2017 MLB Draft Retrospective: Was Royce Lewis the Right Choice?

Mackenzie gore has kinda stalled out at AAA but still would’ve taken him or Greene over Royce… Royce has had his struggles and has only looked elite when he won the AFL MVP in 2019

If I knew the Twins were only going to take hitters in the 1st round for the next 4-5 years, I would have hoped they went with one of the top pitching prospects... I don't think Royce is going to bust, but I think he will be less valuable than a couple of guys that went shortly after him. At least they were able to save money on the slot and take Enlow... who now is having TJ surgery. Great! ☹️

They used the slot money they saved by taking Lewis, to sign Blayne Enlow. Considering the Twins stretch of bad luck/poor decisions in drafting pitchers in the first round, selecting Lewis seemed reasonable. My concerns would be on reports of poor swing mechanics that aren’t being corrected. (Like another top pick who plays CF)  

I also agree with @Danchat above that the continued selection of bat first high strikeout prone hitters could use an adjustment either by drafting more pitchers or players with defensive value  

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/sunday-notes-twins-prospect-royce-lewis-has-a-cacophonous-swing-and-a-sky-high-ceiling/

Interesting topic Cody.  As you say, really a bit early to evaluate Lewis, but I for one was appalled that the supposed pitching gurus newly installed at Twins HQ passed on all 3 of these pitchers to take Lewis.  This org. has flailed for many years in developing pitching, surely the most important position in MLB.  But Falvine has shown excessive hubris in all their drafts, and this seems like no exception.  Gore and Greene were considered sure-fire top-of-the-rotation hurlers, McKay rated a bit lower maybe because he wanted to be considered a hitter/pitcher.  Yes, the verdict is still TBD, but reports seem to indicate Lewis doesn't have the chops at SS and will probably settle in CF, where the Twins had a guy named Buxton who was considered the #1 prospect and when healthy has started to play like one.

Doubts about this FO's savvy certainly escalated when in their next 3 drafts, they selected an OF, another SS, and a DH-type.  Is this how you develop a home grown stud rotation like Cleveland has been able to do?  Have any of Falvine's draft picks looked like the future of a solid rotation?  Yes, they did pick up Alcala and Duran in trades, but they are unknown quantities as of now.  They haven't even drafted one pitcher who can help a major league bullpen that is arguably the worst in baseball.

The Lewis pick was a signal that this FO was not up to the task of developing a core of major league pitchers.  They have done nothing since to change the narrative.  This should be the year that they throw these prospects into the fire at the major league level,  after all what more can we lose.   The rest of this year should tell the tale on the Whiz Kids ability to develop major league pitching.   Aren't these the guys that should be held accountable if they prove unable to do that?

1 hour ago, Mike Sixel said:

They could have taken Enlow w/o saving money....according to rules, if not the budget.

I think I said at the time I wanted pitching, because the Twins would never pay what it takes to sign an elite pitcher. I think I said Gore or McCay at the time, though Greene intrigued me he made me nervous. I also said if they are going to take corner hitters, they better be willing to deal them as prospects to get pitching. 

Apparently Gore can't throw strikes for the past 2 years. Greene looks like the real deal this year, but we'll see. I have no idea what to think about Lewis' hitting at this point. And, it will be at least 18 months before we do, imo. 

Sure, they still could have taken Enlow, but they likely wouldn't have been able to pay him over his slot amount, which is reportedly why he fell to the 3rd round.

Lewis strikes me as a guy who will take a few years to learn how to hit in the bigs, similar to how Buxton debuted / eventually got settled at the plate. 

I wanted Gore or Wright. I still want Gore even with his struggles this year. I didn’t absolutely hate the Lewis pick but it’s not looking the greatest since it seems like he’ll be a CF vs a SS. It’s not bad if he’s a CF, but drafting a good SS one of these days needs to happen. 

19 hours ago, mike8791 said:

 Gore and Greene were considered sure-fire top-of-the-rotation hurlers,  ...

Doubts about this FO's savvy certainly escalated when in their next 3 drafts, they selected an OF, another SS, and a DH-type.  Is this how you develop a home grown stud rotation like Cleveland has been able to do?  Have any of Falvine's draft picks looked like the future of a solid rotation?  

The Lewis pick was a signal that this FO was not up to the task of developing a core of major league pitchers.  They have done nothing since to change the narrative.  ...   Aren't these the guys that should be held accountable if they prove unable to do that?

Bingo. Look at the rotations that have carried their teams to the world series last decade. Do we see anything like the depth of Lincecum/Cain/Bumgarner developing? Strasburg/Scherzer/Corbin? All the talent that has cycled through LA, enough to make Maeda, Wood and others expendable? 

Falvine was sold to us as the brilliant FO that was going to turn Twins pitching around. I fear they won't even be able to retain Berrios, the ace they inherited.