Minnesota Twins 2021 MLB Draft Signing Tracker

[Andrew Thares]

With the 2021 MLB Draft in the rearview mirror, now it is time to sit back and see how many of their 21 picks the Minnesota Twins will sign. This is your one-stop shop to follow along.

In this year’s MLB Draft, the Twins had a pick in each of the 20 rounds, plus an additional pick in Competitive Balance Round A, which took place between rounds one and two. In total, they had 21 picks, with each of the first 11 counting towards their bonus pool. This year there allotment is $8,101,400 that they can spread out to sign those 11 picks. The deadline for the Twins to sign these picks is on 11:59 p.m. EDT on August 15th.

A couple of other things to bear in mind regarding the bonus pool. If a player in one of the first ten rounds goes unsigned, that picks bonus pool allotment gets taken away from the Twins total. However, it is unlikely to happen, especially with this regime, as they have signed all 35 picks that they made in the first 10 rounds since taking over in 2017. Another thing worth noting, the Twins can sign any player selected after the 10th round for a signing bonus of up to $125,000 without it counting against their bonus pool allotment. Any money given to a player over that amount must come out of the bonus pool.

(Be sure to check back regularly as the information below will be updated as Twins draft pick signings are announced)

Bonus Pool Tracker

Top 10 Round Picks Signed: 9 of 11 | Bonus Pool Used: $7,320,900 | Bonus Pool Remaining: $780,500

Pick Signings

Round 1: Chase Petty | RHP | Mainland Regional HS (NJ) | Slot Value: $2,653,400 | Signed For: Signed, $2,500,000 

Comp Balance Round A: Noah Miller | SS | Ozaukee HS (WI) | Slot Value: $2,045,400 | Signed For: $1,700,000

Round 2: Steve Hajjar | LHP | Michigan | Class: Junior | Slot Value: $1,129,700| Signed For: $1,129,700

Round 3: Cade Povich | LHP | Nebraska | Class: Junior | Slot Value: $593,100 | Signed For: $500,000

Povich was on Darren Wolfson's recent The Scoops podcast. Hear from the right-hander, as well as a long interview with Twins scouting director Sean Johnson. 

Round 4: Christian Encarnacion-Strand | 3B | Class: Junior | Oklahoma State | Slot Value: $442,900 | Signed For: $442,900

Round 5: Christian MacLeod | LHP | Mississippi State | Class: Junior | Slot Value: $327,200 | Signed For: Unsigned 

MacLeod was on his local Huntsville, Alabama TV station, interviewed about winning a College World Series at Mississippi State and getting drafted by the Twins. 

Round 6: Travis Adams | RHP | Sacramento State | Class: Junior | Slot Value: $253,300 | Signed For: $253,300

Round 7: Jake Rucker | 3B | Tennessee | Class: Junior | Slot Value: $198,500 | Signed For: $250,000

 Jake Rucker talked about getting drafted out of Tennessee.  

Round 8: Noah Cardenas | C | UCLA | Class: Junior | Slot Value: $164,700 | Signed For: Unsigned

Round 9: Pat Winkel | C | UConn | Class: Junior | Slot Value: $150,500 | Signed For: $500,000 

Round 10: Ernie Yake | SS | Gonzaga | Class: Senior | Slot Value: $142,700 | Signed For: $10,000 

Round 11: Brandon Birdsell | RHP | Texas Tech | Class: Junior | Signed For: Unsigned

Round 12: Kyler Fedko | OF | UConn | Class: Sophomore | Signed For: Signed

Round 13: David Festa | RHP | Seaton Hall | Class: Junior | Signed For: $125,000

Round 14: Pierson Ohl | RHP | Grand Canyon University | Class: Junior | Signed For: $100,000

Round 15: Mikey Perez | SS | UCLA | Class: Senior | Signed For: Signed 

We don't know much about the signing, but he's probably in Ft. Myers by now, according to championship UCLA Head Softball Coach and Mikey's mom, Kelly. We will update as we learn more. 

And now we know... 

Round 16: Jhonathan Lavallee | RHP | Long Beach State | Class: Senior | Signed For: Signed

Round 17: Dylan Neuse | 2B | Texas Tech | Class: Senior | Signed For: Signed

Again, we don't know if or when he will sign, but Neuse seemed pretty excited to be selected by the Twins. 

Round 18: Mike Paredes | RHP | San Diego State | Class: Junior | Signed For: Unsigned

Round 19: Jaylen Nowlin | LHP | Chipola College | Class: Junior College | Signed For: $160,000

Round 20: Dillon Tatum | C | UC Irvine | Class: Junior | Signed For: Unsigned

In addition, non-drafted players can sign for up to $20,000. We'll keep updated on those players as well. 

 

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[roger]

Liked what I read about Birdsell.  Expect he is going back to Texas Tech with the hope that a big spring will get him into the top couple rounds and much bigger money.

What I read in the Strib was that most (all?) of the picks, other than Birdsell, were already in Fort Myers and official signings were ongoing.

[Twinsoholic]

Why did they draft Birdsell unless they were highly confident he would sign? He was their first pick on day 3. I have to believe that they were in contact with him prior to selecting him. I understand why he would go back to Texas Tech to try to improve his draft position, but I don’t understand why the Twins would have selected him unless they thought he would sign with them. 

[Tom Froemming]

I'll believe Birdsell is going back to school once the deadline passes. Until then it just seems like a leverage tactic. And that's fine with me, it's his only opportunity to negotiate pay for a long time. Just feels like it'd make too much sense for both sides to eventually come to an agreement. We'll see.

[Seth Stohs]

1 hour ago, roger said:

Liked what I read about Birdsell.  Expect he is going back to Texas Tech with the hope that a big spring will get him into the top couple rounds and much bigger money.

What I read in the Strib was that most (all?) of the picks, other than Birdsell, were already in Fort Myers and official signings were ongoing.

I'm trying to post them as soon as I see them.  But we have about 6 so far. 

[Seth Stohs]

10 minutes ago, Tom Froemming said:

I'll believe Birdsell is going back to school once the deadline passes. Until then it just seems like a leverage tactic. And that's fine with me, it's his only opportunity to negotiate pay for a long time. Just feels like it'd make too much sense for both sides to eventually come to an agreement. We'll see.

I think this is a fair point. Edouard Julien was adament about going back to Auburn and then when they came back with the 5th round money, he signed. Could see the same here. As a senior next year, he'll have to be top 2 rounds probably to avoid being a 'senior sign' and get less than $200K... I don't think the Twins will go over that number. 

[Seth Stohs]

38 minutes ago, Twinsoholic said:

Why did they draft Birdsell unless they were highly confident he would sign? He was their first pick on day 3. I have to believe that they were in contact with him prior to selecting him. I understand why he would go back to Texas Tech to try to improve his draft position, but I don’t understand why the Twins would have selected him unless they thought he would sign with them. 

I think they thought he would sign... they were hoping to get a Top 5 round talent for $200K (certainly he would have wanted over the $125,000 number)... and he wanted to go back and see if he can get more. It's a risk for him, for sure. The Twins shot high and we'll see. 

[SteelDodo]

1 hour ago, Seth Stohs said:

I think they thought he would sign... they were hoping to get a Top 5 round talent for $200K (certainly he would have wanted over the $125,000 number)... and he wanted to go back and see if he can get more. It's a risk for him, for sure. The Twins shot high and we'll see. 

For an 11th round pick, I am perfectly fine with the Twins taking a high risk, high reward type of player. In fact, I wish they did that more with the late round picks.

[Seth Stohs]

Phil Miller posted that the Twins signed 12 draft picks today in Ft. Myers. We tried to find images/tweets of them throughout the day, but I have now updated the players that have signed. To this point, we do not have contacts for anyone but Festa, but we'll keep digging. 

[darwin22]

Andrew/ Seth/ TD Staff:  Outstanding piece with this update!  Hopefully this "tracker" will be updated daily as picks---especially those unsigned in rounds 1-10--get signed in advance of the Aug. 15th deadline.  For those that are signed------what is "the plan" for these players the remainder of this season?  I'd assume they'll be assigned to FCL Twins team? If correct, how long does their season run?

[Seth Stohs]

10 minutes ago, darwin22 said:

Andrew/ Seth/ TD Staff:  Outstanding piece with this update!  Hopefully this "tracker" will be updated daily as picks---especially those unsigned in rounds 1-10--get signed in advance of the Aug. 15th deadline.  For those that are signed------what is "the plan" for these players the remainder of this season?  I'd assume they'll be assigned to FCL Twins team? If correct, how long does their season run?

I think I updated it about 8 times today... and my guess is tomorrow will bring some more signings, and I know Chase Petty and Noah MIller are in Minneapolis and will sign this weekend.

For these player... it'll be case by case. For some, they've worked enough innings. They'll just work out and go through other training. Pitchers may get a handful of innings in the FCL. Some might get to Ft. Myers. 

[roger]

14 hours ago, Seth Stohs said:

I think they thought he would sign... they were hoping to get a Top 5 round talent for $200K (certainly he would have wanted over the $125,000 number)... and he wanted to go back and see if he can get more. It's a risk for him, for sure. The Twins shot high and we'll see. 

Expect the Twins and Birdsell may have another conversation once they get the Top 10 signed and know how much of the pool money they have available to spend.  Probably have a limit they don't want to go over and that may be $200K.  But nothing will be final until what is the date, August 15?

[Major League Ready]

15 hours ago, Tom Froemming said:

I'll believe Birdsell is going back to school once the deadline passes. Until then it just seems like a leverage tactic. And that's fine with me, it's his only opportunity to negotiate pay for a long time. Just feels like it'd make too much sense for both sides to eventually come to an agreement. We'll see.

I thought the same thing but not exactly a class move telling his team he is coming back if it's a negotiating tactic.

[Squirrel]

1 hour ago, Major League Ready said:

I thought the same thing but not exactly a class move telling his team he is coming back if it's a negotiating tactic.

I actually don't have a problem with it. The way minor leaguers are paid, I don't blame him for wanting as much as he can get up front. And I would bet some on his team know exactly what he's doing. And maybe he really has decided to see if he goes higher next year.

And it was kind of funny in another thread someone with the same last name commented that he thought Birdsell would be the first of this years draftees to make it to the majors.

[darwin22]

12 hours ago, Seth Stohs said:

I think I updated it about 8 times today... and my guess is tomorrow will bring some more signings, and I know Chase Petty and Noah MIller are in Minneapolis and will sign this weekend.

For these player... it'll be case by case. For some, they've worked enough innings. They'll just work out and go through other training. Pitchers may get a handful of innings in the FCL. Some might get to Ft. Myers. 

Seth:  Thanks for your response.  Appreciate all the hard work yourself and all the other TD staff are doing.  

[jorgenswest]

4 hours ago, Major League Ready said:

I thought the same thing but not exactly a class move telling his team he is coming back if it's a negotiating tactic

He’s a kid with a really tough decision to make. I am sure he feels a commitment to his teammates. I think it was simply a post of his emotions and his decision at the moment. He may well swing the other way when to comes time to sign.

I can’t imagine that an agent would advise him such a post would actually cause the Twins to make a better offer. The Twins really need to wait and see who they have left to sign and allocate the remaining pool to maximize the talent they are bringing in. 

[Seth Stohs]

Noah Miller was already in Minneapolis last night, per his Instagram account... Looks like Petty may not arrive until early next week. 

 

[Seth Stohs]

Added two players that the team announced had signed with the Twins as undrafted free agents. 

 

[redstorm]

Yake just announced at $10K

[Major League Ready]

It looks like they have about $400K above slot values to use to tempt Birdwell / others.

[Dman]

Finally Petty signs.  Is McCleod going to sign or is he going back to school?

[AlwaysinModeration]

So, as of now, the top five picks have signed, and seven of the top eight; nine of the top 11.  Based on the MacLeod interview, it seems clear he will sign.  Across the top 10 picks, three signed at slot, and four (Petty, Miller, Povich, and Yake) signed under, and two signed over; Winkel got $350K over, and Rucker got $50K over.  
 

The Twins have $323,600 in cap savings to spend on Birdsell/Cardenas/MacLeod, although it looks like they may have spent some of that on some of the 11-20 round picks.  What are the slot values for picks 11-20?

[HrbieFan]

On 7/22/2021 at 3:34 PM, redstorm said:

Yake just announced at $10k

Was he picked just to save money for other? Or was an injury discovered? 

[AlwaysinModeration]

On 7/29/2021 at 12:33 AM, HrbieFan said:

Was he picked just to save money for other? Or was an injury discovered? 

Yes, college seniors are drafted for $10K pretty regularly to save on cap space, And to give them the dream fulfilled of getting drafted by a major league team.

[atills25]

Seth,

Now that the dust is settling on the crazy MLB trade deadline, we have the draft pick signing deadline to think about today. I see we have 5 unsigned draft picks as of right now. Are you hearing any buzz on any of these 5 players? Any buzz on if any of the 15 signed players are going to get some run with any of the minor league affiliates? Thanks.

[AlwaysinModeration]

Deadline this afternoon, and a few hundred thousand to spread around….

[AlwaysinModeration]

MacLeod signed:

 

https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/sports/christian-macleod-son-of-retired-cape-breton-professional-baseball-player-signs-with-minnesota-twins-100618508/

[DJL44]

Looks like just Birdsell went unsigned

Twins sign twenty of twenty-one draft picks - Twinkie Town

[HrbieFan]

Any info on C Patrick Winkel getting way above slot money in the 9th round?