that was cool! thanks for posting it.

 

Speaking of local guys, does anyone know if Austin Athmann (JR), C at the U is considered a prospect at all?  

 

Good size (6'2" 210lbs) and is hitting .393/.463/.710 with 11 home runs and 13 doubles in 38 games.  

I think he will go in the top ten rounds, but he isn't wowing scouts.

 

I think he will go in the top ten rounds, but he isn't wowing scouts.

 

He was actually the subject of a Braves board recently as the team has a history with Evan Gattis, who seems to have a similar profile to what Althmann is getting profiled as...

I know this thread is for the upcoming draft, but anyone know any top prospects for 2017? Looks like we may be in line for another premium top 5 pick.

 

NM - just found Hrbowski's list. 

 

http://twinsdaily.com/blog/531/entry-8359-way-too-early-2017-2018-draft-prospects/

Edited May 11, 201610 yr by Monkeypaws

KLAW's big board is up.....he has Logan Shore number 68......so, if that's even close, ya, taking him in round 1 would be bad. 

 

I know this thread is for the upcoming draft, but anyone know any top prospects for 2017? Looks like we may be in line for another premium top 5 pick.

 

NM - just found Hrbowski's list. 

 

http://twinsdaily.com/blog/531/entry-8359-way-too-early-2017-2018-draft-prospects/

Yeah, I spent nearly all my free time in the last weak working on 2017 draft stuff.

mlbpipeline has their first mock up - http://m.mlb.com/news/article/177741112/kyle-lewis-at-no-1-in-latest-mlb-mock-draft

 

Has the Twins taking Dakota Hudson, which would be just fine.  "A strong finish could push Hudson up a few notches and it looked like he righted the ship after a rough patch. A lack of college arms helps his cause."  He's listed #10 on their list but had not quite a dominating season.  I think he'd be a great get at 15.

 

Callis also has an article up on the draft - http://m.mlb.com/news/article/177715498/pipeline-inbox-max-scherzers-dominant-start

 

He notes that the draft is weaker than last years' draft.  "However, the current crop doesn't have a high school position player as good as Brendan Rodgers was a year ago, or a college position player in the class of Dansby Swanson, Alex Bregman or Andrew Benintendi, or a college pitcher superior to Carson Fulmer, Dillon Tate or Tyler Jay. All seven of those guys went in the top 10 selections in 2015, and they would do so again this June."

minor league ball put up their top 150  draft guys.  

 

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2016/5/16/11680682/2016-mlb-draft-top-151-prospects

BA released their top 200 as well.

 

I'm releasing my Mock Draft 2.0 in about 15 minutes.

My new draft mock

 

My new draft mock

I would be thrilled with Collins.  Absolutely thrilled.  

 

My new draft mock

Zach Collins eh?  He just seems like an anti-Terry Ryan & Co. pick at least first round wise.  Outside of Levi Michael in 2011 (30th overall), the Twins haven't drafted a college positional player since 1997 in Matt LeCroy.  Don't get me wrong I think Collins is one of the best all around bats in the draft but there plenty of questions surrounding his ability to stay behind the plate.  If he's not a catcher, he's likely a corner IF/OF.  I just got a hard time seeing the Twins go that way but with this draft who knows.

 

Zach Collins eh?  He just seems like an anti-Terry Ryan & Co. pick at least first round wise.  Outside of Levi Michael in 2011 (30th overall), the Twins haven't drafted a college positional player since 1997 in Matt LeCroy.  Don't get me wrong I think Collins is one of the best all around bats in the draft but there plenty of questions surrounding his ability to stay behind the plate.  If he's not a catcher, he's likely a corner IF/OF.  I just got a hard time seeing the Twins go that way but with this draft who knows.

Ha, Matt LeCroy. They are actually similar players.

This is my mock for Call to the Pen with a description for each pick on why I put each guy where I did...

A couple of potential first round picks (but mainly potential later picks) are slated to start coming to Fort Myers for tryouts/workouts in the next two weeks.  It's a decent list of HS prospects with potential tools.  No I'm not going to publish it as I got blackballed for a while last year when I did (list included Kendrick, Camacho, Marrero) and I still have the Florida Ops Manager (Maloney) shoot me the stinkeye. But if I see them on campus, I'll report it.

Keith Law put up his first mock draft today, although you need insider.  I don't have it but I think someone with it could tell us who he thinks falls to the Twins

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/mlb-draft/insider/post?id=2618

Keith Law posted his first mock draft today.

http://espn.go.com/blog/mlb-draft/insider/post?id=2618

 

He has the Twins picking Matt Manning, and he has heard that they are most interested in "power arms first and a few high school athletes as well."

 

Looking at several of the recent mocks, I think there is a very good chance that a high-upside arm is available at #15.

 

Keith Law posted his first mock draft today.

http://espn.go.com/blog/mlb-draft/insider/post?id=2618

 

He has the Twins picking Matt Manning, and he has heard that they are most interested in "power arms first and a few high school athletes as well."

 

Looking at several of the recent mocks, I think there is a very good chance that a high-upside arm is available at #15.

I want a power prep arm or Josh Lowe (who is also a power arm, but probably at 3B).

 

Keith Law posted his first mock draft today.

http://espn.go.com/blog/mlb-draft/insider/post?id=2618

 

He has the Twins picking Matt Manning, and he has heard that they are most interested in "power arms first and a few high school athletes as well."

 

Looking at several of the recent mocks, I think there is a very good chance that a high-upside arm is available at #15.

I think that's the second mock I've seen that had Manning to the Twins on it.  I'm not sure if I posted this before but mlb.com's write up on him reads:

 

"The son of former NBA player Rich Manning, this 6-foot-6 right-hander was delayed in the start of his senior season because of his own high school basketball exploits. He was rushing up Draft boards as the spring progressed.

A premium athlete, Manning uses every inch of his frame to his advantage on the mound. Though he started late because his basketball team made a deep postseason run, Manning was nonetheless up to 96-97 mph with his fastball in early outings. He combines that with hard, power curve that has very good bit to it. His changeup will be his third pitch, but he's shown some feel for it and it should be a viable option in the future.

Manning's size, athleticism, stuff and projectability had decision-makers rushing in to see him in Northern California. The Loyola Marymount commit has risen to close to the top of the high school pitching list and could very well hear his name called in the first round."

 

I think that's the second mock I've seen that had Manning to the Twins on it.  

Klaw mentioned in his writeup that Manning lives very close to Deron Johnson (Twins scouting director), who has seen him several times.

 

I think that's the second mock I've seen that had Manning to the Twins on it.  I'm not sure if I posted this before but mlb.com's write up on him reads:

 

"The son of former NBA player Rich Manning, this 6-foot-6 right-hander was delayed in the start of his senior season because of his own high school basketball exploits. He was rushing up Draft boards as the spring progressed.

A premium athlete, Manning uses every inch of his frame to his advantage on the mound. Though he started late because his basketball team made a deep postseason run, Manning was nonetheless up to 96-97 mph with his fastball in early outings. He combines that with hard, power curve that has very good bit to it. His changeup will be his third pitch, but he's shown some feel for it and it should be a viable option in the future.

Manning's size, athleticism, stuff and projectability had decision-makers rushing in to see him in Northern California. The Loyola Marymount commit has risen to close to the top of the high school pitching list and could very well hear his name called in the first round."

 

Klaw mentioned in his writeup that Manning lives very close to Deron Johnson (Twins scouting director), who has seen him several times.

 

Manning sounds great to me. I'd be thrilled. Lots of good options.

 

Keith Law posted his first mock draft today.

http://espn.go.com/blog/mlb-draft/insider/post?id=2618

 

He has the Twins picking Matt Manning, and he has heard that they are most interested in "power arms first and a few high school athletes as well."

 

Looking at several of the recent mocks, I think there is a very good chance that a high-upside arm is available at #15.

I think you are correct, it might not be Manning who's available at #15 but one of those HS arms should be - Ian Anderson, T.J. Zeuch, Braxton Garrett, Joey Wentz, Forrest Whitley, and probably someone else I'm forgetting.  I wouldn't be shocked if Zach Burdi is available the organization zeros in on him, if they think he can start.

 

I want a power prep arm or Josh Lowe (who is also a power arm, but probably at 3B).

High School arms are where it is at this year, there might not be a clear cut best of the bunch, but at #15 that's why you have a scouting system to weed out who is BPA and who fits best with your system.   If Ryan/Johnson and Co continue their past trends, they'll take a HSer. Personally, I'm a big fan of Lowe's, got to see him throw an inning at WWBA but mainly he played 3B (cannon for an arm).  He has huge power potential and the ball rockets off his bat, he had one of the best exit velocity off his bat in the entire tourney (103.6mph) but he has holes in his swing and some scouts don't see him as more than a 50/80 in terms of contact.  The thing is he's extremely athletic so there is hope that there is coachability there and it improves.

 

Klaw mentioned in his writeup that Manning lives very close to Deron Johnson (Twins scouting director), who has seen him several times.

At WWBA, DJ was watching Manning very closely in his two outings 

 

Manning sounds great to me. I'd be thrilled. Lots of good options.

Very poised on the mound, 91-93 mph when I saw him, peaked at 94.1 with a filthy curve.  He's already 6'6 and will physically keep growing so added velo will come.  He's also only been pitching for the last two years, so low mileage on that arm.

 

Video from WWBA 1st start:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlcyWXTGTHs

 

 

 

Matt Manning (2016, Elk Grove, Calif.) is one of the top ranked pitchers in the 2016 class rankings and after his performance Thursday night for the EvoShield Canes it’s easy to see why. With a loose and projectable 6-foot-5 frame the Loyola Marymount commit may not have had the longest outing (two innings) but he made his presence felt as all six strikeouts came by way of the strikeout.

 

The tone was set for what Manning had in store after his very first warmup pitch that crossed the plate at 93 mph. Over the course of the first inning he worked comfortably in the 92-94 mph range showing a fast and easy arm action without exerting much effort at release. Though lands closed and a bit cut off with his front foot Manning is able to still work over his front side and showed the ability to locate to his glove side with some riding life through the zone. An athletic righthander who is also a star on the high school basketball team, Manning did a nice job of staying tall on his backside which helped him work on top of the ball and generate downhill plane to the bottom of the zone with his heater.

 

Again working comfortably around 92 mph in his second inning of work with similar velocity out of the stretch, Manning relied mostly on his fastball to induce the swings and misses for his strikeouts though he did flash a couple of curveballs both in game and in between innings. Manning wasn’t able to establish a consistent release point to his curveball though he did bury one down in the zone at 78 mph for his second strikeout after locating the previous two fastballs.

Edited May 18, 201610 yr by Bob Sacamento

If he gets much taller.....will he bordering on teh "too tall" issue with control?

 

There aren't many successful tall pitchers, John documented that last year when we were discussing Meyer....and the Twins taking the risk on him.

 

I think you are correct, it might not be Manning who's available at #15 but one of those HS arms should be - Ian Anderson, T.J. Zeuch, Braxton Garrett, Joey Wentz, Forrest Whitley, and probably someone else I'm forgetting.  I wouldn't be shocked if Zach Burdi is available the organization zeros in on him, if they think he can start.

 

High School arms are where it is at this year, there might not be a clear cut best of the bunch, but at #15 that's why you have a scouting system to weed out who is BPA and who fits best with your system.   If Ryan/Johnson and Co continue their past trends, they'll take a HSer. Personally, I'm a big fan of Lowe's, got to see him throw an inning at WWBA but mainly he played 3B (cannon for an arm).  He has huge power potential and the ball rockets off his bat, he had one of the best exit velocity off his bat in the entire tourney (103.6mph) but he has holes in his swing and some scouts don't see him as more than a 50/80 in terms of contact.  The thing is he's extremely athletic so there is hope that there is coachability there and it improves.

A 50 hitting 3B with power, good makeup, good defense and a cannon arm is still really good.

Edited May 18, 201610 yr by nytwinsfan

 

Very poised on the mound, 91-93 mph when I saw him, peaked at 94.1 with a filthy curve.  He's already 6'6 and will physically keep growing so added velo will come.  He's also only been pitching for the last two years, so low mileage on that arm.

 

Video from WWBA 1st start:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlcyWXTGTHs

 

Just don't let them take away that long stride, I like it.

 

If he gets much taller.....will he bordering on teh "too tall" issue with control?

 

There aren't many successful tall pitchers, John documented that last year when we were discussing Meyer....and the Twins taking the risk on him.

His dad is 6'11 so it's not out of the realm of possibility that he grows another 2-3 inches but yes baseball doesn't have a good long history of "too tall" pitchers being successful.  Of course, you can always convince yourself that "this one" will be different and you found your Randy Johnson but more likely you found your Chris Young.

Manning has a ton of helium right now, though. I had him top 10 in my most recent mock, and MLB Pipeline just mentioned him as a candidate to go as high as 6-7.

 

Manning has a ton of helium right now, though. I had him top 10 in my most recent mock, and MLB Pipeline just mentioned him as a candidate to go as high as 6-7.

Matt's been considered a top 15-20 for pretty much most of the year, so I don't consider that a ton of helium.  You want helium look at Justin Dunn (Boston College) who was in absolutely no first day draft talks to start the year and has shot up the board to mid to late first rounder of late.