2022 MLB Draft Day 2 Thread

I think there are an abundance of shortstops being drafted by the Twins because shortstops are usually the best athletes (sorry Bert) on the team. And I will pile on in offering a shout out to the Twins Daily team for your continued coverage and articles.

Color me intrigued by the knuckle ball pitcher. This draft is a success just because of the 9th round pick. Bring back the knuckle ball! 

1 hour ago, DocBauer said:

FWIW in regard to Daulton Shuffield:

5' 9" and 170lbs. 23yo, so he's older than most to be sure.

He was named a 2nd team All American by "Collegiate Baseball Newspaper" who I've never heard of, but assume it was, obviously, for Div II, which is where I believe Texas State plays at. He was also named the Sunbelt Player of the Year. 

He set a number of school records, FWIW, but this is his 2022 year:

.378/ .444/ .668/ 1.113 

He had 20 Dbls/ 5 tpls/ 13 HR/ 48 RBI

And scored 78 R while being 16-19 in SB.

Clearly an inexpensive signing with some athleticism and potential, but nothing to be excited for, especially considering age. But he's, at worst, a low level roster filler with some potential to help out somewhere. 

Texas State is not DII....they were a very good D1 team who could've/should've beat Stanford to advance to the CWS.....they absolutely choked in game 3 of the series and Stanford advanced.  

I noticed him during the series....he was clearly their best offensive player.

9 hours ago, roger said:

I remain hopeful that they will get at least two catchers later today.  And hopefully, one of them will turn out to be both a good one and fast mover.

I get it. But I think it is still best to choose the player whom the committee thinks is the best overall player. Trades can be made from a position of strength for a position of need.

2 hours ago, Major League Ready said:

 I think now more than ever they are picking based on what they think can be developed.   

Isn't that exactly how drafting should be done?

2 hours ago, James said:

One can never have enough shortstops apparently. 

If a player is capable of playing SS at the college level he is almost certainly capable of playing 2B and 3B. That can be sorted out by the player development staff, assuming they know what they are doing.

3 hours ago, James said:

Lewis also throws a legitimate knuckleball that he would float up around 80 mph that confounded hitters and catchers alike. 

If his knuckler truly is legitimate that's just as good as having a slider or curve or change-up as a third or fourth pitch. Maybe better.

2 hours ago, cheeseheadgophfan said:

Texas State is not DII....they were a very good D1 team who could've/should've beat Stanford to advance to the CWS.....they absolutely choked in game 3 of the series and Stanford advanced.  

I noticed him during the series....he was clearly their best offensive player.

Thank you for the clarification! I should have remembered the Sun Belt was D1. Obviously my brain was on overload or needing a re-charge. 

Thanks for your thoughts as well as the reminder.

16 hours ago, Dman said:

OK my bad.  This is the Chirstian Encarnation-Strand pick from last year with less of a track record.  I like the risk reward here though at 6.  The Twins just can't resist a good utility infielder especially this late, lol.  I guess the pitching can wait until all the hitters are gone.

Keep in mind no prospect is a utility guy for trading purposes!

14 hours ago, bunsen82 said:

Another contact hitter .378.    Definitely a different draft in hitters,  going for high contact OBP players.  

If you're not batting .350+ in college, you're probably never going to hit in MLB, so I wouldn't be all that impressed,

2 hours ago, twinstalker said:

Keep in mind no prospect is a utility guy for trading purposes!

Also, ideally a good team would have utility players who could actually be full time starters for other teams.

2 hours ago, twinstalker said:

If you're not batting .350+ in college, you're probably never going to hit in MLB, so I wouldn't be all that impressed,

That's a lofty goal. Looking back at Twins draft picks, I don't see that as a very attainable goal. Larnach never hit .350. Neither did Spencer Steer, or Brent Rooker or Matt Wallner or Ryan Jeffers. So far, for the Twins, I've only found one recent college bat of note to do it, Encarnacion-Strand, and he only hit .358.

2 hours ago, twinstalker said:

If you're not batting .350+ in college, you're probably never going to hit in MLB, so I wouldn't be all that impressed,

Rucker and Larnach had 2 of the best college seasons of all time (granted at the D1 level) and they hist .387 and .348 respectively.  So anyone hitting over .350 in college is still impressive.

My eyes are on Jayden Hylton today. MLB lists him as the 114th ranked prospect. Well built and tall - 6'6", 220 lbs. BA .438, OBP .560. He's hit 4 HR and 5 triples against some of the best high schools in Florida, including Stoneman Douglass. Committed to Stetson, which doesn't seem like a school we can't entice him away from. 

MLB posted a very nice feature of Jayden and his family. 

Jayden Hylton's journey to the Draft (mlb.com) 

1 hour ago, nicksaviking said:

That's a lofty goal. Looking back at Twins draft picks, I don't see that as a very attainable goal. Larnach never hit .350. Neither did Spencer Steer, or Brent Rooker or Matt Wallner or Ryan Jeffers. So far, for the Twins, I've only found one recent college bat of note to do it, Encarnacion-Strand, and he only hit .358.

It's no fun if you spoil wild conjecture with facts.  ?

32 minutes ago, NapoleonComplex said:

My eyes are on Jayden Hylton today. MLB lists him as the 114th ranked prospect. Well built and tall - 6'6", 220 lbs. BA .438, OBP .560. He's hit 4 HR and 5 triples against some of the best high schools in Florida, including Stoneman Douglass. Committed to Stetson, which doesn't seem like a school we can't entice him away from. 

MLB posted a very nice feature of Jayden and his family. 

Jayden Hylton's journey to the Draft (mlb.com) 

Good article. Says his brother goes to Stetson so there might be a draw there for him.

Either way, I'd be happy to see the Twins able to sign any upside HS kid. Hylton sounds like a good one to gamble on.

3 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

Also, ideally a good team would have utility players who could actually be full time starters for other teams.

Or, grow into it.  Eduardo Escobar was a prime example, who we watched develop some power when initially there seemed to be no chance of that.