Twins Daily Draft Preview: Cam Collier

[Jeremy Nygaard]

Cam Collier has become one of the most popular names among Twins fans as they look forward to the 2022 MLB Draft in just over a week. Collier's route to draft-eligibility is a rare one for sure, but it seems to have worked out pretty well for the teenager.

Over the next two weeks, we're going to be providing you with profiles of 10 players the Twins could take with the eighth overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft on July 17.

Who is He?
Cam Collier, son of former MLB player Lou Collier, is a JUCO player from Chipola (FL). But that's not nearly the whole story. Collier was originally in the Class of 2023 class, but graduated from high school earlier and enrolled early in a junior college to make him draft-eligible a year earlier. (Sound familiar? Bryce Harper took a similar path.)

Collier, who is committed to Louisville, was destined to be one of the prospects of 2023. But now that's had a strong season at a higher level, not to mention making an appearance in the Cape Cod League this summer, Collier's raised his prospect status about as much as anyone could have imagined he would.

Why the Twins Will Draft Him
Collier offers all the traits that the Twins find very appealing.

At Chipola, Collier, with his sweet left-handed swing, produced a .333/.419/.537 slash line. He hit eight home runs and 12 doubles. He almost walked (25 times) as much as he struck out (33 times). He's doing this against guys two, three, four years older than him. Producing at an advanced level despite being only 17? The analytic-driven Twins must adore that. 

Playing for the Cotuit Kettleers in the Cape Cod League, Collier wasn't as good. He started out with three hits in his first three games before going to the Draft Combine. He returned a week later and got another hit in his first game back. At that point, he had a .333/.500/.333 slash line with four walks and three strikeouts. But hit a cold streak after that, finishing one for his last 11. 

Defensively, Collier had the glove and the arm to stick at third base. He's athletic enough that he could play in the outfield if he happened to be blocked. And even if fills out so - as 17-year-old eventually do - he has the offensive profile that he could play first base. 

And not for nothing, the Twins have taken players with major league bloodlines before.

If drafted by the Twins, he would immediately jump into their top tier of prospects.

Why the Twins Won't Draft Him
Quite simply, it's either because he's gone or because the draft fell in such an unforeseen way that a higher-rated prospect (and I'm not convinced there's many, if any) fell to them. 

Or - and there's no reason to believe this is true - he's given the Twins such a lofty bonus demand that they can't meet it. 

There's also no reason to believe the Twins wouldn't be elated if Collier fell to them. He checks nearly all of the boxes. Is there any way you pass on Collier if he's available at #8?

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[terrydactyls]

Without having seen Collier in person (and also because I'm not a talent evaluator), he strikes me as the guy with the greatest upside and the potential for being a monumental bust that might be available at #8.  If the Twins draft him, let's hope the Bryce Harper comparison holds up.

[Dman]

If he was there this would be a no brainer for me.  I would rank him top 5 with the other high school players ahead of him due to greater position flexibility.  He and Johnson would be essentially tied IMO.  The odds of him making it to 8 are astronomically low.  Someone that young doing what he is doing as far as hitting, plate discipline and to some degree power make him as close to a sure thing as you are going to get.  Guys that perform that well, that young have a lot of all star upside as well.  If he fell to 8 they better grab him.

[Tibs]

Without getting into hyperbole, if Cam Collier is there at 8 and the Twins don't draft him I'd have a stroke

[Jeremy Nygaard]

3 hours ago, Dman said:

The odds of him making it to 8 are astronomically low.  

That's how I feel too. But Callis has him going to the Twins at 8 in his newest mock.

[Dman]

1 hour ago, Jeremy Nygaard said:

That's how I feel too. But Callis has him going to the Twins at 8 in his newest mock.

Wow! his latest mock could be the shakeup you guys were talking about.  Marlins could legit use a fast moving College bat as they are starved for offense.  Berry could/should be a fast mover and is an offensive dream player.  If they get a discount to boot that would make a lot of sense for them.

Not so sure what the Cubs might do but if that is the way the things shake out Parada is an excellent offensive catcher with power and would be a good get at 7.  He should be a fast mover as well.  Still they could just as easily take Collier there.  Hard to say but maybe the Twins get what they need at 8 yet.  Even if the Cubs took Collier instead of Parada having an offensive catcher drop to the Twins would be just as good and maybe even a better scenario.

The Twins can afford to wait for Collier to develop as they have a lot of offense at the top levels as it is.  It would be a really good fit if that is what happens.

[DocBauer]

A surprise or two, someone believing and liking someone and looking for an under slot signing and someone falls would be ideal, and maybe probable. (I think teams looking to save money for pitching in the 2nd round makes sense since there are few top arms in the early portion of the 1st). 

Parada or Collier dropping to the Twins at 8? YES PLEASE!

[Otaknam]

Baseball players are difficult to evaluate because of the nuances of the game and the mental part. Frankly none of us posting here has any idea about these guys. All we can do is read scouting evaluations and what sportswriters who cover baseball think. We might have a favorite based on position but hopefully the team chooses  their highest rated player available. Nick Gordon was a high draft choice and his ceiling appears to be a utility player, not ideal for his high drafting position.

[nicksaviking]

Yeah, assuming Jones, Holliday, Green and Lee don't fall, Collier is my choice should he be there.

Maybe I need to get on the Termarr Johnson bandwagon too, his size is just hard to get over for me.