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The Ones That Got Away

jlarson

Entry posted by jlarson in Twins ·

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I know this story is not unique to the Minnesota Twins. Every year prospects are traded before they ever play an MLB game with the team that drafted them. Every year players decide not to sign with the team that drafted them and go the college route. That does not mean we cannot reminisce on Twins players that could have been. Looking through some draft history here are some names that would have looked pretty good in a Twins uniform.

Brian Anderson, 3rd basemen Miami Marlins

Anderson was drafted by the Twins in the 20th round of the 2011 draft but did not sign. Miami drafted Anderson in the 3rd round of the 2014 draft.

Not an amazing player, but a useful player who has some value.

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George Springer, Outfield Toronto Blue Jays

Springer was drafted by the Twins in the 48th round of the 2008 draft but did not sign. Houston drafted Springer  in the 1st  round of the 2011 draft.

This one hurts a bit. Springer is probably the best player that did not sign with Minnesota in recent history. 3x All Star and 31.7 WAR through the age of 32.

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Kolten Wong, Second Base Milwaukee Brewers

Wong was drafted by the Twins in the 16th round of the 2008 draft but did not sign. St. Louis drafted Wong in the 1st round of the 2011 draft.

The 2008 draft class could have been amazing. 20.1 WAR from Kolten Wong and 31.7 WAR from George Springer. Wong is no superstar but has been a very valuable player in his career.

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J.D. Martinez, Outfield Boston RedSox

Martinez was drafted by the Twins in the 36th round of the 2006 draft but did not sign. Houston drafted Martinez in the 20th round of the 2009 draft.

Martinez is a 4x All Star. MVP Votes in 4 different seasons and may get MVP votes this season at the age 34 if he keeps playing the way he has. This one hurts as bad as Springer. 

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Rosterman

Going all the way back. TWINS DRAFTEES WHO DIDN'T SIGN BUT PLAYED IN THE MAJORS:

1960s: Eddie Leon, Del Unser, Frank Brosseau, Steve Garvey, Charles Scrivener, Tommy Moore, Roger Freed, Al Hrabosky, Jake Brown, Craig Skok, Ken Szotkiewicz.

1970s: Rick Burleson, Ron Cash,  Dick Ruthven, Dave Stegman, Pete Falcone, Warren Cromartie, Rick Peters, Jerry Maddox, Eric Show, Paul Mirabella, Marty Castillo, Steve Christmas, Vance McHenry, Jamie Allen, Joe Charboneau, Rick Bordi, Edwin Rodriguez, Bradley Lesley, Dave Leeper, Tony Fossas, Steve Bradley, Ralph Citarella, Mike Couchee, Randy O'Neal.

1980s: Mike Fuentes, Steve Ellsworth, John Marzano, Steve Davis, Ralph Bryant, Greg Mathews, Tim Belcher, Bill Swift, Oddbie McDowell, Clay Parker, Joe Bitker, Mark Grace, Mike Benjamin, Mike Schwabe, Dan Smith, Craig Paquette, Aaron Sele, Derrick White, Tony Urbani.

1990s: James Moulton, Tim Davis, TJ Mathews, Gary Matthews, Craig Dingman, Kelly Dransfeldt, Travis Lee, Danny Kolb, Emil Brown, Jason Varitek, Lance Carter, Brian Lawrence, AJ Hinch, Robert Ramsay, Matt Kata, Mike Lamb, Josh Bard, Mike Gosling, Kevin Thompson, Brian Slocum.

2000s: Aaron Heilman, Paul Maholm, Daniel Davidson, Jason Vargas, Adam Lind, Jeff Clement, John Gaub, Garrett Mock, Travis Metcalf, Steve Pearce, Yonder Alonso, David Herndon, Charles Leesman, Andy Oliver, Chase Anderson, Mickey Storey, Seth Rosin, Aaron Barrett, Adam Cnley, Mario Hollands. 

Recently: Cody Martin, Mark Payton (White Sox prospect), Andrew McCreery, James Marvel, Taylor Hearn, Sam Hilliard, Mike Baumann, Kyle Cody, Blake Cederlind, Greg Deischman.....

I also like how the Twins go after unsigned draftees and trade or sign them late. Some notables: CHuck Baker, Pat Light, Chris Heston, Clete Thomas, Matt Macri, Jesse Orosco and recently Kyle Barraclough. Plus they have Elliot Soto currently in St. Paul.

How would the Twins success have been over the years if they ahd signed Steve Garvey, Mark Grace, Tim Belcher, Jason Vargas, Adam Lind amongst others?

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Seth Stohs
21 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

Well, this will make you crazy .... Twins coulda signed Miguel Cabrera and drafted Mike Trout, etc.

An IPA is a better choice.

And apparently had a verbal agreement with Juan Soto. 

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BSLinPA
On 5/29/2022 at 2:34 PM, Rosterman said:

Going all the way back. TWINS DRAFTEES WHO DIDN'T SIGN BUT PLAYED IN THE MAJORS:

1960s: Eddie Leon, Del Unser, Frank Brosseau, Steve Garvey, Charles Scrivener, Tommy Moore, Roger Freed, Al Hrabosky, Jake Brown, Craig Skok, Ken Szotkiewicz.

1970s: Rick Burleson, Ron Cash,  Dick Ruthven, Dave Stegman, Pete Falcone, Warren Cromartie, Rick Peters, Jerry Maddox, Eric Show, Paul Mirabella, Marty Castillo, Steve Christmas, Vance McHenry, Jamie Allen, Joe Charboneau, Rick Bordi, Edwin Rodriguez, Bradley Lesley, Dave Leeper, Tony Fossas, Steve Bradley, Ralph Citarella, Mike Couchee, Randy O'Neal.

1980s: Mike Fuentes, Steve Ellsworth, John Marzano, Steve Davis, Ralph Bryant, Greg Mathews, Tim Belcher, Bill Swift, Oddbie McDowell, Clay Parker, Joe Bitker, Mark Grace, Mike Benjamin, Mike Schwabe, Dan Smith, Craig Paquette, Aaron Sele, Derrick White, Tony Urbani.

1990s: James Moulton, Tim Davis, TJ Mathews, Gary Matthews, Craig Dingman, Kelly Dransfeldt, Danny Kolb, Emil Brown, Lance Carter, Brian Lawrence, AJ Hinch, Robert Ramsay, Matt Kata, Mike Lamb, Josh Bard, Mike Gosling, Kevin Thompson, Brian Slocum.

2000s: Aaron Heilman, Paul Maholm, Daniel Davidson, Jason Vargas, Adam Lind, Jeff Clement, John Gaub, Garrett Mock, Travis Metcalf, Steve Pearce, Yonder Alonso, David Herndon, Charles Leesman, Andy Oliver, Chase Anderson, Mickey Storey, Seth Rosin, Aaron Barrett, Adam Cnley, Mario Hollands. 

Recently: Cody Martin, Mark Payton (White Sox prospect), Andrew McCreery, James Marvel, Taylor Hearn, Sam Hilliard, Mike Baumann, Kyle Cody, Blake Cederlind, Greg Deischman.....

I also like how the Twins go after unsigned draftees and trade or sign them late. Some notables: CHuck Baker, Pat Light, Chris Heston, Clete Thomas, Matt Macri, Jesse Orosco and recently Kyle Barraclough. Plus they have Elliot Soto currently in St. Paul.

How would the Twins success have been over the years if they ahd signed Steve Garvey, Mark Grace, Tim Belcher, Jason Vargas, Adam Lind amongst others?

Add two first rounders in the 90s........Jason Varitek and the Travis Lee debacle. 

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The Mad King

Wong and Anderson would have been stuck behind Dozier and Sano. Maybe traded off for other parts... Or maybe Wong would have impeded 2nd base prospects Gordon & Arraez.

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jlarson
On 5/29/2022 at 1:34 PM, Rosterman said:

Going all the way back. TWINS DRAFTEES WHO DIDN'T SIGN BUT PLAYED IN THE MAJORS:

1960s: Eddie Leon, Del Unser, Frank Brosseau, Steve Garvey, Charles Scrivener, Tommy Moore, Roger Freed, Al Hrabosky, Jake Brown, Craig Skok, Ken Szotkiewicz.

1970s: Rick Burleson, Ron Cash,  Dick Ruthven, Dave Stegman, Pete Falcone, Warren Cromartie, Rick Peters, Jerry Maddox, Eric Show, Paul Mirabella, Marty Castillo, Steve Christmas, Vance McHenry, Jamie Allen, Joe Charboneau, Rick Bordi, Edwin Rodriguez, Bradley Lesley, Dave Leeper, Tony Fossas, Steve Bradley, Ralph Citarella, Mike Couchee, Randy O'Neal.

1980s: Mike Fuentes, Steve Ellsworth, John Marzano, Steve Davis, Ralph Bryant, Greg Mathews, Tim Belcher, Bill Swift, Oddbie McDowell, Clay Parker, Joe Bitker, Mark Grace, Mike Benjamin, Mike Schwabe, Dan Smith, Craig Paquette, Aaron Sele, Derrick White, Tony Urbani.

1990s: James Moulton, Tim Davis, TJ Mathews, Gary Matthews, Craig Dingman, Kelly Dransfeldt, Danny Kolb, Emil Brown, Lance Carter, Brian Lawrence, AJ Hinch, Robert Ramsay, Matt Kata, Mike Lamb, Josh Bard, Mike Gosling, Kevin Thompson, Brian Slocum.

2000s: Aaron Heilman, Paul Maholm, Daniel Davidson, Jason Vargas, Adam Lind, Jeff Clement, John Gaub, Garrett Mock, Travis Metcalf, Steve Pearce, Yonder Alonso, David Herndon, Charles Leesman, Andy Oliver, Chase Anderson, Mickey Storey, Seth Rosin, Aaron Barrett, Adam Cnley, Mario Hollands. 

Recently: Cody Martin, Mark Payton (White Sox prospect), Andrew McCreery, James Marvel, Taylor Hearn, Sam Hilliard, Mike Baumann, Kyle Cody, Blake Cederlind, Greg Deischman.....

I also like how the Twins go after unsigned draftees and trade or sign them late. Some notables: CHuck Baker, Pat Light, Chris Heston, Clete Thomas, Matt Macri, Jesse Orosco and recently Kyle Barraclough. Plus they have Elliot Soto currently in St. Paul.

How would the Twins success have been over the years if they ahd signed Steve Garvey, Mark Grace, Tim Belcher, Jason Vargas, Adam Lind amongst others?

Great write up.

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Blyleven2011
On 5/30/2022 at 5:08 PM, BSLinPA said:

Add two first rounders in the 90s........Jason Varitek and the Travis Lee debacle. 

Add 3 first rounders  ,,, 

BELCHER , VARITEK  AND LEE ,,, all first rounders , pitcher  , catcher and a first basemen  

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BSLinPA
On 6/1/2022 at 9:15 AM, Blyleven2011 said:

Add 3 first rounders  ,,, 

BELCHER , VARITEK  AND LEE ,,, all first rounders , pitcher  , catcher and a first basemen  

Belcher in '83.....is on list  ?

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