP, Oral Roberts 21 years old. 6-2, 195. 9 (278) - Jason Doktorczyk, RHP, Nevada 21 years old. 6-6, 230. 10 (308) - Peyton Carr, 1B, High Point 22 years old. 6-3, 195. (Senior) Bonus Pool Situation In the meantime, what did you think about what happened Sunday night? What are you looking forward to on Monday? View full article

The Minnesota Twins selected Dasan Hill at number 69 overall in the 2024 MLB Draft. Hill is a left-handed prep pitcher from Grapevine, Texas and committed to Dallas Baptist. Dasan Hill is a projectable prep pitcher who has been moving steadily up draft boards this spring after notable improvements in his velocity and stuff. At 6'4, 175 pounds, Hill is tall and lean and has plenty more velocity in the tank if he can add some good weight to an athletic frame. His fastball will sit in the 94-95 mph range early in outings before sitting 91-93 mph by the middle innings. Hill throws a slider in the low 80s that has good spin, a high 70s curveball, and has a low 80s changeup that's barely been used. He has to work to do on secondary pitch shapes, and strength needs to be added to the frame, but was a name with plenty of helium through the draft process. What do you think of the Twins selecting Dasan Hill at #69 overall? Which of the Twins picks from day one of the draft are you most excited for? Share your thoughts in the comments. View full article

The Minnesota Twins selected Billy Amick at number 60 overall in the 2024 MLB Draft. Amick is a third baseman from Tennessee. Image courtesy of © Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports Billy Amick was one of the most consensus up-arrow players in college baseball this spring. After receiving limited playing time at Clemson in 2023, he transferred to Tennessee after a strong summer on the Cape continued into the season. He hit .306/.387/.639 with 23 home runs. He did strike out 53 times and walked 29 times. Possessing a simple, quietly loaded right-handed swing, Amick has serious strength and has started to put up some impressive exit velocities to go along with his excellent bat-to-ball skills. Amick does chase a bit too much and his aggressive approach might limit his ability to get to his power in-game unless he can dial it back, but this is a potentially plus hit, above-average power profile with an increasing track record of performance to back it up. Amick has taken a step forward value-wise defensively in 2024. The stocky prospect has manned third base with surprising athleticism. While it's fringe-average defense at the moment, an above-average arm gives belief that he can stay there as a pro. Not blessed with great speed, Amick will need to keep hitting to force his way up draft boards, the offensive profile is well-rounded and impactful, though. What do you think of the Twins selecting Billy Amick at #60 overall? Which of the Twins picks from day one of the draft are you most excited for? Share your thoughts in the comments. View full article

The Minnesota Twins selected Kyle DeBarge at number 33 overall in the 2024 MLB Draft. DeBarge is a shortstop from Louisiana-Lafayette. Image courtesy of © Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports DeBarge is a shortstop prospect who, despite being undersized, does a little bit of every well. After an unbelievable sophomore season for Louisiana-Lafeyette in which he hit .371/.448/.576 with 7 home runs, 15 doubles, and 18 stolen bases. In 2024, DeBarge hit .355/.418/.699. He tripled his home run output to 21, hit 19 doubles and stole 10 bases. DeBarge is one of the better contact hitters in the entire draft class. In the box, it's a quiet operation with a short, compact swing aided by lightning-fast hands. DeBarge has elite bat-to-ball skills and rarely chases. He doesn't strike out much but doesn't walk much either (30 strikeouts and 24 walks in 2024). There's some sneaky power to the pull side. It's still likely to be below-average power at the professional level. Maybe it develops ala Brian Dozier. DeBarge can impact the game with his speed and his arm. He has plus-speed with good instincts on the bases and a plus arm (he used to play catcher). While he might not be the smoothest operator at shortstop, his arm and lateral quickness aid his range, and he has a decent shot of sticking there as a professional. This is a sparkplug-type profile that can accrue more value than you might think when you first watch him play. What do you think of the Twins selecting Kyle DeBarge at #33 overall? Which of the Twins picks from day one of the draft are you most excited for? Share your thoughts in the comments. View full article

The best athletes are going to play shortstop and can almost always play anywhere else. He might be a better fit at 3B or 2B.

The Minnesota Twins selected Kaelen Culpepper at number 21 overall in the 2024 MLB Draft. Culpepper is a middle infielder from Kansas State. Image courtesy of © Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports Kaelen Culpepper is an exceptional athlete who has shifted defensively from 2B/3B to SS in his junior season at Kansas State. With a strong offensive performance in 2024, Culpepper skyrocketed to the top of the college shortstop demographic. At the plate, Culpepper has a strong overall skill set. He generates good bat speed, although a flatter bat path hasn't yet produced much loft. Additionally, he has good contact skills and solid plate discipline, although he does sometimes expand the zone a little too much. Culpepper batted .328/.419/.574 in 2024. He hit 11 home runs and stole 17 bases. He walked 35 times and struck out 41 times. Defensively, it's a plus arm, with good defensive actions and athleticism. Whether Culpepper sticks at SS as a pro or slides over to 2B or 3B, it should be an above-average defensive profile. If Culpepper continues his solid power output from the early part of the season, he'll be soaring up draft boards this spring. While there may seem to be a lot of similar-ish type players in the system, the Twins have a type and Culpepper fits that mold. It's an offensive profile and they'll figure out the defense in time. What do you think of the Twins selecting Kaelen Culpepper at #21 overall? Which of the Twins picks from day one of the draft are you most excited for? Share your thoughts in the comments. View full article

Draft Day is finally upon us! You've found the right place to follow the day's events, and you're all invited to be a part of the conversation. This year’s draft will again feature just 20 rounds. Day 1, which begins tonight at 6 p.m. CT and can be viewed on ESPN and MLB Network, will include the first and second rounds as well as both competitive balance rounds and all compensation rounds. There will be 74 selections total. The Twins will make four picks tonight, with the first one coming 21st overall in the first round. They will also draft 33rd overall (a compensation pick for losing Sonny Gray), 60th overall in the second round and 69th overall (Competitive Balance Round B). Despite not picking until the last third of the first round, the Twins will have the 11th largest bonus pool: $12,209,600. We're excited to bring back the Twins Draft Tracker which will be kept up-to-date not only during the draft but through the entire signing period. So keep coming back for updates! There will be a lot going on during the draft both on and off this website. We will try to make updates to the story (and add links) as things happen, so keep refreshing! Otherwise, there will be plenty of activity in the comments. This is the place to be tonight during the draft! You can find the rest of our comprehensive coverage here. Of course, we invite all of you to join us on tonight's livestream, which will run for the entirety of tonight's draft. The draft will continue tomorrow, Monday, with Round 3, beginning at 1 p.m. CT. View full article

It's finally here: THE MLB DRAFT. Here's everything you need to know for the next three days. Image courtesy of © Jonah Hinebaugh/Naples Daily News/USA Today Network-Florida / USA TODAY NETWORK When is the draft: Sunday, July 14 at 6pm (Rounds 1-2 with comp rounds; MLB.com, MLB Network and ESPN) The Twins will have four picks on Day 1. Round Pick Slot Value Round 1 21 $3,934,400 Compensation Pick (Sonny Gray QO) 33 $2,766,100 Round 2 60 $1,453,700 Competitive Balance Round B 69 $1,168,000 Monday, July 15 at 1pm (Rounds 3-10; MLB.com) The Twins will have eight picks on Day 2. Round Pick Slot Value Round 3 96 $759,700 Round 4 126 $567,400 Round 5 159 $411,000 Round 6 188 $320,800 Round 7 218 $251,500 Round 8 248 $207,800 Round 9 278 $189,500 Round 10 308 $179,700 Tuesday, July 16 at 1 pm (Rounds 11-20; MLB.com) The Twins will have ten picks on Day 3. These picks are capped at $150,000. Any signing that exceeds $150k will have the overage count to towards the overall pool Total Bonus Pool Allocation $12,209,600 (11th in MLB). Teams are allowed to exceed their pool by up to 5% without penalty. The Twins have never exceeded their pool, so expect them to spend right up to, if not exactly, their limit. Have more questions about the intricacies of the draft? Here is an in-depth primer on all things MLB Draft. Jamie Cameron has been doing a killer job of using around a dozen national boards and compiling them into one consensus ranking. Then those rankings are turned into a "mock draft board." It's an awesome tool. Give it a click. 2024 MLB Mock Draft Consensus Board - Twins Daily TWINSDAILY.COM Draft Articles 12 Undervalued Draft Prospects Outside the Consensus Top 35 2024 MLB Draft Position Previews: Outfielders 2024 MLB Draft Position Previews: Prep Pitchers 2024 MLB Draft Position Previews: College Pitchers 5 Options for the Twins with the 21st Pick in the 2024 MLB Draft 2024 MLB Draft Position Previews: First Basemen 2024 MLB Draft Position Previews: Second Basemen 2024 MLB Draft: Helium Watch 2024 MLB Draft Preview: Midwest Highlights 2024 MLB Draft Position Previews: Third Basemen 2024 MLB Draft Position Previews: Shortstops 2024 MLB Draft Position Previews: Catcher Minnesota Twins 2024 MLB Draft Primer, Dates, Bonus Pools Mock Drafts! Mock Draft v.4.0 (Final Edition): Twins Find Their College Bat Mock Draft v.3.0 (Dual Edition): Brewers Pair Hitter and Pitcher Mock Draft v.2.0 (Cameron Edition): Brewers Take High Octane Arm, Backstop Mock Draft v. 1.0 (Nygaard Edition): More Slugging Infielders! Follow the Twins pick-by-pick throughout the three-day event. The draft tracker will be updated not only with each pick, but throughout the following information with scouting reports and signing information. 2024 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks - Twins Daily TWINSDAILY.COM Live Coverage Saturday Twitter Space Join Jamie and Jeremy as we take a Draft Eve deep dive. Coverage begins at 8pm. Sunday LiveStream Join Jamie and Jeremy as we talk through the first day of draft. There will be guests and all sorts of draft coverage. Coverage begins 6pm. Draft Day Threads Day 1 Thread Day 2 (Coming Monday) Day 3 (Coming Tuesday) View full article