Twins Select Connor Prielipp at #48 in the 2022 MLB Draft

[Jamie Cameron]

With the 48th overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, the Minnesota Twins selected Connor Prielipp, a left-handed pitcher out of the University of Alabama.

Industry buzz had the Twins interested in Connor Prielipp at number eight overall in the draft. Instead, they were able to nab him with their second pick at #48 overall. The slot value for the #48 pick is $1.62 million. Jeremy Nygaard drafted Prielipp at #8 overall for the Twins in the Prospects Live Mock Draft.

Prielipp already has two plus pitches. The first is a 60 grade fastball that sits 93-95 mph. His slider is his best secondary pitch and one of the better offerings in the entire draft. It generated 50% whiffs when he threw it in college. Finally, he has a serviceable changeup that is already above average, and can be developed further. Prielipp had good command pre-surgery, but this may take some time to return.

Prielipp didn't allow a run in 21 innings pitched in the 2021 season before COVID halted play in the SEC. He struck out 35 hitters. Prielipp is 6'2, 205 pounds and still has a ton of projectability to add velocity, an endeavor the Twins have shown proficiency with. When he is fully recovered, I'd expect them to be able to add a tick or two to his fastball as he fills out more.

Prielipp missed the entire 2022 season due to Tommy John surgery. The Tomah, Wisconsin native was in line to be a top ten overall talent in the draft has he remained healthy. With his surgery and rehab behind him, Prielipp was able to throw multiple times in front of talent evaluators in late spring, including at the MLB Combine. Expect the Twins to bring Prielipp along slowly, but the upside here is a front of the rotation arm. Prielipp fell due to such a limited track record. If he can remain healthy, the Twins may have a steal at 48 overall. Prielipp was recommended by Twins scout Matt Williams.

What do you think of the Twins taking Connor Prielipp at #48 overall?

 

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[DocBauer]

Did the Twins just nab the biggest pitching steal in the draft?

[operation mindcrime]

I think Falvine absolutely crushed this draft!!!!!! I couldn't be more pleased with our first 2 picks!!!!!! Go Twins!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[prouster]

Wow. I’m not sure the draft could have gone any better than it did tonight. A couple of great picks.  

[FlyingFinn]

From CBS analysis - could be a steal...........

Twins pop Prielipp

Prielipp might've been in the running for the No. 1 pick tonight had he not had to undergo Tommy John surgery last year. He was back to throwing bullpens late in the season, giving teams proof of life. One scout in attendance told CBS Sports that he topped out at 93 mph in rainy conditions over the course of a 50-pitch session. Clearly the Twins liked what they saw; should he live up to his old promise, he'll go down as a draft-night steal in a few years' time.

R.J. Anderson

[sftwinsfan]

Great draft so far! Great value to get a potential top-10 talent at 48 due to injury. Obviously high-risk but potential seems to be there, and he's already had TJ surgery and throwing again. 

[Seth Stohs]

10 minutes ago, operation mindcrime said:

I think Falvine absolutely crushed this draft!!!!!! I couldn't be more pleased with these two picks!!!!!! Go Twins!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Credit to Sean Johnson, the Scouting Director, and his entire scouting staff! 

[blairpaul715]

Do we know what either of these 1ST two picks are asking money wise? Will we have to draft lower players the rest of the 1st 10 rounds to make the money work for Prielipp and Lee? 

Edited July 18, 2022 by blairpaul715
Mispell

[DocBauer]

His HS and 2021 college numbers are just sick. He's got the frame and projection to sit 94-97 consistently working on his craft full time and in the Twins system. Maybe the top slider in the draft and already solid change with good control pre-surgery. He stays healthy...and he's going to need a little time to ramp up and get 100% "feel" back...could be a fast mover. 

[RaoulDuke]

Looks like two big steals with top 5 potential guys falling to the Twins.  Gotta love that!

Prielipp will most likely cost over slot money to sign and they didn't save anything taking Lee, I doubt they can go over slot on much else now but the return certainly looks worth it initially.

There are 3 could be nasty lefties in the system now, we haven't had that in the majors in a long time.

[Monkeypaws]

This is a great pick. TJ doesn't mean much anymore in terms of before/after.

 

[ashbury]

3 minutes ago, Monkeypaws said:

This is a great pick. TJ doesn't mean much anymore in terms of before/after.

Then why do you suppose he dropped?

Don't get me wrong, I like the pick, and I think it's a sound gamble.  But IMO we should view this pick with eyes wide open, that it's riskier than many alternatives.

[tony&rodney]

An exciting pick. I have high hopes for him and would have been ok with Prielipp at #8, until Brooks Lee fell into the Twins lap. These two have a chance to be playing at Target Field in two or three years.

Porter must have let teams know he wanted to go to college because he was not drafted.

[twinstalker]

Before everyone goes nuts thinking the Twins got a top ten player at 48, keep in mind there are real reasons why each team passed on him at least once.  Best bet is that he's more likely at a pick 48 level than a pick <20 level.  There's obvious upside, and so it seems a lot more reasonable to be hopeful than gleeful.

[Mike Sixel]

4 hours ago, prouster said:

Wow. I’m not sure the draft could have gone any better than it did tonight. A couple of great picks.  

Concur 

[bunsen82]

6 hours ago, twinstalker said:

Before everyone goes nuts thinking the Twins got a top ten player at 48, keep in mind there are real reasons why each team passed on him at least once.  Best bet is that he's more likely at a pick 48 level than a pick <20 level.  There's obvious upside, and so it seems a lot more reasonable to be hopeful than gleeful.

I believe he was a possible option to be picked at 8 possibly underslot money, but we were able to get him at 48. He has the talent to be a #1 or #2 starter.  The questions arise due to the lack of innings pitched, not the stuff. However there is also an advantage there as he didn’t have a ton of mileage put on him during college.  I wonder if due to the twins interest at 8 they were able to work out a deal to overpay at 48 which then it does become a steal situation. It just slightly hampers our next few picks. 

[Morneau for Gov]

LOVE to see the Twins taking a high upside pitcher shot. Are there concerns with injuries and lack of experience in college? Sure. But championships are won with elite players and the Twins have a chance of getting one spending a second-round pick. Looks like the type of pick that successful franchises make. 

[TopGunn#22]

Yeah, I've got to agree the first night was tremendous.  The obvious question now is, what will it take to sign primary the top 2 guys but also Tanner Schoebel from Va. Tech and how does that affect the Twins for the rest of this draft.  While I know you can find a diamond in the rough here and there in the later rounds, the later it gets the less the leverage is for the player.

I'm a believer in "quality" over sheer "quantity."  In these first 3 picks, the Twins got "QUALITY."  

[tarheeltwinsfan]

8 hours ago, ashbury said:

Then why do you suppose he dropped?

Don't get me wrong, I like the pick, and I think it's a sound gamble.  But IMO we should view this pick with eyes wide open, that it's riskier than many alternatives.

I think Prielipp will need a large signing bonus for the Twins to sign him, because if the assessments of Prielipp are accurate, he could bet on himself, and opt to stay another year at Alabama, and become a top 10 draft selection in 2023. Here's hoping the Twins already have this negotiated with Prielipp's agent. QUESTION: Does college baseball have the same rules as college basketball, where if a college basketball player signs with an agent, he becomes ineligible to play collegiately. If not, why the difference? 

[tarheeltwinsfan]

6 hours ago, twinstalker said:

Before everyone goes nuts thinking the Twins got a top ten player at 48, keep in mind there are real reasons why each team passed on him at least once.  Best bet is that he's more likely at a pick 48 level than a pick <20 level.  There's obvious upside, and so it seems a lot more reasonable to be hopeful than gleeful.

I liked your phrase: "it seems a lot more reasonable to be hopeful than gleeful." It describes this situation perfectly. Are you a professional writer or a poet? Poets must boil down all phrases and select the perfect words, as you just did. Magnificent. 

[NorthernAggression]

 

9 minutes ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

QUESTION: Does college baseball have the same rules as college basketball, where if a college basketball player signs with an agent, he becomes ineligible to play collegiately. If not, why the difference? 

I don't know the exact specifics but I do know most college baseball players can go back to school if they don't get the paycheck they are looking for. Here is an older BA article that lists some of the kids that didn't sign and went back to school. I could see Prielipp betting on himself like Appel did a few years back. So hopefully the Twins worked something out here and have a plan.

[bunsen82]

12 minutes ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

I think Prielipp will need a large signing bonus for the Twins to sign him, because if the assessments of Prielipp are accurate, he could bet on himself, and opt to stay another year at Alabama, and become a top 10 draft selection in 2023. Here's hoping the Twins already have this negotiated with Prielipp's agent. QUESTION: Does college baseball have the same rules as college basketball, where if a college basketball player signs with an agent, he becomes ineligible to play collegiately. If not, why the difference? 

Twins wouldn't have picked him had they not agreed.  They have a contract in principle already agreed to.   As much as the Twins liked Prielipp I think players are also really starting to like the Twins as a potential destination - especially if the money is good.  The Twins can show players what they will do by showing Festa, Winder, Varland, Headrick, Raya, Mooney, Hajjar and Povich.   Its not like they are developing just one player.  They have shown a program that is developing a lot of players showing they have an excellent program in place.  Prielipp could go back with nothing guaranteed,  could get drafted lower,  or he can go to the Twins,  and put his best effort in and possibly become an Ace.  He would also be a year closer to the big lifechanging contract assuming he pans out.  He could flame out, but the talent is there to do well.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Good points. Thank you.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

7 minutes ago, NorthernAggression said:

 

I don't know the exact specifics but I do know most college baseball players can go back to school if they don't get the paycheck they are looking for. Here is an older BA article that lists some of the kids that didn't sign and went back to school. I could see Prielipp betting on himself like Appel did a few years back. So hopefully the Twins worked something out here and have a plan.

Thanks for your insightful reply.

[roger]

Like many above, my main concern is whether he would choose to return for his senior year and a shot at ++$5M.  On the plus side, the Twins are 2.5 hours up the road from his hometown and family.  Heck, his family may have been Twins fans growing up, although the Brewers are more likely.  

[Alex Schieferdecker]

Extremely high upside pitcher? Say no more.

[chpettit19]

9 hours ago, ashbury said:

Then why do you suppose he dropped?

Don't get me wrong, I like the pick, and I think it's a sound gamble.  But IMO we should view this pick with eyes wide open, that it's riskier than many alternatives.

I was watching the MLB Network airing of the draft and Dan O'Dowd had mentioned at 1 point that he'd expect a number of teams to take him off their board completely because they simply wouldn't draft someone off bullpens and no game action for so long. It sounds like a reasonable enough reason for him to have fallen so far. I think the Twins are going to have to work some pool money magic to sign him and Lee, though.

[nicksaviking]

I'd have to think that with the TJ surgery and the tradition of the competitive SEC to abuse their senior arms, Prielipp is pretty unlikely to return to college.

Obviously the bonus is going to be the biggest factor, but Prielipp and his agent have to be thrilled that a team like the Twins, a team that is cautious and innings-mindful with young arms, grabbed him.

[roger]

What is the Twins total dollar pool and how much can they go over without losing future picks, is it 5%?  So if they have another $500k, that would put them up around $2.1M they could pay.  Gotta expect they had discussions with he and his agent and know what it will take to sign him and they believe they have that ability.

[NorthernAggression]

1 hour ago, roger said:

What is the Twins total dollar pool and how much can they go over without losing future picks, is it 5%?  So if they have another $500k, that would put them up around $2.1M they could pay.  Gotta expect they had discussions with he and his agent and know what it will take to sign him and they believe they have that ability.

You can go over up to 5% and pay 75% tax. Over 5% and you start losing future picks. So the Twins can go over about $500K but it would cost them about $900K with tax.