If he turns out to be a #3 pitcher for the Twins for 5-6 years would everyone consider that a success for a #4 overall pick? Or are the expectations to be a #1 starter when you are drafted that high?

 

I personally think any pitcher drafted out of high school who has a sustained major league career is a success in my mind whether they are a #1 ace or a journeyman starter.

A journeyman might be a success for the individual but that would be a miss for the team.

 

I would personally say that if starts for the Twins for 6 years at a #4 starter level (or pitches better for fewer years and blows out) or becomes at least a setupan in the pen, that would be the minimum needed to call it a successful pick.

Good info Spy. That is what I thought. Maybe more raw than most, but not to the point that we should be making a ton of excuses for him 2-3 years later.

 

A ton of top pitchers played more than one sport. Many were probabably QB's. Joe Mauer played QB and basketball and he was in the majors at Kohl's age.

I generally agree. I think this is the year that excuse should be put completely to bed. 2 full years in the system is enough.

I generally agree. I think this is the year that excuse should be put completely to bed. 2 full years in the system is enough.

If not, we have a system issue. Like when we hear how raw Kepler was. I hope two years in the Twins system from 16 to 18 is head and shoulders better than high school. At a minimum that should have caught him up a fair amount.

There is no system issue. We are producing as many players as any team.

Biggest problem with diabetes is his diet and I suppose taking his meds.  He cannot consume the carbs that the rest of us do on a normal basis.  That may cause issues with his stamina, particularly as that's main source your body uses for endurance.  It's certainly doable, but definitely an issue to deal with.  I went on a similar diet last summer and watched my ability to run distance evaporate rather quick, and I'm pretty far from a professional athlete in terms of what would be a healthy caloric intake.