Hrbowski

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/starlocalmedia.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/56/2566a63a-7c6e-11e3-ac57-0019bb2963f4/52d411c4860ce.image.jpg Mitchell Hansen is an outfielder out of Plano High School (Texas) who has slowly risen up draft boards since his junior year in high school. He is mostly known for his bat, but he is a solid player across the board, and some scouts believe he could end up being one of the best players to come out of this year’s draft class. Hansen’s hit tool is above average, and I consider him to have the second best prep left handed swing in the class, only behind Kyle Tucker, and it allows him to drive the ball to all fields with slightly above average power. Hansen was timed by Perfect Game running the 60 yard dash at 6.67, so he is likely a 55 runner, and was timed at 93 mph throwing from the outfield, giving him another 55 for his arm. Hansen is committed to Stanford University, and will likely go to college unless he is taken in the first round, so if he falls past the first round he could fall all the way to the bottom of the draft, and become unsignable. He should hit at any level, and can play well in any aspect of the game, so I view him as the big sleeper in the class. He doesn’t seem to be in play at #6 overall, and he would probably not sign if he fell to 73rd, so the chances are he will not be taken by the Twins, but if they want to sign an under slot deal Hansen would be my favorite for the Twins, as I consider him above Garrett Whitley and Tyler Stephenson at this point.

I'm not sure, but I read something awhile back that said Casey Close represented most of the big names, and that there was a chance that the Astros would avoid them, and that is why they like Cameron. Here is something that Kiley wrote back in 2014 about this years draft: – One of the reasons you’ll keep hearing about the Astros and Aiken is because Aiken’s advisor, Casey Close’s Excel Sports Management, represents 7 of my top 15 prospects. (I won’t connect specific players to advisors as that only serves to help the NCAA take leverage/college eligibility from kids.) Neither side has said they won’t sign or won’t draft a player from the other side, but the tension from the Aiken/Nix saga certainly doesn’t make this an easy situation to figure. Some of the risers, including Nikorak, Tucker, Tate, Harris, and Jay were not in his top 15, so that really doesn't mean much since, but that is the most I found. I will try to find some more.

Your draft board is identical to the one I am working on, except I had Harris and Cameron exchange places.

I will take Trevor Hildenberger if he hasn't been taken yet.

http://x.pac-12.com/sites/default/files/YNYRIYETBJDTLPO.20131223193707.jpg James Kaprielian is a right handed pitcher for UCLA who was considered a top two round talent in 2012, but fell to the 40th round due to his strong commitment to the Bruins. He features a fastball that sits 89-92 along with throwing a decent changeup, as well as a curve and a slider. During his delivery he lifts his knee up high, but keeps his foot down, he then reaches far back with his arm and delivers hard over the top. Kaprielian is considered a late first round pick, but some people believe he could rise if he finishes strong, but he currently is only viewed as a top pick if a team is trying to save money for later picks. His ceiling is considered to be a middle of the rotation starter, but there have been some questions concerning his ability to start at the major league level due to him being too curveball happy at times. Kaprielian has a good body for a starter, and some scouts consider him to have the best pitchability in the class, but he can look poor at times, and then look dominant the next time out, so scouts have been having a hard time getting a feel for him . Baseball America said that Kaprielian is the "Twins kind of pitcher", but they haven't picked a college starter in the first round since Terry Ryan took over, so BA's definition of the "Twins kind of pitcher" might be a little outdated, and since there will likely be better college starters on the board at #6 it seems unlikely that the Twins are interested, and the Twins don't pick again until 72nd, so I don't think that Kaprielian will be drafted by the Twins.

http://www.ibabuzz.com/prepcorner/files/2015/02/ecct0510prepround10.jpg Justin Hooper is a tall lefty out of De La Salle High School (California) who was ranked near the top of many draft boards after his junior year, but fell significantly after the start of his senior season. Hooper has a tendency to be very wild, but has some heat, usually sitting 92-94, but can reach 97 mph and also features a hard curveball, and a changeup that needs work. His delivery is violent, throwing from a fairly low arm angle, and has some deception in it, but is not loose at all, making his delivery look full of effort. Hooper could either go in the first round, or fall significantly due to questions raised about his command and ability to be consistent, if he falls he would likely be unsignable, since he is committed to UCLA. There is a ton of upside, due to his ability to reach the high nineties, and his hard curveball and changeup have the ability to be slightly above average, but it would be no surprise if he didn’t reach the big leagues until 2022. Hooper will definitely be given the chance to start, but I think that there is a very good chance that he will be a relief pitcher in the big leagues. I don’t see a fit with the Twins, and have not heard anything connecting them, but if they do like him they might be better off working out a drop and taking someone like James Kaprielian, DJ Stewart, or even Mitch Hansen in the first round, but I think that scenario is unlikely.

That there are a bunch of crabby fans in Twins Territory, me included.

Torii is killing his former team.

I hear a bunch of sick T*gers fans screaming the T word.

WHOOOOOO HOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lester Oliveros strikes out two, and Tim Stauffer is in for Rochester.

Gibson strikes out the side!

Me too, I imaging Hicks falling asleep in the box like he always is, swings and hits a foul ball near his feet, tries to jump out of the way, falls down, and chokes on his sunflower seeds.

Awful.

Nice work!

He is swinging at a lot of first pitches this season, and the first pitch of his at bat was a ball, and there are many other good hitters who take a lot of pitches.

Free Pat Dean.

What if they play better than Hicks, Buxton, and Rosario? For quite some time I have considered Robinson to be one of the best bench players in baseball, and if he still is we should keep him for 2016. We should not have Buxton and Rosario on the bench.

Who would we send down? I don't think that Schafer has done anything to deserve to be sent down, and the Twins are winning, so do you really want to change a clubhouse that has a good chemistry? Really the only thing that I would approve of is no more starts in the outfield for Escobar, send down Bernier, and use Hicks as a 4th outfielder who gets fairly significant playing time from all the outfield positions. Buxton could also force our hand soon, and Shane Robinson is hitting .315, so it seems like the Twins actually have a good problem. Oh, and by the way, Eduardo Nunez actually hit well in the limited at bats he got, so when Arcia and Nunez come off the DL, that will be another thing for the Twins to deal with. It might be fun to see Hicks and Hunter play together, though.

Both.

Hey Bark, is it true that your profile pic is Bubbles' grandpa? (I kinda hope it is.)

What? Change his birthday?

WE WHUPPED THEM!!!!!! WE WHUPPED THEM ALL!!!!!!!!!! YOU'LL THINK TWICE BEFORE MESSING WITH PAUL L MOLITOR!!!!!!

Gross.

Strike Three!