2018 Draft stuff

[gunnarthor]

Just got around to noticing this but mlbpipeline has their draft top 50 up. Twins pick 20, 60, 75 and 95 early.

 

According to minorleagueball's draft scout guy, this draft is very high on prep arms. They also had a report up on Div II players.

 

It's really early but some of the prep arms - like Mason Denaberg - sound pretty exciting and a few will slip to the Twins. I haven't seen how much draft pool the Twins have but with an extra pick (#75) they'll have some wiggle room to maybe pay a bit over slot.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

It is nice to not have the June draft be the highlight of the season for a change.

[Mike Sixel]

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/draft-notes-from-college-baseballs-opening-weekend/

[Mr. Brooks]

I'm hoping Kumar Rocker falls to us at 20, then we find someone named Harold to draft in round 2.

[ashbury]

I'm hoping Kumar Rocker falls to us at 20,

You know what would be cool is if...

 

then we find someone named Harold to draft in round 2.

Oh. You spotted that too.

[Bob Sacamento]

 

I'm hoping Kumar Rocker falls to us at 20, then we find someone named Harold to draft in round 2.

Kumar is a beast, I've seen the kid pitch since he was a Freshman and physically speaking he's a big boy that usually would play football (and I know he wasn't happy that his parents made him quit).  He's already 6'5 250lb but looks like he might be done growing as back as a freshman in HS he was 6'4 205.  He'll also have to be paid handsomely as he's committed to Vandy and I can only image how he'd develop in their system in three years.

[gunnarthor]

 

Kumar is a beast, I've seen the kid pitch since he was a Freshman and physically speaking he's a big boy that usually would play football (and I know he wasn't happy that his parents made him quit).  He's already 6'5 250lb but looks like he might be done growing as back as a freshman in HS he was 6'4 205.  He'll also have to be paid handsomely as he's committed to Vandy and I can only image how he'd develop in their system in three years.

Is he a reliever or a starter? The comp I read was to Lee Smith.

[Thrylos]

So we have all the lists in one place.  From BA:

 

High School top 50 and

College top 50.

 

 

[Thrylos]

So far I like Jackson Kowar for the spot the Twins are picking, but he seems to have tons of helium in that MLB pipeline list.

[gunnarthor]

 

So far I like Jackson Kowar for the spot the Twins are picking, but he seems to have tons of helium in that MLB pipeline list.

Faedo dropped a bit last year so maybe he will too. But college arms like his probably don't make it to 20 without a flaw or lower ceiling.

[Respy]

I'm not well-versed on college and prep talent, so I can't comment much.  But, wouldn't it be fair to say that the Twins are on the cusp of being a perennial contender for a while, therefore will be picking more quick-to-MLB college players?  Particularly, pitchers?  Of course you always mix it up with a little of everything, but that's my assumption that they would lean this way.

[Bob Sacamento]

 

Is he a reliever or a starter? The comp I read was to Lee Smith.

As with most pitchers, he's a starter til he proves elsewise, I get the Lee Smith comp for size and stuff.  Personally, I see him more as a right handed CC Sabathia as of right now, kid's fastball has been clocked at 98.4 mph at Perfect Game events and he has a plus slider.  What I love about him is that he uses his tree trunk of legs to create his velo and his delivery is very low maintenance.  Like I said he's going to have to be paid very well to bypass his commitment to Vanderbilt, as he's a smart kid.

 

I've got videos of most of the top talent from the 2017 WWBA PG event from October, I've just been too lazy to upload them all.  Kumar skipped the event this year but starred in as a Sophomore in 2016

 

Here's Rocker at the PG National in August 2017 up to 98 mph

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nV6BlLb1gSg

[Bob Sacamento]

 

I'm not well-versed on college and prep talent, so I can't comment much.  But, wouldn't it be fair to say that the Twins are on the cusp of being a perennial contender for a while, therefore will be picking more quick-to-MLB college players?  Particularly, pitchers?  Of course you always mix it up with a little of everything, but that's my assumption that they would lean this way.

Well you have plenty of PG events in the Southwest Florida area esp JetBlue, Hammond, Terry Park, etc.  Saw Rocker as a Freshman in Fort Myers

[Hrbowski]

Hoping for a college arm at this point. Maybe Sean Hjelle.

[maxisagod]

A Canadian, who went to Kentucky, and was already drafted by the Twins? Is there any debate? Tristan Pompey is they’re #1 pick!

[nicksaviking]

A Canadian, who went to Kentucky, and was already drafted by the Twins? Is there any debate? Tristan Pompey is they’re #1 pick!

Wow, yeah those are three Twins hallmarks. Got to be the front runner. He also has a pedigree seeing as his brother is already in the league.

[biggentleben]

 

I'm not well-versed on college and prep talent, so I can't comment much.  But, wouldn't it be fair to say that the Twins are on the cusp of being a perennial contender for a while, therefore will be picking more quick-to-MLB college players?  Particularly, pitchers?  Of course you always mix it up with a little of everything, but that's my assumption that they would lean this way.

 

Not really at all. The team should draft the best player and best fit for their development. When you ever base a draft around need, that's when that whole year's draft ends up blowing up in your face. There is a wealth of pitching in the farm system that is bumping against the major league door and also very intriguing arms in the lower levels. Yet, the Twins are also blessed with some advanced bats that should impact the major league team in 2018-2019 and also some solid bats that are 3-4 years away. They're in a perfect spot to truly get the best player available.

[Dman]

I personally like it when they go with High school guys in the early rounds.  They can be more expensive to sign but given recent history those picks seem to work out better for us (Kiroloff, Gordon, Badoo, Miranda, Lewis).  I am sure they will go BPA but I like going high school in the first round especially since we have extra money with the extra 2nd round pick we might be able to sign someone who slipped a little.  I would even go high school in the second round.  After that it doesn't matter much to me.

 

Twins have been pretty good at mixing it up so hard to say what they will do.  Right now we have a good mix at most levels.  High A and AA could use more talent but AAA and low A are full of talent right now.  My big hope is that they can find quality pitching in the draft.  Feels like we are a little short when it comes to high quality starters.

[Mike Sixel]

AAA has pitching, but other than Gordon, is there a single hitter that is a good prospect? I have no idea, but I can't think of one.

[Dman]

 

AAA has pitching, but other than Gordon, is there a single hitter that is a good prospect? I have no idea, but I can't think of one.

Yeah you are right, light on hitters there. I was thinking Wade and Granite and maybe White as well for AAA.  They might not quite reach your "good" level but they are in the Twins top 30.  That being said we are in better shape with the young hitters we have in MLB than we are with pitchers. There are quite a few interesting starter and reliever options in AAA this year.

[Mike Sixel]

I forgot about Wade! Big fan.

[slash129]

 

AAA has pitching, but other than Gordon, is there a single hitter that is a good prospect? I have no idea, but I can't think of one.

 

It kind of depends on who breaks camp with the big club.  Granite could very well be at AAA.  Garver looks like he'll likely stick in the majors to start.  Lamont Wade should be at AAA.  A lot of bats have graduated the past couple years, so the bulk of hitting prospects are at the lower levels.

 

I'm hoping for more pitching at the top of the draft, but they have to take the best players, especially with the first couple of picks.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

AAA has pitching, but other than Gordon, is there a single hitter that is a good prospect? I have no idea, but I can't think of one.

 

The bats are a bit lower... fortunately, bats aren't going to be much of an issue in the majors for a couple years yet. 

[ashbury]

The bats are a bit lower... fortunately, bats aren't going to be much of an issue in the majors for a couple years yet. 

We could send down to AAA all the Twins batters born in 1993 or later, if Rochester's batting order is thought to be a concern.

[AZTwin]

Any consenus out there? Strong class/weak/average/too early to tell? Any positions stronger than others. I prefer prep pitching early, especially considering our low A ball lineup is stacked, but it’s all about value.

[beckmt]

Take the best player available, but will also lean to pitching if very close.  MLB pitchers are hard to come by so taking pitching is usually best if you have close choices.  

If this last couple of years has shown anything is the change in bullpen roles, so multi-inning pitchers with great stuff if a priority,  seems like you can find some decent hitting in FA if not middle infield and the Twins have a lot of those in the pipeline now. 

[gunnarthor]

 

Any consenus out there? Strong class/weak/average/too early to tell? Any positions stronger than others. I prefer prep pitching early, especially considering our low A ball lineup is stacked, but it’s all about value.

The only two things I've read were that it's a bit deeper than last year and prep arms are the best thing in this draft.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'd want more prep players. Only real problem is that the draft pool won't really accommodate for this. If there are a lot, I wonder if there's a strategy involving drafting a few college seniors in rounds 6-10 to take a stab at a falling prep player or two in another round. 

 

I doubt we get a decent college pitcher in the late 20s. You might get a really good bat. 

[gunnarthor]

 

I'd want more prep players. Only real problem is that the draft pool won't really accommodate for this. If there are a lot, I wonder if there's a strategy involving drafting a few college seniors in rounds 6-10 to take a stab at a falling prep player or two in another round. 

 

I doubt we get a decent college pitcher in the late 20s. You might get a really good bat. 

Depends on how the teams ahead of us want this to play out. We're picking 20 so we certainly will have some prep arms to choose from. And every year someone falls. Last year, Alex Faedo (early season favorite to go in the top 4) fell to 18. The year before we saw Dakota Hudson, who was supposed to go around #15, drop to 34. Jordan Sheffield fell a few spots further. Alec Hanson fell to the third round (I really wished we hadn't passed on him). Walker Buehler fell from a top 5 guy to 24. College pitchers are watched so much that their flaws sometimes get over amplified and the shiny new prep arms just seem more exciting.

 

It's way early but mlbpipeline gave 17 guys a FV grade of 55 or better. So I wouldn't be surprised if a college arm like Rolison, Weathers, Gilbert, Kowar or Mize ended up being there at 20. The Twins also have an extra pick so they can play with their pool a bit. 

[nicksaviking]

 

Depends on how the teams ahead of us want this to play out. We're picking 20 so we certainly will have some prep arms to choose from. And every year someone falls. Last year, Alex Faedo (early season favorite to go in the top 4) fell to 18. The year before we saw Dakota Hudson, who was supposed to go around #15, drop to 34. Jordan Sheffield fell a few spots further. Alec Hanson fell to the third round (I really wished we hadn't passed on him). Walker Buehler fell from a top 5 guy to 24. College pitchers are watched so much that their flaws sometimes get over amplified and the shiny new prep arms just seem more exciting.

 

 

I agree, the Twins find themselves in the spot in the draft where teams willing to gamble on upside can get some nice prizes who fell unexpectedly. Also from last year Seth Romero fell to that range. Sean Manaea and Luke Weaver did in years past as well.

 

If the team isn't locked into a college pitcher, some of the best college bats tend to fall here because they're not as sexy as the raw HS kids. Jeren kendall, Joey Gallo, Derek Fischer and Aaron Judge were all guys that were supposed to be top picks going into the season but dropped in lieu of those all too tempting HS bats.

 

Of course many years there's still one of those high ceiling HS arms that fall due to injury or sign-ability like Joey Wentz, Lucas Giolito or Lance McCullers.