From Klaw's chat today -

 

Kirk (The TC)

Who do you see the Twins picking #1? Drafts have been much better lately (anything is better than Adam Johnson and David McCarty) - do they keep it up this year?
Klaw  (1:31 PM)

Have heard Kolby Allard's their guy if the medicals check out (and they should, as his injury wasn't that bad)

 

I hadn't even looked much at Allard since he got hurt.  Interesting rumor, if nothing else.

 

From Klaw's chat today -

 

Kirk (The TC)

Who do you see the Twins picking #1? Drafts have been much better lately (anything is better than Adam Johnson and David McCarty) - do they keep it up this year?
Klaw  (1:31 PM)

Have heard Kolby Allard's their guy if the medicals check out (and they should, as his injury wasn't that bad)

 

I hadn't even looked much at Allard since he got hurt.  Interesting rumor, if nothing else.

Wohhh.

I tweeted that out late Friday after hearing that and Law saying something similar then. It sounds like he'll be throwing again soon, so that will be good.

 

 

 

I tweeted that out late Friday after hearing that and Law saying something similar then. It sounds like he'll be throwing again soon, so that will be good.

Yeah, I meant to mention something when I saw that in his latest article. I feel like the Twins have been pretty obvious about their targets in the past few drafts. If the industry seems to move toward a consensus about who the Twins like, I would bet they are right.

Jeremy, maybe you have a whole new post on this very issue coming, but other than Allard, who have the Twins been tied to?

 

Jeremy, maybe you have a whole new post on this very issue coming, but other than Allard, who have the Twins been tied to?

 

Not a ton of names really. You can usually get a better sense for who likes certain players by talking to other teams' scouts. I had heard that the Astros were on Cameron a while back and that seems like an industry consensus now. 

 

Arizona is all over the board, so the teams behind that have to prepare as if they have no idea who AZ is taking.

 

The Twins have had their big wigs at a number of places that I can confirm - including GA to see Cameron, LSU to see Bregman, etc - I don't know what exactly it is that Law is hearing that basically locks them in, but I'd guess that when teams start to get more and more specific about price tags, word tends to get out. 

 

So you have to play the other side of that coin too, not giving up your guy too early. 

 

I still think Kyle Tucker will be a guy they'll seriously consider and Funkhouser if he makes it to them (in addition to Tate and Rodgers).

 

Not a ton of names really. You can usually get a better sense for who likes certain players by talking to other teams' scouts. I had heard that the Astros were on Cameron a while back and that seems like an industry consensus now. 

 

Arizona is all over the board, so the teams behind that have to prepare as if they have no idea who AZ is taking.

 

The Twins have had their big wigs at a number of places that I can confirm - including GA to see Cameron, LSU to see Bregman, etc - I don't know what exactly it is that Law is hearing that basically locks them in, but I'd guess that when teams start to get more and more specific about price tags, word tends to get out. 

 

So you have to play the other side of that coin too, not giving up your guy too early. 

 

I still think Kyle Tucker will be a guy they'll seriously consider and Funkhouser if he makes it to them (in addition to Tate and Rodgers).

What about Nikorak? Any news on him?

Do you think there is any chance they could get Allard to sign under slot at 6, or would he want and get full slot? 

I think I could get behind Allard.

I'm glad to see that Jeremy believes the Twins are taking a good look at Kyle Tucker. Tucker's potential to be a guy who will hit for both average and power from a corner outfield spot is intriguing, plus add in the fact that he has the athleticism to possibly stick in CF as well.

 

I'm glad to see that Jeremy believes the Twins are taking a good look at Kyle Tucker. Tucker's potential to be a guy who will hit for both average and power from a corner outfield spot is intriguing, plus add in the fact that he has the athleticism to possibly stick in CF as well.

 

I have heard all of that except for the possibility of sticking in CF. Do you have a source on that, whether personal observation or a link? Not that he would likely play there anyway, given that Buxton will hopefully be there for years to come.

Jeremy, have you heard anything about Demi Orimoloye? He's projected to be around the 50s to 90s, and would seem like a good Comp Round pick for the Twins at 73 or 2nd rounder at 80. Reminds me somewhat of Adam Walker the way he's described although his body looks a little more like Sano. Really loud tools, but very little polish. Tough part might be signing him.

 

Here is video: http://m.mlb.com/video/v37009321/draft-report-demi-orimoloye-hs-outfielder

Edited May 6, 201511 yr by nytwinsfan

Since Allard has been my preference from the start, I am entirely ok with KLaw'a report. Really young, hits 95, killer breaking ball, and an impeccably smooth delivery. At this point in baseball, its almost a guarantee that he will eventually have TJ surgery, so might as well get someone who has his potential and is one of the youngest guys in the draft.

 

As far as other possibilities, Nikorak is likely a solid choice, as is Tucker. Ideally I would like the Twins to get a high schooler who has immense potential, which all three do. Aim for a star four to six years down the road; the farm system is finally starting to churn out quality talent, might as well keep the line moving.

Allard's back was injured, his elbow's fine.

Right?

 

Allard's back was injured, his elbow's fine.
Right?

That was my understanding.

Just to clarify, I wasn't trying to insinuate that there is an issue with Allard's elbow. The surgery is just so common now, and it is of my personal opinion that a lot of it is related to young players throwing way too many curveballs at such a young age. Allard is young, has a really good curveball, so it seems inevitable in my opinion. Saying that, however, I still fully believe in his potential and advocate for his selection at #6.

 

I have heard all of that except for the possibility of sticking in CF. Do you have a source on that, whether personal observation or a link? Not that he would likely play there anyway, given that Buxton will hopefully be there for years to come.

That was just a general thought that I had from multiple write-ups, such as mlbpipeline, on him saying he currently plays CF, and could play CF in pro ball due to above average speed and a strong arm, but a high likelihood that he would eventually move to a corner.

Edited May 6, 201511 yr by bluechipper

It is a realllly good curveball. Fastball looks like it has some rise to it too.

 

 

It is a realllly good curveball. Fastball looks like it has some rise to it too.

 

Since he is only 17, and will be all summer, is there any chance he could still grow another inch or two? I know most guys stop growing by 17 or 18, but I think some keep growing height-wise, even later.

Allard seems to fit a twins pick. They don't worry about height and they definitely don't worry about drafting a HSer. Law just released his new top 100 draft board yesterday and has Allard at #5. Here is what he had to say:

 

"Allard's year ended early due to a stress reaction in his lower back, but his long-term prognosis is fine, and he was the clear No. 1 prep arm last summer. He's a six-foot -- if that -- southpaw with a plus curveball, solid-average fastball (if not better) and ability to throw both for strikes without much effort."

 

I would be fine with Allard but I'm also warming up on the idea of Bregman (#6 on Laws board).

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/keith-law/insider/post?id=3896

Kiley should have a report in the next couple weeks tying players to teams, I think he typed that in a recent chat.

I like that idea.  It will be nice having reinforcements with guys like Stewart, Allard, Thorpe, etc.

 

I like that idea.  It will be nice having reinforcements with guys like Stewart, Allard, Thorpe, etc.

Don't forget Gonsalves. Imagine a world where three of the four top Twins pitching prospects are lefties.

Edited May 6, 201511 yr by nytwinsfan

For some reason this link has a Minnesota Twins tag:

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/05/kyler-murray-opts-out-of-mlb-draft.html

BA is releasing their new draft board tomorrow. Will be fun to compare it to the others.

I posted this on the BA draft topic as well, but it looks like Arizona at 1-1 is not interested in Rodgers and will most likely go with Tate, NY prep outfielder Greg Whitley, or the recently Heliumed prep catcher Tyler Stephenson on an underslot deal.

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/dbacks-plans-for-the-first-overall-pick-come-into-focus/

Kiley has an article on the 1-1 pick.....but it was this comment by him I found most interesting.....

 

Kiley McDaniel says:

May 7, 2015 at 1:44 pm

I did a study for a team that showed, using our pre-draft reports over multiple years, that the “depth of a draft” only differed year-to-year for the top 15 picks or so. Said another way, beyond the 15th player, every single draft class is the same in overall quality of talent at the time of the draft. Doing this type of move with the picks Arizona has should only be impacted by what you think about the top couple players.

BA's top 100 draft chart and chat:

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/top-100-draft-prospects/

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/2015-top-100-draft-prospects-chat/

 

BA's top 100 draft chart and chat:

http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/top-100-draft-prospects/

http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/2015-top-100-draft-prospects-chat/

Mock draft coming tomorrow. Any speculation on who they have the Twins taking?

#1 arm killer is over usage not curve balls.

 

Now there are plenty of stupid coaches who keep a kid in the game after the Fast Ball is spent and then lean on the curve ball to squeeze a few more innings.

 

Or coaches use a kid to pitch a few times over a long weekend tournament.

 

Or pitchers pitch all year long without any shutdown time.

 

Here in Florida, it's absolutely crazy the number of games we play - basically we only shut down during August and December. I know a number of HS pitchers who have had TJ.  

 

I didn't allow my son to pitch four months a year and during the Fall only a few innings every other week. 

 

Besides over usage, I think the elite high velocity pitchers are hitting a human limitation that the arm is going so fast that the ligaments eventually breakdown. No scientific proof, just my belief why TJ hits more high Velo guys. 

 

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