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Twins have picks 2, 32, 41, 63, 72, 97. They have more, obviously, but this seems like a good opportunity to use BA's just released "top 100 draft prospects" list. So here we go.
2. Luc Giolito, RHP, CA HS: Why bother trying to balance the tension between the need for pitching (Zimmer, Appel, Gausman) and the desire for upside (Buxton) when there is a huge upside pitcher right there? Sure he's injured right now and hasn't pitching a game since early March, but the recent rumor is that teams are getting comfortable with his medical reports. If the Twins can see him throw and everything looks fine, I say ding this guy:
"he has true No. 1 starter upside, with a premium fastball, a plus-plus curveball in the 82-86 range with depth and bite, and even a plus changeup at 82-84 that gives him a third swing-and-miss offering. Scouts are in love with his 6-foot-6 frame and easy delivery. He a tireless worker with a tenacious approach on the mound and a similar approach to his between-starts work. His injury may create a bit of risk, but the potential reward he offers is unparalleled in this draft."
32. Stryker Trahan, C, LA HS: Perfectly square catcher with future plus bat. Sure, it's a stupid name, but by the time this guy is a MLBer pretty much everybody's going to have a stupid name. I've seen Idiocracy.
"Trahan once told Baseball America he comes "from a long line of catchers," as both his parents played the position. One scout lauded his "Cajun makeup," referencing his toughness and genial demeanor, fitting for a player named after a character in a Burt Reynolds film. He could be a first-round pick for a team that believes he can catch, but the consensus is that he'll need to shift to an outfield corner. At 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, Trahan has an ideal build for catching and an athletic frame with strong hands and forearms that allow scouts to put good grades on his power."
41. J.O. Berrios, RHP - Puerto Rico HS: Twins are one of the few remaining teams that really puts in the time in Puerto Rico anymore. I've seen Berrios projected as a mid-firstrounder, but BA has him at #49 overall. Live arm and young for the draft.
"Berrios worked with a conditioning coach this fall and spring and added 20-25 pounds to his frame since the summer and now has a muscular, athletic X-foot-X, xxx-pound physique. The added muscle has allowed him to smooth things out and has boosted his fastball velocity. His fastball now sits in the 93-95 mph range and some scouts have seen him touch 98. He throws his fastball down in the zone, mixes in a sharp, 80-81 mph slider and shows the makings of a solid changeup with fading action."
63. Jake Barrett, RHP, ASU: Fast-moving bullpen arm or right-handed starter with power stuff. Apparently, nobody likes his delivery or his medical reports, but he's never been injured. No reason not to start him until he proves he can't do it.
"On talent alone, Barrett has first-round stuff. Pitchers in the Pacific-12 conference with fastballs that sit in the mid-90s and touch 98 to go along with above-average secondary stuff (a hard breaking ball and a splitter) don't typically last too long in the draft. Barrett also has prototypical physicality at 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds. But scouts have questions about his durability."
72. Onelkis Garcia, LHP, Cuba: He's a Cuban defector that, through a weird set of circumstances that I don't understand, is draft-eligible. It's a suboptimal outcome for a player that arrived here hoping to start a small bidding war, but he's 22 and should be ready to work and move fast.
"In January 2012, Garcia once again was declared draft-eligible. In the meantime, he tried to stay in shape, often working out at Pierce JC in Los Angeles, near where Gus Dominguez, the former agent who represents him, lives. Garcia pitched in the Puerto Rican League last winter as well with some success, and in Puerto Rico and in the spring adult league he plays in, he has shown two plus pitches. Garcia's fastball sits at 90-93 mph, and his curveball, while somewhat inconsistent, is a true power pitch at its best. Garcia hasn't shown much of a changeup. Garcia has a physical 6-foot-2, 220-pound frame that needs no projection. At 22, he could move through a minor league system quickly as long as he comes out of the gate throwing strikes."
97. Trey Williams, 3B, CA: Tools and bloodlines, man. It's still the Twins after all.
"His pitch recognition needs improvement, leading to inconsistent contact (especially against breaking balls) and causing scouts to wonder if he'll be able to unlock his big raw power. He does have plus righthanded power potential, thanks to his natural bat speed and quick-twitch athleticism. Williams will have to move from shortstop to third base in pro ball, but his hands and feet work well enough to give him a chance to be a solid defender with a slightly above-average arm at the hot corner. He has shown the ability to handle slow rollers and throw from various angles." ______________________________
"Walleye, a lot of things are going to go wrong in your life that technically aren't your fault. Always remember that this doesn't make you any less of an idiot"
--Walleye's Dad
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