Today, we continue our look at players that the Minnesota Twins could consider drafting with the #4 overall pick in next month's MLB Draft. Today, we look at an uber-talented prep player from a baseball hotbed!

Who Is This Guy?

It can be argued that outfielder Austin Meadows is the top-rated high school position player in the 2013 MLB Draft. It can also be argued that Austin Meadows is not the top-rated high school position player in the 2013 MLB Draft from Loganville, Georgia. Depending on which scout you talk to and on which day, Meadows (from Grayson high school) or outfielder Clint Frazier (from Loganville high school) is ranked a little higher.

Georgia has been a baseball hotbed for the past several years. Twenty players have been drafted out of high school in Georgia over the past six drafts. That doesn’t include several players drafted from colleges such as Georgia, Georgia Tech and Kennesaw State. The Twins used their second round pick in 2010 on Fayetteville, Georgia, shortstop Niko Goodrum. Just last year, the Twins used the second overall pick on Appling County High School (Baxley, Georgia) outfielder Byron Buxton. Among those drafted by other teams include Jason Heyward (Braves), Zach Wheeler, Tim Beckham, Delino DeShields, Jr., and Dwight Smith, Jr. No less than two more Georgia prepsters will be added to that list in 2013.

Austin Meadows is a 6-3, 215 pound outfielder is a tremendous athlete. He has all five tools. He can hit and hit for power, though these skills will still need to develop. This year, he was hitting .535/.655/.930 with 14 doubles, a triple and four home runs. He has very good speed. He has 17 stolen bases this year. He has been times at about 6.3 seconds in the 60 yard dash. He is also known as a good outfielder in centerfield. He also had nearly a 2:1 K:BB ratio this year, showing a very good eye at the plate. The one question I keep hearing is whether or not he has the arm to stay in centerfield, so he likely profiles more in left field, but he has enough power potential that may not be an issue.

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As mentioned, Meadows is a tremendous athlete. He played basketball until his freshman season. He played football through his junior season but focused on baseball for his senior year. Scouts also like to look at a player’s genetics. Meadows dad was a three-sport athlete in high school who went to Morehead State on a full football scholarship. He also was a walk-on in baseball. He started in both sports all four years. Meadows’ mother received a fast-pitch softball scholarship to Georgia Southern.

Who Could He Be?

Meadows is very raw, but he has the potential, the upside to hit for average and power while being a decent outfielder whose speed and arm may push him to left field. Best case scenario, he would become another Josh Hamilton-like talent. Jay Bruce is another player that he could be compared to. Of course, player comps seem to always be with all-star caliber players, but again, when talking about what Meadows could be, it is a middle of the lineup, power threat.

How Soon Could He Be Playing In Target Field?

When the Twins took Byron Buxton with the #2 pick a year ago, there was talk about him having a fairly raw hit tool. He signed quickly enough last year to spend time in both the GCL and Elizabethton. As Meadows is not a Boras client, it would be feasible that he would not wait until the deadline to sign. So it’s possible that he would play for both rookie league affiliates and start 2014 in Cedar Rapids.

Because he is fairly raw, the assumption should be that he would spend all of 2014 with the Kernels. If he were to proceed by the Mauer path, he would split 2015 between Ft. Myers and New Britain and jump to the Twins in 2016. That’s absolute best case scenario. Most likely, he would not debut until later in the 2017 season.

If The Twins Draft This Guy, They Messed Up Because…

Although the Twins traded Denard Span and Ben Revere, and Josh Willingham will be a free agent following the 2014 season, the Twins do have some outfield depth in the organization. Aaron Hicks and Oswaldo Arcia are already in the big leagues. Joe Benson is still in the picture. Byron Buxton and Adam Walker should end the 2013 season in Ft. Myers. Max Kepler could still develop. There is always talk that infield prospects such as Miguel Sano or Travis Harrison could move to the outfield. Although Best Player Available is always the best strategy because we don’t know what the needs of the organization will be in three or four years, outfield is not a real position of need.

Despite the success that the Twins have had with athletic outfielders drafted out of high school in previous drafts, there is always a lot of risk when drafting 18 year olds and giving them $4 million to sign. Meadows is raw and could develop into a star, or his skills may never reach the potential that scouts see in him. That’s the nature of the draft, but it is especially true with raw high school talent.

Also, from the reports that I have read and people I have talked to, Clint Frazier may have more power potential and a better arm. There is a friendly competition between the two which may force the best out of each.

If The Twins Draft This Guy, They Nailed It Because…

Whoever the Twins draft, it will be because they have a conviction that the player will be the best player to help the organization. The front office knows the importance of getting such high picks right. If Meadows reaches that Josh Hamilton-like potential, he is a guy that you make room for on a roster. Meadows potential is to be able to hit for high average and for a lot of power. An outfield of Meadows (should he meet his potential), Buxton (should he meet his potential) and Hicks (should he meet his potential) with Arcia (should he meet his potential) DHing sounds like a pretty strong, especially if Miguel Sano and Travis Harrison can stay in the infield (and meet their potentials).

SUMMARY:

A lot of people thought it was a mistake when the Twins did not draft a pitcher in the 2012, instead drafting a raw, athletic outfielder out of Georgia with the #2 overall pick. Byron Buxton has done a great job of proving the Twins right. In 2013, it seems in theory to be equally silly for the Twins to consider drafting another raw, athletic outfielder (also from Georgia). If the Twins are convinced that he can be a four or five tool, difference-making type of hitter, then the absolutely should draft Meadows. If they have questions about whether he can reach those levels, then they should absolutely go in another direction.

From my research and discussions, I’m not convinced that he is near the same level as Byron Buxton, so I think the odds of the Twins taking him with the 4^th overall pick is probably pretty low.

PREVIOUS Draft Profiles:

LHP Sean Manaea - 5/20/13