Seven Hitters for the Twins #5 Pick in the 2023 MLB Draft

[Jeremy Nygaard]

In a stroke of luck, the Twins were able to leap into the Top 5 of the 2023 MLB Draft thanks to the new lottery system that was designed to help deter tanking. While the Twins were competitive throughout most of the 2022 season, their late-season slide led them to miss the playoffs and enter the inaugural lottery.

And it worked out for the team so far.

 

We had all the lottery details for you last night. 

Today, we're going to take a very early look at some hitters who the Twins might consider with this new Top 5 pick. Of course, these players will need to play their junior seasons. Scouts will watch more games and have more data points to assess their tools and talents. Conversations will be had. High school players may emerge. But it's never too early to put together a list of names for Twins fans to start getting excited about. 

The name that you see at the top of almost every early prospect list is LSU outfielder Dylan Crews. It would be tough to see him falling to the Twins, and I'm sure you'll hear more about him as winter turns into spring.

Wyatt Langford has a great bat and the Florida Gator has played all over the diamond. Fitting the Twins mold really well is Ole Miss shortstop Jacob Gonzalez. A high-contact, low-strikeout college player who is a shortstop now, but may outgrow the position. Sound familiar?

Brock Wilken is another college bat who has impressed. Massive exit velocities and enormous power coupled with lots of swing-and-miss, the third basemen has a big season ahead of him.

Enrique Bradfield is the most exciting player in the nation, but the Vanderbilt outfielder doesn't hit for much power.

Max Clark and Walker Jenkins are both prep outfielders who could sneak into the top 5. 

There are tons of other players that will enter the conversation. Who would you like to see the Twins target at 5?

 

 

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[Dman]

I like the Shortstop with power the best even if he moves off of short the hitting profile looks really, really good.  Call me crazy but I also really like 80 graded speed of the centerfielder even if he doesn't have a power stroke right now.  We have seen with Buxton that even elite centerfield defense can be a real difference maker and this guy looks like he has a solid bat just likely not much power.

I agree there looks to be lots of really good options for the top 5.  There are a couple of pitchers who could move into the top 5 as well.  This should be a really exciting draft for the Twins.  

 

[roger]

My question is whether or not there is a big time catcher who could be available at #5.  You know, somebody named Johnny Bench?

Will you be doing a similar review of potential pitchers?  My hope would be that if Bench isn't available, they would find that proverbial ACE with this pick.  You know, Chris Sale, Jr.

[Doctor Gast]

Watching Bradfield steal home w/o the pitcher making a play, got me pumped. This is something that can really rally a team. Love his speed!

I'm looking forward to your reviews Jeremy. I'm also hoping to nab a LH or switch hitting/ defensive catcher or a front-line SP in there. 

[IA Bean Counter]

There are currently 2 pitchers that could be taken in the top 10.  Possibly 4-5 in the top 20.   Then another 5 -6 for the rest of the first round.  There is much more pitching depth for 2023 than the last 2 years.  

Chase Dollander looks elite.  Both him and Crews will likely go 1-2

Hursten Waldrep is currently the #8 prospect.  He is an elite pitcher maybe not quite the command of Dollander. 

 

[Dman]

21 minutes ago, IA Bean Counter said:

There are currently 2 pitchers that could be taken in the top 10.  Possibly 4-5 in the top 20.   Then another 5 -6 for the rest of the first round.  There is much more pitching depth for 2023 than the last 2 years.  

Chase Dollander looks elite.  Both him and Crews will likely go 1-2

Hursten Waldrep is currently the #8 prospect.  He is an elite pitcher maybe not quite the command of Dollander. 

 

Yeah I think Dollander if he remains dominant has a good chance to go number 1.  Pittsburgh can't play in FA for pitchers so will need to draft arms to get there.  Nats could use pitching too but they are a wild card as they could use everything.  I think they are more set at position players than pitching so they could go pitching with their top pick(s) as well.

 

[Heistyman]

Jack Hurley is a 5 tool OF'er out of Virginia Tech that looks interesting.

[nicksaviking]

I'm all for getting the best player available at #5, but if they go with a bat, it kind of feels like a year they'd lean toward a prep bat, based on where the Twins current offensive prospects are sitting in the system.

[IA Bean Counter]

22 minutes ago, Dman said:

Yeah I think Dollander if he remains dominant has a good chance to go number 1.  Pittsburgh can't play in FA for pitchers so will need to draft arms to get there.  Nats could use pitching too but they are a wild card as they could use everything.  I think they are more set at position players than pitching so they could go pitching with their top pick(s) as well.

 

Dollander I have seen stated that he is the best pitching prospect in the last 10 years.  Essentially Since 2019 there has been a dearth of pitching prospects,  Both the 2019 and 2022 drafts were stated as some of the worst pitching drafts in decades, you had the covid draft of 2020 and 2021 wasn't much better.  I could see teams going more pitching heavy in this draft due to the lack of elite quality of pitching in the previous drafts.   

[RJA]

Three thoughts.  It is fun to speculate but so much can change between now and July depending on how players perform next spring, injuries, etc.  Still, whatever happens, we are likely to get a high end prospect in what is thought to be an excellent draft.  Second, the Twins usually go for toolsy guys, especially infielders, so I think the plethora of good shortstops this year will be real attractive to them regardless of Correa's fate with the Twins.  Finally, unless Dollander drops, I cannot see them taking a pitcher at 5.  That would be a more realistic possiblity for their second pick if they don't trade it.

[terrydactyls]

Whatever the first four picks are, DO NOT draft a power bat with a lot of swing-and-miss!!!  We've seen enough of those.  (Actually, we haven't "seen" any of them because they never get past AA level.)

[jimbo92107]

Enrique Bradfield, y'all! That kid's got Buxton speed, but he already knows how to steal bases. It took Buck something like four years to develop just decent stealing technique. Bradfield looks like he can steal bases at will, almost like Ricky Henderson. And that speed will play in center or wherever they can fit him in. Do you even bother trying to get him to hit home runs? Just get on base with a flat swing and a stingy eye, then cause wonderful havoc for the opposing pitcher. 

Hey Twins, draft this Bradfield guy, so we have a reason to watch games again. 

[Nashvilletwin]

As of now, any of Dollander, Crews, Langford, Gonzalez, or Bradfield will do fine. Those are probably the top 5 college picks and we have #5. Ideally Dollander or Langford (Crews is the most unlikely) falls to us.  What a great stroke of luck that lottery was.

[dxpavelka]

1 hour ago, jimbo92107 said:

Enrique Bradfield, y'all! That kid's got Buxton speed, but he already knows how to steal bases. It took Buck something like four years to develop just decent stealing technique. Bradfield looks like he can steal bases at will, almost like Ricky Henderson. And that speed will play in center or wherever they can fit him in. Do you even bother trying to get him to hit home runs? Just get on base with a flat swing and a stingy eye, then cause wonderful havoc for the opposing pitcher. 

Hey Twins, draft this Bradfield guy, so we have a reason to watch games again. 

It took Buck 4 years to get on base consistently enough to steal bases.

[beckmt]

Numbers do not mean as much for college hitters as they see very few elite pitchers in college.  Contact skills and speed impress me, with enough pop to at least hit the gaps.  I am all for wearing the pitcher down and forcing them to throw strikes.  That is why I love Arreaz.  Julian looks to be in the same mold. Just move them faster thru the system, as we are seeing more 21 - 23 year olds reaching the majors and producing, and less players unless elite staying past 32.   Unless you are sure the pitcher is going to make it, I am against taking a pitcher at 5, maybe using the comp pick if one looks good. 

[rv78]

Wouldn't surprise me to see them target a guy like Wilken who has tremendous power and a lot of swing and miss. Problem is, it's impossible to predict if he could be the next Aaron Judge or another Miguel Sano.

[Fred]

21 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

Watching Bradfield steal home w/o the pitcher making a play, got me pumped. This is something that can really rally a team. Love his speed!

I'm looking forward to your reviews Jeremy. I'm also hoping to nab a LH or switch hitting/ defensive catcher or a front-line SP in there. 

Think Billy Hamilton with an acceptable OPS. I enjoyed Hamilton as a pinch runner, but thought somebody should slap Baldelli when he put Hamilton in the starting lineup. No such reserve with Bradfield.

[Mike Sixel]

6 hours ago, beckmt said:

Numbers do not mean as much for college hitters as they see very few elite pitchers in college.  Contact skills and speed impress me, with enough pop to at least hit the gaps.  I am all for wearing the pitcher down and forcing them to throw strikes.  That is why I love Arreaz.  Julian looks to be in the same mold. Just move them faster thru the system, as we are seeing more 21 - 23 year olds reaching the majors and producing, and less players unless elite staying past 32.   Unless you are sure the pitcher is going to make it, I am against taking a pitcher at 5, maybe using the comp pick if one looks good. 

Where do you plan to get great pitching? It's not like Lewis or Buxton is healthy.....

[beckmt]

5 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Where do you plan to get great pitching? It's not like Lewis or Buxton is healthy.....

I know it's a problem, but pitchers miss a lot more than hitters in the top 5.  That is unless a fairly sure thing drops to us at 5, take a good hitter.  I like the ones that walk a lot and make contact.  Arraez is a pest.  I like that comp and type of player.

[Otaknam]

Speed is great but without power that’s a pass at number five. I’m hoping for a college power arm that can move up quickly and has a high ceiling. 

[Otaknam]

Agree on passing on a power bat with a lot of swing and miss. We don’t need another Aaron Sabato positionless player who strikes out 40% of the time and bats .200. .

[ashbury]

1 hour ago, Otaknam said:

Agree on passing on a power bat with a lot of swing and miss. We don’t need another Aaron Sabato positionless player who strikes out 40% of the time and bats .200. .

Yeah, I don't think a guy taken at #27 overall is much of a comp for what we're looking at now. If they had had #5 the year they took Sabato, maybe they would have selected... um, looking it up... some guy named Austin Martin?  Name rings a bell.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

One thing I didn't mention, but as important is jumping from #5 to #13 is the added draft pool money that comes with that jump. The teams also received a Comp A pick, so you're looking at a team who should have middle-of-the-pack spending money instead having one of the highest draft pools in the entire league. You get so much added flexibility. 

The Twins can take the bat they like best at #5, pay him under slot and then turn around and use that savings to take a falling pitcher. That might sound like a familiar strategy... but wouldn't work nearly as well drafting at #13.

[Mike Sixel]

23 minutes ago, Jeremy Nygaard said:

One thing I didn't mention, but as important is jumping from #5 to #13 is the added draft pool money that comes with that jump. The teams also received a Comp A pick, so you're looking at a team who should have middle-of-the-pack spending money instead having one of the highest draft pools in the entire league. You get so much added flexibility. 

The Twins can take the bat they like best at #5, pay him under slot and then turn around and use that savings to take a falling pitcher. That might sound like a familiar strategy... but wouldn't work nearly as well drafting at #13.

How are Rooker and Enlow doing? Remember the excitement here? Ugh. Just Ugh. Draft the best player.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

33 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

How are Rooker and Enlow doing? Remember the excitement here? Ugh. Just Ugh. Draft the best player.

Rooker became a major leaguer and Enlow, despite injuries, made it to the 40-man and still has a shot. Hard to consider either of those to be big misses, even if they weren't home runs. 

I'm not suggesting not taking the best player.

But the best player at 5 > best player at 13.

Money left from 5 + plus Comp pick > money left from 13 + comp pick.

[Mike Sixel]

8 minutes ago, Jeremy Nygaard said:

Rooker became a major leaguer and Enlow, despite injuries, made it to the 40-man and still has a shot. Hard to consider either of those to be big misses, even if they weren't home runs. 

I'm not suggesting not taking the best player.

But the best player at 5 > best player at 13.

Money left from 5 + plus Comp pick > money left from 13 + comp pick.

Rooker isn't a miss? We clearly have different definitions of that.

I'm suggesting that the best player at 5 will want number 5 money....but I could be wrong.

[troyjuhn]

Bradfield is one of the few College baseball players I actually know and he's such an exciting player to watch. At number 5, idk he might be a reach.