Clete Thomas joined a long list of guys that the Twins drafted at one point, didn't/couldn't sign and joined the organization later. Some other names that are on this list are Steve Pearce, who was cut in Spring Training, and Michael Holliman, who made a push to be on the opening day roster and is now in Rochester.

 

There are other players who left the state of Minnesota at some point, only to come back later, like Cole Nelson, who left the state to attend Auburn, but was acquired by the Twins from the Tigers in the Delmon Young trade.

 

There are also countless of examples of guys who the Twins drafted twice, some of them never signing, most of them fizzling out before making a name for themselves.

 

All of this got me wondering, "Who are the guys out there right now that the Twins once had their eye on?" There are some very interesting names on the following list:

 

[TABLE=width: 851]

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Hi A (2011)

Chris Odegaard

RHP

Minnesota State-Mankato

MN

[/TD]

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

AA

Dan Kaczrowski

SS

Hamline (Minn.)

MN

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Hi A

Jonathan Griffin

1B

Lakewood Ranch HS, Bradenton, Fla.

FL

2011 21st Rd

ATLANTA BRAVES

Hi A

Cody Martin

RHP

Gonzaga

WA

2011 7th Rd

ATLANTA BRAVES

Rk (2011)

Evan Danieli

RHP

Seton Hall Prep, West Orange, N.J.

NJ

2010 24th Rd

ATLANTA BRAVES

A

Joe Lucas

RHP

Dakota County Tech (Minn.) JC

MN

ATLANTA BRAVES

A (2011)

Tony Mueller

OF

Winona State (Minn.)

MN

BALTIMORE ORIOLES

Hi A

Aaron Baker

C

Denton (Texas) HS

TX

2009 11th Rd

CHICAGO WHITE SOX

AAA

Charles Leesman

LHP

Elder HS, Cincinnati

OH

2008 11th Rd

CHICAGO WHITE SOX

Hi A

Jake Petricka

RHP

Faribault (Minn.) HS

MN

CHICAGO WHITE SOX

AA

Jared Mitchell

OF

Westgate HS, New Iberia, La.

LA

2009 1st Rd

CHICAGO CUBS

AA

Elliot Soto

SS

Dundee-Crown HS, Carpentersville, Ill.

IL

2010 15th Rd

CHICAGO CUBS

AAA (2011)

Marquez Smith

3B

Forest HS, Ocala, Fla.

FL

2007 8th Rd

CINCINNATI REDS

A

Nick O'Shea

1B

Minnesota

MN

CLEVELAND INDIANS

A

Jordan Smith

3B

St. Cloud State (Minn.)

MN

CLEVELAND INDIANS

A (2011)

Nathan Striz

RHP

Santa Fe Catholic HS, Lakeland, Fla.

FL

2010 22nd Rd

COLORADO ROCKIES

Rk (2011)

Ben Hughes

RHP

St. Olaf (Minn.)

MN

2011 10th Rd

COLORADO ROCKIES

Tyler Anderson

LHP

Valley HS, Las Vegas

Nev.

2011 1st Rd

DETROIT TIGERS

MLB

Andy Oliver

LHP

Vermillion (Ohio) HS

OH

2009 2nd Rd

DETROIT TIGERS

Rk (2011)

Scott Matyas

RHP

Minnesota

MN

HOUSTON ASTROS

Hi A

George Springer

OF

Old Farms HS, Avon, Conn.

CO

2011 1st Rd

HOUSTON ASTROS

A

Justin Gominsky

OF

Minnesota

MN

HOUSTON ASTROS

AAA

Mickey Storey

RHP

Florida Atlantic

FL

2008 31st Rd

HOUSTON ASTROS

A

Mike Kvasnicka

3B/C

North HS, Lakeville, Minn.

MN

2010 1st Rd

KANSAS CITY ROYALS

A

Mike Giovenco

RHP

North Park (Ill.)

IL

2010 4th Rd

LOS ANGELES ANGELS

AA (2011)

Dillon Baird

3B

Prescott (Ariz.) HS

AZ

2009 11th Rd

LOS ANGELES DODGERS

A (2011)

Blake Dean

OF

Louisiana State

LA

2010 8th Rd

MIAMI MARLINS

A

Aaron Senne

OF

Missouri (drafted rd 13 out of HS)

MO

2010 10th Rd

MIAMI MARLINS

A

Adam Conley

LHP

Olympia (Wash.) HS

WA

2011 2nd Rd

MIAMI MARLINS

Rk (2011)

Beau Wright

LHP

Los Alamitos (Calif.) HS

CA

2010 48th Rd

MIAMI MARLINS

MLB

Brad Hand

LHP

Chaska (Minn.) HS

MN

MIAMI MARLINS

A

Josh Adams

SS

Eagle's View Academy, Jacksonville, Fla.

FL

2011 13th Rd

MILWAUKEE BREWERS

A

Tommy Toledo

RHP

Florida

Fla.

2011 11th Rd

NEW YORK METS

Hi A

Brant Rustich

RHP

Grossmont HS, San Diego

CA

2007 2nd Rd

NEW YORK METS

Lo A (2011)

Bret Mitchell

RHP

Minnesota State-Mankato

MN

OAKLAND A'S

AA

Mike Spina

1B

Cincinnati

OH

2009 11th Rd

OAKLAND A'S

Rk (2011)

Thomas Girdwood

RHP

Elon

N.C.

2011 28th Rd

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

MLB

Ken Herndon

RHP

Gulf Coast (Fla.) CC

FL

2006 5th Rd

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

A

Mario Hollands

LHP

UC Santa Barbara

CA

2010 10th Rd

SAN DIEGO PADRES

Hi A

Adam Schrader

RHP

Southwest Minnesota State

MN

SAN DIEGO PADRES

Hi A (2011)

Robert Lara

C

Nova HS, Davie, Fla.

FL

2008 19th Rd

SAN DIEGO PADRES

MLB

Yonder Alonso

1B

Coral Gables HS, Miami

FL

2008 1st Rd

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

AA

Chris Heston

RHP

Seminole (Fla.) CC

FL

2009 12th Rd

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

Hi A

Seth Rosin

RHP

Mounds View HS

MN

2010 4th Rd

SEATTLE MARINERS

Hi A

Steve Proscia

3B /1B

Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J.

N.J.

2011 7th Rd

ST LOUIS CARDINALS

AA

Kolten Wong

2B

Kamehameha HS, Hilo, Hawaii

HA

2011 1st Rd

TAMPA BAY RAYS

AAA

John Gaub

LHP

Minnesota

MN

[TD]TORONTO BLUE JAYS

Hi A

John Stilson

RHP

Texarkana (Texas) CC

TX

2011 3rd Rd

TORONTO BLUE JAYS

AAA (2011)

Randy Boone

RHP

Texas

TX

2007 7th Rd

WASHINGTON NATIONALS

A

Aaron Barrett

RHP

Wabash Valley (Ill.) CC

IL

2010 10th Rd

WASHINGTON NATIONALS

AA

Mike Ballard

LHP

U. of Virginia

VA

2006 14th Rd

WASHINGTON NATIONALS

AA

Pat Lehman

RHP

George Washington

D.C.

2009 13th Rd

[/TABLE]

I wish Clete Thomas would join a long list of Saint Paul Saints.