I'll say that this strikes me as the most realistic 1-5 I have seen.

 

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/draft/mock/?season=2015&version=3&source=Keith-Law-Mock-Draft

 

Has Twins still on Allard.

 

6 Kolby Allard

Analysis: I've heard Tate stops here, and I've heard Bregman may stop here too.

 

 

Top 5 is Swanson, Bregman, Rodgers, Tate, Tucker

 

I think Twins take any of those 5 if they drop.

 

I also think there is a slight opening for Aiken.

Kiley just posted a partial mock, same top 5 as Law.

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-mock-draft-replacement-post/

 

Has the Twins taking Cameron.

 

Don't know why, but if that is the top 5 I get the feeling Twins will take Allard or Aiken.

 

Kiley just posted a partial mock, same top 5 as Law.

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-mock-draft-replacement-post/

 

Has the Twins taking Cameron.

 

Don't know why, but if that is the top 5 I get the feeling Twins will take Allard or Aiken.

He also mentioned that he is hearing rumors that Aiken's medicals aren't terrible, and probably closer to "normal" TJ surgery than originally thought. That is good new for all those hoping for a surprise Aiken pick.

Here's the thing about Aiken that scares me.

 

What propelled his ascent last year was the increase in velocity. Shortly after the increase in velocity, his elbow gave. It seems possible then that either he reverts to pre-velocity rise Aiken, which wasn't as highly regarded, or (after rehabbing TJS), returns to dialing it up to the low-mid 90s at the risk of more elbow problems.

Is there going to be a draft day thread??? So we can all make our predictions when it is our turn to pick???

BA came out with their 5.0 and have them taking Kyle Tucker. Their first five are Stephenson, Swanson, Jay, Rodgers, Cameron.

 

Scouting Report on Tucker

 

Kyle Tucker of Plant HS, Tampa Fla.

 

Tucker became Plant's all-time home run leader this spring, breaking the record set by his older brother Preston Tucker. While Preston went on to star at Florida for four years before reaching the major leagues with the Astros this season, Kyle is expected to go high enough in the draft to keep him from following in his brother's footsteps to Gainesville. Tucker is leaner and more athletic than his brother, but still has big power potential. Though he has a bit of an unorthodox swing, he makes consistent hard contact thanks to his feel for the strike zone and advanced approach. His power is best to the pull side now, but he projects to be able to drive the ball out to all fields as he physically matures. Tucker plays center field now and has a chance to stay there thanks to his routes and instincts. But he's more likely to end up in a corner in the long run, as he fills out his 6-foot-4, 175-pound frame. He has enough arm strength to profile in right field if he does have to change positions. Like his brother, Tucker earns praise for his makeup and gamer mentality.

Scouting Report on Kolby Allard

Kolby Allard lhp San Clemente (Calif.) HS Calif. 2

Scouting

 

Video

Scouting Report:

 

A UCLA recruit, Allard continued a recent tradition of top-rated pitchers coming up injured prior to the National High School Invitational, joining other pitchers such as Jordan Sheffield, Dylan Cease and Lucas Giolito. Allard's issue was a stress reaction in his back, less of a concern than the arm injuries that felled other prospects this year around the country. Allard was the youngest player on USA Baseball's 18U national team last summer, helping the team win a gold medal, and has compiled a long track record for a high school pitcher that made him the top arm in the class entering the spring. He has a firm fastball that has touched 96 and sits in the low 90s. He does it easy with a feel for the strike zone. Allard has the hand speed to throw a tight, plus downer curveball, which was considered one of the best in the last last summer. He'd made just two starts before coming up injured this spring. Allard had begun workouts to potentially return to the field in early May, and scouts were speculating he could get back on a mound for some private workouts before the draft, but clubs likely were going to have to consider last summer's performance and this spring's medical reports as the key information for where to rank Allard.

Last year at this time, it was pretty much assumed the Twins would take Gordon.  This year, not so much.  Really curious who they are homing in on.

 

Last year at this time, it was pretty much assumed the Twins would take Gordon.  This year, not so much.  Really curious who they are homing in on.

Alot of that is going to depend on what happens ahead of them, and right now teams are all over the place because there is no consensus number one or two or three, the field is very muddy.  The Twins were able to zero in last year on Gordon because they knew what they wanted and that was the top middle infielder in the draft especially with the top three pitchers going off the board (Aiken, Kolek and Rodon)

Really curious who they are homing in on.

 

Alot of that is going to depend on what happens ahead of them

Yeah, we can't know who they are homing in on. It's a harder task but we want to know their top 6, and in what order. I don't want to know a top 7 or 8, and I don't want to know that some of these top 6 are essentially tied. Because that isn't how I'd approach it if I were in charge of their draft.

 

I don't have any particular insight to either of these question, of course.

 

Then the rest is up to the other teams.

 

Last year at this time, it was pretty much assumed the Twins would take Gordon.  

yeah, I was banging my head up against the wall a lot knowing that.

 

yeah, I was banging my head up against the wall a lot knowing that.

 

You wanted Jackson instead?

 

You wanted Jackson instead?

I wanted a lot of people more than Gordon but, specifically, I wanted Trea Turner.

Basically all the college position players from that draft are performing well so far (some more impressively than others of course). Generally avoiding that demographic is probably one reason the Twins have had mediocre draft results for 25 years or whatever it is at this point.

I like the BA mock draft because that leaves Bregman, Tate and Tucker available for the Twins at #6.  I'd be happy with any of those three and don't have a clear preference.  If the Law/Kiley mock drafts hold up and all three shortstops plus Tate and Tucker are gone at #6, I'm not sure what will happen.  It sounds like the Twins might pass on Cameron due to signability issues, and probably take Allard.  I'd be okay with that, assuming the medicals are okay.  I haven't heard anyone suggest that the Twins would try for an underslot deal,  if their preferred players are gone, and it probably wouldn't make any sense since they don't draft again until #73.   

 

  I haven't heard anyone suggest that the Twins would try for an underslot deal,  if their preferred players are gone, and it probably wouldn't make any sense since they don't draft again until #73.   

This would be the draft to go for that philosophy if you feel real comfortable with taking a prospect that would elsewise go late first round with the #7 and use the savings on the rest of your draft selecting HS arms (Cubs MO the last couple drafts).  Especially considering the Twins don't have a second rounder due to signing Ervin Santana.