Throughout the spring there will be a series of posts highlighting some players the Twins may consider with their first round pick in 2015. I wasn't going to start the series off quite yet, but some recent news caused me to reconsider.

 

Michael Matuella, RHP, Duke

6-6, 220, 6/3/94 (Draft age: 21)

 

Matuella, armed with a four-pitch mix that includes a mid-90s fastball, is the top-rated collegiate pitcher entering the 2015 season.

 

February 13, 2015 at California: 6 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 8 K, WIN (Scouting Director Deron Johnson was in attendance.)

Recap/Box

 

February 20, 2015: John Manuel reports that Matuella will not be starting due to right forearm tightness. Matuella missed a lot of last season with a back injury.

 

 

A few write-ups on Matuella's first start:

 

From D1Baseball: 

 

 

 

Michael Matuella lived up to the billing of a potential No. 1 overall draft pick with six smooth, scoreless innings. In the first inning, he sat 93-96 mph and mowed through the top of the Cal lineup, needing just 11 pitches to strike out the side. More impressive was the way he moved the ball in and out and relied on his offspeed pitches later in the outing once Cal started making better contact with his fastball, which dropped to 88-92 mph after the first frame.

 

Chris Crawford of ESPN had a lengthy write-up. (Insider) A scout told Crawford that Matuella was "good, not great."

 

From what I glean, the Twins left there feeling similar to the scout that Crawford talked to. So a less than super impressive start followed up by being scratched, all while trying to prove your durability? I'd say it's a good thing Matuella has all season to move the needle the other direction.

Edited February 20, 201511 yr by Jeremy Nygaard

At this point he doesn't look like he'll fall to the Twins as they pick too low, however, he's struggled to stay healthy.  He could end up being this year's Jeff Hoffman, Sean Manaea or Lucas Giolito.  Of course just like with those guys, the Twins probably also pick too high to reach for him then.

I like me some Funkhouser.  He's nasty!

I like me some Funkhouser.  He's nasty!

 

Funkhouser is struggling with his command right now Kiley McDaniel tweets, but it's extremely cold there.

Too bad about his health. I want a few guys to dominate to push a certain former #1 draft pick down to the Twins.  

Too bad about his health. I want a few guys to dominate to push a certain former #1 draft pick down to the Twins.  

Yeah, that's my dream too. **** the Astros. 

 

Speaking of the Astros, who pick at #2 and #5.  It'll be interesting to see how much they burned bridges with Casey Close who is representing a bunch of the top talents in this draft (as is Boras).  Uncertainty in those relationships might mean that they pick a lessor talent at 5 and spread money around down the draft. 

 

And, while the draft is miles away and they should draft BPA, rumors on Astros blogs are that they are really leaning toward a college pitcher at #2.

To me, that is a very interesting question. With two picks, could the Astros end up taking Aiken again?

To me, that is a very interesting question. With two picks, could the Astros end up taking Aiken again?

Astros can't draft Aiken again

Astros can't draft Aiken again

Darn.  And I had already popped the popcorn.

 

I've talked about this in the past and haven't really seen any other comments about it. Matuella puts a lot of stress on his shoulder in his delivery towards the end. He cranks his shoulder forward awkwardly and it twists his whole body (especially his back) in the process. While it might not seem like a big deal at first, replicated over time could cause many issues (some of which he has already had). Mark Prior had this same release and it ultimately cost him his career. Does anyone else see this or am I just crazy? Check it out: http://youtu.be/_NNfiVoje7s

When does the California H.S. season start?  Interested to see how Kolby Allard and Justin Hooper do.

Funkhouser is struggling with his command right now Kiley McDaniel tweets, but it's extremely cold there.

I respect Kiley's opinion.  Interestingly enough, this afternoon Carson Cistulli, also from Fangraphs,listed this weeks top performances in college. He listed Funkhouser as top pitcher this week and top draft eligible pitcher this week, The note in that article read: 'Finding Kyle Funkhouser‘s name atop the ACC pitching list isn’t a great surprise. The junior right-hander features a promising combination both of arm speed and refinement. He was ranked 10th by Kiley McDaniel in the latter’s way-too-early draft rankings last fall.]'

A potential, top of the rotation arm is the most obvious and logical way to go. Should that arm be LH all the better. And you can never have enough pitching. Buuuuuuut......considering the overall depth of talent in the Twins system, pitching and position players, could this be the year where the #6 spot produces a top college talent at catcher, first or third base that might simply be the best player available?

could this be the year where the #6 spot produces a top college talent at catcher, first or third base that might simply be the best player available?

I don't think so. There's no Bryant or Zunino in this draft.  The top college position players - keeping in mind that there is a whole season to play - are arguably Dansby Swanson (SS/2B from Vanderbilt), Alex Bregman (SS at LSU), DJ Stewart (OF Fl St) or Ian Happ (LF Cincinnati).  The best catching prospect is a HS kid.  This draft is loaded with pitchers.  18 of mlb.com's top 30 draft are pitchers.

FWIW Matuella is a better pitcher than Aiken...

FWIW Matuella is a better pitcher than Aiken...

 

Personally, I wouldn't be comfortable arguing either side. I'd say it's probably team preference and right now - if the Twins had to pick between the two - they'd take Aiken, without a question in my mind.

Personally, I wouldn't be comfortable arguing either side. I'd say it's probably team preference and right now - if the Twins had to pick between the two - they'd take Aiken, without a question in my mind.

And I think it's much, much more likely that Aiken drops to us since the Astros can't/won't draft him.

Astros can't draft Aiken again

 

That's not true. The team would need to secure a waiver from the player/representative giving them permission to re-draft him. But from my understanding that process won't begin til mid-May at the earliest. Despite probably not wanting to sign with the Astros, the inability to be drafted with two of the first five picks would give Close/Aiken a lot less leverage when it comes to (illegal, yet obvious) pre-draft negotiations.

And I think it's much, much more likely that Aiken drops to us since the Astros can't/won't draft him.

 

If I had to put a way-too-early mock together, Arizona takes Aiken at 1 and Houston takes Rodgers at 2. 

Has Aiken selected a college yet or is he just doing informal workouts?

That's not true. The team would need to secure a waiver from the player/representative giving them permission to re-draft him. But from my understanding that process won't begin til mid-May at the earliest. Despite probably not wanting to sign with the Astros, the inability to be drafted with two of the first five picks would give Close/Aiken a lot less leverage when it comes to (illegal, yet obvious) pre-draft negotiations.

Yes, technically.  Kind of like how a player with a full no trade clause requires the player's permission to be traded. Only in this case, it's much more unlikely to happen. I think that the way all that went down with him last year, it comes down to reality that they can't draft him again. 

 

But yes, technically, you are right.

Edited February 23, 201511 yr by jimmer

Has Aiken selected a college yet or is he just doing informal workouts?

 

Hasn't thrown for anyone yet. Hasn't announced what he's going to do. Some speculation he could go to IMG Academy in Florida.

Interestingly enough, this afternoon Carson Cistulli, also from Fangraphs,listed this weeks top performances in college. He listed Funkhouser as top pitcher this week and top draft eligible pitcher this week, The note in that article read: 'Finding Kyle Funkhouser‘s name atop the ACC pitching list isn’t a great surprise. The junior right-hander features a promising combination both of arm speed and refinement. He was ranked 10th by Kiley McDaniel in the latter’s way-too-early draft rankings last fall.]'

And Cistulli named Funkhouser top starter this week and top draft eligible pitcher this week again.  Two weeks in a row.

Edited February 27, 201511 yr by jimmer

Remember, Carson is using new stats, and only looking at those......which are very immature in their development, and pretty meaningless at this stage.

Keith Law just reported that Matuella tore his UCL and will be having Tommy John surgery.

 

I'd take Aiken at 6, but betweent the back and the elbow and the lack of pitching, I'd let Matuella slide. (I actually started to put my Top 6 together for a post... and wasn't going to include him. And this was before the news.)

The Nationals will take him.

pitchers are dropping like crazy...

 

Keith Law just reported that Matuella tore his UCL and will be having Tommy John surgery.

 

I'd take Aiken at 6, but betweent the back and the elbow and the lack of pitching, I'd let Matuella slide. (I actually started to put my Top 6 together for a post... and wasn't going to include him. And this was before the news.)

Damn.  I was hoping the draft was strong and instead it's getting weaker.