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Article: Minnesota Twins Day 2 Draft Picks (Rounds 3-10)

Jeremy Nygaard
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Jeremy Nygaard St Paul Saints

Jeremy Nygaard

Twins Daily Staff
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The MLB Draft resumes today at 12:00 (central time) with each organization making their 3rd round through 10th round draft picks. The Minnesota Twins will have the fifteenth pick in each round.

 

Throughout the day, I will be here posting the Minnesota Twins draft picks and providing some analysis on the player and the selection.Information will be added in spurts, so keep refreshing!

 

3rd Round (93; $645,500) - RHP Griffin Jax, RHP

 

Jax is an interesting pick to kick off the second day of the draft. The 6-2, 200 lb righty is the first ever player from the Air Force Academy selected in the Top 10 rounds. A junior, there is talk that there must be some sort of a military commitment or a high price tag. How does that effect Jax's ability to sign a professional contract and pitch? That's something that we'll have to find out. As far as ability goes, though, Jax has it with a three-pitch mix that features a low-to-mid 90s fastball, a low-80s slider and a low-80s changeup. He threw 105 innings, so the Twins - if they have him - would have him throwing very little before next year anyway. His father, Garth, was a NFL linebacker.

 

Update: Twins feel confident they can sign Jax, though they are prepared for him to have to finish his military obligations, be unavailable until next May and, hopefully, go into reserves. There's little concern about him not being in shape when they can get their hands back on him because, as my source tells me, "finger tip push ups."

 

Pre-draft rankings: Baseball America, 100; MLB.com, 82; Perfect Game, 125.

 

4th Round (123; $477,900) - RHP Thomas Hackimer, St. John's (SR)

 

You can all stop holding your breath: The Twins drafted a college reliever. Hackimer is a side-arming unhittable relief pitcher. His numbers were eye-popping: WHIP and ERA are both under 0.75. He does it with a two-pitch mix: a low-90s fastball and a low-80s "frisbee" slider. Hackimer, the first relief pitcher to be named Big East Pitcher of the Year since 2005, will be the first member of this draft class to pitch for the Twins, which could be as soon as next year.

 

Here is an interesting write-up on Hackimer.

 

Pre-draft rankings: Baseball America, 191; MLB.com, 174; Perfect Game, 152.

 

5th Round (153; $357,800) - RHP Jordan Balazovic, Ontario HS

 

I put a Canadian pitcher in my 10-round mock, but didn't have the right guy. Balazovic is another high-schooler, though the Auburn commit has another year left of high school (what comes after senior year? Super senior year) and can re-enter the draft the team can't meet his demands. I don't think that should be a problem at this point. Balazovic is young (still 17) and raw, but the 6-3, 170 lb right-hander hits 92 mph with his fastball. He also throws a changeup and breaking ball. There is a lot of projection left, so file Balazovic under "projectable."

 

Pre-draft rankings: Baseball America, 134; MLB.com, 127; Perfect Game, unranked.

 

6th Round (183; $267,800) - RHP Alex Schick, California

 

A high school teammate of Stephen Gonsalves and Brady Aiken, Schick missed most of his junior season with a dislocated kneecap. He returned at the end of season, throwing a low-90s fastball and a curveball that is his best pitch. While draft previews project him best a reliever, the early word is that he'll "probably" begin his professional career as a starter.

 

Pre-draft rankings: Baseball America, 498; MLB.com, unranked; Perfect Game, unranked.

 

7th Round (213; $200,900) - CF Matt Albanese, Bryant University

 

A 6-2, 200 lb athlete with power, Albanese has been a three-year starter at Bryant University. In 142 career games, Albanese only struck out 59 times. In comparison, he walked 57 times. As a junior, Albanese walked 28 times and struck out 15 times. He hit 11 home runs and stole 15 bases. While the hit tool is present against weaker competition, there is some question about how the bat will transfer to pro ball. The Twins obviously believe in the bat and approach enough, which makes five hitters in the first nine picks.

 

Pre-draft rankings: Baseball America, 431; MLB.com, unranked; Perfect Game, 237.

 

8th Round (243; $178,200) - OF Shane Carrier, Fullerton College (Junior College)

 

Carrier is a power bat. Here's some video.

 

Pre-draft rankings: Baseball America, unranked; MLB.com, unranked; Perfect Game, unranked.

 

9th Round (273; $166,300) - C Mitchell Kranson, Cal (SR)

 

Kranson is a senior sign who will join the organization as a catcher after playing most infield for the Golden Bears. Undersized but with a decent bat.

 

Pre-draft rankings: Baseball America, unranked; MLB.com, unranked; Perfect Game, unranked.

 

10th Round (303; $156,600) - SS Brandon Lopez, Miami (SR)

 

Light-hitting shortstop, who can stick.

Pre-draft rankings: Baseball America, 432; MLB.com, unranked; Perfect Game, 466.

 

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d-mac First Round Pick

d-mac

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Unfortunately, an aging arm won't wait for millitary service to be fulfilled. The Twins' PR machine will go into high gear with a puff piece about drafting a millitary player.

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Jeremy Nygaard St Paul Saints

Jeremy Nygaard

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I liked the highlights of Hackimer he has a cool delivery. Since he's a senior we can save some money right?

 

 

Yes. I'm guessing he'll be one of the first to agree to terms, but bonus won't come out because the other players will all try to grab the extra. I will try to have the bonus - and you will too - at least 10 days before it's on Baseball America

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NapoleonComplex College Ball

NapoleonComplex

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Twins have to draft RHP Chad Hockin out of Cal State Fullerton ... taken from his player bio.

PERSONAL

Born in Upland, Calif…parents are John Hockin and Erin Killebrew…has three older brothers (John, Robert, Garrett) and one younger brother (Grant)…major is communications…grandfather Harmon Clayton Killebrew (June 29, 1936 - May 17, 2011), was signed by the Washington Senators in 1954 at the age of 17. During his 22-year career in Major League Baseball, was named an American League All-Star 13 times, the 1969 American League Most Valuable Player and a six-time American League home run leader. In 1984, Killebrew joined baseball’s immortals with his election into the Hall of Fame…uncle Cam Killebrew was drafted by Texas Rangers in the 25th round of the 1978 Major League Draft and spent three years in professional baseball…has volunteered with Miracle Fields, a charity his grandfather started…models his game after his grandfather and writes “HK3” on the mound before every outing…enjoys golfing, snowboarding, mountain biking and fishing…favorites include: Kyle Lohse, Jeff Locke (baseball players), Target Field (baseball stadium), Harmon Killebrew (athlete), Mac Miller (musical artist), Minnesota Twins (baseball team), “61” (movie), “Cat in the Hat” (book), Charlie Sheen (actor), sushi (food).

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Jeremy Nygaard St Paul Saints

Jeremy Nygaard

Twins Daily Staff
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Twins have to draft RHP Chad Hockin out of Cal State Fullerton ... taken from his player bio.

PERSONAL

Born in Upland, Calif…parents are John Hockin and Erin Killebrew…has three older brothers (John, Robert, Garrett) and one younger brother (Grant)…major is communications…grandfather Harmon Clayton Killebrew (June 29, 1936 - May 17, 2011), was signed by the Washington Senators in 1954 at the age of 17. During his 22-year career in Major League Baseball, was named an American League All-Star 13 times, the 1969 American League Most Valuable Player and a six-time American League home run leader. In 1984, Killebrew joined baseball’s immortals with his election into the Hall of Fame…uncle Cam Killebrew was drafted by Texas Rangers in the 25th round of the 1978 Major League Draft and spent three years in professional baseball…has volunteered with Miracle Fields, a charity his grandfather started…models his game after his grandfather and writes “HK3” on the mound before every outing…enjoys golfing, snowboarding, mountain biking and fishing…favorites include: Kyle Lohse, Jeff Locke (baseball players), Target Field (baseball stadium), Harmon Killebrew (athlete), Mac Miller (musical artist), Minnesota Twins (baseball team), “61” (movie), “Cat in the Hat” (book), Charlie Sheen (actor), sushi (food).

 

The Indians drafted his brother Grant last year. One example of the Indians taking the guy I want.

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Brandon GCL Twins

Brandon

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looks like we are drafting the younger guys to start a new wave of talent along with Wander Javier SS after the current wave makes its way up and has time to play together and starts getting traded or leaving as free agents.    Next year we'll draft lots of high schoolers and then after that start getting college players again.  So the players can all come up at the same time. 

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d-mac First Round Pick

d-mac

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What do the Twins know about Schick that the scouting sites don't?
I see his highest ranking is 498 from Baseball America.

 

Decent enough stats in the Pac-12 and Cape Cod. Plus, what's not to like about a plus curveball? And you know the Twins love their 6'7 tall pitchers. 

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diehardtwinsfan Minnesota Twins

diehardtwinsfan

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I hope Cody gets picked in the 11th round and gets twenty thousand!

 

OK, I seriously don't get this.  Cody didn't sign with us b/c we came in and offered him less after his physical.  It's well within his right to bet on himself, and I don't understand why we should wish that on him.

 

Besides, given his performance his senior year, it was a good thing he didn't sign as we'd likely be calling him a bust right now. 

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Bob Sacamento GCL Twins

Bob Sacamento

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OK, I seriously don't get this.  Cody didn't sign with us b/c we came in and offered him less after his physical.  It's well within his right to bet on himself, and I don't understand why we should wish that on him.

 

Besides, given his performance his senior year, it was a good thing he didn't sign as we'd likely be calling him a bust right now. 

He went in the 6th Rd to Texas, where he's gonna get a fraction of what the Twins had offered even with their 2nd round discount offer due to medical reports.

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